3 Top Amsterdam Attractions You Can’t Miss

Ready for sky-high views, spooky thrills, and A-list selfies? Tick off these thrilling Amsterdam attractions all in one day.

By Beth Levicki
Published: July 16, 2025
amsterdam attractions

It might be tempting to while away all your time on canal boats snacking on stroopwafels, but there are a few absolute gems you should experience on an Amsterdam adventure.  

We’ve chosen three popular haunts we reckon top the list for family-friendly sightseeing. So gather the troops, maybe grab another stroopwafel for the road, and go check out these top picks. 

THIS IS HOLLAND

THIS IS HOLLAND

THIS IS HOLLAND 

Don’t have time to visit the whole of the Netherlands on your trip? We’d recommend a visit to THIS IS HOLLAND: a 5D flying theatre experience that lets you see the Netherlands from above, complete with special effects that make it feel like you’re really soaring. This one-hour experience across four shows packs a punch, leaving you with a new perspective of this beautiful country and its history.  

Best bits:

  • The history bit  
    The experience kicks off with an overview about the history and landscape of Holland – a nice warm-up before you’re swept off your feet (literally...) 

  • Water and the Dutch 
    Find out how the Dutch turned their watery homeland into a powerhouse of innovation. 

  • The Flight Experience 
    Time for the fun bit! Soar over the sights in a 5D flight simulation and smell the roses (well, tulips actually). Special effects like scent, wind and mist enhance the sensation of flying as you pass a smattering of windmills and major landmarks.  

  • Holland Lounge 
    Once you’ve touched down, head over to the cozy Holland Lounge to get more info on your fave bits from the flight. Grab a refreshment and catch your breath after your whirlwind experience.

Things to do in the area

A'Dam Lookout tower and river

THIS IS HOLLAND is on the edge of the vibrant Amsterdam-Noord area, where you’ll get a stunning view of the IJ River. Plus, A'DAM LOOKOUT is right next door, should you be craving more panoramic views. The area is kind of a must for your social feeds. 

The Amsterdam Dungeon

amsterdam dungeon scene

Hop on the ferry back into the city centre, where Amsterdam Dungeon awaits. The scare factor very much depends on the person – you might get away with the slight heebie jeebies, but if you’re anything like us you’ll need a stress ball and a night light close to hand – either way it’s not recommended for kids under 10 so just bear that in mind.  

Your journey begins in the heart of Amsterdam around 500 years ago. Descend into the dungeon and prepare for a truly terrifying experience. If you’re a fan of theatrics, you’ll enjoy interactions with scarily good actors. If that isn’t your style, skulk near back and enjoy from afar! 

The whole tour takes around 60 minutes across multiple shows. Come face-to-face with Golden Age punishment in The Torture Chamber, discover the truth behind the urban legend of The Flying Dutchman, meet the murderous Helena in Murder on the Zeedijk, plus many more frightful scenes.

Things to do in the area

Stroopwafel and houses

The Amsterdam Dungeon is right in the thick of it, smack in the city centre of Amsterdam, so there are countless eateries, sightseeing opps, and attractions to fill up your day. In fact, the last spot on our list is right next door... 

Madame Tussauds

Harry Styles wax figure

Walk five minutes from the Amsterdam Dungeon and meet your fave celebs! Well, not really, sorry. You’ll have to settle for their waxy counterparts, but a visit to Madame Tussauds can be as exciting as a stroll on the red carpet.  

Create unforgettable memories with popular lifelike wax figures across multiple themed zones including A-list, music, MARVEL© AVENGERS, and movies. Get up close and personal (and snap all the selfies you like) with the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and plenty more famous faces. 

Done playing meet-the-celebs? Take it one step further with a couple of immersive experiences. Step into a movie and recreate that iconic bike-flying scene from E.T.—yes, with the little guy in the basket. Hop on the saddle and snap that legendary pic. Fancy being a world-class footballer? Take a shot and celebrate with Ronaldo—you’ll practically hear the crowd roar. The stage is yours to make dreams reality. 

Things to do in the area

Dam Sqaure

Relax with a drink in Madame Tussaud’s pub Café De Gouden Bitterbal while rubbing shoulders with some of Holland’s biggest icons. When your visit is over, don’t forget you’re in Amsterdam’s famous Dam Square! Shop ‘til you drop, soak up the sights, and reflect on a day well spent. 

Enjoyed this?  

Find out what the best times of the year to visit Amsterdam or check out how to easily navigate the city.

Step up your sightseeing with Go City® We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.   

See more, do more, and experience more with Go City® – just choose a pass to get started!

