As a budget-savvy traveler, I am always looking for the cheapest way to experience a city. Fortunately, visiting Amsterdam on a budget can be accomplished by finding free things to do because there is nothing cheaper than free! So I worked with my fellow travel bloggers to put together the below list of the best free things to do in Amsterdam. Enjoy!

Vondelpark

Vondelpark is the largest and most famous park in Amsterdam. Visiting Vondelpark in Amsterdam is like visiting Central Park in New York City or Hyde Park in London. The park welcomes 10 million visitors a year and is home to an open-air theatre for various concerts and performances in the summer. These events are also free to attend!

Visitors to Vondelpark can stroll or bike through the park to check out the restaurants and cafes. Tourists may also want to visit the nearby Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum (both of which are not free to enter!).

Overall, there is so much to do and see in Vondelpark that those looking for free things to do in Amsterdam should definitely make it a priority to visit!

Free Things to do in Amsterdam | Ferry Rides

By Diana at The Elusive Family

Amsterdam is one of the most amazing cities to visit in Europe, but it can also be a bit expensive.  There are museums to visit, hotels to pay for, restaurants to eat at, and tours that shouldn’t be avoided.  The beauty of its location is that there are so many free ways to explore the city and taking one of the numerous free ferries back and forth across the IJ Bay is one of the best ways to experience Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Central Station is a good starting point as the majority of ferries start here and interconnect at different points on the bay.  Ferry routes leave every few minutes, and you can easily find your way to attractions using the free service.

The ferry route Amstel Station to Buiksloterweg can take you to attractions including Tolhuistuin and the Filmmuseum.  NDSM wharf is a great ferry service that takes you to some of the most amazing restaurants in Amsterdam including Pollux, Pllek and the infamous hotel on water, Botel. From NDSM wharf cut across the river to Houthavens where you can begin your walk back to the main areas of Amsterdam. Even when not visiting any specific tourist areas, a free ferry ride is worth doing whenever you are in Amsterdam!

Enjoy the Views from The Eye Film Institute

By Caitlin at The Vegan Word | Follow on Instagram

Hop on the free ferry from Amsterdam Centraal station and ride over to the Eye Film Institute. The views from this museum, and even the short 2-minute walk from the ferry station to the museum, are spectacular! If you time your visit right, you can watch the sun set over the city from this side of the water, so I recommend going just before sunset (even better if you can manage to go on a day that isn’t too overcast).

Museum entry isn’t free but the views are; you can enter the parts of the museum with the best view without having to buy a museum ticket. Locals catch the ferry here to have a coffee in the museum café while admiring views of Amsterdam – the museum is designed with double-height floor-to-ceiling windows with a 180-degree view along the waterfront. Watching the sun set over the city, and reflected in the water, is the perfect way to end a day spent wandering Amsterdam’s canals.

Related post: A Vegan Guide to Amsterdam 

Free Things to do in Amsterdam | Bloemenmarkt

By Amanda at My Packpacker Life | Follow on Instagram

Visiting the Bloemenmarkt is definitely one of the best free things to do in Amsterdam. Not only is it free to visit, which is good for budget travellers like me, but it has also a lot to offer – just the fact that it’s a floating flower market is pretty cool!

Today you’ll find more at this unique market than just flowers, such as souvenirs and several different things for the garden. The Bloemenmarkt is open every day until 5:30 pm, so make sure you’ll get there in time – there are quite many shops to stroll around and this is a place where you don’t want to hurry! 

The Netherlands are famous for their beautiful tulips – why not buy some while you’re here or, even better, buy some bulbs to bring home and plant in your own garden? Have a wonderful time at the market!

Stroll through Zevenlandenhuizen

Chelsea from The Portable Wife | Follow on Instagram

Zevenlandenhuizen is one of the best hidden gems in Amsterdam, and a must-see for any architecture lovers. Tucked away in the Oud West neighborhood, this row of seven houses represents the different architectural styles of Europe. Though the concept seems modern, Zevenlandenhuizen was actually designed in the late 1800s.

A short stroll down Roemer Visscherstraat will take you past Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, The Netherlands, and England. It’s a bit like the World Showcase at Epcot Center, where you can travel to far-off lands without a plane ticket. The facades are incredibly photogenic, with bold colors, fun patterns, and ornate details. You might even find a well-placed bike for that extra dose of Dutch charm. 

