10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN AMSTERDAM

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There are many places to visit in Amsterdam, known as the city of bicycles and canals. We have to confess that Amsterdam is one of our favorite cities in Europe and that we also believe it is perfect for a weekend getaway. This multicultural and tolerant city, where you feel well received from the first moment you step on it, is one of those places that you would never want to leave.
If you have an extra day in the city we recommend you visit some of the surrounding villages such as Zaanse Schans, a beautiful town full of windmills or the villages of Marken, Volendam and Edam.
We have made a list of 10 essential places to visit in Amsterdam, based on our trip to Amsterdam in 5 days. We start!

1. Canals of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, known as the Venice of the North has more than 100 kilometers of canals, more than 1000 bridges and more than 2000 houseboats, part of which are in the historic center, delimited by Singelgracht and surrounded, forming circles by its 3 channels most famous: the Herengracht, the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht.
Our favorite channel to see in Amsterdam is the Herengracht, where you will find the most stately and charming houses. Strolling along the banks of these canals, crossing their bridges, having a drink on one of the terraces with views, are just some of the great memories you will take from Amsterdam.
One of the best things to do in Amsterdam is a cruise through its canals to see the city from another perspective. Although there are many tours you can do, we always recommend booking a one-hour ride to see some of the most important places in the city or do a night cruise with dinner.
Boat trips on the city canals are included if you book the I amsterdam City Card.

Amsterdam canals

2. The Flower Market

Bloemenmarkt is the famous floating flower market in Amsterdam and one of the most essential places to visit in Amsterdam. The history of the market dates back to 1883, at which time ships loaded with flowers arrived for sale every day.
We have to keep in mind that Holland is a country famous for the quality of its flowers and especially for its tulips, so don't be surprised if in this market you find a great variety of them. This is also one of the most typical and original souvenirs that you can take with you from Amsterdam, so don't forget to take some tulip bulbs in your suitcase, they will surely remind you of Amsterdam whenever you look at them.
This market, Bloemenmarkt is next to the Singel canal and as a curiosity we will tell you that it is built on the water, something that at first glance is not easy to detect.
One of the best excursions in Amsterdam for flower lovers is the visit to Keukenhof, a beautiful place where you can walk among fields with thousands of colorful tulips. Of course, this excursion has to be done during spring, the time of flowering of tulips.
Market visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Sundays it starts at 11:00.

Amsterdam Flower Market

3. Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum, which includes the most extensive collection of the brilliant Dutch painter, is another of the most essential places to see in Amsterdam. The museum has more than 200 paintings and 400 drawings by Van Gogh from different periods, among which stand out "Arles's bedroom", "Potato Eaters"or"The sunflowers"It is advisable to take an audio guide to learn more about the history and details of his life and works. Another good option is to book this guided tour in Spanish with an art specialist to fully enjoy one of the most visited places in Amsterdam.
If you do not want to take a guided tour and want to avoid the long queues that are formed at the entrance, we recommend you to book this quick entrance ticket to the museum in advance.
Market visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fridays close at 10pm. Free admission with the I amsterdam City Card.
For more information you can consult this post about the best museums in Amsterdam.

Van Gogh Museum

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

4. Begijnhof

Begijnhof is one of our favorite corners and one of the essential places to visit in Amsterdam. This treasure is hidden near Spuiplein Square and is perfect for disconnecting from the city movement.
Begijnhof is a beater of the fourteenth century, in which the Blessed sisters lived, with a lifestyle similar to that of the nuns, but with more freedom. Inside the enclosure you will find elegant houses and a charming garden in the central part, of which we assure you, you will not be able to stop taking photos.
Nor can you miss the Houten Huys, the oldest house in Amsterdam and one of the only two preserved in the city with a wooden facade. Another of the places you have to enter is in the Chapel of Begijnhof, the first clandestine church in the city.
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Begijnhof

5. Dam Square, one of the places to visit in Amsterdam

Dam Square, located in the heart of the city, is the most important square with more atmosphere to see in Amsterdam. Most of Amsterdam's routes in one day depart or pass through this square, where you will always see a multitude of tourists sitting on the terraces of the bars or on stairs of monuments and buildings. In the center of the square there is a 22 meter high obelisk that pays homage or the Dutch soldiers who died in World War II.
Here you will also find the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church, the Madame Taussauds wax museum or the De Bijenkorf luxury store and the city's most famous shopping street, the Kalverstraat, begins.
A good option to learn more about the history of the city is to book this free tour with a guide in Spanish Free!, One of the best free tours in Amsterdam.

