Discover Amsterdam: Must-Do Activities in Autumn

Why should you visit Amsterdam in autumn? After all, in spring there are tulips and daffodils, Amsterdam in summer has days on the water and drinks on terraces, and winter has snow, skating on the canals (hopefully) and Christmas lights. If you feel like autumn might not be the perfect time to visit Amsterdam you are very much mistaken. Let us introduce you to our favourite attractions and activities you'll love during autumn in Amsterdam!

Enjoy the quiet after the storm

The summer tourists have gone home and left behind are the locals and the few who already know what you are about to discover. Amsterdam is beautiful in autumn! The green of spring and summer makes room for the yellows, oranges and reds of fall and blend in perfectly with the picturesque historic city centre.

Add in one of the historic canals and you have the perfect Amsterdam autumn picture. Top that with off-season hotel rates and fewer crowds on the streets, and you have the perfect holiday. Explore the city on foot, for instance with the free walking tours in the City Sightseeing Amsterdam app (Android) (Apple), or rent a bike to explore beyond the city centre.

Discover the canals in autumn

Imagine this: it is a warm autumn day, the sun is shining, you joined a canal cruise on the historic Amsterdam canals, the banks are lined with trees dipped in orange, red and gold, the clear blue sky makes the city look even more beautiful... there is no better way or time to see the Dutch capital!

The canals really are the place to be on a sunny fall day in Amsterdam to explore the city from another perspective. Relax as you cruise through the beautiful canals and past iconic sights as well as picturesque canal houses. Even if it happens to rain during your trip to Amsterdam, you'll stay comfortable and warm in the boats!

Or book a canal cruise during the Amsterdam Light Festival! This year it will take place between 26 November 2026 and 17 January 2027. Stunning light art installations by various artists can be admired along and on the canals. The perfect way to experience the festival is, of course, from the water. Step aboard a special LOVERS Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise and sail past the light art installations whilst enjoying the illuminated canals and the cosy atmosphere.

Visit one of Amsterdam’s beautiful parks

Those golden leaves that fill the trees make the perfect scenery for a visit to a park or forest. Luckily, Amsterdam has a few great ones, where you can stroll, relax or engage in a sporting activities. The most well-known park is probably the Vondelpark, it has restaurants, a rose garden and even an open-air theatre. But also the lesser known parks are worth a visit, go to the Westerpark or the Amstelpark, for example, to mingle with the locals.

If you want more fresh air than a city park can provide, visit the forest Amsterdamse Bos. Filled with cycling and walking paths it is the perfect autumn getaway, to enjoy colourful trees and crisp air in the Dutch capital. Amsterdam in September or October is known to still have lovely sunny days so a little sunbathing isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. We do recommend to pack an umbrella and a rain jacket on a gloomy day though, as the weather can be changeable.

See the lions at the zoo

There have been lions at ARTIS since 1839, they lived in the monumental Kerbertterras since 1928. In October 2023, ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo opened its new lion enclosure which is 10 times larger than the old monumental enclosure. This means there is far more room to create a more natural and enriching environment for the lions.

The new enclosure has been inspired by the African savannah in different seasons. Because lions sleep for most of the day, the new enclosure consists of several terraces. Offering the lions choices of where to sleep, between visible and sheltered, sun or shade, in the wind or lee, in the sand or grass, high or low, together or secluded.

Explore the world's best museums

Autumn days in Amsterdam are perfect for exploring some Dutch culture and great art. Amsterdam is famous for its well curated museums and you can choose from 75 museums in the whole city! If the warm sun is replaced by a storm on a rainy day, paying a visit to some of the world's best museums is a fantastic idea.

Go to the Rijksmuseum to see world-renown paintings by Dutch masters or take the kids to the NEMO science museum and discover new things. For a look at more modern art visit the Stedelijk Museum, Moco Museum or STRAAT Museum. Alternatively, visit Red Light Secrets to learn more about the sex workers and their perspective in the notorious Red Light District.

