Amsterdam Map

You can walk across Amsterdam's old center in about half an hour, and it makes sense fast once you've seen it from above. Centraal Station sits on the IJ waterfront at the top. The canals curve around it in rings, so the center is shaped roughly like half a bicycle wheel with the station at the hub. Damrak runs south from the station to Dam Square. The Red Light District is just east of that line, and the Jordaan is west of it, across the Prinsengracht. Keep heading south and you reach the two nightlife squares, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, and past the outer canal are Museumplein and De Pijp.

The map below plots the places we write about on this site: museums, markets, bars and clubs, hostels and hotels, and the ferries and bike shops you'll use to get around. Click a dot for a short note and a link to our page about it. Zoom out to find Schiphol, the big concert venues in Zuidoost and two day trips, Muiderslot castle and the Aalsmeer flower auction.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations checked against OpenStreetMap and the places' own websites in September 2026.

Getting your bearings

Street names in the center change every few blocks, so navigate by canal and by square instead. The four main canal rings, from the inside out, are the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, and if you know which one you're on, you know roughly how far you are from the station. Watch the bike lanes too. Stepping into one without looking is the fastest way to get yelled at in Dutch.

The center is walkable, but a few things are further out. Tram 12 runs from Centraal Station past Leidseplein and Museumplein and on through De Pijp, and metro 52 goes under the center from Noord to Centraal, Rokin, Vijzelgracht and De Pijp. Tap a contactless bank card on and off and you don't need a ticket. The ferries across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord are free. More in getting around Amsterdam, and if you're flying in, see getting from the airport to Centraal Station.

The main areas

• Centraal Station: the main train station and the area around it, with more than half the city's hotels and hostels. More on the Centraal Station area.
• Dam Square: the historic heart of the city, about 700 meters south of the station. More on Dam Square.
• Red Light District: the oldest and prettiest part of town, with the Oude Kerk, lots of bars and the windows. More on the Red Light District and its attractions.
• Anne Frank House: tickets are sold online only, so book before you go. More on the Anne Frank House.
• Jordaan: a residential neighborhood of small galleries, cafes and restaurants, and no big sights. More on the Jordaan.
• Waterlooplein: the flea market, next to the Rembrandt House. More on the Waterlooplein flea market.
• Rembrandtplein: cafe terraces and the glossier clubs, with the gay bars of Reguliersdwarsstraat around the corner. More on Rembrandtplein.
• Leidseplein: bars, restaurants, Melkweg and Paradiso. More on Leidseplein.
• Museumplein: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk, all on one lawn. Book timed tickets for all three.
• Vondelpark: the city's favorite park, a short walk from Museumplein. More on Vondelpark.
• De Pijp: the Heineken Experience and the Albert Cuyp Market, a day-to-day market where locals shop.
• Amsterdam Noord: across the IJ, with the Eye Filmmuseum and a few clubs. More on the free ferry to Noord.

Google map of Amsterdam

For directions or to search for an address, here's the whole city on Google Maps.

Planning more of the trip? Start with things to do in Amsterdam, Amsterdam hotels and day trips from Amsterdam.