7 Best Walking Routes in Amsterdam (2025 Local's Guide)
Amsterdam is one of the most walkable cities in Europe - but most visitors (and even locals) stick to the same crowded canal streets. After countless weekend trips up from my home base in Limburg and walking hundreds of routes, I've discovered that the best of Amsterdam reveals itself on foot, away from the tourist trails.
This guide includes my favorite circular walking routes, from iconic canal rings to hidden neighborhoods most visitors never see. Each route is designed to loop back to your starting point, so you can start from your hotel, Airbnb, or wherever you're staying.
Pro tip: Amsterdam is incredibly bike-friendly, which means watch out for bike lanes! Always stay in designated pedestrian areas and look both ways before crossing bike paths.
1. The Classic Canal Ring Loop
UNESCO World Heritage Walk
The Route
Start at Dam Square → Spui → Herengracht → Leidseplein → Prinsengracht → Westerkerk → Anne Frank House area → Singel → back to Dam Square
What You'll See
- Herengracht: Amsterdam's most prestigious canal, lined with 17th-century merchant houses
- Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes): Boutique shopping and charming cafés
- Westerkerk: Amsterdam's tallest church, where Rembrandt is buried
- Canal bridges: Perfect photo opportunities at every turn
Best Time to Walk
Early morning (7-9 AM) for empty streets and golden light, or sunset (6-8 PM) for magical canal reflections.
Insider Tip
Stop at Café Papeneiland (Prinsengracht 2) - a 400-year-old brown café that locals swear serves the best apple pie in Amsterdam.
2. Jordaan Neighborhood Discovery
Amsterdam's Most Charming Quarter
The Route
Westermarkt → Rozengracht → Lindengracht → Noordermarkt → Brouwersgracht → Haarlemmerdijk → back to Westermarkt
What You'll See
- Hofjes (hidden courtyards): Peaceful gardens hidden behind unassuming doors
- Noordermarkt: Saturday farmers market and Monday flea market
- Brouwersgracht: Often called Amsterdam's most beautiful canal
- Artisan shops and galleries: Real Amsterdam creativity
Must-See Hofje
St. Andrieshofje (Egelantiersgracht 105-141) - a 17th-century courtyard that feels like stepping into a secret garden. Free to enter, just be respectful of residents.
Insider Tip
Visit on Saturday morning for the Noordermarkt organic farmers market. Grab stroopwafels fresh off the iron and a cortado from Screaming Beans coffee roasters.
3. Vondelpark & Museum Quarter Loop
Culture and Green Space Combined
The Route
Rijksmuseum → Van Gogh Museum → Vondelpark (full loop) → Overtoom → Bilderdijkpark → back to Museumplein
What You'll See
- Museumplein: Home to Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum
- Vondelpark: Amsterdam's Central Park - 47 hectares of paths, ponds, and gardens
- Het Blauwe Theehuis: Iconic blue teahouse from 1937
- Open-air theater: Free performances in summer
Best Time to Walk
Sunday morning (9-11 AM) when locals are having leisurely brunches in the park, or weekday afternoon to people-watch.
Insider Tip
Skip the crowded museum cafés. Walk 5 minutes to Foodhallen (Bellamyplein 51) - an indoor food market with 21 different food stalls.
4. De Pijp: Amsterdam's Latin Quarter
Multicultural Food Paradise
The Route
Sarphatipark → Albert Cuypmarkt → Ferdinand Bolstraat → Amstel River → Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) → back via Ceintuurbaan
What You'll See
- Albert Cuypmarkt: Amsterdam's largest daily street market (800+ years old)
- Magere Brug: The most photographed bridge in Amsterdam
- Diverse street food: Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan, and Dutch specialties
- Local bars and breweries: Where actual Amsterdammers hang out
Must-Try Food Stops
- Stroopwafels at Albert Cuypmarkt (get them warm!)
- Bitterballen at Café Berkhout (classic Dutch bar snack)
- Surinamese roti at Roopram Roti (Gerard Doustraat 44)
Insider Tip
Visit on Monday-Saturday before 2 PM when the market is in full swing. Sunday it's closed, making the neighborhood eerily quiet.
5. Waterfront & Modern Amsterdam
From Old Harbor to New Architecture
The Route
Central Station → IJ river waterfront → NDSM wharf (free ferry) → EYE Film Museum → Amsterdam Noord → return ferry → Oosterdokseiland
What You'll See
- Free ferry ride: 5-minute scenic crossing of the IJ
- NDSM wharf: Former shipyard turned creative district with street art
- EYE Film Museum: Stunning modern architecture
- Amsterdam Noord: The city's up-and-coming creative hub
Best Time to Walk
Saturday afternoon - NDSM has a weekend market and food trucks. Weekdays are quieter but still interesting.
