Best Things to Do in Amsterdam in Winter
Home · Amsterdam · Winter
From the classic Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks & Snack and Light Festival Cruise + Stroopwafel & Hot Choco, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
★ 4.4 · 4,017 reviews
Experience the Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks & Snack on a winter evening in Amsterdam. Cruise under blankets past twenty illuminated artworks while a host explains each piece and the city around it.
Best season
★ 3.7 · 1,581 reviews
Warm up with the Light Festival Cruise + Stroopwafel & Hot Choco, a covered-boat trip through Amsterdam's winter canals. The captain guides you past glowing artworks, bridges and houseboats over about 75 minutes.
★ 4.3 · 18,939 reviews
Walk into De Bijenkorf, the Dutch department-store icon on Dam Square. Browse multiple floors of high-end fashion, beauty and homeware, and admire the architecture and interior design along the way.
★ 4.7 · 116,504 reviews
Enter the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam's monumental home of Dutch art and history. Walk the galleries of Rembrandt and other Golden Age masters, with the Van Gogh Museum nearby for a second stop.
★ 4.6 · 12,082 reviews
Step into Paradiso, the converted church that has become one of Amsterdam's best-known stages for live music and club nights. Catch a gig from the balcony or dance through its different rooms until the early hours.
★ 4.7 · 728 reviews
Stop at Koffie ende Koeck, a charming vegan cafe in Amsterdam-West. Share sandwiches or scones, finish with a slice of cake, and linger over a good coffee.
★ 4.6 · 110,241 reviews
Meet Vincent in person at the Van Gogh Museum, home to the world's largest collection of his paintings. Walk chronologically through his life, from early drawings and letters to his most celebrated canvases.
★ 4.5 · 16,742 reviews
Stop at Winkel 43, the Amsterdam cafe celebrated for its apple pie. Share a slice of crisp-crusted pie with whipped cream and a coffee, in a busy, convivial room.
★ 4.5 · 10,839 reviews
Step into Melkweg, Amsterdam's former milking factory turned landmark venue for concerts and club nights. Pick an event from the programme, then hear live music or techno in the historic main hall.
★ 4.7 · 892 reviews
Step into Athenaeum Boekhandel, Amsterdam's much-loved independent bookshop in the centre. Wander through its connected rooms of books, art titles and zines, and dig through rows of niche magazines from around the world.
★ 4.8 · 602 reviews
Discover Café De Dokter, a tiny historic bar behind heavy doors in central Amsterdam. Settle at the old bar with a draft beer or cocktail and soak in the quirky vintage details.
★ 4.5 · 1,320 reviews
Start the day at Bakkerij Wolf on Wolvenstraat, a bakery-café with a loyal following. Order the shakshuka or the Wolf plateau with a croissant, or grab a pastry from the counter if the line is long.
★ 4.5 · 1,250 reviews
Duck into Toki, a relaxed industrial-style coffee shop close to Amsterdam Central. Sip a smooth cappuccino or matcha cappuccino and share a slice of banana bread while you watch the room work and read.
★ 4.7 · 936 reviews
Drop by Monks Coffee Roastery for specialty coffee roasted in Amsterdam. Order a creamy coffee and a toastie, and ask for the orange cake warmed.
★ 4.7 · 1,321 reviews
Step into Sango Specialty Coffee Roasters in central Amsterdam for coffee roasted on site. Choose a single-origin bean and taste it as espresso or a pour over, served by a friendly team.
★ 4.5 · 175 reviews
Settle in at Nook, a laid-back coffee spot by Sarphatipark in Amsterdam-Zuid. Pull up to the big shared table with a filter coffee and a slice of banana bread.
★ 4.6 · 629 reviews
Discover Brothers Hartering, the canal-side restaurant where dinner is the whole point. Work through an imaginatively plated multicourse menu with wine pairing, finishing with house-made vanilla ice cream.
★ 4.6 · 374 reviews
Settle into Five Ways Coffee Roasters, a roomy specialty coffee spot in Amsterdam-West. Order a latte with a flaky croissant and enjoy a seat with real breathing space.
