- Amsterdam is technically built on approximately 11 million wooden poles that prevent the buildings from sinking into the marshy soil.
- The city features more bicycles than residents, with an estimated 800,000 bikes navigating its streets daily.
- Amsterdam contains over 1,500 bridges, outnumbering those found in Venice.
- Due to the low elevation of the land, much of the city sits below sea level, protected by a sophisticated system of dikes and pumping stations.
- The city's iconic canal houses were taxed by width in the 17th century, leading to the construction of famously narrow, tall buildings with external pulleys for moving goods.
About Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a unique urban landscape defined by a 17th-century canal ring that functions as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a primary transport artery. The city balances its deep historical roots, exemplified by the Royal Palace Amsterdam, with a world-class concentration of art history in the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Visitors can trace the city’s complex past at the Anne Frank House or enjoy modern panoramas from the A'DAM Lookout. The city is built on millions of wooden piles driven into soft peat soil to support its dense architecture.
Highlights of Amsterdam
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
View the masterpieces of Rembrandt and Vermeer in the historic Gallery of Honour.
Museums
Examine the world's largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh, spanning his entire career.
Museums
Visit the secret annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary during the Nazi occupation.
Parks
Rent a bike to navigate the expansive lawns and winding paths of the city's most famous park.
Historical places
Stand at the city's central hub, which features the National Monument and constant historic activity.
Places of interest
Experience a 360-degree view of the city and its harbor from this tower's observation deck.
Historical places
Tour the opulent interior of this 17th-century palace located directly on Dam Square.
Museums
Explore modern and contemporary art exhibitions located in a repurposed historic villa.
Top things to do in Amsterdam
The 433 highest-rated places in Amsterdam, ranked by travellers.
1
Museums
The Rijksmuseum is the Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam. It houses a vast collection of...
2
Museums
The Van Gogh Museum houses the world's most comprehensive collection of Vincent van Gogh's paintings, drawings, and lett...
3
Museums
The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum situated in the canal-side house where Anne Frank and her family hid from...
4
Parks
Vondelpark is Amsterdam's largest city park, covering 47 hectares in the Oud-Zuid district. It is a designated national...
5
Historical places
Dam Square serves as the historical and cultural center of Amsterdam, positioned at the site of the original 13th-centur...
6
Venues
The Johan Cruijff Arena is the largest stadium in the Netherlands and the home of AFC Ajax. It features a retractable ro...
7
Zoos
ARTIS is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, founded in 1838 as Natura Artis Magistra. The park integrates a botanical ga...
8
Museums
NEMO Science Museum is housed in a distinctive, boat-shaped copper-clad building designed by architect Renzo Piano. Loca...
9
Places of interest
A'DAM Lookout is an observation deck situated on the top floors of the A'DAM Toren, providing a 360-degree panoramic vie...
10
Historical places
The Royal Palace Amsterdam, situated on Dam Square, serves as one of three palaces at the disposal of the Dutch monarch....
11
Museums
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is located on Dam Square and features high-fidelity wax replicas of historical figures, intern...
12
Museums
The Moco Museum Amsterdam is located in the historic Villa Alsberg, a townhouse designed by Eduard Cuypers in 1904. The...
13
Museums
BODY WORLDS Amsterdam is a permanent exhibition featuring real human specimens preserved through plastination. The museu...
14
Museums
Red Light Secrets Museum is the world’s first museum dedicated to the history and reality of sex work in Amsterdam's Red...
15
Parks
Westerpark is a sprawling public green space built on the site of the former Westergasfabriek, a 19th-century municipal...
16
Museums
The Rembrandt House Museum is located in the 17th-century home and studio where Rembrandt van Rijn lived and worked betw...
17
Museums
The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is the city's primary institution for 20th and 21st-century contemporary art and design....
18
Places of interest
The Amsterdam Dungeon is an immersive theatrical attraction located in the heart of Amsterdam that recreates the city's...
19
Places of interest
This is Holland is a 5D flight experience that simulates a bird’s-eye view of UNESCO World Heritage sites and Dutch land...
20
Venues
The Concertgebouw is one of the world's most acoustically significant concert halls, opened in 1888 and designed by arch...
21
Museums
The National Maritime Museum, known as Het Scheepvaartmuseum, is housed in the 1656 Arsenal building, a former naval war...
22
Venues
Royal Theater Carré is a permanent theater and circus venue located on the banks of the Amstel River in Amsterdam. Estab...
23
Venues
A'DAM Tower is a 22-story multi-purpose building located on the northern bank of the IJ river in Amsterdam. It is best k...
24
Parks
Founded in 1638, the Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. It began as a medicinal herb...
25
Museums
The Oude Kerk is Amsterdam's oldest building, consecrated in 1306 and located in the heart of the city's red-light distr...
26
Museums
The Sexmuseum Amsterdam Venustempel is the world's oldest museum dedicated to human sexuality, having opened in 1985. It...
27
Historical places
Begijnhof is a secluded 14th-century courtyard originally established as a sanctuary for the Beguines, a group of lay re...
28
Places of interest
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Amsterdam is a permanent cabinet of curiosities located on Dam Square, dedicated to Robert R...
29
Parks
Amstelpark is a sprawling 70-hectare green space originally designed for the 1972 Floriade horticultural exhibition. It...
30
Museums
Micropia is the world's first museum dedicated entirely to microbes, housed within the historic Natura Artis Magistra co...
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Amsterdam on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Amsterdam
May through September, as the weather is mildest for outdoor canal activities and visiting public spaces like Vondelpark.
3-4 days, allowing enough time to balance major museum visits with exploring the neighborhoods on foot or by bike.
The city is highly walkable, though the extensive tram network and widespread cycling infrastructure are the preferred modes of transport for locals and visitors.
The Canal Belt offers a classic atmosphere, while the Jordaan neighborhood provides a quieter, more local residential experience with boutique shopping.
Amsterdam is generally an expensive destination, particularly regarding accommodation and dining in the city center.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 433 curated attractions in and around Amsterdam, ranked by traveller ratings.
Rijksmuseum is the highest-rated place to visit in Amsterdam right now.
The largest category is museums, with 175 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Rotterdam, The Hague, Nijmegen.
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Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
