It’s easy to fall in love with Amsterdam. There’s a charm in the strangers passing by on bikes, the colorful trees lining the canals, and the historic buildings sandwiched between small mom and pop shops. If you have a short amount of time in this city, be sure to try to do as many of these experiences as possible and soak in the culture. Get ready to explore the Netherlands ‘ capital city!
Explore the Canals
Step aside, Venice! Â The picturesque canals of Amsterdam provide the perfect conduit for a tour of the city’s best. The Canal Ring of Amsterdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is comprised of three connected waterways that take you through Amsterdam and beneath hundreds of bridges.
Van Gogh Museum
Van Gogh is Amsterdam’s most famous artist with an incredibly interesting past. Take a guided tour through the Van Gogh Museum, home of the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work, and walk through the artist’s life from his beginnings in Amsterdam to the sad end.
Anne Frank House
Visiting every history buff’s favorite Amsterdam location: Anne Frank Huis. Soak in the history and austerity of the home where Anne Frank hid and penned her famous diary. Lines for this one can be daunting, so buy online ahead of time.
Torture Museum
If a big baby like me can make it through the Torture Museum, you can too. History buffs will find the reasoning behind these medieval torture instruments, and lovers of all things creepy will love how, well, creepy it is.
People Watch at a Cafe
There are no bad views in Amsterdam. Try some Dutch cuisine and people watch the passersby. Take a quick jaunt from your hotel or Air B n B; I promise you’ll find a cute cafe on almost every corner.
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Rijksmuseum
Conveniently located right across from the Van Gogh museum, the Rijksmuseum boasts an impressive number of collections and the very Instagrammable “I Amsterdam” sign. The museum is open daily from 9 to 5.
One thing you may notice is absent from the list is a tour of the Red Light district. Sex work is legal and regulated in Amsterdam, but overcrowding flocks of tourists to the red light district presents a real danger to the workers. In fact, Amsterdam is cracking down on tours through the infamous Red Light district and may relocate altogether. When touring a new city, taking photos of historic buildings and beautiful landmarks is acceptable, but doing the same to working people is disrespectful. Skip this part and focus instead on all the beauty Amsterdam has to offer.
If you’re on a European tour, consider adding the beautiful town of Heidelberg, Germany to your itinerary!
