8 Best Things To Do In Amsterdam (the Netherlands) For First-Time Visitors

Visiting Amsterdam for the primary time? Are you on the lookout for one of the best issues to do in Amsterdam? There are such a lot of issues to do on this massive metropolis that a number of days’ stays usually are not sufficient. It would due to this fact be sensible to concentrate on the middle of this bustling vacationer vacation spot particularly in case you are simply staying over there for the weekend break.

Amsterdam is the business and cultural capital of the Netherlands. What began out as a fishing village is now a world-class metropolis consequently considered top-of-the-line places to stay and work. It’s characterised by its quite a few canals, historic institutions and bike-friendly roads.

There are a few issues you have to know earlier than your journey to Amsterdam, and whereas we can’t presumably exhaust each single merchandise you’ve to bear in mind, you have to know that (1) the climate is nearly unpredictable; (2) cyclists are in every single place; and (3) there’s a HUGE distinction between a restaurant and a espresso store.

Errors are inevitable, sure, particularly when it’s your first. Nonetheless, it doesn’t damage to learn effectively prematurely to keep away from being embarrassed or unprepared in public! Nicely – let’s save this for an additional publish, lets? Listed below are a few issues that each new customer should do when exploring Amsterdam central.

Learn Extra: A First Time Visitors Guide To The Best Amsterdam Neighbourhoods

Finest Issues to Do in Amsterdam for First-Time Guests:

1. Expertise the canal cruise 

🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: Flagship Canal Cruise in Classic Boat – Live guide with drinks & Dutch cheese
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

No go to to Amsterdam is full with out seeing the great thing about the town and cruising across the Amsterdam canals. It is without doubt one of the hottest Amsterdam vacationer sights and I might extremely recommend it to anybody who’s the primary time visiting the town. 

You’ll be able to usually catch the canal cruise on the docks proper in entrance of the Amsterdam Centraal station. The cruise has an audio information that prompts routinely in varied factors of curiosity and finest locations to see in Amsterdam alongside the canal routes.

The canal cruise will go by the well-known Bridges of 15 Bridges. That is the one spot within the metropolis the place you may see a number of bridges crossing the canals of Amsterdam. Positively one of many Instagram worthy locations in Amsterdam.

2. Go to varied Dutch museums in Museumplein

One other finest option to expertise the great thing about Dutch tradition is thru their arts. A go to to the principle hub of arts and tradition within the metropolis is the Rijksmuseum. You will discover varied Dutch artefacts and extraordinary artwork treasures from Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jan Steen and plenty of extra.

📍Deal with: Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands
🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Small-Group Guided Tour
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

Simply throughout on the opposite aspect of the Museumplein is the well-known Van Gogh Museum. It’s the dwelling of the vast majority of the work and different life memorabilia of the world-famous and proficient painter Vincent Van Gogh. I extremely recommend that to pre-booked your museum tickets prematurely even in case you are getting a vacationer metropolis card.

📍Deal with: Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: Van Gogh Museum – Exclusive Guided Museum Tour
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

Oh! A go to to the Anne Frank museum can be a should. See the lifetime of a Jewish lady in the course of the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam. 

📍Deal with: Anne Frank museum, Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands
🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: Anne Frank Guided Walking Tour through Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter
🌟 Scores: 4.5 / 5

3. Discover the Grownup leisure of the Pink Mild District

🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: Amsterdam Red Light District and Coffee Shop Private Tour
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

Each time somebody will point out Amsterdam, the Pink Mild District might be one of many high 3 issues that may come to thoughts, subsequent to cheese, hashish and canals. 

I have to say that there’s extra to Amsterdam than the Pink Mild District, nonetheless, it’s a novelty Amsterdam attraction for adults. It’s an fascinating place to go to for a first-time customer to the town. Amsterdam nightlife right here may be very busy! One of the favorite locations relating to Stag and Hen events.

The historical past of the Pink Mild District started again within the fifteenth Century primarily for the sailors that usually dock on the busy maritime hub of the town. The district supplies grownup leisure via varied grownup reveals, museums ( the Prostitution Museum and the Intercourse Museum) and companies from the working women of Amsterdam.  

You’ll be able to see a whole bunch of door dimension glass home windows as you stroll alongside the streets of the district. As a Code of conduct within the Pink Mild, it’s prohibited to take any images of the working women to keep away from a hefty wonderful.

