In Amsterdam, where you sleep decides how much of the city you see on foot. These are the areas we recommend, and who each one suits.
€€€€€€ Price levels compare the areas within this city.
01
Canal Ring €€€ Higher prices
Best for: Canal-view rooms
The UNESCO-listed ring of 17th-century canal houses. Central and photogenic.
02
Jordaan €€€ Higher prices
Best for: Couples
Quiet canals, brown cafés and independent shops.
03
Museum Quarter €€ Mid-range prices
Best for: Families and art lovers
Leafy, calm and next to the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark.
Hotel shortlists
Three picks per question, chosen with our selection criteria, with price ranges and what nobody tells you.
The 3 best canal-view hotelsComing soon
The 3 best luxury hotels in AmsterdamComing soon
The 3 best value hotelsComing soon
Airport to city
01
Train to Centraal ≈ 15–20 min
About 15–20 min
Frequent, cheap and simple. The obvious choice.
02
Taxi ≈ 25 min
About 25 min
Use the official rank outside arrivals.
03
Private transfer ≈ 25 min
About 25 min
Useful with kids or for hotels away from Centraal.
Frequently asked questions
The 10 questions everyone asks before going, answered straight.
01Is Amsterdam safe for tourists?
Yes, Amsterdam is very safe. The real danger is the bikes: never walk on the red bike lanes and look both ways before crossing. Watch for pickpockets at Centraal Station and on trams, never buy drugs on the street, and don't photograph sex workers in the Red Light District.
02When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
April and May are magical, with tulip season and King's Day on 27 April. September is also great: mild and less crowded. Summer is pleasant but busy and expensive, and winter is cold, dark and rainy.
03What language is spoken in Amsterdam?
Dutch, but almost everyone speaks excellent English, and many people will reply in English as soon as they hear you. Spanish is less common.
04How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Two to three days is enough for the museums, the canals and the Jordaan. With an extra day you can add Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Utrecht or, in spring, the Keukenhof gardens.
05What are the top 10 attractions in Amsterdam?
Anne Frank House
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
The canal ring and a canal cruise
Jordaan
Vondelpark
Dam Square and the Royal Palace
Begijnhof
A'DAM Lookout
Heineken Experience
06Which of these attractions can you visit for free?
Walking the canal ring and the Jordaan costs nothing and is the best of Amsterdam. Also free: Vondelpark, Dam Square, the peaceful Begijnhof courtyard, the floating flower market (Bloemenmarkt) and Albert Cuyp market. The ferry behind Centraal Station to Amsterdam Noord is free too, and the Rijksmuseum gardens are open to everyone.
07Which museums are worth visiting in Amsterdam?
The Rijksmuseum (Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer) and the Van Gogh Museum are next to each other on Museumplein; book timed tickets for both. The Anne Frank House only sells tickets online and sells out weeks ahead. Add the Stedelijk for modern art, the Rembrandt House and, with kids, the NEMO science museum.
08What are the locals like in Amsterdam?
The Dutch are direct, practical and tolerant: their frankness isn't rudeness. They value punctuality and splitting the bill is normal. Tipping is optional; rounding up 5–10% is enough. Dinner is early, around 6–7 pm.
09What is the typical food in Amsterdam?
Try raw herring with onions from a street stall, bitterballen with beer, kibbeling (fried fish), poffertjes (mini pancakes), fresh stroopwafels and Dutch cheeses such as Gouda. Fries with mayo and apple pie are classics, and rijsttafel is the Indonesian heritage feast. To drink, beer or jenever.
10Where should you stay in Amsterdam?
The Canal Ring is the iconic choice, central and pricey. The Jordaan is charming and quieter, also at higher prices. The Museum Quarter is mid-range and close to the big museums and Vondelpark.
Staying connected
An eSIM is a digital SIM you install on your phone before you fly. No plastic card, no shop at the airport: you land, switch it on and you're online.
Low cost: plans for a few days usually cost far less than roaming
Coverage in every destination on tips2trip, and worldwide
Data from the moment you land: maps, ride apps and your bookings
Book your airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers in advance and forget about the taxi queue, the bargaining and the 'where do we go now?'. When you walk out of arrivals, someone is already waiting with a sign with your name on it, helps you with the bags and takes you straight to the door.
Fixed price, agreed before you travel
Flight tracking: they wait if you're delayed
Child seats and vans for families or groups on request
