Add dates

AmsterdamFor first-time visitors

Our most recommended Amsterdam For first-time visitors

Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Cheese & Wine Option

1. Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Cheese & Wine Option

Relax on a canal cruise through the UNESCO Heritage listed Golden Age Canals of Amsterdam. View city highlights like the Skinny Bridge, the Red Light District, and the Old Harbor. Have the option to choose standard tour or a tour with unlimited delicious Dutch cheese, wine, and other drinks. Board the ship and let your local skipper tell you about local history as you sail past sights in the Jordaan district and the Skinny Bridge on the the Amstel River. Admire views of parts of the Red Light District, the former city locks, and Old Harbor. Capture pictures of the stately architecture of the Maritime Museum and the prestigious Gold Bend neighborhood. See pieces of history as you sail by places like the Anne Frank House. Ask your guide questions about the city and get recommendations for things to do and places to eat.

Amsterdam: Heineken Experience Ticket

2. Amsterdam: Heineken Experience Ticket

1867 was a good year for beer. It was the year Gerard Adriaan Heineken built a new brewery in the heart of Amsterdam. In the pumping heart of the old brewery, you can dive into the world of Heineken beer.   On a 1.5-hour self-guided tour you’ll learn about the company’s heritage, the beer brewing process, Heineken’s innovations, and about what it takes to serve a world-famous beer. There will be a short presentation in English provided inside the factory.   Find out the 4 natural ingredients that make this beer, and discover the brand’s sponsorship activities with Formula 1, the UEFA Champions League and the Rugby World Cup. And sure enough, at the end of the tour you can raise your glass with new friends.

Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket

3. Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket

As one of Amsterdam's most popular attractions, the Van Gogh Museum draws over a million visitors each year. With this ticket, discover over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and more than 750 letters from Van Gogh at your own pace. Access a wide range of permanent and temporary exhibitions.  Home to the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam transports visitors on a fascinating journey through the life of the artist and his contemporaries. The museum introduces the complete story: the artist, the context, Van Gogh’s personal ambitions, his emotions, the myths that surround him, and his influence right up until this very day. The Van Gogh Museum’s collection includes world-famous paintings such as Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, and The Potato Eaters.  The museum also organizes 3 temporary exhibitions every year. The Van Gogh Museum is open 365 days a year. Tickets are available online only. Don’t miss out, book in advance. Visitors can discover more about Van Gogh and his contemporaries with the multimedia guide, available in 11 languages. With more time to enjoy inside the museum, you can dive straight into the fantastic collections on display.

Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum Entrance Ticket

4. Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum Entrance Ticket

Treat yourself to a wonderful day in one of Amsterdam’s grandest museums, the Rijksmuseum, located in the heart of the city. The Rijksmuseum's internationally revered collection features some of the nation’s most famous works, including historic art by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Van Gogh, and others. Visitors can admire Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’, which takes pride of place in a beautifully lit hall allowing visitors to enjoy every tiny detail. Gaze also upon 'The Jewish Bride'. This last painting reduced Vincent van Gogh to tears who, upon visiting the Rijksmuseum shortly after it opened, wrote in a letter that he would gladly give up ten years of his life to sit in front of the painting for two weeks, eating only a stale crust of bread. Visitors can expect much more than just paintings by Dutch Masters from the Golden Age. The Rijksmuseum’s expansive, evocative collection also includes Delftware, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, clothing, Asian art, prints, items from Dutch maritime history, and many other culturally significant objects, all combining to vividly retell 800 years of Dutch history within a global context. And naturally, the collection isn't frozen in time – new items such as a Mondrian-inspired dress by Yves Saint Laurent dating from 1965 can also be seen. The largest research and restoration project ever for 'The Night Watch' has started. This is happening live in the museum and you can be part of it and support the project with a donation.

Amsterdam: Madame Tussauds Ticket

5. Amsterdam: Madame Tussauds Ticket

Sparkle amid the stars with this ticket to Madame Tussauds in the heart of Amsterdam. Drink a cup of coffee with George Clooney, get your picture taken with members of the Dutch Royal family and pick up your paintbrush alongside world-famous artists such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt. If you are you dreaming about a career as a real TV-host, come and discover your presentation skills at the new TV studio by reading the autocue. Or is music more your thing? How about recording a duet with Adele in the recording studio, or joining DJs Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Hardwell or Martin Garrix in the DJ booth. Immerse yourself into this amazing interactive world. You’ll never see as many stars in Amsterdam as at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam.

Amsterdam: ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo Entry Ticket

6. Amsterdam: ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo Entry Ticket

At the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo, nature, culture, and heritage come together. Every tree, creature, building, microbe, and planet has its own story. ARTIS has been telling these stories since 1838, and each day they are born anew. Experience it all for yourself with your entry ticket. Stroll through the historical city park with its centuries-old trees and wealth of plants. Delight your taste buds at de Plantage, a café-restaurant. Relax in a chair near the fountain on Artisplein. Experience nature and discover its significance for civilization, because a better understanding of nature fosters a greater respect for all the life around you.

