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Amsterdam travel guide

Canals, cycling and some of the world's best museums

Amsterdam canals. Photo: Andrés Barrios, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1hflight from London
AMSnearest main airport
18° in Augwarmest month
4° in Jancoolest month

Amsterdam's ring of 17th-century canals is a UNESCO site, lined with gabled houses and houseboats. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House are all within walking distance.

It's a city for cycling, canal cruises and brown cafés, and it's only an hour's flight from the UK.

Good forCity breaksArtCyclingNightlife

What Amsterdam is known for

  • Canals

    A UNESCO ring of canals and bridges.

  • Museums

    Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

  • Bikes

    More bikes than people.

  • Anne Frank House

    The secret annexe.

Top things to do in Amsterdam

  1. 1

    The Rijksmuseum

    Rembrandt's Night Watch and Dutch masters.

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  2. 2

    The Van Gogh Museum

    The world's largest Van Gogh collection.

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  3. 3

    The Anne Frank House

    Tickets release online six weeks ahead.

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  4. 4

    A canal cruise

    The best way to see the old city.

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  5. 5

    The Jordaan

    Pretty lanes, cafés and markets.

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  6. 6

    Vondelpark

    The city's big park.

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See all tours and tickets in Amsterdam

Where to stay in Amsterdam

Find a hotel in Amsterdam

Best time to visit Amsterdam

Best value: Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct. April to June and September: tulip season and mild weather. December has lights and markets.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
3.5 C4°J3.5 C4°F5.6 C6°M9.2 C9°A12.7 C13°M15.8 C16°J17.9 C18°J18 C18°A15.4 C15°S11.6 C12°O7.7 C8°N4.6 C5°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Amsterdam, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 1h from London to AMS, and flights from most UK airports.

Walk, cycle or take trams. Trains from Schiphol take 15 minutes.

Find flights to Amsterdam (AMS)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Watch out for bike lanes: they're busy and fast.
  • Book museums well ahead.
  • A tourist tax is among the highest in Europe.
Netherlands guidesVisasPlugs & adaptersEnglish spokenWhen to go

Amsterdam FAQ

How many days in Amsterdam?

Three days.

Is Amsterdam expensive?

Hotels are; food and transport are fair.

More places in Netherlands

Back to the Netherlands travel guide + Add Amsterdam to your bucket list