Amsterdam in January: Weather, Best Things to Do & Tips
Visiting Amsterdam in January means fewer crowds, lower prices, and a slower pace that lets you enjoy the city more like a local. I’ve visited Amsterdam in every season, and honestly I loved winter in Amsterdam!
We recently visited in mid-January and experienced quiet streets, cozy cafés, and even a surprise snowfall that made the city feel magical. If you’re curious what Amsterdam is really like during winter, this guide shares exactly what to expect.
In this post, I’m breaking down the best things to do, what to pack, and whether winter is the right time for your trip, all based on our personal experience visiting Amsterdam in January.
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❄️ Best Winter Hotel in Amsterdam: Banks Mansion
Staying central matters in winter — and Banks Mansion is my top pick.
✔️ All-inclusive drinks + hot breakfast
✔️ 9.7 out of 10 rating on Tripadvisor
✔️ Perfect location – steps from everything!
✔️ Canal-view rooms available
Winter availability is limited (Book Early!)👇
👉 Check prices + book your room now
Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting in January?
Yes! While it will be cold and maybe rainy, there are still a lot of reasons why you should go to Amsterdam in January or February.
Here is a quick list of reasons why you should visit Amsterdam in winter:
- Lower prices for highly-rated, central hotels like Banks Mansion
- Less crowded and more enjoyable
- Lots of museums to visit and escape the cold weather!
✅ Planning your trip to Amsterdam?
Check out my full guide on Where to Stay in Amsterdam, including the best neighborhoods, hotels, and areas to avoid!
Amsterdam Weather in January
So why doesn’t everyone visit Amsterdam in winter? The weather. It’s cold, and I mean cold. So, layer and dress warm. It also tends to be gray skies and rainy. However, you might luck out like we did and get snow!
On the opposite end, we’ve visited in December before and had bright sunny days, so you just never know!
Average Temperature in Amsterdam in January
As I’ve mentioned above, winter in Amsterdam is pretty cold. Average temperatures in January are typically between 1°C to 6°C, which is about 33°F to 43°F. Basically, you won’t know if it will be sunny, rainy, or snowy… but you can bet it will be cold.
What to Pack for Winter in Amsterdam
- Waterproof shoes or boots
- Fleece leggings or warm pants
- Sweater or jacket
- Long sleeved shirts
- Warm winter coat
- Raincoat
- Gloves or mittens
- Hat or ear muffs
- Cozy sweatpants (for lounging at the hotel)
9 Best Things to do in Amsterdam in January
As I mentioned before, the weather is pretty cold in Amsterdam during winter. That being said, there are still lots of things to do in Amsterdam in January. Here are a few of the best ones:
1. Take a Canal Cruise
Surprisingly, a canal cruise is the perfect way to see Amsterdam on a cold day! This is because most of the canal cruises that operate during the winter have roof covers, providing a warm and toasty atmosphere.
👉 Book a heated Amsterdam canal cruise — stay warm & see the city!
There are lots of options for canal cruises. We took a mid-day cruise that included a live tour of Amsterdam from the captain. It was a fun way to warm up while learning more about the city.
We took a canal cruise at 12pm on a SATURDAY and we were the ONLY people on the boat. Definitely a bonus for visiting Amsterdam in January!!
Most cruises are around 1 hour, making it easy to add this into a shorter winter trip to Amsterdam.
If you visit during the beginning of January, you can also take a nighttime cruise during the Amsterdam Festival of Lights.
2. Visit an Amsterdam Museum
Amsterdam is filled with so many great museums, and visiting a museum is the perfect way to escape the cold weather.
In my opinion, the must-visit museum in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House. This is where Anne Frank spent time in hiding while writing her diary. I think it is a really important historic place to visit in Amsterdam. Tickets to the Anne Frank House sell out, even in winter so you must pre-book tickets on the website here.
Another very popular museum in Amsterdam is the The Rijksmuseum. This museum is home to world-famous Dutch masterpieces and centuries of history.
