When visiting a new city for a couple of days, I always ensure I pack as much into the time that I have as possible. I recently visited Amsterdam with a couple of my friends and we booked many activities before embarking on our trip. By doing this, we were able to experience everything that we wanted to. There are endless things to do in Amsterdam, so I’ve compiled a list of some must-visit restaurants and museums, as well as some Instagrammable spots!
Museums
Sexmuseum Amsterdam Venustempel
The Sexmuseum is an iconic Amsterdam hotspot filled with historical erotic memorabilia and hilarious animatronics. The museum entryway is beautiful and has a renaissance-like ceiling, and tickets are only €9! If you’re eager to find out more about the red light district and sex throughout the ages, consider visiting.
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Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum
This museum was one of my favourite attractions that we visited while in Amsterdam. Tickets were €21.50 each and the museum features five floors full of weird and wonderful items and artefacts. There are 19 themed galleries to walk through, all of which are filled with interesting facts and objects from around the world. This museum is an absolute must and is enjoyable for adults and children alike.
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Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House provides visitors with an insight into the life of the Frank family and is an educational experience, showcasing a number of genuine artefacts, items belonging to the family, and pages from Anne Frank’s famous diary. Visiting this museum can be a saddening experience, however it is incredibly eye-opening and important. With your visit, you will be given a free audio tour device that will guide you through the museum and annex, explaining significant facts and details as you go along.
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Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is utterly mesmerising; there is something so special about seeing this renowned artist’s work up close. When walking around this spectacular museum, you will recognize many of the paintings scattered throughout, including one of the Sunflowers paintings, Bedroom in Arles, Almond Blossom, and many of his self-portraits. Additionally, there is a wall covered in a blown-up version of one of the famous Sunflowers paintings, which makes for an excellent photo spot.
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Places Worth Visiting
Tony’s Chocolonely Super Store
The beloved Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bars hold a special place in my heart, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out that the superstore was located in Amsterdam city centre. The superstore looks like a museum with its vibrant decor and walls covered in chocolate bars. While there is often a queue to enter, it is fast-moving and well worth the wait. There are a range of rare flavours to choose from, and even an option to customise your own chocolate bar!
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Red Light District
The red light District is one of Amsterdam’s most well-known spots, filled with people intrigued to see exactly what goes on in the area. As the name suggests, the streets are illuminated by the crimson lights that light up the brothel windows. Visiting this area of Amsterdam may not be for everyone, however I found it to be a deeply interesting experience! There are a variety of bars, shows, museums, and shops within the district — I would recommend visiting in the evening so that you can experience the full effect of the area in action, aglow by the red lights.
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Canals
Canals can be found throughout the city and are generally hidden around every corner. There are a variety of bars, cafes and restaurants that surround the waterways, which make for picturesque dining or drinking spots.
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The Bench from The Fault in Our Stars
There are many destinations in Amsterdam that were featured in the blockbuster film The Fault in Our Stars, including the Anne Frank House. However, one of the most iconic filming destinations is the bench where the two main characters kiss in the film. This bench is located on the corner of Leidsegracht and Herengracht, and is covered in quotes from the movie, as well as padlocks to represent eternal love.
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Skinny Bridge Amsterdam
The Skinny Bridge is an illuminated bridge in Amsterdam that is said to bring great luck in love and romance. It is rumoured that if you and your significant other kiss under the bridge, you will remain in love eternally.
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Canal Tour
On our first day in Amsterdam, we embarked on an hour-long bottomless canal tour, which proved to be an educational, boozy, and scenic activity! The tour guides were amazing and taught us a lot of facts about the city, which proved to be very helpful while exploring in the days following. This tour cost just £20 each and included unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and hot drinks.
To check out the canal tour that we booked, visit this link.
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I Amsterdam Sign
The I Amsterdam sign is an iconic picture spot located just outside of Amsterdam airport! But be warned, there is typically a queue to get a photo in front of it!
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Canals
The canals in Amsterdam are usually lined with locked up bicycles and flowers, this makes for a scenic and classic Amsterdam photo.
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Amsterdam Oersoep
Amsterdam Oersoep is a green domed walkway in the city centre, complete with chandeliers that hang from above – this path is undeniably beautiful and makes for a great photo opportunity.
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Giant Clogs
When in Amsterdam, you will find that there are numerous gift shops that feature a giant pair of wooden clogs outside that you can stand in for a cute and touristy Instagram photo!
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Food
Louie Louie
Louie Louie is an international restaurant that offers a wide variety of cuisines, and the menu features options that will meet all dietary requirements. The chicken tacos and Asian rice bowl were both delicious, and their cocktails were unique and refreshing. We opted for the passion fruit mojito and the Louie lemonade, both of which were to die for! Additionally, all of the items on their menu are priced very reasonably – making it a great option for those who desire a chic venue and mouthwatering food that won’t break the bank.
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Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis is one of the most sought-after spots in Amsterdam. This street food eatery is famous for its Dutch fries, but it also serves a range of other bites including mozzarella sticks and hotdogs! The classic fries come in three different sizes and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking sauces!
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Lolo
Authentic Italian restaurant Lolo is one of the city’s more exclusive restaurants. Its main appeal is its eccentric and stylish decor and tasty cocktails. This restaurant is very popular though, so I recommend booking a table a few days in advance to ensure that you are able to visit.
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Van Wonderen Stroopwafels
Amsterdam is also famous for its stroopwafels (a round and thin waffle made from dough and filled with sticky caramel), which you can find in a range of street food trucks and cafes throughout the city. Van Wonderen Stroopwafels are often considered the best: customers can choose from a range of toppings, including Oreos, Lotus Biscoff, and white and milk chocolate. Additionally, the Van Wonderen Stroopwafel shop is absolutely dreamy and resembles an old fashioned sweet shop.
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International Theatre Amsterdam
The International Theatre Amsterdam is an outstanding building with a charming and quaint cafe inside the entrance. We stopped here for breakfast and a coffee – the food was absolutely outstanding and very affordable! This venue serves a variety of dishes throughout the day, including eggs florentine, eggs benedict, and fruity granola in the morning, and croquettes, sandwiches, and soup in the afternoon.
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