Why Amsterdam
Amsterdam is made for wandering: a ring of 17th-century canals, gabled houses, world-class museums and a bike-first pace that makes the compact centre a joy to explore on foot or two wheels.
01 Best time to visit
April–May (tulip season) and September bring mild weather and lighter crowds. Summer is busiest; winter is cold but cosy, with fewer tourists and lower prices.
The Anne Frank House sells timed tickets online only, and they go weeks ahead — book the moment your dates are set, or you will miss it.
02 Weather & climate
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Amsterdam has a cool maritime climate: mild summers, chilly damp winters and frequent showers in any season. The weather changes fast — bring layers and something waterproof whatever the forecast says.
| Season | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | 43°F 6°C | 34°F 1°C |
| Spring | 57°F 14°C | 41°F 5°C |
| Summer | 72°F 22°C | 55°F 13°C |
| Autumn | 59°F 15°C | 46°F 8°C |
03 Top 12 things to do in Amsterdam
04 Plan your Amsterdam trip by theme
Short on time, travelling with kids, counting the pennies or dodging the rain? These curated guides pull together the right things to do for how you travel.
05 How long to stay in Amsterdam
With just a few hours, take a canal cruise for the overview, walk the Nine Streets and the Jordaan, and pre-book a single big museum — the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh — to skip the queue.
06 Where to stay
07 Food & drink
Amsterdam’s classics are cheap and cheerful: herring from a street stall, warm stroopwafels, bitterballen with a beer in a brown café, and Indonesian rijsttafel from its colonial past. The city’s modern dining scene is excellent too.
08 Day trips
09 Getting into Amsterdam from the airport
Schiphol (AMS) is a major hub with direct US flights on KLM, Delta, United and American, and sits just 15 minutes from the centre.
| From the airport | Time | Cost (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Train to CentraalDirect from under the terminal | 15–20 min | ~$6.50 |
| Airport Express bus 397To the Museum Quarter/Leidseplein | ~30 min | ~$7 |
| TaxiMetered | 20–30 min | ~$45–55 |
10 Entry & visa for US citizens
- Passport
- Valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the EU (6 months recommended).
- Visa
- No visa for tourism — up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.
- Cost
- Free. ETIAS — a roughly €7 online travel authorisation — is expected to launch in late 2026; it is not yet required, so check whether it applies to your travel dates. The EES biometric entry system is already in use at borders (no fee).
- Good to know
- The 90-day clock is shared across all Schengen countries; have proof of onward travel and accommodation ready.
Last checked 2026-09-08. Entry rules change — always confirm with the official government source before you book.
11 Getting around Amsterdam
Fly into Schiphol (AMS); direct trains reach Amsterdam Centraal in ~15–20 minutes. In the city, trams, walking and bikes beat taxis — the centre is small and flat.