10 Amazing Things to do in Amsterdam in April

Last updated on March 28th, 2023 at 10:49 am

In this post, I will take you through my 10 thing to do in Amsterdam in April. When we moved to the Netherlands in 2021, we lived in Amsterdam for 1 month, before moving south to Eindhoven.

Since then I have spent many weekends there, showing friends and family who visited around the Dutch capital. So here are my suggestions and tips I have learned along the way.

Go To:

1. Walibi Holland
2. Keukenhof
3. A’DAM Lookout
4. Heineken Factory
5. Boat tour
6. Glow in the Dark Mini Golf
7. Red Light District
8. Anne Frank House
9. Cycle around the Parks
10. Visit the many Museums

FAQs:

1. What is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
2. What is the weather like in Amsterdam in April?
3. Where should you stay in Amsterdam?
4. Nice places to eat in Amsterdam

Maybe you want to visit Eindhoven? It is only 1hr 20 minutes by direct train, then have a look at this post on things to do in Eindhoven.

For your next trip you might fancy a weekend in Rome, check out my 3 day Rome itinerary.

Want some tips on planning your tip abroad? Have a look at a recent post with 30+ Essential Holiday Planning Tools & Useful Resources

1. Walibi Holland

Number 1 of the top 10 places to visit in Amsterdam is Walibi Holland. When I visited, I felt like a child at Christmas. Walibi Holland Amusement Park is heaven for the thrill seekers out there. It offers a variety of thrilling rollercoasters and some tamer rides as well. I have been once and would definitely go back again. You can queue on your phone too which is very handy.

I would advise getting there as early as possible and queuing up for the best rides first (such as lost gravity) when the queues are shorter.

To get to Walibi Holland from Amsterdam, you will need to get the train from Amsterdam Centraal to Amersfoort Central. Then you will need to change and get another train from Amersfoort Central to Harderwijk. The two train journeys will take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.

If you are going in a group of 3 or more at off-peak hours, it will be cheaper to buy a group ticket. To read more about the off-peak hours or to buy a group ticket, click here. If it is just 1 or 2 people that are going, tickets can be bought at the train station or online here.

At Harderwijk train station, visitors can take the Walibi Express bus that will take you straight to Walibi Holland. The bus trip takes about 25 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on board.

2. Keukenhof

An essential thing to do in Amsterdam in April is to visit the Keukenhof. The Keukenhof is an incredible display of flowers that covers 32 hectares (79 acres). It is a feast for the eyes! The gardens gather massive crowds each year. I have been twice and both the men and women enjoyed it!

The Keukenhof is only open for 8 weeks from mid-march, to mid-may, so the best time to visit the Keukenhof is around the last 2 week of April for the best chance to see the blooming. Get the exact dates it is open here as it is different each year.

The easiest way to get there, if you do not have a car, is to get the combo ticket that includes a direct bus journey from Amsterdam centre plus the entry ticket to the gardens. For more routes from Amsterdam you can check the details here.

3. A’DAM Lookout

If you want to get a view over Amsterdam on Europe’s highest swing, then go to the A’Dam lookout. I would highly recommend – you can get a 360 degree view of Amsterdam. It costs €14.50 and you can get your tickets here. There is also other options to get the VR experience as well which costs extra.

4. Heineken Factory

As Amsterdam is the home of Heineken, the Heineken Experience is interesting to do. You get some of the history of Heineken and are taken on an experience through the factory. They show how the Heineken is made and what it contains and more.

You get a small drink along the way. Then you get another 2 free drinks at the end of the tour at the bar, where there is music playing. The drinks you get nearly cover the price of the ticket. The tickets are €21 and you can buy them here.

5. Boat Tour

Another must do while in Amsterdam in April is a boat trip along the city’s canals. It is a good idea to do at the start of the trip as you can see what the city has to offer and get an idea of its location.

One of the cheaper options can be bought here. This is a one hour boat tour on an enclosed boat with an audio guide. Or if you prefer an open boat and commentary from the skipper, this is a good option here.

I did both and I preferred the open boat, you can see more, there is much less people on board and it is a more personal experience.

6. Glow in the Dark Mini Golf

This mini golf is really good fun. You can buy a drink at the bar and take it around the course with you. There are 18 holes and it takes about 45 minutes. I would highly recommend this, especially if there is a group. Throw on a bet between the group to make it even more exciting. You can buy a ticket here.

7. Take a walk down the Red Light District

Let’s face it, the majority of people will want to see the Red Light District when they are in Amsterdam, even if they won’t admit it. So go and take a walk down….

Between 11pm and 3am is when this area is at it’s liveliest. But be careful if you are going at this hour, make sure there is a group of you together. Also be wary of pick-pocketers, keep your hand on your bag. Apart from that, it is an experience like no other. Enjoy the walk through the unique red light district of Amsterdam.