Beth Levicki
Content Executive

Beth is a Content Executive at Go City and a casual writer of many things. She particularly loves songwriting and has written over 50 original songs since childhood. She loves travelling, especially to the US to see her friends, and enjoys more scenic destinations like hiking in upstate New York or Washington. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching Formula 1, and trying to stop her dog Odin from stealing her socks.

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A Guide to King’s Day | Amsterdam Pass

Guide to King's Day in Amstedam A Kings Day Amsterdam experience should be on everyone’s bucket list and here’s why Visiting Amsterdam during Kings Day (Koningsdag) will be a time to remember, guaranteed. Join in the national celebrations as locals and tourists alike gather for the biggest street party of the year and carry on the festivities in local pubs and bars when the sun goes down. The best bit – you’ll never have seen so much orange in your life! Amsterdammers are known for their partying, and any stay in the city will offer you countless opportunities for a night out, but the best party of the year is the annual Kings Day which falls on the 27 th April in 2019. For a glimpse of the King and Queen on Kings Day Netherlands locals will also be awaiting the arrival of the royal family at the appointed city. A yearly tradition, the royals take it in turns to visit a different location around the country each birthday. You might catch a glimpse of their appearance on TV. History of Kings Day To set the scene, Kings Day, named after the current head of the royal family King Willem-Alexander, is a celebration of the King’s birthday in 1967. While this date has only been in place since 2014, the tradition dates back over a century when the first Koningsdag (only called Koninginnedag – Queen’s Day) was celebrated in 1885 in honour of Queen Wilhelmina. The exact day it is celebrated may have changed over the years, as well as the royals, but the exuberance and joviality has stayed consistent – if not grown more fervent! As a tribute to the House of Orange-Nassau it’s an unspoken rule that on this day you should dress up in orange - only. Head to toe is encouraged. It’s no small matter, this orange theme. From bright orange attire, to dyed hair and face paint, people sipping on orange-coloured drinks and wearing orange inflatable crowns, with some even dressing up as the king and queen themselves, it really is an occasion to let go of any inhibitions and join in the mass – in orange. Kings Day Celebrations The day’s activities start out civilised and you’ll find the streets bustling in a never-ending jumble sale with residents selling second-hand items called locally, the vrijmark, or free market. If you’re visiting this vibrant capital with your kids, there’s plenty to keep them entertained, too, with street games, face painting and the free family-friendly Bredeweg Festival in the Oost District, which has fairground rides and performances taking place over the weekend. The streets will be packed full of nationals and tourists alike joining in on the festivities and it doesn’t stop there. Head to the canals for a big daytime dance party and to witness thousands of boats, decorated for the event. If you can’t manage to get onto a boat (usually its VIP only) try and squeeze onto the bridges for the best view. If big crowds aren’t your thing – and it’s no exaggeration, these crowds are big; thousands come in from towns and cities around the country to the capital – use this time to visit the handful of museums that aren’t closed on this historic day. It’s actually one of the best times to visit Anne Frank Huis , usually one of the sights with the longest queues, as well as the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum in the Museumplein. You can still show solidarity by turning up in orange, though. To fully make the most of your Kings Day Amsterdam experience, there will be plenty of opportunities to party from day and well into the night. While most of the street parties and activities kick off around midday, head to Westerstraat, Prinsengracht or Reguliersdwarsstraat once things wind down. This national holiday is a great time to see big name DJs headlining at the clubs, or just enjoy the high spirits with some Dutch craft beer, well into the early hours, with your new local friends. If all of that seems a bit overwhelming and you’re not quite sure what you’ll end up doing when the time comes, download the Kings Day App when you get there, where you’ll find all the up-to-date information on the day. It’s no small feat, this fun-filled event feels more like a festival than a national holiday! Tip: accommodation will book up fast during this weekend, so it is advised to book well in advance to ensure you get a room. Also, note that most businesses and services around the city will be closed on the 27 th April as it is a public holiday. Public transport is also affected and routes may be altered.
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Rijksmuseum exterior
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Snowed-covered bicycle leaning against a bridge over an Amsterdam canal
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Amsterdam in December

