Things to do · Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum tickets: how to choose
A cycle path runs straight through the building, and bike bells echo under the arches. Inside, it is quiet. At the end of the Gallery of Honour hangs the Night Watch, and people stand in front of it longer than they meant to.
In short: Rijksmuseum tickets
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, with Rembrandt, Vermeer and 800 years of Dutch history. It is vast, so it pays to know what you want to see before you go in. A small-group guided tour takes you straight to the masterpieces. A ticket with an audio guide gives you freedom. The combo with a canal cruise suits a single day in the city.
How to choose a Rijksmuseum ticket
First visit: a small-group guided tour. You see the essentials in little time.
On your own: a ticket with a highlights audio guide, plus a city walk afterwards.
One day in Amsterdam: a combo with a one-hour canal cruise. The boats leave from the quay right by the museum.
Three ways to see the Rijksmuseum
Choose between a guide, going it alone or adding the canals the same day.
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Good to know
Getting there
Tram to Rijksmuseum or Museumplein. From Leidseplein it is under ten minutes on foot.
Book ahead
Tickets are sold with a time slot. At weekends and in the holidays, book the day before.
Best time
Arrive at opening time and head straight for the Gallery of Honour. The rest can wait.
Time
Allow two to three hours for the highlights. You could easily spend a whole day.
The garden is free
The museum garden is open without a ticket, with sculptures and benches.
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel and experience themselves, and most of them we have tried. Nobody can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Picolo earns a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
Stay near Museumplein
Museumplein
Conservatorium Hotel
- Minutes from the museum
A former music conservatory built around a bright glass-roofed courtyard. The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are a few minutes away, Vondelpark even closer.
Best for: For the museums
De Pijp
Sir Albert Hotel
- Cafés round the corner
A former diamond factory in De Pijp, with tall windows and plenty of light. The Rijksmuseum is a 15-minute walk, and the Albert Cuyp market is round the corner.
Best for: For the neighbourhood
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More things to do in Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum: frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Rijksmuseum tickets in advance?
We recommend it. Tickets are sold with a time slot, and at weekends and in the holidays the popular times go. On quiet winter weekdays it is easier.
How long do you need at the Rijksmuseum?
Two to three hours covers the Gallery of Honour and a couple more floors. Seeing everything takes a full day, which we would not recommend on a short trip.
What should I not miss at the Rijksmuseum?
Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer's quiet interiors and the rest of the Gallery of Honour. The library with its iron spiral staircases is worth a look too.
Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum: which is better?
They are very different. The Rijksmuseum is big and broad, with the Golden Age as its high point. The Van Gogh Museum is about one artist and easier to do in a morning. If you have time, do both; they share the same square.
Is the Rijksmuseum good for children?
Yes. The ship models, weapons and dolls' houses win over most children. Keep the visit short and finish in the garden.
Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles