We visited Amsterdam for 3 days in September and here are the best things to do in Amsterdam for this limited time span!

Time is never enough when it comes to Amsterdam β this city never sleeps, and neither will you, especially if you want to fully immerse in the cityβs atmosphere! But letβs cover the basics before we dive in into the nightlife:
Table of Contents
- 1. Ripleyβs Believe It Or Not
- 2.Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
- 3. Heineken Experience in Amsterdam
- 4. AβDAM Lookout
- 5. Rijksmuseum
- 6. Vondelpark in Amsterdam in September
- 7. Rembrandt House Museum
- 8. Anne Frank House
- 9. Canal Cruise!
- 10. Museum of Prostitution in Amsterdam
- 11. Nightlife
- X< I Amsterdam Sign β no longer there π
- Bonus: Zaanse Schans Half-Day Trip From Amsterdam
1. Ripleyβs Believe It Or Not
Typical visit time: 1 β 1.5 hours
Entrance fee:Β β¬ 18.00
When I was first looking at the best things to do in Amsterdam, this popped into my search completely by chance. Then, when I saw the black hole simulation, I was completely stunned and SO excited! I never ever knew that such a thing even existed. And, as I am a bit of a nerd, it was really amazing for me that the black hole simulation was actually in a place Iβd be going to pretty soon!
The best part is that no video or photo can ever recreate the sensation you get while youβre inside, it was honestly better than my wildest dreams. Before we entered the corridor, we saw people holding to the railing for their life, and we laughed. BUT THEN.
Once you enter this amazing Amsterdam sight, you will most certainly hold on to the railing too. Itβs actually a super clever optical illusion, and while the walls are moving, after a few seconds you start feeling as if the walls are still but YOU are the one whoβs moving. And THEN the fun begins! I actually went in and out a few times, since I enjoyed it immensely, but I did get a bit dizzy.
Ripleyβs Believe It Or Not is definitely one of the best things to see in Amsterdam β Ripley was a travel junkie like me, and went around to world to collect the weirdest and most curious things around the world. A lot of these are replicas and statues, of course (you can see the tallest and the heaviest men in the world!), but youβll still be saying βWOWβ on every corner of this Amsterdam museum. AND theyβve made awesome selfie spot signs for photos!

2.Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
Typical visit time: 1.5-2 hours
Entrance fee:Β β¬ 18.00
I am honestly having a hard time deciding whether this is my favorite thing to do in Amsterdam or not, as I am a huge fan of Van Gogh (but all the other sights and experiences in Amsterdam were just fantastic!).
For me, it was a dream coming true visiting the Van Gogh Museum! I havenβt majored in art history and in fact, donβt know much about art, but Van Goghβs work has a very special place in my heart. I have first seen some of his work in person in the National Gallery in London, but I couldnβt even imagine a whole museum with his art.
The first time I actually learned a bit more about his life was in an episode of Doctor Who (have you seen it? If so, check out these 7 Nerdy Things To See In London!). In fact, this is what actually got me so fascinated about his life and art β unlike other famous artists (like Rembrandt), he was not recognized at all during his lifetime and was struggling paying his bills. This is why his brother, Theo, helped him out almost constantly, and they often exchanged letters.
Van Gogh was struggling with mental illness, but this didnβt stop him from working on some of the most exhilarating paintings in the world. He recognized that he was ill and he even admitted himself into a mental institution for a while. But he never stopped painting and he never gave up on his dream! This is what I think inspires me the most β his tenacity and his love for natureβs beauty.
There was one amazing thing I learned while in the museum that almost brought me to tears (YES, get the audio guide, itβs fantastic!). Do you know his infamous Almond Blossom painting? He actually painted this as a present when his brother, Theo, became a father to a wonderful baby boy! Theo loved Van Gogh so much that he named his son after him β Vincent. And namely that Vincent was the one that created this very museum in Amsterdam!
Visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam β A Tip
The lines to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam are quite long, sometimes people wait in the lines for 4 hours! Thatβs absolutely insane. This is why I highly recommend getting a skip-the-line ticket beforehand and get an allocated hour for your visit. You will most likely still have to wait in a skip-the-line line, but donβt worry, it wonβt be more than 15-20 minutes tops.
3. Heineken Experience in Amsterdam
Typical visit time: 2 hours
EntranceΒ fee: β¬18.00
The Heineken Experience is just as fun as it sounds! You might find yourself wondering before you visit β βSo what is it? Is it a museum? Is it a roller coaster? Is it a factory?β Well, there is no right answer there, but I can assure you β hips might lie, but the lines in front of the Heineken Experience definitely donβt.
As the city is constantly flooded with tourists, you will really see that the best Amsterdam attractions all have huge lines in front of them. This is why Iβll reiterate again the importance of getting a skip-the-line ticket for the Heineken Experience as well!