Looking for a different kind of experience? Amsterdam has a couple unique experiences to explore, such as Van Gogh & Rembrandt, AMAZE, and the Heineken Experience. Amsterdam's Instragram museums, such as WONDR Experience and The Upside Down ensure the perfect backdrops for your holiday pictures even on a rainy day!

Discover Amsterdam’s best bookshops

Autumn is the perfect season to read a good book indoors. Amsterdam has plenty of lovely bookshops where you can hunt for your next favourite book. Whether you love thrilling stories, literature, art books or are simply looking for something to relax with, there’s something for everyone.

Take your time strolling through the shops, flick through various books and who knows, you might come across a story you simply can’t put down. Found a good book? Then head to a cosy café, order something tasty and enjoy a relaxing autumn afternoon! Our favourite bookshops are The American Book Centre, Athenaeum Boekhandel and Boekhandel Scheltema. You’ll find both Dutch and English-language books in all sorts of genres. What’s more, they all have that cosy, authentic bookshop atmosphere. Best of all? They’re all within walking distance of each other!

Visit Amsterdam's most bizarre museum

Ripley's Believe It or Not! reveals the unbelievable and the bizarre parts of the world to you! This museum is Amsterdam's weirdest attraction and showcases the world’s most remarkable collection of natural, scientific, artistic, and human oddities in an impressive five-story exhibition.

After your visit to the museum part of Ripley’s, you can unwind and take it all in on the top floor in the lounge area. Grab a drink and enjoy a unique bird’s-eye view of Dam Square and the national monument. Not only can you see Amsterdam's beautiful autumn mood from here but it also is the perfect setting to share a drink with friends on Halloween.

Try Cinnamon Rolls and other autumn food

While the cinnamon roll is originally from America, it's taking over Amsterdam this summer. The warm spice in these buns are sure to warm you up pleasantly. Enjoy them at Layers Bakery or Cinnamood for instance, or at many other bakeries spread around the city. It's of course also pumpkin spice season, and Amsterdam is a perfect place to taste delicious pumpkin lattes, pastries and other treats. 

A typical Dutch treat with autumn flavour is of course apple pie. The apples are ripe late summer, so the apple pies are extra fresh. With their soft dough and hint of cinnamon, they're a homely treat that tastes especially nice when the days get shorter. Another seasonal treat is Bokbier, a brown beer brewed in autumn, with a warm caramel-y sweetness, that goes perfect with a slice of pie as well. The best place to try these is of course the local "bruine kroeg", traditional Dutch pubs, which there are plenty in Amsterdam. 

Dance all day at Amsterdam Dance Event

From 21 to 25 October 2026 the most upfront and influential gathering for global electronic music and its industry come to town. The Amsterdam Dance Event includes over 1,000 events in nearly 200 locations throughout the city. During these five days and nights, the city of Amsterdam breathes, flows and moves to electronic music. If you're coming over this weekend, make sure you get your tickets in advance, they sell out quickly!

Get spooky during Halloween

The best holiday in all of autumn? That's Halloween of course and it is even better when celebrated in Amsterdam! While it is not a traditionally Dutch festivity, it is still celebrated all over the city with streets decorated with lots of pumpkins and plenty of freaky Halloween parties.

To perfectly end a spooky autumn day visit the Amsterdam Dungeon! From October, the Dungeon will get extra scary, with an especially creepy séance, and extra richly decorated during their Home of Halloween season. Yes season, because one day simply isn’t scary enough for the Amsterdam Dungeon.

Experience autumn in Amsterdam

As you can see, Amsterdam has so much to offer in autumn. The city is beautifully coloured by the autumn leaves, there are plenty of fun activities and, of course, plenty of tasty treats to enjoy. Whether you want to head outdoors or prefer a cosy indoor activity, there’s plenty to do for young and old alike. Autumn is therefore a wonderful time to discover Amsterdam!