8. Anne Frank House

If you read the Diary of Anne Frank and have an interest in World War 2, then you should pay a visit to Anne Frank’s house. It is nice to see the place in reality that you have read about and be reminded of what the family lived through by listening to the audio guide. Tickets cost €14 for an adult and can be bought here.

9. Cycle around Vondelpark and Rembrandt Park

Another nice thing to do in Amsterdam in April is to rent bikes and cycle through Vondelpark and Rembrandt park. In Vondelpark, there is a restaurant, where you stop for a drink and a bite to eat to relax ad enjoy the nature for a while.

Rembrandt Park is quite close to Vondelpark so you should cycle through there too. There is a petting zoo there and you will see plenty of dogs and ducks roaming around as well.

10. Visit the many Museums

If you are interested in art or science, then check out some of the museums Amsterdam has to offer. It has a large selection to choose from – Madame Tussauds, Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Nemo Science museum, Ripleys believe it or not, body worlds, the list goes on… If this is up your alley you can check out tickets here.

What is the best time to visit Amsterdam?

April is a great time to visit Amsterdam as they weather is fair, there are not so many tourists around and the tulips are in full bloom. September is also good when the weather is still nice and the crowds of tourists start to die down.

May to July is also a good option weather wise but crowds will be bigger.

What is the weather like in Amsterdam in April?

The weather in Amsterdam in April can be cool with some warmer days. The temperature gets higher towards the end of the month. Temperatures range from about 10° celsius to 25° celsius throughout the month.

You can get really nice sunny days in April, but also a good chance of rain so be prepared for both.

It is one of those in between months where you are not sure what to wear, one minute your cold, the next minute you are sweating. Bring a rain jacket for sure, not too light or too heavy. Also, take with you some long pants, t-shirts and some jumpers or sweaters.

Also Buienradar is a useful website to predict rain in the Netherlands.

Where should you stay in Amsterdam?

Finding accommodation in Amsterdam can be very tricky. Firstly, it is super expensive to stay in Amsterdam.

Secondly, due to the canals there are many mice and rats scurrying around. I have experience of staying in a hotel there where I was woken up by a few mice in my room and Eoin experienced the same in a hostel he stayed in. So here are a few recommendations from previous stays. Note that these are ranked cheapest to most expensive.

*For extra money saving tips while you are in the Netherlands, read about my experience of costly things not to do in the Netherlands

Train Lodge

For a further cheaper hostel option, check out Train Lodge Hostel. A unique experience where you will stay in a train carriage for the night.

One thing to note the carriages are very tight on space, so keep that in mind. The price is roughly €55 per bed per night for a single bed in a 6 bed dormitory.

It is based on the outside of the city just a 4 minute walk from Sloterdijk station where you can get a 5 minute train to Amsterdam Central. But be aware that you may need to get an uber back if you are out late after the trains stop running.

XO Hotels Park West

This is the only one listed myself or Eoin have not stayed in but I felt like the list was missing another mid-range option. The price is around €170 per night for a double room. The reviews on booking.com are good at 8.4 out of 10. This is located a good bit outside of Amsterdam near Sloterdijk. It is about a 10 minute walk from Sloterdijk station where you can get a 5 minute train to Amsterdam centraal.

Inntel Hotel Landmark Amsterdam

Inntel Hotel Landmark Amsterdam is a really nice 4 star hotel on the east of Amsterdam. It is a bit out from the centre – you would need to get a tram (walk about 10 minutes and get a 6 minute tram) or an uber. Roughly €250 per night for a double room.

Hotel Nes

Hotel Nes is a 3 star hotel located in the city centre, this is a nice option where you can get to most places easily by foot. The price is roughly €350 per night.

Westcord City Centre Hotel

Westcord City Centre Hotel is a 3 star hotel too and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for something based in the city centre. You can walk easily to most places from here. It is a more expensive option though. Around €400 for a double room per night.

Nice places to eat in Amsterdam

• The Happy Pig – unreal pancakes and waffles including vegan ones, don’t miss this one!
• Belushis/The Winston Bar – cheap and tasty food including burgers, chips, wings & a nice spot for drinks too.
• Van Kerkwijk – a quaint restaurant that provides a cool experience where there is no physical menu. The food is very tasty although a bit pricey.
• Croissanterie Egstorf – tasty, large stroopwafels (a traditional Dutch delicacy) that are made right in front of you and are warm when you get them. A must try!
• Mellys Cookies Bar – nice for a sweet treat, plenty of cakes and biscuits, the caramel biscuit is very good. Not much seating there but nice to pick something up on the go too.
• Eetcafe Singel 404 – great option for breakfast or lunch, really tasty paninis.

I hope you got some inspiration for your trip and you get a chance to explore these 10 things to do in Amsterdam in April. If you fancy seeing more of what the Netherlands has to offer take a read of a recent post on 5 Must Visit Places In The Netherlands. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to comment below. Please subscribe for more.

Thanks for reading,

Lisa