Best of all, the street is super close to the Vondelpark, so you can easily add it to your Amsterdam itinerary. And if you do decide to take photos here, please remember that it’s a residential street. 

Free Things to do in Amsterdam | Walking Tours

By Kesi at Kesi To and Fro | #FollowTheFro on Instagram

The first time I went to Amsterdam, I took one of the free tours. There are several free tour options, but while in Europe I stick with Sandeman because the guides are always top-notch.

Amsterdam is a city full of rich history, and a walking tour is one of the best ways to explore and learn about the city’s main attractions. I learned why there are canals, why some of the apartments are tilted, the tulip economy, and more. Come on the tour prepared with questions, because your guide is a wealth of information.

At the end of the tour, it is customary to tip your guide, especially if you think they have done an excellent job. I like Sandeman because at the end of the tour they talk about other paid tours you could take. I ended up paying for the Red Light District tour as well since this is a unique area and I wanted to know more about it.

Enjoy the Street Markets

By Sharon at Exploring Our World | Follow on Pinterest

Wandering the streets of Amsterdam alongside canals, strolling over bridges, and exploring side streets is so enjoyable. And this is how we happened onto a street market set up in the courtyard of an old church. You can browse the market at your leisure, blending with the locals who are out to buy food for their families.

For a while, you become part of the culture of Amsterdam. Children run around happily, puppies play under the tables, and vendors call out to entice shoppers to buy their wares. The fresh fruit and vegetables add color. Booths with cheese display a mind-boggling variety. You can put together a perfect picnic for lunch, complete with pastries for dessert. The street market in Amsterdam gives a distinct flavor of the city, offering ceramic houses in blue and white, books in Dutch, and scarves and hats. Pick up food and maybe a souvenir to remember your lovely day out and about in Amsterdam.

Related post: Anne Frank’s Amsterdam Neighborhood

Watch the Sunset from the Top of the Openbare Bibliotheek

By Jessy at PlanetPilgrims | Follow on Facebook

Enjoying a sunset might not spring to mind when you plan your visit to Amsterdam, since there are SO many things to do in this amazing city. However, we do suggest that, after a long day of taking in all the sites in Amsterdam you head out to the ‘Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam’ (OBA) which is situated close to Central Station and go up to the top floor.

If you love libraries you might want to explore the other floors first because it is one of THE most extraordinary libraries you will find in Europe. It is the largest out of 26 libraries in Amsterdam.

For the sunset you go up and find yourself a nice spot on the terrace with panoramic views of Amsterdam. The Café / lunchroom offers a wide variety of drinks and small dishes and of course we had to choose a gin & tonic because we visited on a very hot day. It is kind of an oasis in this very busy capital of The Netherlands.

Oh and Openbare doesn’t mean that there is an open bar… it is the Dutch word for public, just so there’s no confusion.

Related post: Learn about Small Amsterdam, also called Rotterdam!

Visit the Goat Farm (Ridammer Hoeve) in the Amsterdam Forest 

The perfect free thing to do in Amsterdam with kids!

By Lisa at Flip Flop Globe Trotters | Follow on Instagram

The Amsterdam Forest (‘Amsterdamse Bos’) is a great place to visit with kids. In the summer there’s a splash pool for the smallest kids and there are numerous climbing structures, a man made lake to swim in and canoes and paddle boats for rent.

In the middle of the Amsterdamse Bos you can also find biodynamic Goat Farm Ridammer Hoeve. A fun place to visit with kids and completely free! Not only are there lots of goats, but also sheep, chickens, horses, cows, and pigs. A lot of the animals are in open stables and you can go in and pet them. For only €0,50 you can buy small bottles of milk to feed the baby goats, always a hit! There’s a small but fun playground as well and a restaurant with delicious homemade organic food. The farm shop sells organic vegetables and lots of tasty products made of goat’s milk. 

Related post: Amsterdam with Kids

Well, my savvy travelers, I hope you now have some great ideas for free things to do in Amsterdam! Between the ferry rides, walking tours, viewpoints, street markets and destinations like the floating flower market, there are plenty of free things to do in Amsterdam for your weekend getaway!

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