10 of the Best Views in Amsterdam and Where To Find Them

If you’re wondering where to soak up Amsterdam’s best views, you can’t go wrong with a canal cruise around the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Canal Ring. It’s a great way to check out the city’s best sights, such as De Wallen, the Bloemenmarkt, and the Skinny Bridge—without being swarmed by crowds. There are canal cruises in Amsterdam to suit every visitor, including private or group tours. If you’d like to combine your scene-scouting with sightseeing and snacking, opt for a guided boat trip with drinks and cheese, wine, pizza, or a 4-course dinner.

While Amsterdam is great from both street or canal level, there’s something even more magical about seeing the city from above. Featuring some of the best Amsterdam skyline viewpoints, the A’dam Lookout observation decks are also home to Europe’s highest swing. Visitors can catch a free ferry from behind Amsterdam Central Station to Buiksloterweg, then walk to the tower and take the elevator up to one of the viewing platforms. Save time and skip the queues with pre-booked tickets or an Amsterdam attractions pass.

Rising out of the Ij River, the NEMO Science Museum’s rooftop terrace is one of the most popular Amsterdam skyline photography locations, especially because it’s free. Although the museum is well worth checking out, visitors don’t need a museum entrance ticket to access the sloped rooftop, which offers views over the harbor and city. If time really is of the essence, fear not: there’s a free elevator up to the rooftop—including a café—so you can skip the stairs, grab a drink, and maximize your time admiring the views.

Another top place for city views in Amsterdam, the 17th-century church Westerkerk may be best known as the burial place of Rembrandt, but it’s also home to the tallest church tower in the city, the Ouwe Wester. Guided tours of the church include a trip up the tower, where you can marvel at panoramic views of Amsterdam and imagine how much the city has changed since it was built in 1620. While tickets can’t be reserved, many Amsterdam tours include stops at the church, which is just one block from the Anne Frank House.

Located in the city center, Damrak is one of the most easily reached scenic spots in Amsterdam. From this iconic viewpoint, visitors can admire some of the city’s most picturesque gabled canal houses while taking a break from shopping and sightseeing. Just across the bridge from Amsterdam Central Station, it’s also a convenient starting spot for canal cruises and a popular stop on sightseeing itineraries, including hop-on-hop-off bus tours.

One of the most popular rooftop bars with a view in Amsterdam, LuminAir sits on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel near Amsterdam Central Station. Offering some of the city’s best bird’s-eye views, LuminAir’s open-air terrace is especially popular at sunset, so you’ll want to come early to snag a spot. Alternatively, arrive late (it’s generally still open well past midnight), and enjoy a drink with the twinkling lights of the city.

Insider tip: The terrace may be closed during winter and bad weather.

If you don’t fancy braving the crowds at LuminAir, Amsterdam Central Library provides a similar panorama (if you don’t mind the glass or overhang) from its 7th-floor café, Babel. Centrally located, the OBA Oosterdok is one of the best hidden gems for city views. If the top floor is closed—as it often is due to bad weather or during the winter months—visitors can also enjoy similar views over the city from the 5th- and 6th-floor windows.

Sitting pretty in a glass tower on the third floor of Kalverpassage Shopping Center near Kalverstraat, this futuristic-looking café and restaurant is another hidden gem for views in Amsterdam. Offering a 360-degree panorama of the capital city, including the Rijksmuseum, Munttoren and Royal Palace, Blue Amsterdam is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and early dinners. Enjoy the ride in a glass elevator to reach this scenic spot in the city center.

It can be tough to find the most scenic spots in Amsterdam on your own. This is where walking tours come in handy—and it’s a great way to learn more about the history of the city. Whether you’re interested in searching out Amsterdam’s iconic viewpoints or spotting all 15 bridges at the Bridge of 15 Bridges, walking tours are one of the best ways to explore the labyrinthine streets, alleyways, and crisscrossed canals.

If you’re really keen to tick off all the top places for city views in Amsterdam, you’ll cover more ground jumping on two wheels and hitting the streets on a cycling tour, or hire an electric bike. If you have specific sights you desperately want to see, like De Gooyer Windmill, you may be best off booking a private tour, or you can opt for a group trip and check out the top highlights—and hidden gems—as you cruise around the city.