Amsterdam.
Flight from TLV
4h 44m
Best season
אפר–ספט
Avg temp
14°
Currency
€ EUR · 1=₪3.52
Time zone
שעה אחת פחות מת״א
Language
הולנדית, אנגלית מדוברת היטב
Plug
C / F · 230V
Visa
אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה באזור שנגן, בכפוף לכללי הכניסה העדכניים
Safety
בטוחה בדרך כלל; יש להיזהר מכייסים באזורים עמוסים ולשים לב במיוחד לאופניים ולנתיבי הרכיבה
Overview
🇳🇱Amsterdam
🇳🇱Netherlands
Amsterdam is a compact city break packed with character, direct flights from Tel Aviv, photogenic canals and an atmosphere that works perfectly for a long weekend. Israeli travelers come for canal cruises, masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and shopping along Kalverstraat and upscale P.C. Hooftstraat. Evenings unfold around De Pijp, Leidseplein and Jordaan, while easy day trips lead to Zaanse Schans or the colorful Keukenhof gardens in tulip season. Chabad and several kosher restaurants and shops in Buitenveldert also make the city particularly convenient for observant visitors.
What are you looking for?
Everything for Amsterdam, in one place
Pick a category and dive into its dedicated page.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Each area and who it suits best.
Jordaan and De Negen Straatjes
This is Amsterdam's most atmospheric and romantic base, among the canal houses of Prinsengracht, the boutiques of De Negen Straatjes and the Anne Frank House. Hotels such as Pulitzer Amsterdam and The Hoxton Amsterdam put you within easy walking distance of the center and excellent cafés. Rates are high, rooms in historic buildings can be small and weekends bring some noise.
Dam Square and the Old Centre
Around Damrak, Dam Square and Nieuwmarkt, you have Centraal Station, canal cruises, Kalverstraat shopping and the Old Centre's bars. Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky offers luxury directly on the square, while ibis Amsterdam Centre is exceptionally convenient for trains. It is efficient but crowded, noisy and touristy, and streets near the Red Light District feel less family-friendly at night.
De Pijp
South of the center, this lively neighborhood revolves around Albert Cuyp Market, the restaurants of Gerard Douplein and the bars of Marie Heinekenplein. Sir Albert Hotel is a stylish base, and the Rijksmuseum is a short walk away. Value is better than in the Canal Ring, but streets near the squares get noisy at night and Dam Square is roughly a 25-minute walk.
Museum Quarter and Oud-Zuid
This is an elegant, calmer base beside Museumplein, the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark, with luxury shopping on P.C. Hooftstraat. Conservatorium Hotel and Hotel JL No76 capture the area's character, and Buitenveldert's kosher restaurants and Jewish institutions are easy to reach. Evenings are quieter than downtown, but hotels are expensive and Dam Square usually requires a tram or metro.
Oost and Plantage
East of the center, you get leafy streets, ARTIS Zoo, the Maritime Museum and restaurants around Javastraat and Oosterpark. Hyatt Regency Amsterdam suits travelers seeking an upscale, comfortable hotel, while Hotel Arena sits beside the park. It is calmer and slightly cheaper than the Canal Ring, but many attractions and nightlife venues require a tram or bike ride.
Amsterdam Noord
Across the IJ are A'DAM Lookout, the EYE Film Museum, IJ-Hallen market and the creative NDSM Wharf. Sir Adam Hotel sits directly above the free ferry to Centraal, while BUNK Amsterdam offers more accessible pricing. Connections are excellent near Buiksloterweg, but hotels deeper in Noord add travel time and ferries become crowded at peak hours.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Amsterdam
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
7°
2°
Cool
פבר
9°
3°
Cool
מרץ
11°
4°
Cool
אפר
14°
6°
Cool
מאי
18°
10°
Recommended
יונ
21°
13°
Recommended
יול
21°
15°
Recommended
אוג
22°
14°
Excellent
ספט
20°
13°
Recommended
אוק
15°
10°
Cool
נוב
10°
5°
Cool
דצמ
8°
4°
Cool
Most pleasant weather: אוג
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): אפר · מאי · יונ · יול · אוג · ספט. April and May bring tulip season, pleasant weather and popular trips to Keukenhof. July and August are the main Israeli peak because of the school holidays and long days, but prices and crowds rise, while September is usually calmer and comfortable.
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Amsterdam · Open-Meteo
This week in Amsterdam
Measured in Amsterdam
17°
Cloudy
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Things to do
Things to do in Amsterdam
On the map
Amsterdam on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Amsterdam itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
Canals and the Jordaan
Begin at Dam Square, pass the Royal Palace and continue via Spui to the boutiques and bridges of De Negen Straatjes. Walk along Herengracht and Prinsengracht, stopping for lunch around Noordermarkt or at a Jordaan café with clearly identified vegetarian options. Reserve the Anne Frank House for a precise time well in advance, as tickets are sold online and disappear quickly. Around sunset, take a one-hour canal cruise, then continue to Leidseplein or the Jordaan's intimate bars.
