Best Time to Visit Amsterdam

Spring: tulips and changeable skies

March is still grey and damp, and you'll want a coat for canal walks. By April the days stretch out and the rain eases. It's the driest month of the year, with 41 mm. May is mild and fresh, though showers still pop up.

Tulip season is the big draw. Keukenhof, the huge flower garden in Lisse, usually opens from late March to May. Late April is the classic time to see the bulb fields. King's Day on 27 April turns the city orange, with street parties and boats packed onto the canals. It's fun, but very crowded. Hotels fill up fast.

Summer: long days, busy streets

June is our top pick. Highs reach 19°C, evenings stay light late, and you can sit on a café terrace along the Prinsengracht without sweating. Rain falls on 11 days, but showers are usually short.

July and August are warmer, with highs of 21°C. They're also the wettest months, with 81 and 83 mm on 15 days each. Expect rain in between sunny spells. This is peak season, so the Anne Frank House queue is long and the Jordaan's narrow lanes feel tight. Travelling with kids? Vondelpark and a canal boat ride work well, even on a showery day. Pride Amsterdam, with its famous canal parade, takes place in early August.

Autumn: the second sweet spot

September matches June's comfort rating, with the same 19°C highs. The summer crowds thin, and the light turns golden over the canals. It's a great month for cycling out to the Amstel river or the windmills at Zaanse Schans.

October turns greyer and wetter, with rain on 15 days. Museums become the plan: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are at their best on soggy afternoons. Come in late October if you want the cheaper end of the shoulder season.

Winter: cosy, dark and cheap

From November to February, it's cold, damp and dim. January gets under two hours of sun a day. Still, the city has a charm of its own. Brown cafés (old, wood-panelled pubs) glow warmly, and you can order a bowl of pea soup called erwtensoep. The Amsterdam Light Festival lights up the canals from late November into January. If you want low prices and short queues, this is your window. Just keep your plans indoors.