Category: Things to Do

Amsterdam is a city best explored with a good helping of serendipity, aided by some pre-trip planning. There is so much to do and see, both on and off the beaten path.

Here are the top Amsterdam sights and activities as selected by your fellow travelers


Do and see more in Amsterdam for less with the I amsterdam city card:

Amsterdam City Card

Explore Amsterdam with the I amsterdam City Card

This card give you access to all major Amsterdam highlights:

More than 70 museums
City-wide public transport
Free bicycle rental
Free canal cruise
Skip-the-lines
Discounts at restaurants, attractions, concerts
More…

Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo

Founded in 1838, ARTIS is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, and one of the oldest zoos of mainland Europe.

Guidebooks rightly refer to it one of the most pleasant city zoos around. The whole place breathes a 19th-century garden atmosphere with winding paths, majestic trees, fascinating sculptures and monumental historical buildings.

As much as possible the over 500 species of animals live in landscaping that resembles their natural habitat.

Amsterdam’s most popular tourist attraction: Canal cruise

Each year 5.5 million Amsterdam visitors take a canal cruise, making a boat tour of the canals the city’s most popular tourist attraction.

No visit to Amsterdam — also known as ‘Venice of the North’ — is complete without taking to the water, hands down the best way to see the city.

In fact, many people take more than one cruise: a daytime tour is a good introduction. A romantic candlelight cruise at night creates another lasting impression.

And then there are the many specialty tours: dinner cruises, cheese and wine tastings, combination boat tour and museum entrance… whatever floats your boat.

Westertoren

On August 10, 1943, Anne Frank — hiding in the Achterhuis — wrote, “We’ve all been a little confused this past week, because our dearly beloved Westertoren bells have been carted off to be melted down for the war, so we have no idea of the exact time, either night or day…”

So, whatever happened to the bells of the Westertoren?