Top Things To Do In Amsterdam

Tailoring each experience to your wishes by locals who love their city

Local guide showing a tourist around Amsterdam on a sunny day

Top things to do in Amsterdam

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

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Wondering what to do in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is a gabled gem teleported from the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age and embellished with quaint coffee shops, humble markets, cozy restaurants, and stylish stores all chilling out along the iconic canals. The things to do in Amsterdam range from the classic to the cutting-edge. You could soak up centuries-old architecture, browse a floating flower market, sample Dutch delights at an old cheese shop, or visit cool cocktail bars and tiny tasting rooms in the trendy Jordaan. No matter where your Amsterdam tour takes you (whether by foot, boat, or bicycle) you won’t ever be far from phenomenal food, treasure-packed museums, and an intoxicating nightlife scene.

Meet some of our Amsterdam local hosts

Olga

Amsterdam

Culture fan with a taste for great food and Amsterdam’s best hidden stories.

Anna

Amsterdam

Food lover, art fan, and shopper who knows where to find local hidden gems.

The five faces of Amsterdam

The things to do in Amsterdam can differ greatly depending on where in the city you are. Amsterdam-Centrum is a hotspot of historic landmarks, cozy pubs, and narrow canals; edgy Amsterdam-Noord, once used for heavy industry, is today a haven for the city’s cool kids and artists. Leafy Amsterdam-Zuid is home to high-end boutiques and wealthy neighborhoods, while Amsterdam-Oost, loved for its residential vibe, is lined with beautiful 19th-century buildings. Diverse Amsterdam-Wes, on the other hand, is a street food nirvana with a global gastronomy scene and plenty of exciting things to do.

Tourists relax in a lush green park on a sunny day in Amsterdam

Highlights and hidden gems

From artistic attractions like historic architecture and the Van Gogh Museum to the provocative red-light district and nightlife scene, there are countless reasons the city lures so many types of travelers to its tightly-packed streets. You won’t need to search high and low for famous things to do in Amsterdam, but it’s the lesser-known landmarks and hidden gems loved by locals that make the city such a memorable destination. A private tour with a local is the perfect way to uncover the true spirit of the city (and experience some of the best things to do in Amsterdam in the process).

Amsterdam local introducing a tourist to delicious street food in their city

The best of Dutch delicacies

For anyone visiting the city, sampling Dutch delicacies should make the top of your list of things to do in Amsterdam. Sit-down dinners in upmarket restaurants are great, but Amsterdam’s most iconic bites are ideal for on-the-go snacking on a tour of the city. Small, crunchy bitterballen, cubes of fresh Dutch cheese, and crispy thick-cut fries – all typical local cuisine – are served in perfect tasting portions at the city’s humble markets brimming with simple street food. Save a little room for later, because one of the best things to do in Amsterdam is downing a beer at a centuries-old pub.

Amsterdam travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Amsterdam and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

We took this tour immediately upon our arrival from the US, in part to keep ourselves awake and fight jet lag. We had filled out a questionnaire about our interests and Anna meet us at our hotel to embark on our tour. Anna was very knowledgeable and took care to try to show us both the key sights and also the areas we were most interested in (we love going off the beaten path and seeing how the locals live). We even visited a local grocery store. Even with a 6 hour tour, Anna made it fun and interesting, including for our 15 and 17 year olds. Highly recommend!

March 2025

Patrick B
This tour was lovely and catered to my likes/dislikes with more added to it. I did schedule a 6 hour tour and I think it could have been done in 4 hours. I will say, it was nice to see a few extra things and go at a slow pace. My guide, Wendy was very pleasant and knowledgeable. If you have doubts, please do not and book the tour!

January 2025

Olivia I
Duane took the time to source a great gluten free cafe to suit our dietary needs, Croque Madame, which had great sandwiches and cakes. Duane also has an extensive knowledge of Amsterdam which made the tour extremely interesting as well as indicating nice restaurants for future meals.

September 2024

Simon P
Walking around with Alan was just like walking around with a friend. We loved exploring with a local, who took us to so many great stops we wouldn’t have gone to otherwise.

September 2024

Laurel K