Things to do in Amsterdam City Centre

Get stuck into the Museum Quarter

The museum quarter is one of the city's greatest cultural hotspots. A host of Amsterdam's best museums converge on this square, featuring some of the most impressive art collections in the world. From old Dutch masters to international contemporary works, the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Moco, and Stedelijk museums can all be found along the famed Museumplein (Museum Square).

Tip: Armed with the I amsterdam City Card, you’ll have access to more than 70 museums across Amsterdam including major institutions at Museumplein.

Indulge in some retail therapy

Amsterdam's city centre is home to many of the Netherlands’ flagship stores, grand department stores, and chic boutiques. For luxury shopping, there’s no better place to start than De Bijenkorf and Magna Plaza, two iconic department stores which tower over Dam Square. Nearby, hit Kalvertoren on Kalverstraat - one of the busiest retail thoroughfares lined with the most prominent Dutch and international brands. Don't skip the Kalverpassage, between Heiligeweg and Kalverstraat, where you'll find shops such as The North Face, Leonidas, and HEMA. For a hidden surprise, step into the glass elevator, which will take you to Blue Amsterdam - a restaurant with spectacular city views and a menu packed with burgers, light bites and salads - perfect to refuel between shopping. Or, for independent boutiques and vintage finds, head to some of the centre’s more alternative shopping districts, including De Negen Straatjes (9 Streets), Haarlemmerbuurt or the Spiegelkwartier.

Windowshop along Haarlemmerstraat

You can find a great range of smaller stores on the cosy adjoining shopping streets of Haarlemmerdijk and Haarlemmerstraat. These include a fantastic selection of curated pre-loved and vintage fashion stores without that famous whiff, like Archive 1906, Rumors Vintage & Design, UMÉ Studio and Studio Onrust and independent fashion and decor boutiques like Future Days Shop, The Darling, SUKHA and Six & Sons. The streets’ mind-boggling collection of specialists includes Affaire d’ Eau (bathroom antiques), Vivian Hahn (tableware), Hooks and Yarn (knitting supplies), Lof (wine), Jordino (chocolate and ice cream), ‘t Zonnetje (coffee, tea and herbs), HARTRUYT (designer lighting) and De Kookboekhandel (cookbooks).

Tip: There’s also an organic farmer’s market on Wednesdays at Haarlemmerplein at the end of the Haarlemmerstraat.

Gaze upwards

As one of the world's most beautiful cities, there's no shortage of show-stopping architecture in the city centre, the oldest part of Amsterdam. Take in all the beauty at your own pace, from elegant canal house façades with gable stones to quirky statues, monuments, and narrow steegjes (passages). Check out our selection of walking routes around the city centre for more context and history. The city’s cherished secret gardens - sometimes hidden behind the doors of unique museums - offer a welcome green retreat from a day of sightseeing.

Sample age-old jenever recipes

The city centre's cobbled streets conceal some charming proeflokalen (tasting rooms), many of which have existed for centuries. Wynand Fockink retains its 17th-century character and product assortment, offering punters the opportunity to sample a variety of jenever (Dutch gin), draft beers and fruit brandies. Impress the bartender by maintaining the tradition of bowing before taking your first slurp. Likewise, Proeflokaal A. Van Wees is a tasting room for the Van Wees Distillery, which continues to make delicious house-made liqueurs and spirits - the perfect aperitif before tucking into the menu of traditional dishes. Here are our best spots to slurp jenever in the city centre.

Explore on foot

Voted one of the world's most walkable cities, Amsterdam's city centre naturally lends itself to exploration on foot, with so much to discover packed into a compact area. Those endless canal rings can sometimes feel disorientating, so why not plan your route using a self-guided itinerary? These themed walking tours have been put together by the city’s best guides, encompassing fascinating topics like the LGBTQI+ history of Amsterdam, maritime trade and sustainability or the romantic stories hiding behind some of the city’s most iconic buildings. All routes include great suggestions for coffee and cake pitstops, too.

Hop on a canal cruise

Whether you’re a first-timer or a frequent visitor, Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canal belt is all the more magical when viewed from the water. Glide past the city’s historic offerings on one of the famous canal cruises, witnessing 16th-century churches and iconic drawbridges like the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) from a new angle. Here's a selection of the various tours on offer with multiple options to suit your travel plans.

Tip: Don't forget that many tour operators are part of the I amsterdam City Card!

Chill at the Marineterrein

This up-and-coming former-docklands area east of Centraal Station is teeming with hotspots to explore. Pension Homeland encompasses a hotel, restaurant, and brewery with a large waterfront deck that allows you to enjoy a lovely view of the National Maritime Museum and the VOC ship replica. Blissfully off the beaten track on the opposite bank, Hannekes Boom exudes a quirky vibe and boasts one of Amsterdam’s best beer gardens. Locals and savvy visitors gather on sunny days to enjoy the funky vibes, good music and home-cooked BBQ food.

Step into Anne Frank’s diary pages

No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without visiting the house where a remarkable young girl, whose name is now etched in history, spent her final years in hiding during the Nazi occupation—a poignant reminder of a curious and optimistic mind and the immense tragedy that followed. Opened in 1960, the Anne Frank House Museum in the Jordaan neighbourhood preserves the annexe where Frank lived with her family for two years. View Anne’s original red-checked diary up close and see the hinged bookcase that led to their concealed living quarters. Check out this dedicated guide for more museums and cultural hotspots in central Amsterdam.

Browse the markets

Amsterdam’s historic market squares are taken over by traders and stalls flogging all kinds of wares throughout the week. Nieuwmarkt is the place to go for locally-grown fruit and veg on Saturdays, and in the summer, you can haggle for vintage bargains on Sundays. A flea market and farmers’ market in one, Noordermarkt is a haven for delicious, organic produce, including honey, cheese and homemade cakes, as well as antiques, books and vintage fashion (Monday mornings and Saturdays). Or have a rummage at Spui for rare, second-hand and out-of-print books on Fridays and affordable local art on Sundays.