Sights of Amsterdam: Top 25 places to see

In this article, we tell you where to go and what to see in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital and the city of tulips, canals and colorful old houses. You'll find out which sights of Amsterdam to add to your itinerary for an enjoyable experience.

What are places to see in Amsterdam: top 25 sights in the city

If you're still undecided about what to see in Amsterdam, the most beautiful city in the Netherlands, see our selection of interesting locations for you. Here are the places you should visit first.

1. The Rijksmuseum of Art

A beautiful, large red-brick building attracts everyone's attention. This is the Rijksmuseum, one of the twenty most visited art museums in the world. The halls contain a brilliant collection of Dutch fine art and antiques. There is the largest collection of works by Dutch masters in the world. It also contains a huge library with 35,000 copies of books and manuscripts. There are also folk crafts and handicrafts. The calling card is Rembrandt's painting "The Night Watch". You can also find a café and a souvenir shop there.

Located right in the center of Amsterdam, take the tram to the Rijksmuseum stop.

2. Anne Frank House

You can't imagine the most popular places to visit in Amsterdam without the Anne Frank House. During World War II, Anne Frank's house was a hiding place for a Jewish family from the Nazis. To brighten up her monotonous days, the 11-year-old Anne began keeping a diary and continued to make notes for two years. They were published by her father. The diary is exhibited in the museum, as well as other belongings of the Frank family, and the original environment in which she had lived was restored.

The museum is within walking distance of the main station.

3. Vondela Park

The capital's most popular park attracts thousands of tourists and Dutch people every day. There are ponds, lawns and grass. There are many restaurants and cafés, including one with a children's menu, in the park. There's a skate rental shop, an open-air theater and a rose garden with more than 70 varieties of roses, a matter of special pride. Ideal for romantic and family outings. The park is adorned with unique sculptures: the monument to the poet Vondel, the abstract sculpture Fish by Picasso and other landscaped objects.

You can get to The Cornelis Schuytstraat stop by tram from Central Station

4. Botanic Garden

Founded in 1638, the Amsterdam Botanic Garden is considered to be one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. It was originally used to grow medicinal raw materials for pharmacies. Over time, the garden's collection grew to include exotics from overseas and increased in size significantly. There are over 6,000 plants in the garden now. The garden has several pavilions with tropical plants and butterflies. Both children and adults will love it.

Located in the city centre, the nearest tram stop is Amsterdam, Plantage Kerklaan.

5. Rembrandt House Museum

We tell you what's the place to see in Amsterdam for art and painting lovers.

The Rembrandt Museum in Amsterdam is not only an introduction to the paintings of the legendary artist, but also an opportunity to get in touch with the atmosphere in which he lived and worked. You can see the medieval kitchen, living rooms and the artist’s studio. The museum's collection also contains works of his students and his teacher Peter LastmanOne of the rooms is dedicated to engraving techniques.

Located in the city center, the nearest tram stop is Mr. Visserplein.

6. Amsterdam Zoo

The oldest zoo in the country, founded in 1838. You can meet animals from all over the world in the heart of the capital — there are more than 700 species here. The park administration believes that the better a person understands nature, the more he will treat it with respect. That is why apart from cages and enclosures, the zoo has an aquarium, a greenhouse, a planetarium and several museums. A special pride of the zoo is the Micropia museum of microorganisms, which has no counterparts anywhere else in the world.

Located in the city center, the nearest bus stop is Plantage Lepellaan.

7. Beginage

Top sights of Amsterdam also include a cozy enclosed courtyard of the Beguinage in the heart of the city. These Gothic architectural complexes in the Middle Ages were home to members of the religious community of the Beguinages. The inner courtyard was usually used as a fruit and vegetable garden where residents worked. Each of the 47 houses in the neighborhood is a work of art. In fact , this is the site of one of only two surviving wooden houses in Amsterdam, built in 1528. There is a souvenir shop on site.

Located in the city center, the nearest tramway is Spui.

