Discover Amsterdam
High culture meets good times in Amsterdam, a city as popular for museum-hopping mini-breaks as it is for raucous hen or stag trips.
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Its iconic 17th-century canal houses, delightful cafés and fleets of vintage-style bikes project an air of wholesome, timeless charm. In between sampling local food and drink, there are some truly unmissable sights and events to discover. Make no mistake: there’s more to this destination than Rembrandt and tulips.
Essential sights
Rijksmuseum
One of the highlights of Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter, this majestic 19th-century building houses one of the finest collections of Old Masters anywhere in the world. It’s famous for its works by Rembrandt, most notably the Night Watch; however, this atmospheric masterpiece is just one of 8,000 works of art on display.
Stedelijk Museum
The top-heavy structure of the Stedelijk Museum is unmistakable. Like the Rijksmuseum, it sits on the Museumplein public square. However, you won’t find any dark and moody Old Masters lurking amid the airy galleries here, which are dedicated to great works of 20th- and 21st-century art.
Bloemenmarkt
Buying flowers while on holiday may feel like an indulgence too far – but then you are in the flower capital of Europe. Even if you're not buying, the colour, life and atmosphere of this world-renowned floating flower market make it a must-see. You’ll never be more keenly aware of being in Amsterdam than when you’re surrounded by tulips in their thousands.
Anne Frank House
It looks like any other house from the outside, but this unassuming building on the Prinsengracht canal is the place where Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution for over two years. Today it is a poignant museum documenting the lives of the Frank family.
Canal Belt
A leisurely bike ride or stroll along the canal network, or Grachtengordel, in the centre of the city is one of the loveliest – and most wallet-friendly – ways to spend a few hours in Amsterdam. Each new stretch of water reveals yet more beautiful merchants’ houses that demand to be photographed. Factor in time to stop at some of the inviting cafés that beckon along the way.