Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the Netherlands' capital and largest city, known for a UNESCO-listed canal ring, major museums and streets full of bicycles.
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Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its canal ring, the Grachtengordel, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2010, and the city has more than 100 km of canals, about 90 islands and over 1,200 bridges. The Rijksmuseum, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, is the city's most visited museum, with 2.4 million visitors in 2024. The Anne Frank House, where the diarist hid with her family during the Nazi occupation, is another major stop.
Cycling is central to daily life, and bicycles account for almost 40% of trips made within the city. Trams and buses cover nearly every part of Amsterdam, and the metro links the city north and south of the IJ. Rain is common, with about 133 days a year of more than 1 mm of precipitation. Summers are moderately warm, while winters from October to March are mild, damp and cloudy. Plan time for the museums, a canal boat trip and the old town around the Dam.
Amsterdam in five
- Book the Anne Frank House six weeks aheadTickets are sold online only, never at the door. Each Tuesday at 10am CEST the museum releases tickets for visits six weeks later.Anne Frank House tickets
- Budget for a high tourist taxThe City of Amsterdam sets the tourist tax at 12.5% of the overnight price excluding VAT, and your accommodation adds it to the bill. Compare final totals including the tax, and check the city's page for the current rate.City of Amsterdam
- Take the train from SchipholTrains run from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15–20 minutes. Buy a ticket at a machine or pay with a contactless card.
- Stay out of the bike lanesThe red paths are for bikes, and cyclists will not stop. Look both ways before crossing and never stand in them for photos.
- Allow extra time at Schiphol passport controlNon-EU visitors now register in the Entry/Exit System on arrival instead of getting a passport stamp, so leave slack before a booked train or timed museum slot.EES explained
Things to do in Amsterdam
See all attractions in Amsterdam
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS), about 15–20 min by train
- Getting there
- Trains from Brussels in about 2 hours, from Paris in about 3.5
- Getting around
- Walk, bike, trams and metro; tap a bank card
- Best base
- Canal ring or Jordaan for charm, De Pijp or Oost for value
- Time needed
- 3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low3°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°ChillyMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Chilly
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Tulip seasonAprilRain
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Tulip season
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Long lightJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long light
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Light festivalDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Light festival
Average daily high and low in Amsterdam, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Amsterdam
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 86%
Amsterdam
09:06 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°9°86%Monday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Tue11°7°45%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Wed11°7°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°2°2%Friday: Clear. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat6°0°12%Saturday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun8°3°18%Sunday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 18%.
Updated 06:14 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
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Day trips by train
- Utrechtabout 27 min by trainCanals with wharf cellars and the Dom Tower.Read the guide
- Haarlemabout 15 min by trainFrans Hals and Teylers museums in a calm old center.Read the guide
- Rotterdamabout 40 min by trainModern architecture, the Markthal and the harbor.Read the guide
- Zaanse Schansabout 20 min by trainWorking windmills and wooden houses.
Before you go to Amsterdam
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Rules for Amsterdam, checked
- The Netherlands is in the Schengen Area. Check whether your nationality needs a visa, and read the entry rules at ind.nl before you book.Source
- Coffee shops sell cannabis only to people 18 or older. Since 25 May 2023, smoking cannabis in public in and around the red-light district has been banned.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the Netherlands.
- Service is usually included in restaurant bills. Leaving a small tip for good service is customary, not required.
Plan around Amsterdam
Cities, trains, entry rules and money
Read the guideUtrechtWharf-cellar canals 27 minutes by train
Read the guideRotterdamPostwar architecture and the harbor
Read the guideBrusselsAbout 2 hours by train for a Belgian leg
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeHow city taxes are added to room prices
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow long you can stay in the Netherlands
Read the guideHaarlem day tripOne day by train: the Grote Markt and a museum.
Read the guideAmsterdam FAQ
How much is the tourist tax in Amsterdam?
The City of Amsterdam charges 12.5% of the overnight price excluding VAT, and your accommodation adds it to the bill. The city sets the rate, so check the City of Amsterdam tourist tax page for the current figure.
How do I get Anne Frank House tickets?
Online only, on the museum's site. Tickets for each date go on sale six weeks ahead, every Tuesday at 10am CEST.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Three days covers the canals, two big museums, the Jordaan and a day trip to Haarlem, Utrecht or Zaanse Schans.
Is it better to stay in Amsterdam or nearby?
Staying in Haarlem or Utrecht can cost less, with fast trains into Amsterdam, but late nights in the city mean a train back.
Do I need to book the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum ahead?
Yes, in busy months. Both sell timed tickets online and popular slots go days ahead, so book once your dates are fixed and check each museum's site for hours and any closed days.