Amsterdam: Johan Cruijff ArenA Classic Tour

7. Amsterdam: Johan Cruijff ArenA Classic Tour

Experience the excitement of the Johan Cruijff ArenA Stadium on this classic tour. During the tour, walk at your own pace to explore the stadium. Meet the guides along the route who will tell you information about the exclusive areas of the stadium. In addition, have the opportunity to go behind the scenes, with special access to areas that are normally reserved for only players and officials. Take a look into the official dressing room of Ajax, when it is not in use on match days or during training sessions. Don’t miss this chance to feel the thrilling history of this iconic site.

Amsterdam: National Maritime Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket

8. Amsterdam: National Maritime Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket

Book a skip-the-line ticket to the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam to discover how Amsterdam became the greatest harbor in mainland Europe. Be inspired by one of the world’s biggest maritime collections, artifacts, and art. Explore the National Maritime Museum in the heart of Amsterdam. The building was built in 1656 as a former storehouse for the Admiralty. Step back in time by boarding a replica 1749 VOC East Indiaman ship named Amsterdam. Experience a ship from the so-called Dutch golden age and see life-like displays about sea travel. Squeeze into the captain’s quarters, fire a cannon, or hang in a sailor’s hammock. Board into the ship’s bow and you can take an exciting VR voyage over central Amsterdam. Experience life in a bustling city harbor at the beginning of the 17th century.

Amsterdam: Guided Bike Tour of Central Amsterdam

9. Amsterdam: Guided Bike Tour of Central Amsterdam

Discover the sights of central Amsterdam with an expert guide riding by your side. You’ll learn about the city’s culture, see important historical sites, and famous hotspots as well as lesser-known local favorites.  Start your journey near the central station, pass the impressive A’DAM Tower, and ride over to the Western Islands, which are filled with charming drawbridges, old warehouses, and chic artists' studios.  Continue along the Brouwersgracht Canal and visit the trendy Jordaan and 9 Street districts flanked by indie boutiques, cozy cafes, and hip eateries. As you ride deeper into the city center, you will enter the Grachtengordel neighborhood and zoom past the Westerkerk (Western Church) and the historic Anne Frank House.  Feel the buzz of music and street performers around Leidseplein Square, a busy theater district with a buzzing nightlife.  After so much excitement, enjoy a pleasant break in the Vondelpark, the largest park in Amsterdam and the most famous park in the Netherlands. Feeling recharged, circle the Museum Quarter and ride through the narrow streets of the Bohemian-influenced De Pijp neighborhood.  Cross the iconic Magere Brug (skinny bridge), a wooden drawbridge over the River Amstel, and arrive at the famed Artis Zoo leading into the Maritime Quarter.  Admire the impressive replica of a 17th-century Dutch East Indian Company ship at the Salt Harbour, before returning to back where your bike journey began.

Amsterdam: Royal Palace Entry Ticket and Audio Guide

10. Amsterdam: Royal Palace Entry Ticket and Audio Guide

Enter the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and explore the regal building with an audio guide in your chosen language. Learn the history of the 17th-century monument, still used for state visits, award ceremonies and other royal receptions to this day. Admire masterpieces of art from the Dutch Golden Age and see sculptures by artists such as Ferdinand Bol and Govert Flinck. Walk through the vast marble chamber of the Citizens' Hall and see notable features such as the statue of Atlas with the sky on his shoulders.

12 activities found
Sort by:

You might also like...

Unmissable attractions

Frequently asked questions about Amsterdam For first-time visitors

What are other things to do than For first-time visitors that are worth visiting in Amsterdam?

The other unmissable things to do in Amsterdam are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Amsterdam

Want to discover all there is to do in Amsterdam? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Amsterdam

We enjoyed the views of the canal houses and had a good tasting of wine and proper Gouda cheese (information on whether this was included in the price or not, could be more clear). Timing could not have been better (had the 6pm tour) for the mix of daylight and nighttime experience. Tourguides did a good job as well.

Really well done museum. Staff was very knowledgeable and kept all the information interesting while you could walk through at your own pace. They also had a lot of interactive things that made the experience super fun and the samples were great!

Very enjoyable cruise of the Amsterdam canals. Our hosts were very friendly, informative and told the history with amusing tales. Cheese and wine was unlimited, nice cheese and wines on offer too. Definitely recommend Flagship cruises.

Very enjoyable: it was an effective introduction to the inner town and its history, made by the captain Bas, as well as a cozy trip managed by host Tamsin, who served a delicious local cheese with wine

Amazing experience! We had the best morning! Rad, our tour guide, was great! We had a private tour as we were the only ones and it was fab! Very informative and lovely way to see Amsterdam!