Things to do in Amsterdam

66 activities, venues and outings in Amsterdam, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 66.

DoZuidoost
AFAS Live
Formerly Heineken Music Hall
Large-scale music venue with plenty of international stars having performed here. More "headliners" are booked in Amsterdam for AFAS Live than any other venue. Best reached by train or metro (station Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA).
DoBinnenstad
Amsterdam Dungeon
The Amsterdam Dungeon is a horror tour through several dark chambers with live actors.
11:00-17:00 daily, 24 Dec-8 Jan 10:30-17:30 daily, 2 Jul-4 Sep 11:00-18;00 daily€21
DoBinnenstad
Amsterdam Music Theatre
Het Muziektheater
Opera, dance, ballet and other performances. Holds a free lunch concert on Tuesdays.
Mon-Fri 12:00-18:00, Sat Sun 12:00-15:00
DoOost
Bimhuis
World-class jazz and improvised music venue, five minutes by foot from Centraal Station.
€14-18
DoJordaan
Boom Chicago
The Amsterdam comedy institution since 1993. English language sketch and improv comedy show with extensive use of video, music and the internet. The troupe is sharp and skewers current events, trends and life and local events in Amsterdam. Perhaps the best comedy show in any city. Good food is served before the show and drink service continues all night.
DoPlantage
Carré Theatre
When the theatre was founded in 1887, it was meant as a permanent circus building. It is mainly used for musicals, cabaret performances and pop concerts.
DoZuid
Concertgebouw
Famous for its orchestra and its acoustics (among the top ten in the world), this is one of the world's most frequently visited concert halls. Classical music is the main fare, but they also bring other kinds of music on stage. They have a free "lunch concert" on Wednesday from 12:30 till 13:00. In the same building is the "Kleine Zaal" ("Small Hall") for more intimate performances, often top-notch as well. It's worth a visit if only for its architecture.
DoCanal District
De Poezenboot
You really like cats? The poezenboot (cat boat) is a refuge for cats awaiting adoption.
DoNoord
EYE Film Institute Netherlands
EYE is an institute dedicated to the preservation of film for future generations. It is the successor of the Filmmuseum. It has four film theatres with alternative screenings such as art films. In April the Imagine Film Festival is held here with screenings dedicated to exploitation, cult and lower-budget films. Well worth it if you're a fan of the genre.
Sun-Thu 10:00-22:00, Fri Sat 10:00-23:00
DoZuid
Electrische Museumtramlijn Amsterdam
Electric Tram Museum Amsterdam
On operating days, the museum runs various vintage trams on two routes. Line 30 runs every 30 minutes along on a 7-km museum rail line to Amstelveen with stops along the route. Station Amstelveen is perhaps the most interesting stop as it is near an attractive small-town area with restaurants. Line 20 runs two trips only around Amsterdam. If you buy a day pass, you can travel both routes.
Sundays, April-November, plus Easter & Pentecost Mon, 11:00-17:00Adult fares vary from €3.50 to €12.50 with reduced rates for seniors (65+) and children (4-11)
DoZuid
Friday Night Skate
Put on your skates, and join the popular weekly skate tour (since 1997), a different route every week. Starts every Friday at 20:30 from the Vondelpark (near the former Filmmuseum).
DoZuidoost
Gaasperpark
Recreational area and nature reserve with a lake and water-sports centre. The centre offers facilities for canoeing, swimming, rowing, sailing and a surfing school. Explore the park (5 km around the lake) by foot, bicycle or horseback. On the edge of the park is the Gaasper Camping campsite.
DoBinnenstad
Gassan Diamonds
A guided tour is given that's all about the diamond production process and the history of diamond trade in Amsterdam. Diamonds have been traded in Amsterdam for longer than 425 years, and the city used to be known as the "City of Diamonds". Tours are given in 27 languages. Of course you can also buy Gassan diamonds here, but you don't have to.
09:00-17:00 dailyFree (the tour, not the diamonds)
DoBinnenstad
Hash, Marihuana and Hemp Museum
Opened for over twenty years, the Hash Museum is dedicated to debunking the lies and demonization about one of our most useful plants, the hemp plant. Although small, busy and seriously overpriced, it is a well-done museum where people go to get informed.
10:00-23:00 daily€9
DoCanal District
Ignatiushuis
A Jesuit society that organizes classes and activities. Membership is required, but every Tuesday (Sep-Jul) a free concert is given at 12:30-13:00. Everyone can attend.
DoZuidoost
Kraaiennest Outdoor Gym
A well-equipped outdoor gym with permanent workout stations, made out of green plastic & metal. If you spend some time in Bijlmer, this is a good spot to workout for free during the daytime, and talk to locals. Just beside the running tracks and tennis court which you will see from the metro station and the Kraaiennest Winkelcentrum.
24 hrFree
DoBinnenstad
Madame Tussauds
The well-known franchise of wax museums also has a branch in Amsterdam. It's a major tourist attraction so expect a steep entry fee and long queues. Unique to this branch are waxworks of famous Dutch people including Willem-Alexander, Beatrix, Tiësto, Rafael van der Vaart, Doutzen Kroes, Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt.
10:00-18:30 daily€22
DoBinnenstad
Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments
The latest gimmicky tourist attraction near the Centraal Station, it's a small museum about medieval torture and torture devices. In the Middle Ages, torture was a widely known punishment for almost all crimes committed, ranging from rape to murder, and above all for heresy. The type of punishment depended on the victim's crime and social status. The Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments displays over 100 devices used to torture people. Before its make-over, it used to be the Vodka Museum; the vodka shop is still open in the basement with free entry.