8. Floating flower market

In the old days, sellers used to come by barge down the canal to the town center and sell their wares straight from the water. Now only the name is left from the old tradition: the flower pavilions no longer float in the Singel Canal, but are fixed to the river bank. But the idea of the market is unaffected. Every year, farmers and gardeners flock to the market to buy seedlings and novelties for their collections. Tourists rush to buy bulbs of famous Dutch tulips.

Located in the city center, the nearest tram stop is Koningsplein.

9. Royal Palace

Popular places in Amsterdam are unimaginable without the Royal Palace. The majestic building on Dam Square, built in the 17th century, symbolized the influence and power of the country. It was called the eighth wonder of the world for its immense proportions. The palace is open to the public on days when there are no official events. The huge central hall is decorated with antique statues. You can walk through the halls and admire the exquisite interiors.

Located in the city center, the nearest transport stop is Dam.

10. Westerkerk Church

One of the most popular places to visit in Amsterdam is a Protestant church, the most fascinating not just in Amsterdam, but in Europe as well. It is also the largest temple in the capital - its spire rises 85 meters above the city. On the top of the tower there is an observation deck, where you can enjoy views of the city. During national holidays, the national flag is flown on the tower. The church has good acoustics and often hosts concerts. According to the legend the ashes of the great Rembrandt rest beneath the church.

Located in the city center, the nearest tram line is Westermarkt.

11. Madame Tussauds Museum

This unique museum has hundreds of wax figures of famous people: actors, athletes, politicians. There are also fictional characters from favorite movies. The museum makes extensive use of modern virtual reality technology. The figures and scenery seem to come to life. Tourists can try their hand at a game against a star team or be on stage with their favorite artist.

Located on Dam Square, within walking distance of Central Station.

12. Blue Bridge

What is there to see in Amsterdam except museums and churches? We recommend including bridges in your tourist itinerary. Amsterdam is called the Venice of the North due to the huge number of bridges. One of the most interesting is the Blue Bridge over the River Amstel. The name comes from its predecessor, a wooden bridge, which stood from 1600 to 1883 and was painted in one of the colors of the national Dutch flag. The blue bridge is richly decorated, with columns topped with crowns of the Austrian Empire and lantern supports are stylized as ships.

The nearest underground station is Waterlooplein.

13. Waterlooplein Flea Market

The vintage market attracts tourists for two reasons. The first is the opportunity to buy beautiful and unique things for your home or hobby inexpensively. The second is to experience the authentic, non-touristy Amsterdam atmosphere. Many people come here not for the reason to buy or sell something, but to socialize, have a coffee and share the latest news. If you ever wanted to buy an antique piece or if you simply like things with history, then you should visit this market.

The nearest underground station is Waterlooplein.

14. Tropical Museum

Popular tourist sights of Amsterdam are the museums, including the Tropical Museum. The Museum of the Tropics is the largest anthropological museum in the world, with exhibitions of cultural and household items of the peoples of Africa and Asia that were conquered in the past. One of the largest anthropological museums in the world has exhibitions devoted to the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The museum allows photography and has a children's room.

The nearest tram stop is Alexanderplein.

15. Jordaan quarter

Set aside a day for a walking tour in the most prestigious quarter of Amsterdam. It's a quiet center with no tourist crowds.

To avoid getting lost in the winding streets, keep the online maps on your smartphone with Yesim's high-speed mobile internet connection at hand.

You can have a delicious snack in the popular but quiet Café 't Smalle, on the banks of the canal. A perfect place for a leisurely contemplation of the Dutch 'gingerbread' architecture with a cup of coffee.

Located in the city center, the nearest stop is Marnixplein or Bloemgracht. To get to the Jordaan district, you have to cross the canal.

16. Van Gogh Museum

The museum houses the world's largest collection of paintings and drawings by the Dutch genius, as well as works by other prominent European artists. It is the second most visited museum in the Netherlands. The main exhibition dedicated to Van Gogh consists of 200 paintings, 400 drawings and 700 letters. Famous paintings such as Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters and Sunset at Montmajour are on display.

The nearest tram stop is Museumplein.

