BEST things to do in Amsterdam in the Summer
From its famous canals and beautiful architecture to tulips outside the city center, Amsterdam has much to offer all year round. But a little more magic is coaxed out in the summer, as temperatures turn warm to tempt your outdoors.
Numerous parks are spread out amongst the city’s colorful buildings, while the historical canals offer unique urban views. While you can explore the usual way, on foot, other fun ways include canal cruises and bike tours. Amsterdam also welcomes plenty of festivals during the summer so that you can mingle while indulging in your interests.
While by no means a complete list of memorable things to do in Amsterdam in the summer, here are some of my favorite activities. If you have the extra time, spare a day or two for a trip out into the countryside.
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Things to do in Amsterdam in the Summer
Amsterdam’s museums, historical sites, and coffee shops are statement pieces in this lovely city, but summer best highlights the beauty outdoors. I can never get enough of the spacious parks and canal cruises, especially in such sunny and comfortable weather!
Best Amsterdam Activities for Summer
Canal Cruise Sightseeing
Amsterdam’s intricate canal system may have been built to manage the city’s water levels, but for us, it’s a luxurious way of taking the city views. Drift past brick buildings, colorful streets and do so in comfort – your canal cruise tour is best experienced with wine and cheese.
Rent a boat
You could also take control of your canal exploration and rent a boat to captain yourself. The Jordaan district, former city locks, and the Old Harbor are classic stop points. Best of all, you don’t need any boating experience!
Eat outside on a terrace
Appreciate beautiful city views while devouring local delicacies. Dining outdoors lets you experience local living to the max – especially when you’re in Amsterdam in the summer. You’re not limited to street-level eateries either; look up rooftop restaurants with terraces to enjoy the warm weather.
Cycle around Amsterdam
Another best thing to do in Amsterdam during summer is cycling through the city. Lime bikes and e-bikes are ready for hire everywhere, but I suggest joining a guided bike tour. Your local guide will bring you through the Western Islands and central Amsterdam, historical tidbits included.
Go swimming
In a city built on water, surely al fresco dips are welcome? While Amsterdam isn’t exactly an Oceanside paradise, it has delightful urban beaches and outdoor swimming spots for swimming and sandy outings. Sloterplas Lake is an ideal family outing ‘beach’, while Buitenzwembad Marineterrein comes with plenty of floating boardwalks to launch from. Amsterdamse Bos and Nieuwe Meer offer more popular swimming holes.
Picnic in the park
Green pockets are everywhere in Amsterdam, letting you bask in the sunshine, rose gardens, and riveting performances. Swoop by a local market to pack a picnic and spend your day out on grassy lawns! Vondelpark is an Amsterdam classic, but Beatrixpark and Westerpark have their fair share of shaded spaces.
Visit a botanical garden
Feeling green but wanting a change in scenery? Amsterdam is home to one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world: Hortus Botanicus. Founded in 1638, this herb garden-turned-botanical museum is a quiet oasis in the middle of a bustling city. Marvel at over 6000 plants before grabbing a drink at the gorgeous café.
Walk the canals in the evening
Not keen on sweating throughout the day? Put a spin on the typical Amsterdam to-do by doing the canal walk at night instead. Lights bounce off the water while buildings are reflected clearly, creating a surreal topsy-turvy effect. It can extremely romantic with the right person.
Find a festival you’ll love
One of the best summer activities in Amsterdam is going to festivals! Summer is festival season, celebrating everything from flowers to music. Home to Europe’s most iconic pride event (Amsterdam Pride), the city also hosts the Aalsmeer Flower Festival, and the music-heavy Festival on the Canals.
Check out PureMarkt or Sunday Market
Your visit to Amsterdam isn’t complete without some outdoor market browsing. For artisanal and international offerings, check out the traveling weekend market Pure Markt. 70% food-related and 30% eclectic mix of vintage and gift items, you’ll definitely pick up some mementos of your trip. For funky souvenirs and products, head over to Sunday Market Westergas. There, you’ll meet Amsterdam’s most creative minds on art, fashion, and design.
Take a food tour
There’s no better way of getting close and personal with Amsterdam’s food scene than by taste-testing a selection of menus. Jordaan, the neighborhood of the chic and trendy, has an awesome food scene waiting to be uncovered. Sign up for a 3.5-hour food tour to try 13 different delicacies at 7 venues. These family-owned businesses serve up traditional Dutch food alongside stories of their food journey.
Red Light District walking tour
It’s easy to dismiss the Red Light District as a den of sin, but it’s so much more than that. As you trail past Dutch coffee shops, the Old Church, and neon lights on your guided walking tour; learn how the neighborhood influenced the famed ‘Dutch tolerance’ as well as city development.
Looking for things to do with kids while traveling as a family to Amsterdam? You’ll find plenty of ideas on how to spend the day with kids in Amsterdam.
Indoor Amsterdam Attractions
Of course, you can’t miss out on Amsterdam’s cultural and historical goodies just because they’re indoors! Balance your outdoor activities with fun things to do indoors in Amsterdam, summer or not.
Van Gogh Museum
This renowned Dutch painter has left a trove of masterpieces for everyone to appreciate. When you need a break from the heat, spend some hours at the Van Gogh Museum. Families with kids will have a blast with the various craft workshops offered onsite.
Rijksmuseum
Regular art purveyors will fall in love with Rijksmuseum’s 8,000-plus pieces of art. Items plucked from 800 years of Dutch history are rotated through permanent and seasonal displays. While paintings run the gamut from Rembrandt to Van Gogh to other Golden Age painters, other exhibits feature archaeological artifacts, sculptures, maritime objects, and other culturally significant items. Grab a priority ticket to skip the line!
Johan Cruijff Arena
You may not be able to step onto the field, but Johan Cruijff Arena has opened exclusive areas to the selected tours and it’s eye-opening. Football buffs get to see behind the scenes of the Netherland’s largest stadium, including a peek into the Ajax dressing room. Next up is the boardroom accessible by management only, and finally – fantastic views up in a skybox.
Day Trips from Amsterdam
Amsterdam makes a great base for day trips too. Venture out the borders for a glimpse of traditional Holland.
Take a countryside bike tour
A ferry away is a merry, countryside day! Your bike tour begins with an eye-opening morning around Old Holland; you’ll stare nonstop from Amsterdam Tower and throughout the Eye Film Museum. The scene then switches drastically at Waterland, a flat landscape giving way to farms, historic canals, and bridges. Broek in Waterland, a village of the olden days, is spectacular in the summer. Finally, take your break at an authentic cheese farm for nibbles and now-you-knows.
Windmills and village tour
What else screams Dutch more loudly than windmills? A luxury bus steers you towards the traditional hubs of Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Edam, and Marken. Learn about century-old trades by visiting a wooden shoe factory and then the colorful windmills of Zaanse Schans. At Edam, sample Gouda cheese. Volendam and Marken hold a trove of fishing harbors and colorful houses – all in the spirit of 17th-century Holland.