★ 4.8 · 746 reviews
Discover Three Little Bottles, a cosy historic tasting bar tucked behind the Nieuwe Kerk. Sample a range of jenevers and Dutch beers with cheese or cured meats in a room full of old Amsterdam character.
★ 4.4 · 2,118 reviews
Duck into Bocca Coffee, a spacious café tucked away from the central bustle. Pick a V60 or an espresso drink from the wide bean selection and relax in the cosy interior.
★ 4.7 · 898 reviews
Pause at Black Gold Amsterdam, a central coffee shop where records set the soundtrack. Sip a rich, well-pulled coffee, maybe with pea milk, and settle in for a quiet catch-up or some solo downtime.
★ 4.7 · 288 reviews
Slip into Barmhartig Koffie in Amsterdam-Oost for a calm, solo-friendly coffee break. Enjoy a smooth flat white and a slice of vegan banana bread while looking out over the water.
★ 4.5 · 1,340 reviews
Settle into Uncommon Cafe in Amsterdam-West for a Melbourne-style coffee and brunch break. Order a coffee or tea, pick a fresh plate or vegan banana bread, and take a seat by the large windows.
★ 4.3 · 1,896 reviews
Visit Scandinavian Embassy in De Pijp for a Nordic-flavoured coffee break. Order a specialty coffee or matcha latte with a fresh Scandinavian pastry in a calm, rustic room.
★ 4.7 · 10,739 reviews
Take a seat at Royal Theater Carré, the grand theatre on the Amstel. Settle in for a major musical, comedy or concert in an auditorium that keeps even big shows feeling close.
★ 4.7 · 606 reviews
Slip into Haku Specialty Coffee, a serene Japandi-style cafe in Amsterdam-Centrum. Sip a vivid green matcha latte or a pour-over and share a cinnamon roll in the calm interior.
★ 4.7 · 398 reviews
Visit the Dak Showroom in Amsterdam-West, where a Japanese-inspired space showcases unusual roasts. Sample something from the fermented range or join a cupping, and take a bag of beans home.
★ 4.5 · 706 reviews
Pause at white label coffee in Amsterdam-West for coffee roasted in-house. Order a flat white and a chocolate croissant, and enjoy the interior and relaxed electronic soundtrack.
★ 4.7 · 524 reviews
Start the day at Rum Baba, a well-loved local roaster in the centre of Amsterdam. Order a batch brew or a latte made with the house coffee and watch the team at work behind the bar.
★ 4.7 · 291 reviews
Pop into Patisserie Tout in Amsterdam-Zuid for a pastry break at one of the city's most praised patisseries. Pick from the display of finely finished cakes and tarts, and pair a slice with coffee or take a whole cake home.
Amsterdam · 🎭 Entertainment
Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks & Snack
1h15
Light Festival Cruise + Stroopwafel & Hot Choco
Amsterdam · 🛍️ Shopping
De Bijenkorf
1h
Amsterdam · 🎨 Museum
Rijksmuseum
2h30
Amsterdam · 🌙 Nightlife
Paradiso
Amsterdam · ☕ Coffeebreak
Koffie ende Koeck
20 min
Van Gogh Museum
2h
Winkel 43
25 min
Melkweg
Athenaeum Boekhandel
30 min
Amsterdam · 🍸 Drinks
Café De Dokter
1h30
Bakkerij Wolf - Wolvenstraat
Toki
Monks Coffee Roastery
Sango Specialty Coffee Roasters
Nook
Amsterdam · 🍽️ Food
Brothers Hartering
1h45
Five Ways Coffee Roasters
Three Little Bottles
Bocca Coffee
Black Gold Amsterdam
Barmhartig Koffie
Uncommon Cafe
Scandinavian Embassy.
Royal Theater Carré
Haku Specialty Coffee
Dak Showroom by Dak Coffee Roasters
white label coffee
Rum Baba
Patisserie Tout
