Amsterdam first-time visitor guide
· Updated · BootsnAll
First trip to Amsterdam? This is the page to start with. It pulls together the things you need to sort out before you go and the things that will make your first day easier once you land, with links to our deeper guides on each.
A fair warning up front: a lot of what first-timers "know" about Amsterdam is out of date. Cannabis isn't legal (it's tolerated), you can't smoke it on the street in the center, you can't take a guided tour of the Red Light District, and you can't just walk up to the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh Museum and buy a ticket. None of that should put you off. It just means a little planning goes a long way.
Before you go: five things to sort out
- Book timed museum tickets. The Anne Frank House sells tickets online only, and they go on sale every Tuesday at 10am (Amsterdam time) for visits six weeks later. The Van Gogh Museum is online only too.
- Book your bed early, especially for weekends, King's Day (27 April) and summer. The city adds a tourist tax of 12.5% of the room price.
- Bring a contactless bank card. It's your public transport ticket (more below).
- Check entry rules if you're not an EU citizen. Europe's Entry/Exit System has been fully live since 10 April 2026, so leave extra time at passport control. See our Amsterdam visa page.
- Check the calendar for your dates. A festival can make your trip, or fill every hotel. Our festivals guide and holiday calendar have the big ones.
Choosing where to stay
Amsterdam's center is remarkably compact, even though it holds nearly everything you'll want to see. If you're light on your feet you can walk from one edge to the other in 30 to 40 minutes. Still, the area you pick has a big effect on your visit. The canal ring and the Jordaan are the classic postcard bases; around Centraal Station is the most convenient for arrivals and day trips; the Museum Quarter and the streets near Vondelpark are quieter and close to the big museums; the Red Light District is central and lively at night, and noisy for the same reason.
>> Choosing where to stay in Amsterdam
>> Things to know about Amsterdam hotels before you book
Suggested itineraries
Amsterdam is a small city packed with so much that you could stay a month and still miss things. Plenty of visitors only have two or three days, and you can see many of the famous highlights in that time. With four or five days you can slow down and fit in a day trip to Haarlem, the windmills or the coast.
>> 2-day Amsterdam itinerary ideas
>> Day trips from Amsterdam
>> 10 days in the Netherlands
Things you should know
Even if you've been to Amsterdam once or twice, you probably have some impressions that aren't quite right. The City of Amsterdam publishes its own ground rules for visitors, and they're worth two minutes of your time:
- No smoking cannabis and no drinking alcohol in public in the city center.
- Never buy drugs from street dealers. The city warns that what they sell is mostly fake and can be dangerous.
- No peeing in the street or the canals. Use a public toilet.
- Don't photograph sex workers.
- Watch for pickpockets in crowds and on public transport.
- Park bikes in bike parking, or they can be removed (€100 to get yours back).
Fines for nuisance run from €100 to €650. And a tip of our own: bike lanes are for bikes. Look both ways before you step into one, every time.
>> Things you should know about Amsterdam
>> Tipping and service in Amsterdam
>> Top 10 Dutch phrases to know
What to do when you arrive
On a short trip, get your bearings fast. Two inexpensive ways to do that still work.
A tip-based walking tour
SANDEMANs' Free Tour of Amsterdam starts in front of the National Monument on Dam Square, lasts about two hours on average, runs in English and Spanish, and costs whatever you decide to tip the guide at the end. It covers the canals, the Golden Age and the Jewish Quarter. One thing that changed: since April 2020 the city has banned guided tours through the Red Light District, so older advice about a free tour through the windows is out of date.
>> Amsterdam free walking tours
>> Amsterdam tours
A canal cruise
Many companies run one-hour-ish canal cruises that hit the highlights and pack in a lot of history. They aren't the best tour you'll ever take, but they're an excellent way to orient yourself on day one. They're no longer a €7 bargain: Blue Boat Company's 75-minute City Canal Cruise, for example, lists €26 for adults as of 2026. A canal cruise is also one of the things included in the I amsterdam City Card, so check the card before you pay separately.
Public transportation and getting around
If you're able-bodied, walking is the best way to get around most of the time. The city is flat and compact. Trams are worth it for longer hops, and paying is now simple: tap a contactless debit or credit card (or your phone) on the reader when you board and again when you get off. That system is called OVpay, and it works on trams, buses, metros and trains. Use the same card to check in and out, and one card per person. On GVB trams, buses and metro, what you pay by card is capped at €10.50 per day.