Insider Tip
The ferry is 100% free (bikes allowed too) and runs 24/7. It's one of Amsterdam's best-kept secrets for views of the city skyline.
6. Eastern Docklands: Architecture Lovers' Route
Modern Urban Planning Masterpiece
The Route
Piet Heinkade → Java-eiland → KNSM-eiland → Borneo-Sporenburg (suspension bridge) → Cruquius Island → return
What You'll See
- Modern Dutch architecture: Award-winning residential designs
- Water everywhere: Islands connected by unique bridges
- Whale sculpture: Giant art installation on KNSM Island
- Borneo Bridge: Red suspension bridge (very Instagrammable)
Architecture Highlights
The entire area is a case study in innovative urban planning from the 1990s-2000s. Every building has unique designs while maintaining neighborhood harmony.
Insider Tip
Kompaszaal (KNSM-laan 311) is a hidden café in a former shipping company HQ. Great for lunch with waterfront views.
7. Plantage & Jewish Quarter History Walk
Amsterdam's Green Cultural Heart
The Route
Waterlooplein → Jodenbuurt (Jewish Quarter) → Hortus Botanicus → Artis Zoo entrance → Wertheimpark → Hermitage Museum → Amstel River → back to Waterlooplein
What You'll See
- Portuguese Synagogue: One of the largest in the world, dating from 1675
- Hortus Botanicus: Botanical garden from 1638 (worth €10 entry)
- Plantage: Amsterdam's greenest neighborhood
- Jewish Historical Museum: Important WWII history
Historical Context
This area was the heart of Jewish Amsterdam before WWII. The architecture and memorials tell an important story about the city's history.
Insider Tip
Café de Sluyswacht (Jodenbreestraat 1) is built into a 17th-century lock keeper's house and leans at a dramatic angle. Perfect for a canal-side beer.
Top 5 Historical Walking Routes in Amsterdam
DailyWander keeps getting searches for top 5 historical walking routes in Amsterdam, so here is the exact shortlist I share with friends when they want pure heritage on foot.
- Golden Age Canal Belt Loop: Dam Square → Herengracht → Keizersgracht → Prinsengracht with a stop at Museum Willet-Holthuysen to see how canal merchants lived.
- Jordaan Resistance Route: Westerkerk → Anne Frank House → Noordermarkt → Noorderkerk, following plaques that explain the 1941 February Strike.
- Jewish Cultural Quarter Walk: Waterlooplein → Portuguese Synagogue → Hollandsche Schouwburg → Jewish Historical Museum → Hortus Botanicus.
- Maritime Heritage Trail: Central Station → National Maritime Museum → VOC ship replica → Prins Hendrikkade warehouses → Nemo rooftop.
- Begijnhof to Spui Stroll: Slip into the Begijnhof courtyard, exit at Spui, and trace the literary cafés and book markets that fueled Amsterdam’s Enlightenment thinkers.
Save any of these historical walking routes in Amsterdam to your DailyWander Collections and the app will prompt you to revisit them whenever you’re back near the canal belt.
Planning Your Amsterdam Walks
Best Times to Visit Amsterdam for Walking
- Spring (April-May): Tulips, King's Day celebrations, perfect weather (15-18°C)
- Early Fall (September): Fewer tourists, still warm, beautiful light for photos
- Winter (December-February): Festive lights, possible snow, fewer crowds (but cold!)
What to Bring
- Comfortable shoes: Cobblestone streets are charming but hard on feet
- Weather layers: Amsterdam weather changes quickly
- Water bottle: Tap water is excellent and free at most cafés
- Phone for navigation: Streets can be confusing even with a map
Walking Etiquette: Stay out of bike lanes (red pavement), walk on the right, and don't stop suddenly on narrow sidewalks. Amsterdammers walk fast - keep pace or move to the side!
Discover New Routes Every Day
These seven routes are just the beginning. Amsterdam has hundreds of walking routes waiting to be discovered - hidden hofjes, secret gardens, neighborhood markets, and quiet canals that most visitors never see.
Whether you're visiting for a weekend or living here for years, the best way to truly know Amsterdam is on foot, one new route at a time.
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Download DailyWanderAbout the author: Joeri Vanthienen has lived in the Netherlands and walked countless kilometers through Amsterdam's streets. He created DailyWander to help others discover the hidden gems in their own cities.