Seek and find
Last updated: February 10, 2025
Things every Amsterdammer and traveler should do at least once in their life when it comes to Amsterdam: the ultimate Amsterdam Bucket List. Well-known and lesser-known things to do at least once. Enough to do and check off SOMETHING every week for a year! From classic and chic to rugged and up-and-coming. Check them off your Amsterdam bucket list one by one. These are the 61 things we think should be on every Amsterdam bucket list. Which ones can you tick off?
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You want to tick off these 61 things on your Amsterdam bucket list
☐ Cycling the canals: It's obvious, but honestly... nothing is more fun than cycling the canals. It's an intense "I'm enjoying Amsterdam" moment every day. You can rent a bike in several places in Amsterdam, even if you don't live here. Also do: cycle under the Rijksmuseum!
☐ STREET Street Art Museum: One of Amsterdam's newest museums is the STRAAT street art museum at the NDSM wharf. Admire the best street art and learn all about the artists.
☐ The Amsterdam light festival: Every year around December, it's time for the Amsterdam Light Festival. The city is illuminated by beautiful works of art that you can sail, cycle, or walk past.
☐ Beautiful Boules: How much fun is this? Enjoy some food and drinks with friends and then play a game of pétanque on the pétanque court! To be sure of a court, book in advance.
☐ Moco Museum: A small but very pleasant museum if you'd like a quick visit. With a permanent Banksy exhibition and a rotating one, there's always something interesting to see.
Honthorststraat 20, Amsterdam
ORDER YOUR TICKETS FOR MOCO HERE
☐ WONDR ExperienceThe Netherlands' first Instagram museum. Take the best photos in the marshmallow-filled pool, the giant ball pit, or at one of the many colorful Instagram walls.
Meeuwenlaan 88, Amsterdam
Order your tickets for WONDR Experience here
☐ NDSM Wharf: Bored at NDSM Werf? Impossible! Check out what there is to do in our NDSM Wharf guideFrom fine dining to a cozy city beach and lots of street art.This neighborhood in Noord is FUN!
☐ Chun Café: It's probably a good thing there's always a long line at Chun in the Nine Streets. Otherwise, I'd be having breakfast here every day with their delicious brioche toast! If you ask me, these are quite possibly the best sandwiches you can get in Amsterdam right now. So my advice: get there before 10.00:XNUMX AM on weekends or during the week (when it's a bit less busy). It's worth the wait. Favorites on the menu are definitely the bulgogi and the shrimp toast. Order a homemade lemonade with it. They also have excellent coffee.
☐ Ice skating at the Jaap Edenbaan: The Jaap Eden ice rink transforms into a festival in the summer, but remains an ice rink in the winter. Can you still do it?
Radioweg 64, Amsterdam – jaapeden.nl
☐ Street Art Tour: Amsterdam is bursting with street art, take a tour and check off all the spots.
☐ Cheese tasting at Kef: Hmm, cheese. Whether you're from the Netherlands or not, you have to try a cheese tasting at least once, and Kef's is the best. They take place in their tasting room in Noord, so it's a great way to round off a day in Noord!
Van der Pekplein 1, Amsterdam – abrahamkef.nl
☐ Gerard Doustraat: Gerard Doustraat is the street where there's always something going on. Switch off your mind and wander around. There are great lunch or breakfast spots and lots of fun concept stores!
☐ Brandt and Levie Worstatelier: After the cheese tasting, you can head straight to a sausage workshop at Brandt & Levie—yum! Check the website for the workshop schedule.
Archangelkade 9, Amsterdam – brandtenlevie.nl
☐ The Foodhallen: Every foodie should visit this place at least once (or more). Also, be sure to catch a movie at the Filmhallen next door.
Bellamyplein 51, Amsterdam – foodhallen.nl
Concert at the Concertgebouw: An experience you'll never forget: a concert in the magnificent Concertgebouw. Have you been yet? Check out the schedule on the website and choose one that appeals to you!
Concertgebouwplein 10, Amsterdam – concertgebouw.nl
☐ Haarlemmerstraat & Haarlemmerdijk: Shop till you drop. Two kilometers of shopping? Who wouldn't want that?
☐ Van Gogh Museum: Another museum you absolutely can't miss when visiting Amsterdam. We're so proud of it!
Museumplein 6, Amsterdam
Order your tickets for the Van Gogh Museum here
☐ The Nine Streets: Shop, eat, and above all, enjoy the Nine Streets. For example, have lunch at the hotspot Libertine Café CaféWe have guides for all the streets in the Nine Streets, such as the Reestraat, Runstraat en Skin StreetThis way you really get to know all nine of them well!
