Amsterdam travel guide

Amsterdam falls into place if you split it into a canal-walk day and a museum day.

The Rijksmuseum costs 25 euros for adults, opens daily 9:00 to 17:00 and needs a timed ticket. The Anne Frank House costs 16.50 euros for adults and sells only timed tickets online; new tickets are released on Tuesdays at 10:00 for visits six weeks ahead.

Trains from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station take 16 to 17 minutes, and a single bought online costs 5.50 euros. UNESCO listed the 17th-century canal ring in 2010. Book both museums as soon as your dates are set, and recheck prices for your date on the official sites.

Visa and entry requirements for The Netherlands

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Visa for the Netherlands (Government of the Netherlands (NetherlandsWorldwide))
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

The Rijksmuseum costs 25 euros for adults and opens daily, including public holidays, 9:00 to 17:00. You need a ticket with a set start time, sold officially online; the museum says on-site tickets are limited.

The Anne Frank House costs 16.50 euros for adults, including a 1-euro booking fee, and doesn't sell at the door. Buy a time slot online; new tickets are released on Tuesdays at 10:00 for visits six weeks ahead. Two people visiting both pay 2 × 25 + 2 × 16.50 = 83 euros. UNESCO listed Amsterdam's 17th-century canal ring in 2010 as an example of a planned port city.

Based on each museum's official information, checked on 23 October 2026.

A second-class single from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal costs 5.50 euros online. A paper ticket adds a 1.60-euro single-use card fee, making 7.10 euros. The ride takes 16 to 17 minutes.

Two people pay 11 euros online or 14.20 euros on paper tickets, a 3.20-euro difference, so buying before you travel pays off.

With 2 nights: walk the canal ring on day one, and book a morning Rijksmuseum slot on day two. Start times are fixed, so arriving late can make entry difficult.

With 4 nights: add the Anne Frank House on day three and finish with a city walk on day four. Anne Frank House tickets go fast on release day, so once your dates are set, prepare for the Tuesday 10:00 release. Bring an umbrella for canal walks in case of rain.

Plan meals in Amsterdam around stroopwafels, herring and bitterballen. Stroopwafels are two thin waffles with syrup between them; herring is eaten raw with onions; bitterballen are fried meat croquettes with mustard. We don't pick restaurants or prices here. On museum days, eat lunch nearby to keep travel short.

The Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House need timed bookings, so check official information as soon as your dates are set. The Netherlands is in the Schengen Area; check entry requirements for your nationality. The local emergency number is 112; keep belongings close.