If you are at least a bit curious about why the Heineken Experience is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam, check out my post about the Heineken experience and AβDAM Lookout and discover some great Amsterdam travel tips!
If you just love beer too much and would like to try as much Dutch beer as you can β there is an awesome Beer Tasting Trip!
4. AβDAM Lookout
Typical visit time: 1 hour
Entrance Fee: starting from β¬12.50
The AβDAM Lookout was not just one of the best things to do in Amsterdam for me β it was one of my favorite experiences in the city! I thoroughly enjoyed their attention to detail, which not that many attractions around the world can brag about.
There are a few things you will enjoy when visiting this sight, and itβs not just the view! Firstly, when you are invited in the building, you will have a mini photo-session which can make you look like a total daredevil! Next, when you step inside the elevator, it is absolutely like stepping into another world, it was SO amazing! The view from the top, of course, is absolutely stunning.
Last but not least, for the true daredevils, you can enjoy the highest Over-The-Edge swing in Europe! This is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience and one of the most thrilling things to do in Amsterdam.
If youβd like a fair price on your ticket and not just visit it at sunset, book it here.
5. Rijksmuseum
Typical visit time: 1.5-2 hours
EntranceΒ fee: β¬17.50
Are you an art lover? If youβve enjoyed the Van Gogh Museum, you must include the Rijksmuseum in your list with best things to do in Amsterdam in 3 days in September!
I know it looks super hard to pronounce, which was the reason I kept calling it βThe R museumβ or something like that before we visited. BUT if you keep the βmuseumβ part out of the word, the first βRijksβ is pronounced βRaiksβ. See, simple π
The museum holds numerous world-famous works of art, and the famous βThe Night Watchβ by Rembrandt! The famous painterβs use of light and shade creates an incredible depth of this painting. Moreover, seeing the huge canvas of βThe Night Watchβ is a very powerful experience which will leave you breathless.
P.S. Nope, Rembrandt did not paint John Snow here, nor the wights and white walkers π
The Rijksmuseum is pretty large, so you would certainly need a couple of hours to see everything. We mainly stuck to the paintings and the model ships, which were incredibly intricate and beautiful! This gorgeous building is not all about its outside looks, it definitely has a lot to offer inside, so donβt miss it when visiting the to best things to see in Amsterdam. Get your skip-the-line ticket here!
6. Vondelpark in Amsterdam in September
Amsterdam has a few parks, but Vondelpark is quite enjoyable on a sunny afternoon! Laying in the grass, taking a walk around the park or just enjoying the sun is what will make you fall in love with this thing to see in Amsterdam in September.
Donβt miss the awesome hot dogs! If youβd like to explore the whole park quickly and find all the hidden gems of Vondelpark, you can always rent a bike to help you out. Thus, youβll truly feel like the Dutch! But be careful when walking around the park (and Amsterdam, for that matter), as the cyclistsΒ can be quite dangerous for pedestrians π
7. Rembrandt House Museum
Typical visit time: 1 hour
EntranceΒ fee: β¬12.50
Rembrandtβs main home is a great sight you can enjoy when spending 3 days in Amsterdam in September. A lot of the elements youβll see in the house are actually authentic ones from the 17th century (so be careful and donβt touch anything youβre not allowed to!). Walking around Rembrandtβs house, you will experience a unique atmosphere that will convince you why this is one of the top things to do in Amsterdam.
Moreover, this is a place where many contemporary artists can showcase their work inspired by Rembrandt. One of the things that Rembrandt was most famous about was his use of light. His βspecial lightβ has become so iconic, that there is a very popular portrait lighting set up that is called βRembrandt lightingβ! He used to draw on a special time of the day and positioned all of his subjects at a specific angle to the daylight β 45 degrees to the side and 45 degrees up. This creates a distinct shadow cast by the nose, so the darker side of the face has only a triangle of light, called βRembrandtΒ triangleβ π
8. Anne Frank House
Typical visit time: 45 min β 1 hour
EntranceΒ fee: β¬12.50
This experience is completely different from all the other top things to see in Amsterdam. While the majority of the previous things I showed you were fun and cheerful (well, I guess apart from the Van Gogh museum), this is quite the opposite. For those of you that donβt know much about Anne Frank β she was a Jewish girl who was hiding from the Nazis during World War II. She, together with 7 other people, was hiding in that house for 2 years, until they were found and sent toΒ Auschwitz.
Her diary is kept in the house (currently a facsimile as they are renovating the museum). The βSecret Annexeβ as she called it became world-famous and it was published by the only survivor of the 8 people who were hiding in the house. Anne wanted to be a writer or a journalist and her writing style suggests that she could have been very successful at either.
