Five Neighbourhoods to Explore When Renting a Bike in Amsterdam

When visiting Amsterdam, renting a bike and exploring the city is a must. The streets are flat, bike lanes are everywhere, and what could possibly be more Dutch than cycling around the city?

Ok, you are going to rent a bike but where should you go? If you have a day in Amsterdam to rent a bike, here are five areas around the city that you can easily ride to and explore.

Stop 01: Vondelpark — start your morning right

Begin with a slow lap around Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s beloved green heart. In the morning it’s all joggers, dog walkers, and locals grabbing a coffee on a bench. Glide along the main paths, duck under the weeping willows, and just take it in. It’s the best possible way to ease into the city before the day picks up. There’s a terrace café inside where you can fuel up before pedalling on.

Tip: Go early — before 9am the park is calm and gorgeous. Later in summer it fills up fast.

Stop 02: The Rijksmuseum & Museumplein — culture from the saddle

You don’t have to go inside to get a serious dose of the Rijksmuseum (though you should plan to go inside on a separate day). The iconic building looms over Museumplein, and the wide square in front is perfect for a slow roll-past and a few photos. The famous “I Amsterdam” letters may be gone, but the setting is still one of the most striking in Europe. Ride through the underpass beneath the museum itself — there’s a reason it’s one of the most photographed cycling moments in the city.

Tip: Lock your bike at the racks on the museum’s west side and pop into the garden — it’s free and beautifully kept.

Stop 03: The Jordaan — canals, cats, and crusty bread

The Jordaan is Amsterdam at its most charming. Narrow streets, leaning canal houses, independent cheese shops, and flower stalls spilling out onto the pavement. This neighbourhood is best explored slowly, weaving your way between the canals and the side streets. Stop at a bakery, watch the boats drift past, and if you spot a cat sitting in a window — and you will — it counts as a cultural experience.

Tip: Noordermarkt on Saturday mornings is a local favourite for organic produce and vintage finds. Time your visit accordingly.

Stop 04: Anne Frank House & the Prinsengracht — history along the water

Cycle along the Prinsengracht and you’ll pass the Anne Frank House, one of Amsterdam’s most visited and deeply moving sites. You’ll need to book tickets in advance if you want to go in, but even riding slowly past and reading the small plaques along the façade is a moment that stays with you. The Prinsengracht itself is one of the most beautiful of Amsterdam’s main canals — wide, tree-lined, and busy with houseboats. Take your time along this stretch.

Tip: Book Anne Frank House tickets well ahead online — same-day entry is rarely available.

Stop 05: NDSM Wharf — industrial cool across the IJ

Finish the day with something a little different. Take the free ferry from Centraal Station across the IJ river to the NDSM Wharf — a former shipyard turned creative hub full of street art, studios, and outdoor bars. It feels worlds away from the tourist centre and it’s where you’ll find a genuinely local Amsterdam crowd. Park up, grab a drink, and watch the sun go down over the water. After a day on the bike, you’ll have earned it.

Tip: The ferry runs frequently and takes bikes for free. Check the NDSM Werf website for any events happening on the day you visit.