- 2
Day 2
Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum and De Pijp
Reach Museumplein before 09:00 and begin at the Rijksmuseum, with Rembrandt's Night Watch and the Dutch Golden Age galleries; book a timed slot. After a break on the square, continue to the Van Gogh Museum, which also generally requires advance booking. Walk via Hobbemakade to Albert Cuyp Market for a freshly made warm stroopwafel, then continue to Sarphatipark. In the evening, reserve Meat Me Kosher in Buitenveldert, or return to Gerard Douplein for its bars.
- 3
Day 3
Zaanse Schans and Volendam
Leave early for Zaanse Schans and arrive before 09:30, ahead of the tour groups that crowd the bridges between windmills and green wooden houses. Enter a working mill, watch a wooden-shoe demonstration, then continue around lunchtime to Volendam and its Haven promenade. In season, add a short boat trip to picturesque Marken, while families may prefer extra time for photos and cheese shops. Return to Amsterdam for an evening around Rembrandtplein; public transport is sufficient, though a car helps when combining three villages.
- 4
Day 4
Jewish Quarter, ARTIS and Oost
Start at the Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Museum around Jonas Daniël Meijerplein, allowing time for the National Holocaust Names Memorial on Weesperstraat. Families can continue to ARTIS and the Micropia science museum, while adults may prefer the Rembrandt House and Waterlooplein market. In the afternoon, walk through Oosterpark or continue to Javastraat, though kosher-observant visitors should bring provisions from Buitenveldert. Return via the Amstel in the evening to see the illuminated bridges around Magere Brug.
- 5
Day 5
Vondelpark, shopping and nightlife
Begin with a calm bike ride or walk through Vondelpark before it fills up, then browse luxury labels including Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermès on P.C. Hooftstraat. For mainstream shopping, use Kalverstraat and De Bijenkorf on Dam Square; for independent boutiques, return to De Negen Straatjes. In the afternoon, book the Heineken Experience if brand attractions appeal to you, or choose the Moco Museum for contemporary art. Dress smartly for Shelter in Noord, Melkweg near Leidseplein or a concert at Paradiso, and buy weekend tickets in advance.
- 6
Day 6
Amsterdam Noord and city views
Take the free ferry behind Centraal to Buiksloterweg and visit A'DAM Lookout at opening time to avoid the queue for the rooftop swing. Visit the EYE Filmmuseum, then ferry across to NDSM Wharf for street art, industrial spaces and waterfront café Pllek. If the dates align, check whether the enormous IJ-Hallen flea market is running and bring both cash and a card. Return around sunset, finish with a kosher dinner in Buitenveldert or a drink overlooking the IJ, and take the train from Centraal to the airport if you have an evening flight.
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Budget
How much does Amsterdam cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Round-trip flight from TLV
₪900-2,200 (holidays: ₪2,800+)
4-5 night package
₪2,700-5,500 per person
Mid-range hotel nightly
₪650-1,150 per room
5-star hotel nightly
₪1,400-2,800 per room
Restaurant meal
₪80-170 per person
Local beer
₪24-36
Coffee
₪14-22
Short taxi ride
₪55-100
Rental car per day
₪180-350 (parking excluded)
Major museum entry
₪75-100
Daily budget per person
₪450-850 (excluding hotel)
Family trip, 5 nights
₪12,000-21,000 (2 adults+2 children)
Good to know
Good to know before Amsterdam
Getting around
From the airport
Trains from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal run several times an hour, take about 15 to 18 minutes and cost roughly ₪22-30 each way; Amsterdam Zuid is only around 7 minutes away and is particularly useful for Oud-Zuid and Buitenveldert. Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397 reaches Museumplein and Leidseplein in about 30 to 40 minutes for roughly ₪28 each way, with night bus N97 taking over overnight. An official taxi or Uber/Bolt usually costs ₪160-260 to the center and takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, while a pre-booked private shuttle is generally ₪220-360 per vehicle. A family with luggage staying in southern Amsterdam may save time with a taxi, but a couple near Centraal should simply take the train.
Need a car?
You do not need a car within Amsterdam: trams, metro, buses, walking and free ferries cover nearly every itinerary, while central parking is extremely expensive and can exceed ₪30-45 per hour. Couples and younger visitors do very well with transit and bikes; families should favor trams unless the children are confident urban cyclists. Rent only for a day trip to Giethoorn, Efteling or the Waterland villages, preferably collecting the vehicle outside the center.
