Amsterdam

Netherlands

Canals, bikes, and golden-age charm

Find stays in Amsterdam
9/10Tourist score
5/5Safety level

Best time to visit

April to May, September

Monthly temperatures

Jan
Feb
10°
Mar
14°
Apr
18°
May
20°
12°Jun
23°
14°Jul
22°
14°Aug
19°
11°Sep
15°
Oct
10°
Nov
Dec

Currency

CurrencyEuro (EUR)
Exchange rate1 EUR = 1.08 USD / 0.86 GBP

Euro country. Cards (especially contactless) work everywhere, even at market stalls. Cash is rarely needed.

ATMs & cards

Use ING, ABN AMRO, or Rabobank ATMs. GWK Travelex ATMs at the airport and station are fine but charge a small fee.

Getting around

  • Tram — best way to get around the city center
  • Bike — the Dutch way. Rent from MacBike or Swapfiets (long stays)
  • Walking — the canal ring is compact and beautiful on foot
  • Metro — useful for North Amsterdam and suburbs
  • Airport: train from Schiphol to Centraal (15 min, €5.40)

Must-see

Anne Frank HouseRijksmuseumVondelparkJordaan neighborhoodCanal cruise

Food tip

Try stroopwafels fresh from a market, bitterballen at a brown café, and Indonesian rijsttafel — a Dutch colonial legacy.

Safety

Watch for bikes — they have right of way and move fast. Don’t walk in bike lanes (marked in red).

Things to do

  • Visit the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum
  • Take a canal boat tour
  • Explore the Jordaan neighborhood
  • See Anne Frank House
  • Cycle through Vondelpark
  • Visit the Albert Cuyp Market

Nearby day trips

Keukenhof tulip gardens (45min, spring)Zaanse Schans windmills (30min)Haarlem old town (20min)Utrecht canals (30min)The Hague and Scheveningen beach (1h)