Amsterdam Travel Guide

Free and Unusual Things to do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a relatively small city. It's easy to get around most of the center on foot, and unless you go outside the city, you're always within walking distance of public transport. That said, sometimes it gets tiring to sightsee all the time. While you're in the city, you may find you've had your fill of museums and shopping and galleries. If so, there are lots of free things to do in Amsterdam that will take you away from the sometimes exhausting rush of sightseeing.

One great free thing to do while visiting Amsterdam is also one of it's little-known secrets. There's a free ferry behind Central Station that will take you to the other side of the canal. It's a short, fun little trip and leaves you in a great place along the North Holland Canal in North Amsterdam. This the perfect place to go for a refreshing walk.

Another relaxing thing to do that's off the beaten trail is a visit to one of the city's free lunchtime concerts. The most famous one takes place at Concertgebouw in the Museumplein area. This concert is held every Wednesday at 12:30pm, and is completely free of charge. To assure you get a seat, all you need to do is arrive about a half-hour before the concert begins. Concerts last about 45 minutes, and the program changes from week to week.

If you want to get a great view of the city, another free and unusual thing to do in Amsterdam is climb up to the roof of the New Metropolis building. This gives you the chance to get away from the busy city below, and allows you a wonderful panorama of the city and of the bay below. To get to the New Metropolis, follow the rail lines from Central Station towards the east and cross the footbridge over to the wide, light green building that looks like a deformed green cube rising from the water.

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