What to do in Amsterdam in two days with the City Card
23 October 2025
Image from Jaap Vliegenthart
Your guide to Amsterdam museums with the City Card
Updated 19 March 2025 at 09:46
Discovering a new city can be overwhelming but never fear! This guide will help you make the most of your City Card across the dozens of Amsterdam must-see museums and attractions. From art to culture and history, you are guaranteed to find something to suit your tastes.
Image from Vincent van Gogh
If you like the works of Dutch Masters...
- Don’t miss the crown jewel of Amsterdam: the Rijksmuseum. Not only is it home to breathtaking masterpieces by Rembrandt van Rijn, but it also showcases the vibrant works of Van Gogh, including his captivating self-portrait and the evocative Potato Eaters.
- Venture beyond Rembrandt’s brushstrokes at the Rembrandt House Museum, located in the very house where he lived and created. For a truly immersive experience, step into Rembrandts Amsterdam, a sensational 5D journey into the artist’s last studio that brings his world to life.
Both the Rijksmuseum and Rembrandthuis are free with the City Card, and card holders get a 25% discount on Rembrandts Amsterdam.
Image from Adobe Stock
If you are interested in World War II history...
- Amsterdam’s history during World War II is profound and poignant. While the Anne Frank House is first on that list, securing tickets in time can be a challenge! Don’t overlook the wealth of knowledge at the Jewish Cultural Quarter. The recently reopened National Holocaust Museum offers a stirring insight into the historical events surrounding the persecution of Jews in the Netherlands. As part of the Quarter, extend your visit to the Jewish Museum, Hollandsche Schouwburg and Portuguese Synagogue.
- For a deeper understanding of life during the German occupation of the Netherlands, a visit to the Dutch Resistance Museum is essential—it provides a gripping narrative of resilience and bravery during the Second World War.
Image from Bryony Rijks
If you are interested in Amsterdam's heritage...
- Explore the enchanting canal houses of Amsterdam are integral to the city’s charm and history. Start your journey at the Museum of the Canals, the continue to Museum van Loon and Huis Willet-Holthuysen. While the Museum of the Canals sheds light on how Amsterdam's establishment, the other two canal museums offer a unique look back in time through the lens of beautifully preserved historic houses.
- Take a peek into the churches that formed Amsterdam's landscapes such as De Nieuwe Kerk and Oude Kerk. And don’t miss the hidden gem that is the Our Lord in the Attic Museum, where a 17th-century canal house conceals a clandestine place of worship under its roof.
- Peel back the layers of jewelry-making history in the sparkling Royal Coster Diamonds before going one step further. Discover how these beautiful diamonds are perfected during a tour of the GASSAN Diamonds factory.
Image from Stedelijk Museum
If you like modern & contemporary art...
- Art enthusiasts will revel in the contemporary collections at the Stedelijk Museum, where modern masterpieces come to life. A trip to the Cobra Museum is worth making for the sake of its permanent collection showcases works by Karel Appel, Corneille, and Asger Jorn.
- For more impressionist and modern art, venture out to the Singer Laren Museum, home to stunning artworks by Piet Mondriaan, Auguste Rodin, Tonia Stieltjes and others.
- If you enjoy street art, consider hopping on the ferry to the STRAAT street art and graffiti museum in NDSM, where street artists come to create works inside an 8000 m2 warehouse.
If you like natural science...
- You will love the hands-on exploration at the NEMO Science Museum, as well as ARTIS Micropia and Groote Museum. Nestled beside the iconic ARTIS Zoo, these two gems are deserving of their own special visit. At Micropia, you'll dive into the hidden universe of microbes, unveiling the astonishing microscopic life that thrives all around us. Meanwhile, the Groote Museum invites you to reflect on humanity's grand questions, offering a thought-provoking journey through life’s mysteries. Both museums promise an immersive, interactive experience that will awaken your curiosity.
- Unwind with a leisurely stroll through the lush gardens and elegant pavilions of the Hortus Botanicus. Founded in 1638 as a medicinal herb garden for Amsterdam’s doctors and pharmacists, this enchanting oasis is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world—a serene escape into nature’s rich history.
Enjoy free entry to over 70 attractions and museums across Amsterdam and the area, including a free canal cruise and a bike rental with the I amsterdam City Card.