If you’re interested in visiting, I recommend booking a guided tour like this one. This tour lets you skip the lines with a guide so that you are actually understanding what you’re seeing (instead of wandering room to room overwhelmed). It’s perfect if you want context, highlights, and a smoother experience.
👉 Reserve your Rijksmuseum guided tour with priority entry here!
If you enjoy museums, there are also many other museums in Amsterdam to visit! These include more famous spots like the Van Gogh Museum and the MOCO Museum.
There are unique museums like the STRAAT Street Art Museum and the National Maritime Museum which has a real-life replica Dutch East Indiaman ship.
3. Stop by the Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)
Visiting a flower market doesn’t exactly come to mind for a winter trip to Amsterdam, but it truly is a must-stop!
The Amsterdam Flower Market, locally known as the Bloemenmarkt, is a historic and picturesque market on the Singel canal in central Amsterdam, stretching between Muntplein and Koningsplein.
Especially if this is your first trip to Amsterdam, this is a must-stop. It’s free to visit and makes for a colorful stop that’s quintessentially Amsterdam. You’ll see the beautiful flowers and it’s a perfect place to get a souvenir like Dutch clogs or Tulip bulbs.
4. Warm Up with Some Dutch Food
Amsterdam has so many good food options, from sweet treats like Dutch pancakes and stroopwafels to savory snacks like bitterballen.
For dinner, make sure to try stamppot, which is a hearty Dutch meal of mashed potatoes typically mixed with meat and vegetables.
Amsterdam has tons of great food options, from Authentic Dutch classics to international cuisines. Somewhat suprisingly, Amsterdam also has an amazing Indonesian food scene because of historical ties with Indonesia.
The best way to experience Amsterdam’s food scene is by taking a food tour like this one, which explores Amsterdam cuisine in the Jordaan neighborhood!
👉 Don’t miss this — Book your Amsterdam food tour here
If you’re looking for cheap eats, you should try FEBO – Amsterdam’s unique fast food vending machine. Compared to the other food options, I wouldn’t say vending machine food is great… but it is unique, cheap, and makes for a good late night snack!
6. Heineken Brewery Tour & Rooftop Bar
One of the most popular things to do in Amsterdam is the Heineken Experience, and honestly, it’s a fun way to break up a day of sightseeing.
The tour walks you through the history of Heineken, how the beer is made, and includes a few interactive exhibits along the way (some cheesier than others, but still entertaining).
While the brewery itself is interesting, the real highlight for me was the end of the tour, sipping a cold beer at the Heineken rooftop bar!
If this sounds like your kind of stop, I definitely recommend booking ahead — tickets do sell out, especially on weekends.
👉 Reserve your Heineken Experience tickets in advance here
5. Go Ice Skating in Amsterdam
Throughout the winter in Amsterdam, there are a few different outdoor ice rinks where you can go ice skating. These usually run from mid-November to early-February, but exact dates vary.
One of the most popular places for ice skating is the iconic Museumplein Ice Rink, located not far from Vondelpark and the Rijksmuseum.
When we were there in January, you could also get hot chocolate or gluhwein to cozy up with a warm drink after ice skating.
7. Amsterdam Nightlife in Winter
Amsterdam is famous for its nightlife, from the chill coffeeshops to the famous Red Light District. Even during the winter, Amsterdam’s nightlife is in full swing.
If you are looking for an area to go out, Leidseplein is the neighborhood to be and offers lots of nightlife options including live music spots, bars, clubs, and coffeeshops.
8. See a Historic Canal House
There are two historic canal houses in Amsterdam that you can visit and see firsthand what life was like for Amsterdam’s wealthy class during the Dutch Golden Age.
We visited Museum Van Loom, and as someone who likes history, I thought it was interesting and worth it. However, if you aren’t interested in history or seeing historic homes it may not be worth it as the tickets are around $21 per person.
