Find memorable experiences in Amsterdam
Uncover some of the favourite visitor experiences in Amsterdam
You can have so many memorable experiences in Amsterdam, whether that is walking the pretty streets, hiring a bike and finding hidden gems or enjoying a glass of bubbly on a late evening canal cruise. Here we look at some of the attractions and places that are focussed on delivering a memorable Amsterdam experience to their visitors.
We have pages focussed on the world-renowned Museums of Amsterdam and the major Amsterdam attractions. So, here you’ll find an alphabetical list of the places to visit that’ll help you experience something new, exciting, unusual or fulfilling. We list the key information on location, opening times and ticket prices (if applicable). Just click the links to find out more details and get ready to create your own memories.
We also have a special offers page where you can find current discounts and savings on various tours and attractions.
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Canal cruises
Amsterdam is also known as the ‘Venice of the North’, unsurprising when you learn it actually has more canals than Venice. You can use the canals as your method of transport, use the hop-on off cruise boats, private water taxis or hire your own. For memorable canal experiences in Amsterdam, why not take a canal tour with dinner and watch the night sky close in over the beautifully lit city.
Location: There are canal stops throughout Amsterdam. Centraal Station is one of the major hubs.
Opening times: Canal boats and tours usually start running around 9am and end at around 10pm. Some late evening cruises with dinner and drinks may end later.
Tickets: Prices vary from a single ticket for an hour at €3.20 through to €100+ for some luxury dinner cruises.
Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory
Journey back in time to this 170-year-old farm in the southwest of Amsterdam. Watch a clogmaker transform blocks of wood into footwear, take a guided tour and learn all the screts of the cheesemaking trade. You’ll get to taste some tour. Tours from Amsterdam are available.
Location: Bovenkerkerweg 106 1188 XH Amstelveen
Diamonds are forever
Royal Coster Diamonds have been creating incredible jewellery since 1840. They have a free guided Diamond Factory tour, as well as Engagement Workshops, Diamond Masterclasses and a Royal Diamond Experience.
Location: Paulus Potterstraat 2, next to Rijksmuseum.
Additionally, you can visit Gassan Diamonds which also run tours or the Diamant Museum on Museumplein. Use our link below to get full details of everything to do with diamonds and Amsterdam.
Escape Rooms of Amsterdam
For whatever reason, Amsterdam seems to have more than its fair share of Escape Rooms. If you enjoy solving puzzles/riddles and perhaps if its a rainy day, then this can be great way to spend an hour or two in Amsterdam. The games themselves will be accessible for whatever language you need. Use the link below for tickets to one of the most popular Escape Rooms in Amsterdam.
Location: Various locations.
Opening hours: Various.
Tickets: Various.
Royal FloraHolland Flower Auction
First things first, although this is a flower auction, the attraction here is not that you’ll be up close and personal to the flowers, but that you can see how the largest flower market in the world functions. You’ll need to arrive early and you can watch the action in the warehouse from walkways high above the flowers. You can also see the live auctions through windows too. This is not a tourist attraction but a working market/auction site dealing in over 20 million flowers a day.
Location: Aalsmeer. You can use the 357 bus in the Amstelveen direction, getting on at Leidensplein, Rijksmuseum or Museumplein. This takes around 45-minutes and stops right outside the visitor centre.
Opening times: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 7am-11am. Thurs 7-9am. Arrive early as auctions end early sometimes.
Tickets: Adults €8. Children 6-11 €5. There are day trip tours to Aalsmeer which are often combined with other attractions, such as Keukenhof.
Heineken Experience
One of the most popular attractions and experiences in Amsterdam (if you like beer). In the Old Brewery, you’ll take an interactive journey through the history and creation of one of the world’s most popular beers. A self-guided walk-through takes you to brewing techniques (past and present), the ingredients that create the beer, a 4-D experience, various films and tasting and a final couple of Heineken’s to end.
Location: Stadhouderskade 78 – a 10-min walk from Rijksmuseum, from Central Station use tram 16,24 or 25 to Stadhouderskade.
House of Bols
The Cocktail and Genever experience brings flavour to life in this Dutch gin museum. Explore various rooms including the history of Bols, the art of flavour, hall of taste (experiment with smell, taste and colour), the ingredient room, Genever room and finally Mirror bar where you choose your own cocktail and a professional bartender prepares it for you.
Location: Paulus Potterstraat 14. Close to Van Gogh Museum and Museumplein.
Jordaan Neighbourhood
The Jordan neighbourhood is probably one of the most famous in Amsterdam. The 9 Streets straddle canals and offer up designer and vintage shopping as well as lovely cafes to while away an hour or two. It is also one of the most photogenic areas in Amsterdam. Anne Frank House is in Jordaan, alond with the Noorderkerk Church and Homomonument. It is an area that visitors love exploring due to its unique atmosphere, pretty streets, specialty shops and galleries and community.
Location: Jordaan is west of Centraal Station from Brouwersgracht to Leidsegracht.
Opening times: N/A
Tickets: N/A
Red Light District
There is no denying that the Red Light District has become a tourist destination in its own right. So much so that the current Mayor is looking to reform the whole industry in Amsterdam and potentially move the businesses to an indoor ‘erotic’ centre. The reason being, the area has become so crammed with tourists that Amsterdam is looking at ways to change, especially after the coronavirus crisis. Currently there are guided tours of the area or you can explore yourself. The red light district is located in the oldest part of the city, meaning it has some very attractive architecture and history, whatever time of day you visit. One of the most popular tours of the Red Light District is linked below.
Location: De Wallen neighbourhood.
Opening times: N/A
Tickets: N/A
Keukenhof Castle & Gardens
A springtime visit to Amsterdam makes visiting Keukenhof Gardens an absolute must. Keukenhof is the largest and most famous flower park in the world and near to Amsterdam. 7 million bulbs are planted each year. The Keukenhof Castle is still well worth visiting outside the springtime as it is a beautiful and historical attraction in its own right.
Location: Stationsweg 166a 2161AM Lisse – various tours available from Amsterdam, use button below to find out more.
Opening times: Keukenhof Gardens – from end of March to mid-May.
Keukenhof Castle is open from April through September daily from 8.30-7.30pm. From October through March 8.30-4.30pm.
Xtracold Icebar
Everything is made out of ice in this unique Amsterdam bar. Enjoy your favourite drink out of ice glasses. This is a ticket only bar but the ticket does include three free drinks. There is a heated lounge bar at the front where you’ll receive one of your drinks and the actual ice bar at the back for the other two. You’ll even be given a coat and gloves to keep warm when you enter the ice bar. A very James Bond type of experience, even if it is modelled on the stranded Nova Zembla ship in the artic from 1596.
Location: Amstel 194. Close to Waterlooplein metro stop.