From the airport, the train to Centraal takes about 15 to 20 minutes and costs €5.50 one way in second class (2026).
>> Getting from Schiphol to the city
>> Amsterdam public transportation guide
>> Getting around Amsterdam
>> Bike rental in Amsterdam
Attractions and museums
This is what you came for. The big three need planning:
- Anne Frank House: online tickets only, released six weeks ahead, €16.50 for adults including the booking fee. Open daily 9am to 10pm, with exceptions. Nothing is sold at the door.
- Rijksmuseum: €25 for adults, free for 18 and under. The garden around it is free.
- Van Gogh Museum: €25 for adults, free under 18, timed tickets online only. It isn't part of the I amsterdam City Card.
Then there's the Heineken Experience, the Rembrandt House and a long list of odd little museums you haven't heard of yet.
>> Amsterdam attractions
>> Amsterdam museum guide
>> Things to do in Amsterdam
>> Free things to do in Amsterdam
Food
Amsterdam isn't the food destination Paris or London is, but there's plenty worth trying, and a lot of it is cheap. Everyone ends up eating fries drowned in mayo at least once. Less obvious, and worth a splurge if you can afford it, is the Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table). Add Dutch pancakes and a late-night snack from the FEBO wall and you've covered the classics.
>> Places to eat in Amsterdam
>> What to eat in Amsterdam
Shopping
Like most European cities, Amsterdam is full of chain stores, boutiques and department stores. Its two big outdoor markets are the ones to see. The Waterlooplein flea market, behind the city hall, is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 6pm. The Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp, with around 260 stalls, is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm.
>> Amsterdam shopping guide
>> Waterlooplein flea market
>> Albert Cuyp Market
Nightlife
Believe it or not, for all its reputation, Amsterdam is mostly quiet at night. The clubs cluster in a few pockets, especially around Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein, and the big concert venues turn into dance clubs after the shows. It's not a city to just wander at 2am hoping to stumble onto something. Know where you're going. In the Red Light District, bars and terraces now close earlier than they used to: under a city rule running to March 2027, bars in the core of the district close at 2am on weekends.
>> Amsterdam nightlife
>> Amsterdam clubs
>> Live music in Amsterdam
Amsterdam on a budget
On a tight budget, or just like stretching your money? Amsterdam has free ferries, free lunchtime concerts, cheap markets and cheap eats if you know where to look.
Coffeeshops
Older versions of this page said marijuana is legal here. It isn't. The Netherlands has a toleration policy: licensed coffeeshops can sell up to 5 grams per transaction to adults 18 and over, and prosecutors don't go after it. A 2013 rule restricts sales to Dutch residents, but enforcement is up to each city, and Amsterdam's coffeeshops serve adult visitors. Bring ID.
Where you smoke matters more than it used to. In the city center, smoke inside the coffeeshop or on its terrace. Since May 2023, lighting up on the street in the Red Light District, Dam Square, Damrak or Nieuwmarkt is a €100 fine. If you've never used cannabis, start small, and go very slowly with space cakes.
>> Amsterdam coffeeshops guide
>> Amsterdam coffeeshops FAQ
>> Where you can smoke and where you can't
Red Light District
The Red Light District (De Wallen) is the oldest part of Amsterdam and one of the most beautiful, and yes, it's also where sex workers stand in the windows. Most people who walk through are just looking, and it's fine for you to do the same. Do it respectfully. Residents have pushed back hard against drunk crowds, and the city has responded: no guided tours since 2020, no smoking cannabis on the street since 2023, earlier bar closing, and a strict ban on photographing the workers. Security staff will step in if you try. Go on a weeknight or earlier in the evening if you want to see the old canals and churches without the crush.
>> Red Light District guide
>> Attractions in the Red Light District
First-time visitor FAQ
How many days do I need in Amsterdam?
Two or three days covers the highlights. Four or five lets you add a day trip and see the city at a slower pace, which is when it's at its best.
Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it?
It depends on your list. The City Card covers more than 70 museums and attractions, a canal cruise and bike rental, and public transport in the versions that include it. It doesn't get you into the Van Gogh Museum or a discount at the Anne Frank House. Add up what you'd actually visit before buying. Our City Card page has more.
Do I need cash?
Not much. Cards work almost everywhere, including trams and trains, and the airport bus doesn't take cash at all. Carry a little for markets.
What's the best time of year for a first visit?
Late spring and early summer bring long days and good weather, but crowds too. The Amsterdam weather page and our early summer flights guide help you pick your window.