Which hotel is ideally situated for exploring Amsterdam on foot?

For this itinerary, the Motel One Amsterdam-Waterlooplein is the obvious choice: it’s situated on Waterlooplein, so you can easily reach many of Amsterdam’s key attractions on foot. This location is particularly well-suited for culture, canals, the Old Town and short walks into the city centre. If you’re in Amsterdam for a trade fair, a business meeting or the RAI, the Motel One Amsterdam on Europaboulevard is a practical choice: it’s situated between Amstelpark and Beatrixpark, right next to the RAI exhibition centre, and has excellent transport links. This allows you to flexibly combine a stroll through the city with public transport or business meetings.

What sights are there to see on a walking tour of Amsterdam?

The route links the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the Oude Kerk, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. This gives you a good mix of canals, the old town and art history all within a short distance.

Is this route suitable for exploring Amsterdam on foot in a day?

Yes, the walking time alone is around 55 minutes. If you’re planning to explore Amsterdam on foot in a single day, you should allow extra time for photo stops, breaks and at least one museum visit.

Why does the walk take us across so many bridges and canals?

The canals define Amsterdam’s cityscape. As you cross the bridges, you’ll get a particularly close-up view of the historic architecture, waterways and rows of narrow houses – ideal for a stroll offering plenty of different vantage points.

Where’s the best place to start when you’re staying at Motel One?

The Motel One Amsterdam-Waterlooplein is particularly convenient for the city centre route. From the Motel One Amsterdam on Europaboulevard, you can easily reach the city centre by public transport and fit the route into your plans flexibly.

Which museums are worth visiting at the end of the route?

Ultimately, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are the best choices. If you’re short on time, choose one of the two museums and plan your visit in advance, as both are well worth spending plenty of time on.

Discover Amsterdam’s sights on foot

Bunte, historische Grachtenhäuser in Amsterdam mit markanten Giebeln entlang eines ruhigen Kanals, davor mehrere Boote im Wasser und grüne Bäume unter klarem, blauem Himmel.

Would you like to explore as many of Amsterdam’s sights as possible on foot? This route takes you on a 4.4-kilometre walk through Amsterdam’s canals, art history and key landmarks in around 55 minutes – from the Anne Frank House via the Royal Palace and the Oude Kerk to the Rembrandt House, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. It’s ideal for getting your first overview of the city or for exploring Amsterdam on foot in a single day. Click the link below to save it directly to Google Maps!

Walking time: 55 minutes
Distance: 4.4 km
Steps: 5,774
Elevation gain: 0 m
Places of interest along the way: Anne Frank House; Royal Palace on Dam Square; Oude Kerk; Rembrandt House Museum; canals and traditional Dutch architecture; Rijksmuseum; Van Gogh Museum
Hotel along the route: Motel One Amsterdam-Waterlooplein

Amsterdam’s sights on foot: which route combines canals, art and the old town?

Officially, Venice may well be the city of canals, but Amsterdam would clearly deserve that title too. Situated on average 2 metres below sea level, Amsterdam is almost as much a network of waterways as it is a city. But that doesn’t make it impossible to explore on foot – quite the opposite, in fact. Our walking route makes strategic use of the countless, conveniently situated bridges to focus on the city’s history and art – rather than on the usual ‘highlights’ that one might otherwise expect to find in Amsterdam. Just by crossing the canals from the Anne Frank House to the 17th-century Royal Palace on Dam Square, you’ll pass numerous important monuments, museums and much more before you reach the Oude Kerk: The church is the city’s oldest building, with origins dating back to the 13th century. As you drift through the network of streets and bridges towards the Rembrandt House Museum, where the famous painter himself once lived and worked, don’t forget to look to the right and left, up and down: for everywhere here you’ll find examples of colourful Old Dutch architecture. The theme of art continues right through to the end of your journey along the canals. On the one hand, you can immerse yourself in the vast collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Alternatively, you can explore Van Gogh’s works at the famous and extremely popular Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of his works. Spoilt for choice – or simply do both!

View walk on Google Maps

Rooms available in Amsterdam?