Dam Square, one of the places to visit in Amsterdam

Book the best rated Spanish tours and excursions in Amsterdam by travelers:
- Tour to Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Edam
- Excursion to the mills of Zaanse Schans
- Excursion to Bruges
- Offer: Guided tour + Boat trip
- Boat trip on the canals
- More excursions and tours here

6. The Red Light District

The Red Light District of Amsterdam is located in the historic center and is one of the best known places to visit in Amsterdam. The neighborhood is famous for its nightlife, full of coffee shops, sex shops, red lights and shop windows where prostitutes offer their services.
Keep in mind that prostitution is legalized in Amsterdam, as is the use of marijuana in coffee shops, so it is nothing strange able to see this activities.
Most tourists visit the neighborhood by day to have a drink in one of its many terraces and coffee shops, and visit it at night, moved by curiosity. Although it may seem like neighborhood without law Everything is perfectly tidy and guarded, so you should not be afraid to walk around the area at night. What you should have is respect and education before the women who provide their services and not take pictures of the windows or them.
In the Red Light District you can also visit Oude Kerk, the first church in the city and Warmostraat, the first street in Amsterdam.
Another good option to visit the neighborhood is to book a guided tour in Spanish or take advantage of one of the offers that includes the view of the neighborhood and a boat trip.

The Red Light District

7. Anna Frank House Museum and the Jordaan Neighborhood

The Anne Frank House Museum in Amsterdam is one of the most overwhelming and essential places to visit in Amsterdam. In the back of the museum building two years lived the family of Anna Frank during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam in World War II.
Anna Frank wrote here her famous diary and the only survivor of the hiding place, her father Otto Frank kept it and published it when the war was over.
At the entrance they will give you a booklet in Spanish that explains the history and places you will see during the visit, among which the most prominent are the hiding place and the original diary of Anna Frank.
To visit the house it is best to reserve the ticket on its official website, where you can choose the time. Keep in mind that from 09:00 to 15:30 only those who have purchased the online ticket will be able to access it, while from 15:30 onwards, those who bought the ticket at the museum box office can access.
The Anne Frank House is located in the Jordaan District, our favorite in Amsterdam, with its narrow streets, gardens and the beautiful Brouwergacht canal. After the visit, it is worth walking around the neighborhood and sitting on a terrace of its beautiful cafes.
A good option to know the relationship between Amsterdam and the Nazi regime is to book this tour of Anna Frank through the Jewish quarter.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from April to October. The other months closes at 19:00.

The Jordaan Neighborhood

Our recommended hotel in Amsterdam
Singel Hotel, very central, located next to the Singel Canal 5 minutes from the Central Station. The rooms are small, but just for a few days. It has a good breakfast.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods we recommend you check this post of where to stay in Amsterdam.

8. Vondelpark and Leidseplein

Vondelpark is the most famous park to see in Amsterdam and the perfect place for walking, sports or picnicking on the grass. This public park of 47 hectares is not far from the city, so it is filled with locals and tourists with the first rays of sun. In addition to green areas, nature, flowers, statues, lakes and rivers, you'll find everything from an open-air theater to a good variety of restaurants and cafés.
A good way to get to and tour the park is with a bicycle tour, one of the best ways to see the entire city and enjoy it as a real place.
Located near the park is the lively Leidseplein square, full of street performers, terraces and fashion shops, a visit that we advise you not to get lost in the city.

Vondelpark

9. Oude Kerk

Although there are several churches to visit in Amsterdam, our favorite is Oude Kerk or old church. This church located in the Red Light District was consecrated in 1306 and became the oldest building in Amsterdam. On the outside you can see its Gothic spire with a carillon of 47 bells, while in its interior the beautiful stained glass, its three pipe organs and especially its roof, the largest medieval wooden vault in Europe with paintings of the fifteenth century. As a curiosity on the floor in front of the church is a bronze sculpture that refers to the prostitutes of the neighborhood. We will be attentive to see if you find it.
Other worthwhile churches are Westerkerk, with the best panoramic views of Amsterdam from its tower and Nieuwe Kerk, from the 15th century.
Visiting hours: every day from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Sundays they open visits to the public at 1:00 p.m. Entrance included if you have the I amsterdam City Card.

Oude Kerk, one of the places to see in Amsterdam

10. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum or National Museum of Amsterdam is the most important museum in the Netherlands, with more than two million visitors a year. During the visit you can take a step through the history of art in the country, from the Middle Ages to the last century with its best works. Inside they range from masterpieces of Dutch Golden Age painters to a large collection of Delft ceramics.
His most outstanding works are some of Rembrandt's masterpieces as The Night Round, Jesé's tree or Jewish bride.
The museum is located in the Museumplein area, very close to the Van Gogh Museum and in front of the famous lyrics I amsterdam (They are now itinerant) in which all travelers have a photo.
To learn more about the history of the museum and its most important pieces, we recommend you book this visit with an expert Spanish guide in Art History or take this offer that includes a guided tour of this museum, that of Van Gogh and a cruise through the channels of the city.
If you don't want to take a guided tour, we recommend you book this quick ticket in advance.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.