4. Have an adrenaline rush on the A’dam Lookout swing

📍Deal with: Overhoeksplein 5, 1031 KS Amsterdam, Netherlands
🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: FREE ENTRY with Go City Explorer Pass – Choose 3 to 7 Attractions
🌟 Scores: 4.3 / 5

Situated behind Amsterdam Centraal Station is the Amsterdam tower the place the best swing in Europe is positioned.  

Swing away all of your fears and benefit from the adrenaline rush! You’ll be able to see the entire Amsterdam skyline from this vantage level. Oh boy! It’s breathtaking! If in case you have an IAmsterdam card, you should use it to go to the Adam tower.

Learn Extra: IAmsterdam Review: Is The City Tourist Card Worth It?

5. Go on a Dutch meals journey

🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: The Grand Dutch Food Tour
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

Make your mouth water and check out varied gastronomical treats in Amsterdam. It is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Amsterdam!

Prime of our checklist is the nice and cozy and freshly baked stroopwafel and Dutch pancake, an ideal match together with your espresso.  Fries is a staple Dutch meals! You will discover all kinds of scrumptious potato-based snacks in any meals retailers dotted round Amsterdam Central.

6. Go to a espresso store however not have espresso

🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Coffee Shop Tour with Expert Guide
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

Cafés and occasional retailers are two various things within the Netherlands. Particularly in Amsterdam, the place espresso retailers are extraordinarily standard locations to go to in Amsterdam.  

A espresso store is without doubt one of the standard Amsterdam sights. Nonetheless, individuals go right here not primarily to have their typical coffee catch-up however as a result of it’s a recognized place the place you may attempt something hashish.  As it’s authorized within the Netherlands to make use of hashish. Use it sparsely and with warning as all the time, it’s advisable not to do that by yourself. You’ve gotten been warned!

7. Snap the insta-worthy shot on a canal bridge and Amsterdam Centraal Station

🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: All-inclusive Canal Tour by Captain Jack (Traveller Choice Award 2022)
🌟 Scores: 5 / 5

We’re all for the finest Amsterdam expertise, and actions and to go to as many vacationer sights within the metropolis. Take Instagram-worthy images across the metropolis! Apart from your typical slim and tall home by the canal listed below are a few of my options: 

Whereas exploring the finest locations in Amsterdam, go forward and snap a quintessentially Amsterdam photograph on a canal bridge (any canal bridge!) or in case you are up for a stroll to go to the Skinny bridge! It is without doubt one of the oldest bridges in Amsterdam.

An image outdoors the Amsterdam Centraal station is one other high Amsterdam actions that I might advocate. This iconic constructing that may welcome you to the town has an intricate design and positively a landmark of the town.

8. Go to different superior Amsterdam Neighbourhoods

🎟️Discover Tickets – E book in Advance: IAmsterdam City Card with Free Entrance & Public Transport
🌟 Scores: 4.4 / 5

After you’ve exhausted our checklist of issues to do within the metropolis, are you continue to questioning what to see and do in Amsterdam?

You’ll be able to attempt to go to different nice Amsterdam neighbourhoods. They’re much less busier than Amsterdam Centraal and also you get to expertise extra of the genuine Dutch way of life.

Attempt to go to Amsterdam Noord, NSDM, De Pijp and Le Plantage. You’ll completely love the vibes and there are many actions for {couples}, pals, and even family-friendly ones! I wrote one other weblog publish about varied Amsterdam neighbourhoods.

Extra posts about Amsterdam Central

If you’re on the lookout for Netherlands journey inspirations learn extra of those posts:
IAmsterdam Review: Is The City Tourist Card Worth It?
Best Things to do in the Hague (Den Haag), Netherlands
Best Attractions and Things to do in Maastricht, Netherlands

Amsterdam metropolis vibes are really stuffed with power and enjoyable!  Therefore it is without doubt one of the most visited cities in Europe. It doesn’t matter what season of the yr it’s, it’s all the time one of the best time to go to Amsterdam! 

Have you ever been to Amsterdam?
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The whole lot Zany Journey Weblog exploring the UK and past. Sharing journey guides, suggestions, historical past, and tradition. Our journey media model is based by journey and lodge business knowledgeable – Ryazan Tristram, a Twin Citizen (British – Filipina) based mostly in Birmingham, UK. The whole lot Zany is a good and award-winning journey weblog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Submit, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to construct an incredible journey group and useful resource of journey suggestions, visas, and journey guides for vacationers. Be part of us as we journey across the UK and past with a mission to share one of the best of the world.