9. Winter Canal Views: Nine Streets & Jordaan Neighborhood
If you are visiting Amsterdam, you have to visit the canals… even when it’s cold. The bonus is that during winter there will be far fewer other tourists crowding the scenic spots for photos. Just make sure to dress warm and in layers.
One of the prettiest areas to explore Amsterdam’s canals is called the 9 Streets (De Negen Straatjes).
This area is located near the Jordaan neighborhood and is filled with picturesque canals, narrow streets, and bridges. It’s the perfect place for those quintessential Amsterdam photos.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam in Winter
If you are visiting Amsterdam in January or February, I recommend staying pretty central to things to do. The weather can be cold and rainy, so it isn’t as nice to walk or bike (although locals still bike everywhere during winter – even in snow!).
The good news is hotels are more affordable in Amsterdam during the winter months (besides the Christmas and New Years holidays).
Here are a few of the best places to stay in Amsterdam during Winter:
Banks Mansion
🌟 9.7/10 Tripadvisor Rating I ✅ Book Here
I stayed here and LOVED it. Just to note, this is not a sponsored ad (I paid full price just like everyone else). I literally did hours of research on where to stay because we had previous trips to Amsterdam that weren’t the best hotel or location. This time, my research paid off because Banks Mansion was a 10/10 stay!
Banks Mansion is basically an all-inclusive hotel as it includes a hot breakfast each morning and drinks throughout the day. They even have a self-pour bar in their living room lounge where you can enjoy a drink. I usually opted for Heineken but according to Dylan they had a good selection of whiskey too.
The hotel has a classy, art-deco theme and you can book a canal room view. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and we highly recommend this hotel.
⭐ Book on Expedia I 💙 Book on Booking.com
Other highly rated places to stay in Amsterdam in Winter:
- 9.7 out of 10 stars on Tripadvisor
- Contemporary hotel with chic design
- Beautiful location near the 9 Streets & Jordaan Neighborhood
✅ Check Prices and Book the Hoxton Here
- 9.6 out of 10 stars on Tripadvisor
- Charming & central location
- Budget-friendly!
✅ Check Prices and Book Hotel Estheréa Here
Amsterdam in Winter: Events and Festivals
There are a few events and festivals that take place during winter in Amsterdam. Here are the main ones:
Amsterdam Festival of Lights
Illuminated art and light displays that are lit up around the city, especially across the canals. One of the best ways to see this is by taking one of the night time Amsterdam Festival of Lights canal tours. The festival typically runs from mid-November until mid-January.
National Tulip Day
On the 3rd Saturday of January, National Tulip Day puts up a huge temporary garden in Dam Square. Here you can pick up free Tulips!
FAQs: Amsterdam in January
Snow in Amsterdam is possible, but not very common. Fleeting snowfall is more common throughout winter, while measurable snow that accumulates on the ground is more rare.
Most things are open in Amsterdam in January, some places will have reduced hours during the off-season. It is even possible to take a canal boat tour in January, although not all the boat tour companies are open in winter.
Yes! Amsterdam still has a lot of its Christmas charm well into January, especially with the Amsterdam Lights Festival that continues in January.
January and February are the cheapest months to visit Amsterdam. Hotel costs are much lower in January, which is another reason to visit Amsterdam in winter!
The Wrap-Up: Why You Should Visit Amsterdam in Winter
Visiting Amsterdam in January or February is the ideal time to experience the city without the summer tourist crowds. While the weather will be chilly, the prices will be lower and you’ll experience a more authentic Amsterdam compared to other times of the year.
If budget and fewer crowds are important to you, visiting Amsterdam in the winter is a great option. Alternatively, if you really want to experience Amsterdam in the warmer weather you could opt for early spring or fall which are shoulder seasons.
Add Bruges to Your Itinerary
Heading to Belgium after Amsterdam? Bruges is one of my favorite historic cities in Europe. Use these firsthand guides to decide how long to stay and plan your visit.