17. Dam Square

Top sights of Amsterdam also include Dam Square, one of the capital's most visited tourist locations. All roads converge onto the central square of the Dutch capital. In the 13th century, this is where Amsterdam was founded as a city - on a high embankment that is now hidden beneath the square. Among the most spectacular features of the architectural ensemble of the square are the Royal Palace, the New Church, and the monument commemorating the victims of World War II.

A lot of public transport is concentrated on the square.

18. Defensive line of Amsterdam

An interesting historical monument, theUNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an intricate system of forts, batteries, canals and flood plots stretching more than 100 km around the capital. When necessary the floodgates were opened, the water level rose by 1.5 meters and the enemy risked being swept away by the water flow. Now the floodplain is a perfect place for dog walking, cycling and long walks.

The city center is about 10-15 km from the defense line. We advise you to take a taxi and visit one of the forts near Hemstede, the western suburb of Amsterdam.

19. Sloten windmill

Among the must see popular places to see in Amsterdam, are the local mills. The people of the Netherlands are very fond of mills, which are considered to be one of the country's national symbols. There are 8 large mills in Amsterdam, and Sloten is the only one that is open to the public daily. This working drainage mill with the museum was built in 1847. To this day, it still fulfills its function of draining excess water by pumping it into canals.

Located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, close to Schiphol Airport. The nearest bus stop is Langsom.

20. Nemo Science Museum

Sights of Amsterdam also deservedly include the largest Nemo Museum.In fact it is a huge science center with lots of equipment and experiments in all areas of science. The museum allows you to try and experiment with the exhibits, that is why it is very popular with children and young people. There is a terrace with a beautiful view of the historic center of Amsterdam on the roof of the museum. The terrace has seating areas and a small fountain.

The nearest tram stop is Muziekgeb.

21. Frankendael Country Villa

A beautiful landmark in the south-eastern part of Amsterdam. For many years this elegant villa was a residential mansion and each owner arranged the backyard territory to suit himself. Now it is a beautiful city park, and the villa can be rented by anyone for a family celebration or a party. There are ornamental flowerbeds and beautiful ponds on the grounds. The landscape design here is absolutely perfect for beautiful photos.

The nearest bus stop is Hogeweg.

22. Coin Tower

One of the symbols of Amsterdam. The high Renaissance building delights all tourists, without exception. At the time of its construction, in the 15th century, it had a defensive function as part of the entrance gate. In the 17th century the tower was temporarily used as a mint — hence the name of the tower. Inside the tower there is a shop with porcelain products where you can buy memorable souvenirs.

The nearest tram stop is Muntplein.

Make cool videos of your adventures in Amsterdam and share them on social media with Yesim high-speed internet.

23. Quartier de Wallen

An impression of Amsterdam will be incomplete without a walk through this medieval quarter in the city center. It is crisscrossed with canals and narrow streets with traditional restaurants and bars. There's a Gothic church, the Audeckerk, in the middle of the quarter. Built in the 14th century, it is the oldest building in Amsterdam. The neighborhood has an adult cinema, shops, hotels and cafés with appropriate interiors and products range.

The nearest bus stop is Prins Hendrikkade.

24. Amsterdam forest

Here's the natural attraction which is worth seeing among other beautiful places to see in Amsterdam.

The forest reserve on the outskirts of the city attracts tourists with its coolness and greenery. People like to come here with their children for picnics, to walk their dogs and just to breathe the fresh air. There's also a goat farm where kids can feed the goats and play with them. You can also buy fresh products there. Other activities include the rope park and the opportunity to go boating.

The park is close to Schiphol Airport and can be reached by any means of transport that runs to the airport.

25. Paradiso Concert Hall

While in Amsterdam, make sure you include a visit to the Paradiso Concert Hall, where many famous rock and pop bands (The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd) performed. It is located in a former church and the acoustics are excellent. The interior of the main hall has been preserved to this day. Nowadays, in addition to classical music concerts, exhibitions, theatrical performances and festivals are held here.

The nearest tram stop is Leidseiplein

Seamless mobile internet in 200+ countries –– at a cup of coffee price! Take away!

Take away!