Must See~£16
Rembrandt House Museum
Jodenbreestraat
The 17th-century house where Rembrandt lived and worked, with etchings and a working studio.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Overview
Why go to Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s 17th-century canal ring is best explored on foot, by bike or from the water. It is packed with great museums, cosy “brown cafés” and neighbourhoods that reward wandering.
- Where
- North Holland, Netherlands
- Recommended stay
- 3–4 nights
- Best time to go
- April–May for tulips, and September–October; winters are cold but cosy.
- Approx. daily budget
- £90–170 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Amsterdam cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£80–115a day
- Mid-range traveller£155–220a day
- Luxury traveller£305+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 32 Top picks in Amsterdam
Must See~£25
Heineken Experience
De Pijp
An interactive tour of the original Heineken brewery, ending with tasting glasses of beer.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Book ahead
- Suits: Food lovers
Daily; hours vary
Must See~£17
Rijksmuseum
Museumplein
The national museum, home to Rembrandt’s Night Watch and Vermeer’s Milkmaid.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–17:00
Must See~£21
Van Gogh Museum
Museumplein
The world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings, in a light modern gallery.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00
Hidden Gems
See all 10 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Begijnhof
Centrum
A hidden courtyard of 14th-century almshouses and a tiny wooden house, a calm oasis just off the busy Kalverstraat.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; daytime; please keep quiet
Hidden Gems~£15
Our Lord in the Attic (Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder)
Oudezijds Voorburgwal
A secret 17th-century church built in the attic of a canal house when Catholic worship was banned.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden Gems~£12
Hortus Botanicus
Plantage
One of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, with a butterfly house, palm house and a 2,000-year-old ancient cycad.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden Gems~£15
Foam Photography Museum
Grachtengordel
A canal-side museum with rotating exhibitions from famous and emerging photographers.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; late on Thursdays and Fridays
Food & Restaurants
See all 11 Where to eat
Winkel 43
A neighbourhood café famed for what many call the city’s best apple pie, served with whipped cream.
Known for: Dutch apple pie
Under about £19 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Café de Reiger
A classic brown café in the Jordaan with wood panelling, candlelit tables and traditional Dutch food.
Known for: Dutch bar snacks, stews
About £19–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
Café Restaurant Loetje
A local steak-restaurant chain with a devoted fan base for its “Loetje” steak with a pepper sauce.
Known for: Steak with sauce and chips
About £19–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Café ’t Smalle
A 1786 tasting house on a canal, one of the city’s prettiest brown cafés, with a terrace.
Known for: Jenever, beer, snacks
About £19–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
A suggested Amsterdam itinerary
3 nights Couple
Amsterdam · Highlights
Amsterdam in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Amsterdam picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Rembrandt House Museum, Anne Frank House, Vondelpark, NDSM Wharf
- Day 2 · Keukenhof Gardens, Canal Cruise
- Day 3 · Rijksmuseum, Heineken Experience, Van Gogh Museum, Leidseplein Nightlife
Plan Amsterdam your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.