09:00-22:00 daily€12.50
DoOost
Muziekgebouw aan't IJ
Modern music concerts and classical music with a twist. A free concert is given every second Tuesday of the month at 12:30.
Mon-Sat 12:00-18:00€20
DoBinnenstad
NEMO
Above a tunnel overseeing the IJ, NEMO is the largest science museum in the Netherlands. It's a showcase of how scientific phenomena influence daily life. Different sections of the museum deal with technology and engineering, ICT, and bio- and behavioral sciences. This is a place to take kids and is best for those ages 11 and below—teenagers will probably get bored. And it is usually definitely full of children on weekends. During summer it has a panorama roof terrace on its roof with deckchairs with free entry.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00€11.50
DoZuidoost
Pathé Arena
One of the largest cinemas in the country, and it also has IMAX movies.
DoCanal District
Pathé Tuschinski
Since its opening in 1921, Tuschinski has been the country's most breathtaking film theatre. It's worth a visit if only for its interior, a spectacular mix of Art Nouveau, Amsterdam School and Art Deco styles. If possible, get a tour of the building, taking in the sumptuous private rooms upstairs. If you're going to watch a film, pick the one that's in the big auditorium. With the exception of some animated films, all English films are subtitled and not dubbed, so you should be able to enjoy the standard Hollywood fare the way it's meant to be seen.
11:30-00:30 daily€11.50
DoZuid
Rialto
For all art-house cinema lovers. All films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles. They have late-night and classic showings too. Just a short walk from the Albert Cuyp Market/Heineken Brouwerij, in the nice non-touristy neighborhood De Pijp.
M–Th EUR 9, F–Su EUR 10
DoBinnenstad
Sexmuseum
The largest and most prestigious museum for sex art and sex history in the Netherlands. It shows a lot of sex oddities. Only ages 16 and up are allowed entry.
09:00-22:00 daily€4
DoCanal District
Stadsarchief Amsterdam
This institute maintains the archives of the municipality and other organizations that are closely related to Amsterdam. The archives are open to everyone. Most interesting for travelers are the exhibitions and events, see the website.
Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 12:00-17:00
DoBinnenstad
Torture Museum
You'd think one museum about torture would be enough, but no, not in Amsterdam. However, this was the first torture museum in the city centre, and is at least somewhat more authentic than the copycat. The museum depicts the history of different torturous techniques used over the centuries. The lighting is bad, the corridors are small and the price an absolute rip-off. You can walk through it in 15-30 minutes.
Open now · closes 11 pm€7
Do Not mapped
Adam's Boats
Rent a boat without the need for a licence. The Amstel river can be reached within 2 minutes from the hire place.
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam Boat Experience
Amsterdam Boat Experience was founded in 2015 and has been steadily expanding its fleet and now offers exclusive private charters while also operating a fixed route from the Anne Frank house. Tickets for the 1 hour cruise on the luxurious electric open boats with live narrating are EUR 15. while you relax the hostess serves drinks on the boat.
09.00-22.00
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam Boats B.V.
Personal rental of a wide variety of boats. You can rent a gondola, hand made by a girl from Amsterdam. She traveled to Venice to learn the craft, then built her own Gondola which she brought back to Amsterdam.
DoCanal District Not mapped
Amsterdam Booze Cruise
A boat trip through the canals of Amsterdam is always a good idea. Discover Amsterdam from the water while enjoying a drink.
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam Dance Event
Usually held during the second last weekend in October, this electronic music annual festival gathers cream of the crop faces from the house and techno scenes. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid paying more at the door and having to queue for hours. Besides partying for four nights in a row, the conference offers workshops, seminars, presentations etc.
€79+
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam International Fashion Week
Twice a year, this event presents young and upcoming fashion in Europe with a focus on Dutch design.
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam Jewel Cruises
An evening dinner cruise. It is the only classic boat offering a private table for a romantic candlelight dinner. À la carte dining, but not cheap! The cruise starts at 19:30 and lasts just under three hours.
EUR 99-113
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam Light Festival
Outdoor light installations/artworks exposition in the canals of Binnenstad. Each year the festival has a different theme.
Do Not mapped
Amsterdam Roots Festival
A free open-air festival with music from non-Western countries accompanied by paid film and theater performances in the surrounding theaters.
Do Not mapped
Boatboys Private Boat Tours
Operates every day for private luxury boat tours on a historic classic boat. 1hr starting from EUR 250.
Do Not mapped
Boats4rent Boat Rental
Boats4rent is a boat rental where you can rent a boat without a skipper. With a three or four hour rental you can make a private trip on the Amsterdam canals and the Amstel river.
open every day from March to Octoberbest rates in Amsterdam
Do Not mapped
Boaty Rent a Boat
Boaty Rent a Boat rents small boats (max. 6 people) to make your own private boat tour on the Amsterdam canals. These rental boats are electrically driven which means they are silent and free of exhaust fumes.
Do Not mapped
Canal Company
The Canal Hopper runs three fixed routes, stopping near major attractions (Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank's House, etc.). You can get on or off as often as you like, but it is relatively expensive with EUR 20 per 24 hours. The first boats start between 09:15 and 10:45, depending on which stop you get on. The last boats start dropping off at around 19:00. It also has four locations for renting your own boat; two-seater canal bikes cost EUR 8 per person per hour.
Do Not mapped
De Parade
Circus turns vintage, on an old-fashioned fairground with many different tents, the performers are each trying to attract their public, featuring spectacles of dance, theater, magic, art, animation and music.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Amsterdam (CC BY-SA 4.0).