Amsterdam on Foot: A Self-Guided Walking Route From the IJ Ferry to Leidseplein

Amsterdam's old centre is compact. From Centraal Station to Leidseplein it is only about two and a half kilometres, and much of the way is canal-side streets where walking is simply faster than anything on wheels. We've filmed each stretch of this route, in summer sun, winter evenings and on a Friday night, so you can see exactly what you're walking into.

Start on the water: the free ferry across the IJ

Begin on the north bank of the IJ, by the Eye Filmmuseum, with the whole station front of Amsterdam Centraal across the water. The GVB ferries between Amsterdam Noord and Centraal are free for pedestrians and cyclists and run every few minutes. Our summer walk tour starts with exactly this crossing and continues through the station into the centre. For the same trip at dusk, from the IJplein terminal, see our evening walk.

Centraal to Zeedijk and the Oude Kerk

Step out of Centraal and the Basilica of Saint Nicholas is right in front of you, across the water. Head left onto Zeedijk, one of the oldest streets in the city, narrow and lined with old houses, then into the streets around the Oude Kerk. The church is the oldest building in Amsterdam, consecrated in 1306. Our sunny city centre walk follows this route from the station past the basilica, along Zeedijk and the Oude Kerk, to Damrak.

Damrak, the Beurs and Dam Square

Damrak is the broad avenue from the station to Dam Square, with the famous row of old gabled houses leaning over the water on one side. Halfway along stands the Beurs van Berlage, the red-brick former stock exchange designed by Hendrik Petrus Berlage and finished in 1903, now a venue for concerts and exhibitions. Our Beursplein evening walk passes right by it. At the end of Damrak opens Dam Square, with the Royal Palace on its west side.

Rokin to the Bloemenmarkt

From Dam Square, follow Rokin south. Our summer walk tour ends here. Keep going towards Muntplein, and along the Singel canal you'll find the Bloemenmarkt, the floating flower market that has been there since 1862. Today most stalls sell bulbs and souvenirs rather than cut flowers.

Night: Leidseplein

Finish where Amsterdam goes out. Leidseplein is the city's busiest nightlife square, surrounded by terraces, bars and theatres. Our Friday night walk starts on the square, then follows Leidsestraat and the bar street Reguliersdwarsstraat back towards the Bloemenmarkt. That's this route in reverse, after dark.

Amsterdam at other times of year

• Canal Parade during Pride: the boat parade on Nieuwe Herengracht, filmed in 2022. Dates and the route for the next edition are in our Pride 2027 article.
• Amsterdam in the snow: the rare heavy snowfall of 5 January 2026, near Vondelpark.
• From the city to the countryside: a short walk from the edge of Amsterdam into the fields of Landsmeer.

Planning a longer stay? The city is raising its tourist tax, see what's planned. All our Amsterdam videos are on the Amsterdam city page.