While the Anne Frank House doesnβt offer guided tours included in the ticket, you can pick up an audio guide. However, bear in mind that visiting this museum can have an emotional impact on you and other people. This is why no photos are allowed inside the museum.
If you want to fully experience the museum, you can book a 2-hour private tour of the house (entrance included!) and the neighborhood when you follow this link.
9. Canal Cruise!
Typical visit time: 30 min β 45 min
EntranceΒ fee: from β¬12.50
A canal cruise is an absolute must and it should be on in your list of best things to do in Amsterdam! If youβve been there and you missed this experience, you should go back and fix this terrible error π It is so much fun! A canal cruise is a great way to explore Amsterdam. A guide will tell you all about the major landmarks and important sights around the city canals, and if youβre very lucky, youβll have a very funny guide as we did π
There is also a great option for an evening Amsterdam canal cruise, which will definitely put you in a romantic mood! Book your ticket here.
10. Museum of Prostitution in Amsterdam
Typical visit time: 30 min β 45 min
EntranceΒ fee: β¬9.00 (online)
The Museum of Prostitution was quite interesting despite our low expectations about it. One of the best things about similar museums in Amsterdam is that they are open until pretty late (this particular one is open until 00:00 every day!). Thus, it certainly made my list of top things to do in Amsterdam. Inside the museum, you can step into the life of a prostitute. There is even a small cinema-like saloon where you can see a video of a typical touristβs day in Amsterdam. The video was quite interesting, as it also showed something very common in Amsterdam β taking a bike out of the canal!
Yearly, between 6,000 and 10,000 bikes are taken out of canals. These are so many, that the locals joke that the Amsterdam canals are made up of 1 meter of mud, 1 meter of water and 1 meter of bikes π
Anyhow, there was also a short video about a typical day of a prostitute in the Red Lights District. Itβs quite interesting to see how an absolutely normal-looking girl transforms itself into an unrecognizable and gorgeous preacher of love-making. If you get the audio guide in the Museum in Prostitution, youβll find it quite funny β a working girl from the Red Lights District describes some of her experiences. Some stories are funny, but some are terrifying!
Inside the museum, youβll also be able to see a typical room of a prostitute, and you can also stand on a chair overlooking the street and get a sense of the feeling inside the Red Lightsβ windows. What amazed and surprised me was that the Museum of Prostitution in Amsterdam has a tribute to victims of sex trafficking, which is incredibly important in order to raise awareness. There is also a wall where you can share (or just read) some dirty little secrets! Itβs quite fun! So after Iβve given you a taste of Amsterdamβs nightlife and shown you why this is one of the top things to see in Amsterdam, letβs dig into the nightlife even more!
If youβd like to combine seeing the Museum of Prostitution and a canal cruise, book it here!
11. Nightlife
If youβre partying type, you can get an Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket for just β¬10 and that would give you free access to over 18 of Amsterdamβs top nightclubs! I would also recommend being on the lookout for night events and parties. There isΒ always something good going down in the city at night. Here are the top nightclubs Iβd recommend:
Sugar Factory
If youβre into rock β this is the place for you! There are lots of bands performing live in this club, so it always vibrant and fun.
WesterUnie
This is an absolutely smashing club β it has very large halls and you can dance away your evening to the newest trendy techno music.
AIR Amsterdam
In the mood forΒ TiΓ«sto? This is absolutely the right spot! The club has a stunning LED wall, plays great house music and you can even be at a world-famous DJ event if youβre lucky!
The Box
The Box in Amsterdam is a true embodiment of the perfect nightlife experience β there is always something going on! This place is very popular for concerts for music-lovers of different tastes. Definitely check their events before you visit!
Escape
This is one of the largest and most famous clubs in the city and definitely one of the very top things to see in Amsterdam! The music varies, but itβs mostly house and pop, which for me is the perfect mix for a nightlife experience.
X< I Amsterdam Sign β no longer there π
They say that you canβt go to Rome and not see the Pope. Well, in the past, you couldnβt go to Amsterdam and not see the βI Amsterdamβ sign! It was usually super crowded around it, so it was hard taking a photo of you with the sign. However, one of my friends said that if you visited veeery early morning (meaning after a late night out), you could totally get a good shot. That is, if youβre sober enough of course π
Please bear in mind that due to these crowds, the city council has decided to remove the I Amsterdam sign!
I got this beautiful shot at sunset after a rainy September morning. The reflections were just gorgeous! So if youβd like to take a great shot of Rijksmuseum behind it, take advantage of a sunny afternoon! If there was no rain in the morning, you can always bring a bottle of water and make your own photography pond π Now, howβs that for an Amsterdam travel tip? π
I love Amsterdam and have been there for the second time last Summer, when we mostly focused on visiting other cities. But even so, a cruise on the canals is mandatory and also just wandering around on the streets can make a day perfect since I love LOVE their architecture! Thatβs a great list you came up with!
