Guide
The areas.
Amsterdam is five districts and dozens of neighbourhoods. Here is what each one is like, so you know where to go for what you are after.
Centrum
The old city inside the canal ring, and where most visitors spend their time. Medieval streets, the main sights and the oldest coffeeshops, with quieter corners a few streets away.
See everything in Centrum (78 places) →- Wallen
- The oldest part of the city, around the Oude Kerk. Narrow streets and canals, the Red Light District and many of the first coffeeshops. Busy day and night.
- Nieuwmarkt
- The square around the Waag, at the edge of the Wallen and the old Chinatown. Terraces, cafés and a market on Saturdays.
- Spui
- A square with bookshops, between the Singel and the Kalverstraat, and the entrance to the Begijnhof.
- Grachtengordel
- The canal ring: Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, with the Nine Streets and their small shops running across it.
- Jordaan
- A former working-class neighbourhood west of the canal ring. Small streets, galleries, brown cafés and the Noordermarkt.
- Haarlemmerbuurt
- West of Central Station, along the Haarlemmerstraat and the Haarlemmerdijk: a long, lively street of shops, food and cafés.
- Plantage and Waterlooplein
- East of the old centre: the zoo, the Hortus botanical garden, the flea market on the Waterlooplein and the Stopera.
- Amstel and Rembrandtplein
- Along the Amstel river: Rembrandtplein with its terraces and nightlife, the Portuguese Synagogue and the Hermitage.
Noord
Across the IJ, reached by the free ferries behind Central Station. Former shipyards turned into studios, venues and workplaces, with a more relaxed pace than the centre.
See everything in Noord (6 places) →- Noord
- The whole district north of the IJ: the NDSM wharf with its large halls and street art, quiet residential streets and a lot of water and green.
Oost
East of the Amstel: mixed and residential, with parks, markets and a growing food scene, a little away from the tourist route.
See everything in Oost (15 places) →- Oosterpark
- A large park with the Tropenmuseum close by, surrounded by tree-lined streets.
- Dapperbuurt
- Known for the Dappermarkt, a busy street market that runs most days of the week.
- Indische Buurt
- A residential neighbourhood east of Oosterpark, with the Javastraat as its main street.
- Watergraafsmeer
- A leafy, residential area further east, with Park Frankendael.
- Oostelijk Havengebied
- Former docklands on the IJ, now modern housing and striking architecture, with the water close by.
- Amstelkwartier
- A newer residential and office area along the Amstel, near Amstel station.
Zuid
South of the Vondelpark: the big museums, leafy streets and De Pijp, one of the liveliest neighbourhoods for eating and drinking.
See everything in Zuid (16 places) →- De Pijp
- A lively, mixed neighbourhood with the Albert Cuyp market (every day except Sunday), many cafés and restaurants and the Sarphatipark.
- Museumkwartier
- The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk on the Museumplein, with upmarket shopping on the P.C. Hooftstraat.
- Oud-Zuid
- Quiet, upmarket residential streets south of the Vondelpark.
- Vondelpark
- The city's best-known park, with an open-air theatre, terraces and a lot of people on the first warm day.
- Rivierenbuurt
- A calmer residential area south of De Pijp, named after the rivers its streets are named for, with local shops.
West
West of the Jordaan and the Singelgracht: from the lively streets of Oud-West to newer districts further out.
See everything in West (22 places) →- Oud-West
- Next to the Jordaan, with the Kinkerstraat and the Foodhallen in De Hallen, and the west side of the Vondelpark.
- De Baarsjes
- A diverse residential area with the Mercatorplein and the busy Jan Evertsenstraat, popular with younger locals.
- Bos en Lommer
- A residential area with the Bos en Lommerplein and the Erasmuspark.
- Westerpark
- A park around the former gasworks, the Westergasfabriek, with events, restaurants and culture.
- Staatsliedenbuurt
- Residential streets around the Hugo de Grootplein, close to the Westerpark.
- Houthavens
- A former timber harbour, now a new residential area along the IJ.
- Sloterdijk
- A business and transport hub around Sloterdijk station.
- Nieuw-West, Osdorp and Slotervaart
- Post-war garden-city districts on the western edge of the city, mostly residential, with a lot of green.