Amsterdam city centre and canals

Stroll through the old centre of Amsterdam and explore the city on foot. That is the best way to explore the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. But where do you start?

If you look at the map of Amsterdam, focus on the canals. There you’ll find the best streets, picturesque canals and you can stop on the way at great coffee and lunch spots.

Walking through Amsterdam

You can find a nice trail through downtown Amsterdam where you encounter many highlights that we mention on Globe Hopper. We made this trail for you to explore Amsterdam. The route is divided into two parts, so you can easily choose whether you want the whole hike or just a part. Both routes, maps below, take approximately 1 hour at gently walking pace excluding stops. Plan a good morning / afternoon off, or all day if you include the charming terraces!

Route Amsterdam Central – Spui

Route Spui – Dam

Route Central Station – Nieuwmarkt – Dam – Anne Frank House – Spui

You start at the Central Station. Via the famous seawall and the Chinese neighborhood you walk to Nieuwmarkt. Take a look here at the Waag. You cross the Red Light District on your way to the Old Church. Then follow the Beurs van Berlage. Through the Damrak you walk to the Dam. Check out the National Monument on Dam Square, commemorating the Second World War, the New Church and the Royal Palace on Dam Square.

You walk to the Anne Frank House and along the way see the Homomonument, a symbol of gay emancipation, and the Westerkerk. Then through the Westermarkt and Keizersgracht the nice 9 Streets. Then to the amazing Beguinehof, located directly on the Spui.

Route Spui – Vondelpark – Museum – Dam

From the Spui, walk along the square and the Leidsestraat to the Leidseplein. Then on to the Vondelpark. Do you have time? Walk in the park a bit for a drink at Vondelpark3 or, directly opposite the entrance to the park, take a look at the Max Euweplein where you can play life-size chess.

From here you can cut off a piece of the road and walk in the direction of Rembrandtplein, but we recommend to take the stops at the colourful people around the pipe. First, however, you must make a stop at the Museumplein to see the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Rijksmusum, find the meter high ‘I Amsterdam’ letters and the Concert Hall.

Thereafter, the Albert Cuypmarkt follows and the Marie Heinekenplein, between these two places you get a lot of cafes where you can take a break. After Marie Heinekenplein, just before you cross the Stadhouderskade, you will find the old Heineken brewery with the Heineken Experience to your right.

On the Reguliersgracht with pretty photogenic places, you walk to the Rembrandtplein, where you can take a picture with the bronzes of The Night Watch. Take a look at the Tuschinski Theater where famous Dutch film premieres take place. Then walk through the Rokin, with some nice cafes to stop at on the right side of the road, back to the dam. If your final stop is Central Station, then from the Dam Rokin you only have to walk down this road which leads directly to Amsterdam Central Station.