Tips
You can tap a contactless bank card at OVpay gates, but remember to tap out as well; for heavy use, compare a 24-to-72-hour GVB pass. Uber and Bolt work well, although restricted central streets may require meeting the driver at a nearby pickup point rather than the hotel entrance. On bikes, stay in the cycle lane, never walk in it and do not rent until you are comfortable braking and signaling; use the free ferries behind Centraal for Noord.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Chabad Central Amsterdam is at Van Boshuizenstraat 420 in Buitenveldert, the most practical district for Shabbat- and kosher-observant travelers, and generally offers services, pre-booked Shabbat meals and traveler support. The Ashkenazi Gerard Dou Synagogue at Gerard Doustraat 238 in De Pijp is another central minyan option, but opening times and security procedures should be checked in advance. Do not arrive for a Shabbat meal without registration and confirmation, especially during holidays and summer.
Kosher food
Buitenveldert holds the most convenient cluster: Meat Me Kosher at Kastelenstraat 110 for meat dishes, Golan Grill at Kastelenstraat 261 and Machane Yehuda at Kastelenstraat 69 for Israeli food; verify hours and certification before visiting. Jumbo City Amsterdam Buitenveldert and shops around Kastelenstraat stock kosher products, challah and Shabbat supplies. Many kosher-observant Israelis stay in Oud-Zuid or Buitenveldert, buy provisions in the morning and carry sandwiches downtown because options near Dam Square and the Canal Ring are limited.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance for Amsterdam 🇳🇱
A hospital day in Amsterdam can cost thousands. Full coverage with Hebrew support.
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Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
Convert
You get
351.8
1 EUR
₪3.52
100 EUR
₪351.8
1,000 EUR
₪3,518
Source: exchangerate-api · updated Sep 14 · refreshes daily
Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Amsterdam 🇳🇱
What you need before you fly
- אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה קצרה באזור שנגן, בכפוף לכללי הכניסה העדכניים
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Amsterdam
- 💳Amsterdam is almost cashless, so pay by card or phone and always choose to be charged in euros rather than accepting the terminal’s shekel conversion, which carries an expensive DCC markup.
- 🚋With OVpay, every passenger needs a separate bank card or device and must tap both in and out of the tram using the same payment method.
- ✈️After a direct flight of roughly five hours from Tel Aviv, the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal takes about 15 to 20 minutes and is usually far faster and cheaper than a taxi.
- 🏨For couples I favor Jordaan or the Nine Streets, for families Plantage or Oud-West, and for quiet sleep I avoid hotels directly on Damrak or inside De Wallen.
- 🎟️Anne Frank House tickets are released on the official website every Tuesday at 10:00 Amsterdam time for visits roughly six weeks ahead, and the Van Gogh Museum also requires an advance timed slot.
- 🎰Holland Casino Amsterdam Centrum near Leidseplein admits guests aged 18 and over with a physical passport, and smart casual clothing is safer than flip-flops or beachwear.
- 🎶Buy ahead for concerts at Paradiso and Melkweg or popular nights at Shelter, as advance sales, door policies, and specified entry times are standard parts of local nightlife.
- ✡️For a kosher meal, reserve ahead at HaCarmel on Amstelveenseweg, and contact Chabad Amsterdam several days before Shabbat or a holiday to confirm prayer times and meal arrangements.
- 🚲Never stand in a cycle lane or cross based on silence alone, as e-bikes and scooters approach quickly and almost silently, especially around Centraal and Leidseplein.
- 🌦️Even in July and August, pack a light rain jacket and a warm layer instead of a large umbrella, since canal-side winds make umbrellas awkward and evenings can turn cool.
- 📱A European eSIM from Airalo, Holafly, or a similar provider is convenient from touchdown, but install NS, 9292, and Google Maps in advance for trains, trams, and walking navigation.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"To me, Amsterdam feels both beautiful and wonderfully uninhibited, without ever trying too hard to impress. Israelis tend to fall for it while walking along Brouwersgracht at golden hour, cycling through Vondelpark, or viewing the rooftops and waterways from A’DAM Lookout. It is compact enough for a weekend, yet its markets, creative neighborhoods, and nightlife easily justify a five-day stay. My perfect Amsterdam moment is coffee beside a canal in the early morning, before the bicycles and boats fill the city."
Loves
My favorite local secret for Israeli travelers is the free ferry behind Centraal to NDSM, followed by a waterside stop at Pllek among shipping containers, street art, and open city views. Go on Thursday or Friday about two hours before sunset, when the area comes alive but an outdoor table is still possible.
Skip
I do not recommend wasting time in the queue for Van Wonderen Stroopwafels on Kalverstraat just for a social-media photo. It is expensive and crowded, while Albert Cuyp Market offers a warm, freshly made stroopwafel in a far more authentic Amsterdam setting.