Ahh I absolutely agree! <3 We did wander for a bit, there are so many hidden gems to discover besides the obvious <3
So many awesome ideas here! We managed to hit most of the things on your list on our own trip, but I totally regret not having time to take a day trip outside of Amsterdam to see the windmills. Next time! π
Sidenote: I completely agree with you about the hot dogs in Vondelpark! They are so good! Especially with the little crunchy fries on top of them. π
Yummm, absolutely, the hot dogs are a must π And there is always something weβve missed, we didnβt manage to see the tulips, as we were there in the fall. But hey, all the more reason to go back hehe! Thank you so much, Sarah! <3
I think if I went on the Over The Edge Swing I would immediately have to go to the Heineken brewery to calm my nerves!
This is a great post and perfectly timed as weβre headed to Amsterdam later this summer
Amsterdam is so stunning, isnβt it? This is my home and my favorite place on Earth β₯ I walk everyday through these streets and I just canβt get tired of it. LOVE your photos, by the way! You had such beautiful days here.
I havenβt been to the Prostitution Museum, though. But you just gave a very good idea π
Bruna
Aww!!! I think this is the ultimate dream β recognition from a local hehe π Thank you for your lovely comment, made my day!! I absolutely enjoyed Amsterdam and I am SURELY coming back, perhaps in the spring of 2019! There is so much more to explore <3
My husband takes a business trip to The Netherlands almost yearly, and Iβve been with him twice, so Iβve been lucky to see a few of these things while I was there! I also love the Van Gogh museum β it made me a Van Gogh fan! If youβre ever in Eindhoven, youβll have to check out the Van Gogh bike path that is illuminated at night β itβs gorgeous!!! Iβve never been to Ripleyβs because I know itβs in other cities and never felt the draw, but now that I know he was a traveler, maybe Iβll check it out sometime.
Ahh I didnβt know that about Eindhoven!! Will totally visit next time, thank you for the AWESOME tip, Hilary!! <3 And Ripley's in Amsterdam was pretty amazing, I think you will enjoy it indeed! π
Haha, loved that you learned more about Van Gogh on Dr. Who (one of my favorite shows). And they say the telly is all trash! But I so want to see the Van Gogh museum so itβs nice to hear it was worth it and not a let down. And that black hole experience, I would have to try that as well. Guess Iβm a bit of a nerd as well π
Aww SO GLAD to meet a yellow Whovian!! <3 The Van Gogh museum was indeed worth it and one of the main reasons I decided to book my ticket there! π
Man, I really want to visit Amsterdam. We landed once at the airport and changed planes, but I donβt think that really counts. LOL! Of course, reading the Diary of Anne Frank means that I would have to visit the Anne Frank house, but I have to admit the Prostitution Museum intrigued me.
Haha well next time you can just book a long layover and go explore the city π The Prostitution Museum was indeed a hidden gem that I really enjoyed!
This is so useful! We are heading to Amsterdam at the end of the month and will only have one full day to explore, but we will definitely be checking out some of the places on this list π
Ah, you can see a lot in 1 day too! Thereβs definitely a lot of places to choose, and those skip-the-line tickets will be immensely useful π
Excellent timing β Iβm visiting Amsterdam in the next few weeks! This has opened my eyes to a few places that I hadnβt considered; thank you for sharing!
Aww honey!! Iβm so glad, youβll love Amsterdam! <3
hahahha so they cooked you? π
Haha I was the dessert!! π
π₯π¬
I really enjoyed Amsterdam when I visited and loved the Heineken Experience, which is interesting because I actually donβt like beer! We missed out on so much due to heavy snow but, when I go back, Iβll bookmark this post for a guide of what I need to do!
Keeley x
http://www.phatcupcake.com
Hehe I did enjoy the Heineken Experience as well!! Itβs definitely not just for beer lovers π And yes, you should absolutely revisit, there is so much to see <3 Thank you, Keeley!
Wonderful and detailed account! Will be so handy when I visit Amsterdam this fall!
Thank you so much!! We did visit in the fall too and it was absolutely lovely. Amsterdam is definitely not just a spring destination!
Thank you for sharing detailed information on Amsterdam as it is on my Bucket list, now it is very easy to plan the trip to Amsterdam.
Thank you so much!! I am so glad youβve found my post useful, hope you make it to Amsterdam soon enough π
Thanks for the tip about the hotdogs! My hotel is near the park and I think Iβve just figured out my lunch plans!!!
Ahh I am still drooling over them!!! We were also near the park, so yeah, the perfect lunch! :))
I am going to Amsterdam for one day and we are going to try to squeeze in the Anne Frank House, Heineken experience, and a canal cruise!
Ahh one day only π Try to book Heineken and Anne Frank in advance!! Lovely choices, otherwise! βΊοΈ