Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026

To this day, Amsterdam is still one of the absolute best cities I have ever visited. It’s funny because I actually grew up only 2 hours away from it. Usually, you want to travel far away to find the coolest places, but for me, one of my favorite cities in the world is still just around the corner from my hometown.

I’ve been to Amsterdam countless times. Sometimes for a party trip over a weekend, but then also more recently as well just to explore and enjoy a cute couple’s getaway. Amsterdam, at least in my experience, is pretty amazing for both, with the party and Red Light District but then also with all the museums and canals.

In this guide, I am trying to answer one of the most basic questions today to help you figure out if you would enjoy a trip to Amsterdam, and that is: Is Amsterdam worth visiting? 

Here, I will include what I love about Amsterdam, what I didn’t like so much, and then also some of my favorite things to do.

Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting – My Quick Answer

In case you don’t want to read through this whole article, then here is my quick answer: yes, Amsterdam is 100% worth visiting. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the top 3 cities to visit in all of Europe.

Since I grew up in Germany, I have traveled all over Europe on multiple trips basically for most of my life, so I really got to see quite a few countries and cities. 

Then just recently, we also did a huge 3-month trip to Spain where I saw loads of cities, and still, I think Amsterdam is definitely in my personal top 3 cities to visit in Europe. So therefore, yes, 100% worth visiting in case you still didn’t get it!

I know this is just my quick answer, but let me give you at least a few reasons why I think it is. For a start, I think Amsterdam is super unique in the way it looks with its houses and canals. Even just walking around there, I enjoy it so much because it’s just so beautiful and honestly much prettier than other cities like Paris or Berlin. 

But then also, there is so much to do there from canal tours, food tours, biking around, partying in the Red Light District, and visiting countless amazing museums, so I feel like Amsterdam really offers a lot. 

I’ve been there quite a few times now, often for 3 days or so, and every time my itinerary is packed because there is just so much going on that I always want to take part in and not miss out, if that makes sense.

What I Love About Amsterdam

1. The unique look of the city

One thing I love about Amsterdam, and this might not seem that important to you, is the unique look of the city with its canals and houses. It is just so beautiful. 

You should see me when I’m there, I am literally nonstop taking pictures of the canals, the boats, and the buildings because there really isn’t any other city (apart from Utrecht maybe) that looks like that.

2. The hotels in Amsterdam

I have also only had good experiences with the hotels in Amsterdam. They are always so cozy and chic, especially when they’re located right in the center inside one of those traditional houses. It always adds so much to the vibe. My favorite one has been Hotel Omega, which is exactly where I’ll be staying next time too. You should definitely check it out!

3. Walkability in Amsterdam

I love a good, walkable city because it’s just so much more enjoyable to explore on foot than having to constantly take public transport, at least I think so. 

In places like Paris or Berlin, I always find myself spending so much time down in the metro, but here in Amsterdam, I am literally walking everywhere all the time because the city center is so nice and compact.

4. Overall vibe (especially in the summer)

Lastly, the overall vibe in Amsterdam is just great in my opinion. There is always something going on, and people are always out and about, especially in the spring and summer when everyone is having drinks outside. 

Being able to just jump on a canal boat and skipper around is amazing. Everyone seems super friendly too, and from my experience, Amsterdam has never felt as completely overrun or stressful with tourists as Barcelona for instance.

What I Don’t Like About Amsterdam

1. The food scene is not the best

I really don’t want to sound like a hater here, but I always feel like the food scene in Amsterdam isn’t the best. By that, I don’t mean any specific dish, but more like overall, the restaurants I have been to never really felt worth the money. 

However, I of course love trying the famous Dutch fries, the croquettes from the vending machines, and the local cheeses, but that’s kind of it.

2. It can be super busy & expensive

An observation I’ve made over many years of going to Amsterdam is that hotels can get so expensive, especially during the high season. Maybe it’s because the city center is fairly small and just has fewer hotels than bigger cities like Madrid or Paris, but I feel like every time I want to visit, I have to book like 4 to 6 months in advance just to get a decent deal. Booking last minute is always such a nightmare because everything is either hella expensive or completely booked out.

3. The bikes are scary

Biking is scary, and the bikes themselves are scary! As a pedestrian, I honestly fear for my life with what feels like a million people on bicycles shooting around me all the time. 