Should you happen to visit Amsterdam in December, you’ll find the city transformed in an embrace of the festive season. You’ll see the streets decorated with all manner of lights and holiday displays, and many of the city’s key squares become host to a number of festivals and markets. Visiting Amsterdam in December Average Temperature: 36 - 43°F • Average Rainfall: 7 days/month • Average Sunshine: 1 hour/day While many other cities see a significant dip in tourism by the winter period, this is not so much the case for Amsterdam. In contrast to destinations like Barcelona, where much of their appeal is dependent on their peak summertime weather, Amsterdam’s charm comes entirely from its evergreen historical and cultural value. Of course, you can still expect a noticeable drop in visitors, with many tourists and families visiting exclusively in summer. Naturally, that also means you may benefit from lower accommodation than in summer. However, Amsterdam in December is far from quiet, particularly given its festive appeal around the holiday season. Amsterdam’s festive appeal comes in part from the weather in December. With average temperatures resting between 36°F and 43°F, you can expect a winter chill, but little chance of snow. Be sure to pack both warm and waterproof clothing, as you’re likely to encounter at least one day of rain per week. Things to Do in December Pair the colder and wetter weather with limited sunshine and shorter days, and you’ve got a recipe ideal for either embracing the outdoor winter spirit or keeping warm indoors. Fortunately, Amsterdam caters to both preferences in droves. Those looking for a piece of Amsterdam’s famous holiday festivities should head to Ice*Amsterdam on the Museumplein. Between mid-November and January, this popular square transforms into a veritable winter wonderland, with an impressive ice-skating rink at its core. You’ll also find a number of market stalls and festive bars where you can grab a cup of hot chocolate and a winter snack. If you’re looking for a little more excitement, then the Amsterdam Winter Paradise is the event for you. Complete with fairground rides, ice-skating rinks, snow tubing and cross-country skiing across real snow, as well as all of the market stalls and carnival games you’d expect from any Christmas event, this is an event for all ages to enjoy. If you’d prefer to keep warm and dry, then Amsterdam’s wealth of renowned museums should be more than enough to keep you busy. Explore more than 8,000 artworks and historical artefacts at the Rijksmuseum, and awe at the 1,400-strong collection of Van Gogh’s works at the Van Gogh Museum. Or for your modern art fix, head to the MOCO Museum to discover the popular works of Banksy and his contemporaries. Events in December Sinterklaas Should you happen to visit Amsterdam in the first week of December, you’ll be instantly aware of the ongoing festivities taking place throughout the city. In the lead-up to Sinterklaas on December 5, the Netherlands is host to a series of parades welcoming Sinterklaas himself (Saint Nicholas) to the country. You’ll find stores filled to the brim with all manner of Sinterklaas-themed treats alongside all of the other festive fare. Among the most common of these are pepernoten and kruidnoten (tiny gingerbread cookies), large solid chocolate letters, schuimpjes (foam-like sugary candies), speculaas cookies and various marzipan-based cakes. If you get the chance, be sure to attend one of the festive parades, where Sinterklaas and his helpers, known as Pieten (Peters), greet the onlooking families and visitors by throwing candies and treats out to the crowds. Don’t fret if you don’t have anybody to celebrate with on the day of Sinterklaas, as it isn’t a public holiday, so most cafés, bars and restaurants will still be open if you want to share in the festivities! Christmas Markets As you’d expect from just about any major European city, Amsterdam is no stranger to its fair share of festive events and Christmas markets. If you’re looking for traditional markets, then the Amsterdamsche Kerstmarkt is the event for you, offering just about everything you’d expect – mulled wine, local artisan crafts and unique festive gifts galore. In the same vein, Amsterdam’s monthly Sunday market also offers up two festive-themed editions of its Westergasfabriek market throughout December. The first runs alongside or slightly ahead of Sinterklaas, and the other takes place shortly before Christmas Day. Alongside their regular assortment of stalls, these editions of the Sunday market are also host to various holiday treats and gifts made by local artists and designers. Amsterdam Light Festival Running alongside the holiday season, the Amsterdam Light Festival illuminates the Dutch capital with impressive light displays by designers, artists and architects from around the world. Taking place throughout December and January, the festival typically showcases around 30 unique art installations, bringing an even more magical touch to an already festive city. One of the most popular activities of the Light Festival is to take a canal cruise in the evening. These boat tours offer a chance for visitors and locals alike to see the city from a different perspective, offering unique insights into the history of prominent neighborhoods while also exploring the artworks lining the banks of the canals. New Year’s Eve As one of the most popular European cities for tourists to ring in the new year, Amsterdam offers a whole host of events to cater for all manner of preferences. You’ll find everything from black tie events to buzzing raves to rooftop parties taking place throughout the city. Many restaurants and bars also offer special bookings as a more intimate way to see out the year. Among some of the most widespread New Year’s traditions in the Netherlands is the consumption of oliebollen (fried dough balls) dipped in icing sugar and washed down with a hearty glass of champagne. You’ll find street stalls selling these treats all over Amsterdam on December 31. If you’re feeling really adventurous, head to the likes of Zandvoort aan Zee just west of Amsterdam early on January 1, where thousands of locals and visitors alike get ready to take part in the New Year Swim in the North Sea. 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Robert Heaney

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