Boutique pick
I begin at 8:30 with a quiet walk along Prinsengracht and the Nine Streets, continue at 10:30 to the Anne Frank House with a prebooked ticket, and spend lunch around Albert Cuyp Market and Sarphatipark in De Pijp. In the afternoon, we rent bicycles and ride through Vondelpark toward Oud-West, then take the ferry to NDSM at 18:30 for a sunset cocktail. The night ends with a concert at Paradiso or an electronic session at Shelter, depending on your pace.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Amsterdam
"We started the morning with Van Gogh’s masterpieces and spent the evening happily getting lost among the Jordaan’s bridges and intimate bars. Amsterdam was exactly the couples’ break we wanted, beautiful, effortless, and packed with corners that made us wish we had booked another night."
Noa and Ido, Tel Aviv
Couple · 4 nights · September
"The kids refused to leave the NEMO Science Museum, and the next day we rented family bikes for a ride through Vondelpark. Amsterdam surprised us as an easy family city, especially when staying in a quiet area rather than directly beside Dam Square."
Michal and Uri, Modi'in
Family with children · 5 nights · July
"We took on the rooftop swing at A'DAM Lookout and then headed to a concert and late-night party at Melkweg. Amsterdam gave us a brilliant mix of views, music, and nightlife without wasting half the trip on transportation."
Roy, Shahar and Daniel, Beersheba
Friends · 4 nights · August
"We booked a peaceful evening canal cruise and traveled to Keukenhof the next day to see the tulip fields. Amsterdam in spring was wonderful, although a good coat and advance reservations are essential because April queues are substantial."
Dalia and Yossi, Haifa
Older couple · 5 nights · April
FAQ
Common questions about Amsterdam
Do Israelis need a visa for Amsterdam?
Israeli passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Amsterdam of up to 90 days within any 180-day Schengen period. Before departure, check whether ETIAS has become operational and confirm that your passport meets EU validity requirements.
Are there direct flights from Tel Aviv to Amsterdam, and how long is the flight?
Direct flights from Tel Aviv to Amsterdam Schiphol operate according to season and current airline schedules, with a flight time of about five hours. A direct train reaches Amsterdam Centraal in roughly 15 to 20 minutes and is usually faster and cheaper than a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam, and when is peak season?
April and May are excellent for Amsterdam thanks to tulip season and Keukenhof, although Passover, King’s Day on April 27, and July and August are crowded, expensive peak periods. September and early October usually offer pleasant weather, lighter crowds, and relatively better hotel rates.
How many days are needed in Amsterdam, and is it better for couples or families?
Four nights suit most Israeli visitors to Amsterdam, or five if adding Zaanse Schans, Volendam, or Keukenhof; couples will love the Jordaan and Canal Ring, while families benefit from staying near Vondelpark and visiting NEMO and ARTIS.
What is the easiest way to get around Amsterdam?
Central Amsterdam is highly walkable, while trams, the metro, and the free ferries behind Amsterdam Centraal cover longer distances. Public transport accepts contactless bank cards, and visitors should rent bicycles only if they are confident riding in fast local traffic.
How much does a trip to Amsterdam from Israel cost?
A four-night Amsterdam trip typically costs about ₪3,800 to ₪6,500 per person sharing a double room, including a direct flight, a central three- or four-star hotel, transport, meals, and key attractions. During Passover, King’s Day, and summer, the total can exceed ₪7,500 per person, especially for hotels inside the Canal Ring.
Is Amsterdam safe for Israeli travelers?
Amsterdam is generally safe for tourists, but pickpocketing and phone theft occur around Dam Square, Centraal Station, and the Red Light District, so keep bags closed and phones off outdoor tables. Israelis should also follow National Security Council guidance, avoid demonstrations, and use discretion with visible Israeli symbols in tense areas.
What are the must-do attractions in Amsterdam?
On a first visit to Amsterdam, book the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum, take a canal cruise, and walk through the Jordaan, Nine Streets, and Rijksmuseum. Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum tickets often sell out weeks ahead, so do not rely on last-minute availability.
What is Amsterdam nightlife like, and are there casinos?
Amsterdam nightlife centers on Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, with concerts and club nights at Melkweg, Paradiso, and Shelter, plus strong bar scenes in the Jordaan and De Pijp. The city does have a major legal casino, Holland Casino Amsterdam Centrum near Leidseplein, offering tables and slots with passport entry from age 18.
Where can Israelis find kosher food and Chabad in Amsterdam, and what should they pack or combine with the trip?
Amsterdam has Chabad services and the kosher HaCarmel restaurant in Amsterdam-Zuid, but travelers should confirm opening hours, Shabbat meal reservations, and certification in advance. Pack a light rain jacket and water-resistant shoes in every season, and combine the stay with Zaanse Schans and Volendam or a train trip to Brussels, Antwerp, or Paris.