☐ Dim sum at Oriental City: Our guilty pleasure? Dim sum. And then the one from Oriental City, delicious!
Old Side Voorburgwal 177 – 179, Amsterdam – oriental-city.com
Dim Sum at Oriental City
☐ On a boat with King's Day: Experience King's Day in Amsterdam from the water. Rent a boat with friends or simply join in. Anything goes on April 27th. And of course, dress in orange ;-)!
☐ Museum Night: Museum Night is one you won't forget. Every year, Amsterdam's museums pull out all the stops; you'll want to go. This event usually takes place in November, but in 2019, it falls on Saturday, November 2nd.
☐ IJ-Hallen: The perfect place to stock up on vintage and secondhand items is the monthly IJ-Hallen. It usually takes place every two weeks, so keep an eye on the website!
TT Neveritaweg 15, Amsterdam – ijhallen.nl
☐ Swimming at Café De Ceuvel: Café De Ceuvel in Amsterdam North is now your favorite spot in the summer. Delicious food and lots of fun.
Korte Papaverweg 4, Amsterdam – deceuvel.nl
☐ FOAM: If you love photography, FOAM is definitely one to check off your bucket list. The exhibitions change regularly, so you can always see something new.
Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam
☐ Lookout at A'DAM Tower: The swing at the A'DAM Tower is a new addition to the Amsterdam bucket list, even for true Amsterdammers. Terrifying, but so much fun!
Overhoeksplein 1, Amsterdam
Swinging on the roof of the A'DAM LOOKOUT
☐ To a Jordanian café: Jordaan-style, Amsterdam-style coziness. From the tablecloths on the bar to the unique mix of people. We love it! For example, Café Nol, De Blaffende Vis, or 't Smalle.
☐ Amsterdam Museum: Tourist or not, Amsterdam remains an impressive and unique city. Visit the Amsterdam Museum and discover things you never knew existed.
Kalverstraat 92, Amsterdam
Order your ticket for the Amsterdam Museum here
☐ Tuschinksi: Fancy a movie? Skip the simple Pathé cinemas and get the full experience at Tuschinski. Feel like you've stepped back in time!
Reguliersbreestraat 26 – 34, Amsterdam – pathe.nl
☐ Ferry to North: Take the ferry to Amsterdam North and join one of these 21 restaurants.
☐ Rijksmuseum: Just like the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum is one to check off your Amsterdam bucket list. Have you been yet?
Museum Street 1, Amsterdam
Order your tickets for the Rijksmuseum here
Picnicking in one of the many parks: More and more spots are offering to-go options. So how fun is it to organize a picnic in a park when the weather is nice? Consider not only Vondelpark, but also Sarphatipark, Rembrandtpark, or Park Frankendael!
☐ Eating on Lighthouse Island: Every year, there's a winter or summer pop-up restaurant on Vuurtoreneiland, and you simply have to visit it at least once. What a unique location! Check out the website for the opening dates.
☐ Cruise the canals: Rent a boat with friends or join one of the canal tours from Central Station and see Amsterdam from the water. It's the perfect afternoon activity in good weather! Would you rather have a skipper instead of sailing yourself so you can enjoy a drink?
- Book a historic salon boat with skipper >>
- Evening canal cruise >>
- Combine a boat trip with a museum visit >>
- View more boat trips in Amsterdam here >>
☐ Get a hotel in your own city: Nothing beats a staycation. Take a look at the most beautiful and charming hotels in Amsterdam. We bet you'll really get that holiday feeling!
☐ City museum: The Stedelijk Museum for modern, contemporary art and design is worth a visit after the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Isn't it convenient that they're all right next to each other?
Museumplein 10, Amsterdam
Order your tickets for the Stedelijk Museum here
☐ Eating a stroopwafel at the Albert Cuyp Market: Stroopwafels, we Dutch can't get enough of them, and especially not of the fresh, warm stroopwafels on the Albert Cuyp market. Don't feel like stroopwafels? Then visit one of these hotspots on the Albert Cuyp Street.
☐ Catch a festival in the summer NDSM Wharf
NDSM Werf
☐ Dining in Lille: Enjoy cool and affordable food at Restaurant Rijsel in Amsterdam OostThe menu changes regularly, so all the more reason to stop by more often.
Marcusstraat 52, Amsterdam – rijsel.com
☐ Anne Frank House: We all know Anne Frank, but have you ever been to her house? It's quite impressive. TIP: Book your tickets online in advance to avoid long queues.
Prinsengracht 263 – 267, Amsterdam
☐ Sunset at Pllek: Want to go to the beach in your own city? You can, at Pllek in Noord. In summer, you'll see the most beautiful sunsets here.
