What to do
Outdoors when the sun shows up, museums and little shops when the sky closes in. In Amsterdam both usually happen on the same day — plan B is part of the plan.
For sunny days
Rent a boat for a few hours and skipper it yourself: no licence needed, and the boat goes VERY slowly (the limit is 6 km/h). You have to be 18 to rent one. Bring some snacks and enjoy the city from the water. It's an open boat, and there's no toilet on board.
If it's a big group, Sloepdelen has electric boats for up to 12 people; Mokumboot's take 8 at most.
The biggest open-air market in the Netherlands, in De Pijp. It has everything: fruit, spices, clothes, odds and ends, with good prices for souvenirs. The neighbourhood around it is full of shops, food and nightlife.
At the Albert Cuyp you get the Dutch basics all in one go: bitterballen, chips in a cone, kibbeling (fried fish), haring (raw fish, for the brave), stroopwafel made fresh in front of you, and poffertjes, the mini pancakes.
A big park with several bars inside. It works well for lunch, dinner, or a late-afternoon beer. The old gasworks, the Westergasfabriek, has turned into a courtyard of restaurants, a cinema and music venues.
And there's the Sunday Market: the first Sunday of every month, 12:00 to 18:00, free entry. It's a market of people who make things: ceramics, stationery, vintage and sustainable clothes, jewellery, kids' stuff, with live music and the terraces open all around. If your visit lands on a first Sunday, it's easy to spend the whole day here.
Two kilometres of park right up against one of the nicest parts of the city. Good for a walk, a picnic, and admiring the big houses around it. And there are two bars inside for when you get thirsty.
The classic way to get your bearings: canals, Dam Square and the historic streets, with stories you wouldn't pick up on your own.
The classic drawbridge over the Amstel, all lit up at night. Worth going out of your way to cross it.
A viewpoint with Amsterdam's highest swing, right by Amsterdam Centraal: just take the ferry across (it's free).
The museum square: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and a huge lawn to rest on or have a picnic. There's a supermarket (Albert Heijn) next door for snacks and drinks, and De Pijp is just around the corner.
A market for clothes, cheese and fruit on Saturdays and Mondays. The postcard up there is from 1915, hand-coloured — hence the painted look.
Nine parallel streets with Dutch designer shops, jewellery, clothes and food. Great atmosphere, and the walk crosses several pretty canals.
Amsterdam has a market for everything: flowers, antiques, books, fabric. Full list of markets →
When the sky closes in
It will happen. Probably today. Here's plan B.
Anne Frank, Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Heineken Experience: the big ones are all close together. If you want to dig beyond the famous ones, the full list of museums in the country is online.
Beautiful inside, with a great view over the city from the top floor. Worth a visit on a sunny day too — but on a rainy one it's the perfect hideout.
The main square and the shopping street running off it. All the shops below are in this stretch.
Shopping downtown
Dutch chocolate near the Dam. You can build your own bar on the spot. Pricier than the supermarket, but with flavours that only exist in the shop.
Body and bath products, and things to make the house smell good.
De Bijenkorf is the designer-label building; Kiko Milano is Italian make-up at a good price; Douglas brings together perfume, make-up and skincare.
Uniqlo (great thermals), Primark (5 floors, all cheap, questionable quality), TK Maxx (discounted brands and Le Creuset pans), Zara and H&M.
The official store, downtown.
Homeware, toys and stationery at friendly prices. There's more than one around the city.