The Jordaan
Amsterdam’s most charming quarter – narrow canals, leaning gables, brown cafes and courtyard gardens, plus the city’s densest cluster of local restaurants. Made for an aimless wander.
Amsterdam
Royal Palace Amsterdam
The 17th-century Town Hall turned royal palace on Dam Square, a monument to Golden Age wealth with lavish marble halls. Still used by the royal family, so opening days vary – check before visiting.
Rembrandt House Museum
Rembrandt’s restored home and studio, where he worked at the height of his fame. See how a Golden Age master lived and printed, with regular etching demonstrations.
Moco Museum
A small, high-energy museum of modern and street art – Banksy, Basquiat, Warhol and buzzy immersive installations. A fun, Instagrammable counterpoint to the old masters next door.
Van Gogh Museum
The world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work, tracing his short, turbulent career from peasant scenes to the blazing late canvases. Tickets are timed and online-only – book well ahead.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation, now a profoundly moving museum around the original secret annex. Tickets are timed and released online in advance and sell out fast – plan ahead.
Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands’ grand national museum – Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeers and centuries of Dutch Golden Age art in a magnificent building. Book a timed ticket and give it a few hours.
Blijburg aan Zee
Amsterdam’s own city beach, on the man-made island of IJburg, where the whole city rushes out the moment the sun appears to swim, sunbathe and hang out. The beach bar does surprisingly good food, and the fun rolls on into the evening with parties on the sand and inside.
Sunday Market Amsterdam
On the first Sunday of the month the old Westergasfabriek gasworks turns into a hip market of food, art, fashion and design – free tastings of Greek wine, Lebanese falafel and Spanish ham alongside second-hand clothes and handmade crafts. It feels like a little town-within-the-city, and it’s the place for a truly one-off souvenir.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Best Neighborhoods for First-Timers
Where to stay in Amsterdam? A local guide to the best neighbourhoods, from the central Canal Belt and charming Jordaan to hip De Pijp and creative Amsterdam-Noord.