Top Things To Do In Amsterdam

Tailoring each tour 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

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

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

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Tourists posing near the Amsterdam city sign on a sunny day

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

The perfect way to spend a day in Amsterdam! Our guide tailored the day towards our interests and was very knowledgeable about the various aspects and history of the city. Well worth it!

May 2023

Diana T
It was a pleasure walking the streets of Amsterdam with Jan; his stories and real-life experiences of living in this beautiful city provided us with an invaluable time and gave us confidence and direction to roam the city on our own after the tour. Jan did reach out to us about what we wanted to see on our tour prior to the date, allowing us to provide our preferences, which included historical sites and places he enjoyed eating and shopping.

May 2023

Kenneth Y
We had a wonderful time, and our tour guide planned the day exactly as we asked. It is the way to see Amsterdam.

May 2023

Patrick M
Our teacher was Alan, and he was phenomenal. He treated my son like family. Alan showed us some of the local spots and took us for coffee and a location that most tourist do not frequent. My son and I had a wonderful day with Alan, and we could not recommend the tour with Alan enough.

May 2023

Sandra F