A city built on 90 islands and 1,500 bridges, Amsterdam rewards cruise visitors with iconic canals, Golden Age masterpieces, world-famous museums, and a cycling culture unlike anywhere else in Europe.
Most ocean cruise ships dock at Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) on the IJ waterfront, walkable to the city centre. Large ships berth at Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden, 30 km from the city — a shuttle is essential.
💡 Pro move: Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most cashless cities — many cafes and shops refuse cash entirely. A Visa or Mastercard (contactless) is essential. Note: from 2026, cruise passengers pay a €15 per-person day tourist tax, typically collected by cruise lines and passed to the city.
Amsterdam operates two cruise terminals — the central PTA is far more convenient, while Felison/IJmuiden handles the largest vessels with a required shuttle into town.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-size and smaller ships (most cruise lines) | Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), Piet Heinkade 27 — IJ waterfront, east of Centraal Station📍 | Docked |
| Large and very large ships (NCL, Princess, AIDA, Silversea, Oceania, Azamara and others) | Felison Cruise Terminal, IJmuiden — 30 km northwest; free shuttle usually provided to Centraal📍 | Docked |
From a 60-minute canal cruise to a half-day windmill village escape, Amsterdam packs a remarkable amount into a single shore day — the key is booking museums well in advance.
See the UNESCO-listed canal ring from the water, gliding past 17th-century merchant houses, wooden houseboats, and stone bridges. Open-top boats are best in good weather. Departures run continuously from near Centraal Station, a short walk from PTA.
Find canal cruise tours →The Dutch national museum holds Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer’s Milkmaid, and a vast Delftware collection. The Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum of modern art are steps away on Museumplein. Pre-book timed entry — both sell out weeks ahead.
Find Rijksmuseum tours →The canal house where Anne Frank hid with her family during WWII is one of Amsterdam’s most affecting experiences. The Secret Annex and original diary pages are preserved. Timed-entry tickets are released 6 weeks ahead on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 CET and sell out within minutes — no tickets are sold at the door.
Find Anne Frank House tickets →A 20-min train from Centraal (or 30-min via tour bus) brings you to this preserved windmill village where you can step inside working 18th-century mills, watch clog-making, and sample Dutch cheese. Often combined with a visit to Edam or Volendam.
Find Zaanse Schans tours →A perfectly preserved 17th-century canal house with a secret, fully functioning Catholic church hidden in its top three floors — built when Catholicism was banned in Amsterdam. One of the city’s most surprising and atmospheric sights, just minutes from Centraal.
Find Our Lord in the Attic tickets →Wander Amsterdam’s most characterful district — narrow lanes, independent boutiques, traditional ‘brown cafes’ (bruin cafes), and street food stalls. Try stroopwafels (fresh from a market vendor), raw herring (haring), bitterballen, and thick Dutch frites with mayo.
Find Jordaan food tours →Amsterdam is very walkable from PTA — the canal ring, Jordaan, and most museums are reachable on foot within 35 minutes on flat, paved paths.
Walk west from PTA along Piet Heinkade, cross De Ruijterkade past Centraal Station, and enter the canal ring at Brouwersgracht. Continue south into the Jordaan for cafes, independent boutiques, and brown cafe stops. Return by tram or retrace your steps.
From Centraal, walk south along Damrak to Dam Square and the Royal Palace, then continue via Kalverstraat, the Bloemenmarkt (floating flower market), and across the Singel canal to Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F / 7°C | 36°F / 2°C | 15 | 8:43 AM | 4:56 PM |
| Feb | 46°F / 8°C | 36°F / 2°C | 13 | 7:56 AM | 5:53 PM |
| Mar | 50°F / 10°C | 38°F / 3°C | 12 | 6:54 AM | 6:44 PM |
| Apr | 55°F / 13°C | 42°F / 6°C | 11 | 6:42 AM | 8:38 PM |
| May | 62°F / 17°C | 48°F / 9°C | 11 | 5:45 AM | 9:29 PM |
| Jun | 69°F / 21°C | 55°F / 13°C | 11 | 5:18 AM | 10:04 PM |
| Jul | 71°F / 22°C | 58°F / 14°C | 14 | 5:37 AM | 9:55 PM |
| Aug | 71°F / 22°C | 58°F / 14°C | 15 | 6:23 AM | 9:04 PM |
| Sep | 67°F / 19°C | 54°F / 12°C | 12 | 7:15 AM | 7:54 PM |
| Oct | 59°F / 15°C | 49°F / 9°C | 15 | 8:06 AM | 6:45 PM |
| Nov | 50°F / 10°C | 42°F / 6°C | 15 | 8:02 AM | 4:47 PM |
| Dec | 46°F / 8°C | 39°F / 4°C | 15 | 8:44 AM | 4:26 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.