Amsterdam has always made for an easy weekend jaunt, with multitudes of stag and hen dos descending upon its winding canals and infamous Red Light District. Yet in recent years, the Dutch capital has slowly begun to shed its somewhat shady reputation, and evolved into much more than a quick stopover. Venture past its tourist-trodden centre, and you’ll quickly stumble upon stylish boutiques and leafy spaces to enjoy: from exploring charming local markets to gawping at Golden Age artworks and sinking your teeth into the city’s emerging culinary scene, there’s plenty to discover in the Venice of the North.
When is the best time to travel to Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is a year-round destination, but for the loveliest weather, visit in spring when the days are mild and sunny. Time your visit for April: the city comes alive with colourful flora during Amsterdam Tulip Festival, and national holiday King’s Day also takes place, when Dutch visitors from all over The Netherlands flock to the capital for weekend-long celebrations. Come summer, Amsterdam erupts with a multitude of festivals, open-air theatre performances, and film screenings. To avoid peak tourist season, a winter break is equally as enjoyable - and can be particularly atmospheric if the canals have frozen over.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
For a first-timer’s visit to the Dutch capital, set aside four days to spend between exploring the sights and experiencing more local aspects of the city; for discovering lesser-known areas and taking a day trip out of town, a week-long sojourn is ideal. However, if you’re strapped for time, a weekend jaunt can be just long enough to whiz around the must-see spots.
Things to do in Amsterdam
This is a culturally rich capital, and the proud epicentre of Dutch art. The city’s most iconic gallery of all is the Rijksmuseum, which houses a permanent collection of pieces by some of the best-known Dutch Masters (Rembrandt and Vermeer among them). Make sure to carve out a visit here, where you can marvel at Golden Age artworks from the 17th century, and easily while away the day exploring the various exhibitions. Pootle along Museumplein for an afternoon spent gallery-hopping between the Van Gogh museum, which houses the world-famous artist’s most renowned works, and the Stedelijk Museum for contemporary showcases. Keen art lovers can dial it up a notch by bedding down in one of the Collector’s Suites at luxurious Pulitzer Amsterdam, each of which is individually designed and framed with priceless ceramics, antique furniture, and objets d'art.
Rub shoulders with the locals at the city’s farmers’ markets, which are particularly buzzy on the weekends. Head to De Pijp’s famed Albert Cuypmarkt for some of the best vintage shopping in Amsterdam; you’ll also find plenty of souvenirs to take home with you, and a diverse array of food stalls. Or hop over to Jordaan on Saturdays to visit Lindengracht Market, where you browse trinkets and sample edible treats from more than 200 stalls: freshly made stroopwafels oozing caramel, local cheeses, and bitterballen (a type of Dutch meatball that has been battered and fried). After getting your steps in, pop into canalside greasy spoons Winkel 43 and Cafe Papeneiland for a slice of classic apple pie, both of which are a short stroll from Lindengracht.
The city is nicknamed the Venice of the North for a reason: Amsterdam’s warren-like canal network winds throughout the central neighbourhoods, framed by twee Golden Age townhouses, and cobbled streets. Exploring the city by canal is an easy way to get around the various districts if you’re strapped for time, as well as a leisurely way to spend the afternoon. Hire a boat through Mokumboot and steer your way through the canals, or join a guided tour for a thorough history lesson of the capital. On a sunny day, you’ll pass by plenty of locals and tourists along the canals - make the most of it by bringing along a picnic along with you.
Amsterdam hasn’t always been known as a foodie destination, but in the last few years, the city has been gradually earning its culinary stripes - and its Michelin stars. A key driver of this renaissance is the emphasis on hyper-seasonal cooking, championing Dutch micro-seasonality and locally sourced ingredients. For spectacular all-out dining in this vein, visit two Michelin-starred Flore, situated inside the city’s showstopping grande dame Hotel De L’Europe. This is the only two Michelin-starred restaurant in the city to also hold a green Michelin star, with exquisite menus crafted by chef Bas van Kranen spotlighting organic ingredients, 90 per cent of which have been sourced from within The Netherlands. Another standout dining destination is De Kas, which is housed in a greenhouse-like setting and also holds a Michelin star alongside its green star. This restaurant grows its own produce, and serves a menu centred around farm-to-fork dishes that change with the seasons. This culinary shift extends beyond Amsterdam’s city centre: escape the thrum, and head into the suburbs to former fisherman’s inn turned boutique hotel De Durgerdam, where lakeside dining at restaurant De Mark features a menu curated by Michelin-starred chefs. Dishes are mostly vegetable-centric and cooked over a wood fire, again focussing on in-season and locally grown produce.
Prioritise visiting some of Amsterdam’s lesser-known neighbourhoods, which ooze charm in spades compared to the tourist-trodden streets around Centraal and De Wallen, the city’s seedy Red Light District. Cycle over to trendy Noord, which boasts a clutch of stylish restaurants loved by locals, such as listening bar come Asian-fusion restaurant Cornerstore, sourdough pizza spot Euro Pizza, and stylish all-day eatery Cafe-Restaurant Metro. Or head south to De Pijp for vintage shopping, making sure to amble through leafy Oosterpark and residential Oost along the way, which is home to a smattering of modish boutiques and cafes. For wide open spaces and greener pastures, steer your course through Vondelpark and Westerpark. Meanwhile, over in the city’s eastern Docklands, The Hoxton’s second hotel opening marks a new era for this industrial quarter of the city that was previously relatively untouched. On its doorstep, the surrounding neighbourhood, Czaar Peter Kwartier draws creatives from across the city with its stylish boutiques and cult bakeries.
Tulip season is taken very seriously in The Netherlands, and if you’re visiting in springtime, an excursion to nearby flower fields makes an enjoyable respite from the bustle of the city. Head to Bollenstreek, a 20-kilometre long rainbow of daffodils, hyacinths and, of course, tulips, that erupts in colour from late March, and reaches full blossom in mid-April. Alternatively, visit Annemieke’s Pluktuin, one of the city’s nearby picking gardens to pluck and create your own bouquet. Both destinations are less than an hour outside the city.
Things to know
Weather: High season, between June and September, usually sees temperatures averaging around 24 to 30 degrees celsius. For milder temperatures, visit in shoulder season (April/May and October/November) - for winter visits, be prepared for snow, with the canals occasionally freezing over.
Currency: Euro
Transportation and how to get around: Catch the train from Schiphol Airport and you’ll be within the heart of the city in just 20 minutes - alternatively, the Eurostar pulls in directly at Centraal Station. From here, the tram and metro networks run like clockwork, and are incredibly straightforward to navigate. You can purchase tickets, or use an OV-chipkaart, which is topped up as you go. This is a compact city, so exploring by foot is just as easy - or do as the locals do, and hire a bicycle to pedal around.
Visa requirements: None, but stays are subject to the EU’s 90-day policy.
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