TT Neveritaweg 59, Amsterdam – pllek.nl
☐ World Museum Amsterdam: The perfect museum to learn more about peoples, tribes, cultures, and customs from around the world is the renovated Tropenmuseum, now known as Wereldmuseum Amsterdam.
Linneausstraat 1, Amsterdam
☐ Beer tasting at a craft brewery: Beer tasting, you don't have to ask your friend or friends twice. Cheers! For example at one of these beer cafes.
☐ Eating steak at LoetjeLoetje is the steak king of Amsterdam, now with several locations from the South to the North. I always order the Beef Bali, and then dip it in the gravy with some delicious white bread! Or book a Canal Cruise where you both sail and eat Loetje's steak. Check ticket availability here >>
Multiple locations, Amsterdam
☐ Go to an organic market: You can shop at various organic markets on different days throughout the week. You'll find one in every neighborhood of the city!
☐ With your legs over the quay, drinks at Waterkant: Hmm, you can't get a better summer feeling than this. With a portion of bitterballen on the right and a cold beer on the left.
Marnixstraat 246, Amsterdam – waterkantamsterdam.nl
Water edge
☐ Take the ferry to the HEM terrain just outside Amsterdam.
☐ Artist: Amsterdam's only zoo, of course, has to be included in this list. For a fun day of animal watching, visit Artis in the Plantage neighborhood. Fun fact: Artis is the first zoo in the Netherlands.
Plantation Kerklaan 38-40, Amsterdam – artis.nl
Book your tickets for Artis here
☐ Bowling at Club Knijn: Bowling is hot and back on the agenda for many Friday nights with friends. Time to make them again! They also sometimes have a party on Saturday nights combined with disco bowling. Fun!
Scheldeplein 3, Amsterdam – knijnbowling.nl
☐ Snacks from the vending machine and "patat oorlog" (French fries war) at FEBO on Ferdinand Bolstraat: FEBO is the Dutch snack paradise where you get your food from the vending machine. So crazy, so fun! And now they also have bao buns.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 89 (multiple locations), Amsterdam – febo.nl
☐ High Tea at the Waldorf? Yes please! Go to the Waldorf or The Duchess for the most delicious treats.
☐ And to stay straight about the Waldorf… dining at Spectrum**The best restaurant in town.
Afternoon tea at the Waldorf
☐ Cake at Shop 43: After a stroll around the Noordermarkt on Monday morning, head to Winkel 43 for a delicious slice of apple pie. Nom!
Noordermarkt 43, Amsterdam – winkel43.nl
☐ Eating bitterballen: My guilty pleasure, bitterballen! They might not look appetizing, but oh, how delicious they are. Order them at the Foodhallen, for example—testing time! And for the vegetarians, there are Bieterballen!
☐ Barbecue in the park: Gather your friends, do some shopping, and relax in Westerpark. Normally, we'd call this Vondelpark, but unfortunately, that's a thing of the past. That's why we're all flocking to Westerpark this summer for this cozy atmosphere. And make sure to clean up your mess before we're banned from grilling there too! Read here which parks in Amsterdam you are still allowed to barbecue in >>
☐ To a speakeasy cocktail bar: With a secret password to a restaurant where you can't see anything from the outside, how exciting is that?
☐ Striptease at La Vie en Proost: La Vie en Proost is the best topless lap dance bar in Amsterdam and you definitely want to go there at least once! Or go for a walk around during the day the Red Light District, there are nice lunch and coffee shops.
Bethlehemsteeg 23, Amsterdam – lavieamsterdam.nl
☐ Enjoy ice cream at Pisa on Scheldeplein: One of the best ice cream parlors in Amsterdam, a must-visit. Just be prepared for the line, as there's always one ;-).
Scheldeplein 22, Amsterdam – Facebook page
☐ Pedal boats on the canals: Just like cycling and sailing on the canals, pedal boating is just as much fun. Just be careful not to get wet!
☐ Fresh kibbeling from the fish stall at Dappermarkt: Yum, kibbeling! Another Dutch delicacy you absolutely must try. Of course, this tip doesn't apply to the Dutch among us ;-).
☐ Cuddle goats in the Amsterdam Forest: Feeling a bit down? Then go cuddle the goats in the Amsterdam Forest. Who could say no?
☐ Amsterdam from a rooftop: You'll want to see Amsterdam from above at least once. Go to W Hotel, the A'DAM Tower of the Volkshotel for the best view.
☐ Rolling Kitchens: Yes, a food festival you absolutely cannot miss is the Rollende Keukens. Just like all the other food festivals incidentatlly.
How many of the 61 things on the Amsterdam Bucket List can you tick off?
Rolling Kitchens
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