Things to Do in Amsterdam: What I Loved & What’s Next

Amsterdam is one of those cities that seems to offer a different experience every time you visit. Some of my strongest memories from visiting when I was younger are of cycling through the city, so returning years later naturally came with plans to do the same. January weather had other ideas, but swapping the bikes for indoor attractions, architectural walks and a nighttime canal cruise introduced me to a side of Amsterdam I hadn't experienced before.

Here’s the thing: four days in Amsterdam? Not enough. The city is packed with museums, immersive exhibitions, neighbourhoods worth exploring and far more to see than we could possibly fit into one short trip. I left with my phone full of photos and, somehow, an even longer list of places I wanted to see next time.

So consider this my Amsterdam hit list: experiences I've tried, loved and would happily recommend, alongside a few that are firmly on my radar for the next visit — preferably when the weather isn't out to get me. And with many of them available through WAUG, including passes that bundle multiple Amsterdam attractions together, there are some pretty tempting ways to make that next itinerary stretch further. And because no trip is complete without figuring out what to eat, I've saved a few of those for the end too.
 

See Amsterdam From the Canals

There’s Amsterdam from the streets, and then there’s Amsterdam from the canals. Trust me—night or day, this is the kind of experience you’ll be talking about long after your trip. Amsterdam’s canals are the true core of the city. More than just picturesque views, these waterways formed its growth, inspiring the iconic narrow canal houses and bridges that line their edges. Even today, life continues around the water, from boats travelling through the city to the floating homes sitting directly along the canals. Getting a closer look at those is definitely on my list for next time.

The true magic of Amsterdam came alive after sunset. My friends and I set out on a nighttime canal cruise — complete with food and wine — and sailed through the city as illuminated bridges arched overhead and reflections sparkled across the water. Our lively guide kept us laughing while pointing out interesting places and stories along the route. The entire experience felt cinematic from start to finish and easily became one of the best moments of my trip.

Next time, I’m determined to experience it in the daytime. Different routes offer their own views of the city, and with the sun shining, my camera might finally do the scenery justice. WAUG has a variety of daytime and evening canal cruises available, making it worth looking through the different routes and experiences to find one that suits what you want to see.
 

Explore Amsterdam’s Museums

I was amazed to discover just how many museums Amsterdam has to offer. While the iconic ones often steal the spotlight, looking beyond Amsterdam's best-known museums has changed my must-see list for future trips.

STRAAT Museum immediately caught my attention for its huge collection of street art and graffiti displayed inside a former industrial warehouse, while Fabrique des Lumières takes art off the canvas completely, filling a vast former gasworks with engrossing digital projections. It’s pure magic for your camera roll. Then there’s Madame Tussauds Amsterdam for something a little more playful and photo-friendly. But after spending so much of my last trip walking alongside and cruising through Amsterdam’s canals, the Museum of the Canals might be the one I’m most curious about. Getting to learn how this enormous network was actually created, and how it shaped the Amsterdam that exists around it today, sounds genuinely fascinating.

With so many options, attraction passes in Amsterdam are even more appealing. WAUG has several Go City Amsterdam passes that combine different museums, attractions, and experiences. It’s a good idea to check what’s included before booking each activity on its own.
 

Lose Yourself in AMAZE Amsterdam

Light, sound, lasers, projections — AMAZE Amsterdam takes all of it and builds an entire experience around you. Rather than one huge exhibition space, you move through a series of completely different rooms, with each one bringing something new to the experience.

Before any of that begins, though, AMAZE has a beautiful bar and lounge area where we grabbed some drinks, relaxed and waited to be called in. Once inside, we were taken through a narrated story told through light and sound, following a one-way route that gradually led us from one room to another. Some spaces are there to simply take in the show, while others become interactive, giving us the chance to control and play with the lights ourselves.

With every room changing the atmosphere, visuals and way we interacted with the space, the whole thing became pretty surreal. Going from drinks with friends in the lounge to stepping through this strange sequence of light, sound and interactive rooms made AMAZE a really fun addition to our Amsterdam trip.
 

Turn Amsterdam Upside Down

The Upside Down Amsterdam was easily one of the most fun experiences I had during the trip. It’s essentially a playground of themed rooms, optical illusions and creative sets, with each space giving you something completely different to explore, interact with or pose in. And despite the name, there’s a lot more waiting inside than just upside-down rooms.

We had already booked our tickets, so after a quick check-in and dropping our bags into the lockers, we were off exploring. One or two hours later, we still hadn't managed to see everything. There was always another room around the corner, and half the fun was figuring out what to do with each one — especially once everyone started getting increasingly creative with the photos.

The experience doesn't quite end with the last room either. We were able to download photos taken by cameras throughout the attraction and print some as little souvenirs from the day, which I loved. If you want the ultimate Amsterdam photo dump, this is your spot. Afterwards, there’s a shop to browse and a café to sit down, grab something and go through the ridiculous number of photos you've inevitably just taken.

And if The Upside Down has made it onto your Amsterdam list too, WAUG has tickets available — all that’s left is deciding who’s joining you in the photos.
 

Cycle Through Amsterdam

If there’s one thing Amsterdam is never short of, it’s bikes. They’re everywhere — parked along the canals, filling bike racks and streaming down dedicated cycle lanes in numbers I genuinely wasn't used to seeing. For many locals, cycling isn't a weekend activity; it’s simply how they get around, making bikes feel just as much a part of Amsterdam's streets as the canals themselves.

And there’s a surprising amount of variety once you start paying attention. Regular city bikes share the lanes with delivery bikes, cargo bikes carrying shopping and those unmistakable family bikes with children riding in large carriers at the front. Even just watching everyone go about their day on them was part of the Amsterdam experience for me.

Unfortunately, January rain meant cycling didn't make it into this trip, but seeing how convenient it is only made me want to try it again. With a bike, exploring further across the city becomes a breeze — and WAUG has bike rentals available for different lengths of time, whether that means a few hours of exploring or making a full day of it. Next time, I'll be choosing the month a little more carefully, grabbing a bike and finally seeing how much more of Amsterdam I can cover on two wheels.