One day, I actually tried cycling around Amsterdam myself, and it was honestly so hectic and intimidating. I only recommend renting a bike here if you are a super confident cyclist.

My Top Things to Do in Amsterdam

1. Just wander the city

Honestly, one of my absolute favorite things to do in Amsterdam is just being in Amsterdam. There was actually a long time in my life where I was seriously thinking about moving there because it is just such an amazing city. I know it sounds a little basic, but I just love wandering around the streets, walking by the canals, grabbing a coffee, taking a million pictures of the houses, and walking through Vondelpark in the morning.

2. Go on a canal cruise

I think my favorite actual activity was joining a canal cruise. We got really lucky with the weather on our last trip, and since I love boats anyway, it was perfect. 

We joined one that actually had a little bar right in the middle with drinks included, so we just sat back, enjoyed the sun, and got boated around the canals. Seeing the city from the water gives you a really cool different angle. Also, our tour guide and skipper were super nice and knew so much about the city history. I highly recommend doing one.

3. Visit the iconic museums (Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum)

The museums in Amsterdam are so iconic. There is a whole bunch of them by the way, and I feel like at this stage I have pretty much been to all of them. The most popular ones are obviously the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, which are both massive art museums. 

I’ll be completely honest with you though: Are they both absolute must-dos? Yes, they are, in the exact same way the Louvre in Paris is a must-do. But do I generally dislike art museums because I get a little bored in them? Yes, that is also 100% true. So, it’s kind of up to you if you want to fight the crowds for them.

4. Wander the Albert Cuyp Market

Amsterdam has some amazing markets, from flower markets to farmers markets, but the Albert Cuyp Market is definitely my favorite. It’s full of great Dutch street food to try, and I always get a huge stroopwafel here, they make them fresh right in front of you and they are just the absolute best. 

It’s located in the De Pijp neighborhood which I really love, and my favorite cafe in Amsterdam, Bakers & Roasters, is right around there too. I always visit the market first to look around and then head over there for brunch after!

FAQs About Is Amsterdam Worth it

Should I fly to Amsterdam?

You definitely can fly into Amsterdam if you are coming from overseas. I’ve flown in and out of Schiphol Airport plenty of times, and it’s a pretty good airport that is easy to navigate. However, when I’m already in Europe or close by, like in Germany or France, I often take the train instead since the train network around Amsterdam is so good.

Can I take the train to Amsterdam?

Yes! I take the train to Amsterdam all the time depending on where I’m coming from. Especially from cities in Germany like Cologne, or even from Paris and Brussels, taking the train is incredibly easy and often much less of a hassle than flying, to be honest.

What is there to do in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam has loads to do. When I was younger, I would come here a lot just to party on the weekends since there are so many amazing bars and clubs. Nowadays, though, I prefer coming here to enjoy the museums, walk around, and join a canal cruise.

What is the best time to visit Amsterdam?

I personally think springtime is the absolute best. I love coming in early April when it’s still a little chilly outside, so you can get cozy in a cafe, but you can also catch some perfect blue skies for a canal boat cruise and ideally ditch some of the crazy summer tourist crowds at the same time.

Can I smoke weed in Amsterdam?

Yes, you can. There are plenty of “coffee shops” all over Amsterdam where you can legally buy marijuana. The Bulldog is probably the most iconic one to go to if you want to grab some food and experience that side of the city. I personally have not done this in a while though but I remember it being pretty fun!

Final Thoughts on Visiting Amsterdam

I probably don’t need much time to wrap this up since you can already figure out my answer: yes, Amsterdam is 100% worth visiting. 

It is for sure one of my favorite cities in all of Europe and a total must-see, in my personal opinion, even more so than Barcelona and way more so than Paris. The overall vibe in Amsterdam is just incredible and so much fun.

Sometimes I really wish I would have moved here, at least for a little bit, but oh well, maybe that just means I need to plan another visit soon. I hope this quick guide helped you get a rough idea of what to expect. Happy travels!

Check Out My Other Amsterdam Guides

Best Cafes in Amsterdam: My Favorite Coffee Shops

Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Solo Travel Amsterdam: My Tips & Tricks for Backpackers

Where to Stay in Amsterdam: The Best Areas & Hotels

Four Days in Amsterdam Itinerary: How I Spent 96 Hours in Amsterdam