The best views of Amsterdam: towers, rooftops and terraces

Amsterdam is a low-rise city: there are no skyscrapers in the centre, just houses of four or five storeys and a few church towers rising above the roofs. To take in the canals, the harbour and the north bank of the IJ at a glance, you need to know where to go up. This guide brings together the viewpoints that are actually open in October 2026: one paid observation tower, two free terraces on the Oosterdok, a medieval church tower you can climb on a guided tour and two bars high above the street. It also flags the church towers that are closed, so you can skip a wasted detour. Opening hours and prices checked in October 2026 on the venues' official websites; a summary table at the end helps you choose.

The highest view: A'DAM Lookout

A terrace 100 metres above the IJ

On the north bank of the IJ, directly opposite Central Station, the A'DAM Tower is the highest viewpoint open to the public. Completed in 1971 for Shell and converted in 2016, it houses A'DAM Lookout on its 20th and 21st floors. At the top, the open-air Skydeck runs all the way round the roof, 100 metres up: the historic centre and canals on one side, the harbour, new districts and polders on the other. In bad weather, the glass-walled observation room on the 20th floor, fitted with binoculars, offers the same panorama under cover.

The Lookout is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, last entry at 21:00. An adult ticket costs €16.50 online (€18.50 at the door), and €10.50 online for children aged 4 to 12; entry is included in the I amsterdam City Card. Payment is by card only.

The "Over the Edge" swing

On the roof, a swing carries two people at a time out beyond the edge of the tower, over thin air, for about a minute. It costs an extra €7.50 online (€8.50 on site), requires a minimum height of 1.20 m and is not recommended for people prone to vertigo, pregnant women or people with heart conditions. Come in daylight if you want to download the souvenir photos and video for free.

Dinner with a view

On the 20th floor, the MADAM restaurant and its bar are reserved for visitors holding a Lookout ticket. On the 19th floor, the revolving restaurant Moon serves dinner, and a table reservation includes access to the Skydeck. To reach the tower, take the free F3 ferry to Buiksloterweg from behind Central Station: the crossing takes a few minutes and already gives a fine view of the waterfront. The EYE Filmmuseum stands at the foot of the tower.

The free terraces of the Oosterdok

The OBA Oosterdok library and its 7th floor

The view from the 7th-floor terrace of the OBA library over the Oosterdok and NEMO

About ten minutes' walk from Central Station, Amsterdam's main public library, the OBA Oosterdok library (Oosterdokskade 143), hides one of the best free viewpoints in the city. Entry to the library is free: ride the escalators up to the 7th floor, where restaurant Babel occupies the top level. Its terrace, sheltered by the overhanging roof, looks out over the Oosterdok, the green NEMO building, the harbour quays and the rooftops of the centre.

Restaurant Babel is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 22:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. You can already take in the view through the large windows of the 7th floor; a coffee on the terrace lets you enjoy it for longer. The library states that the terrace is closed from November to March: October is the last month to sit outside.

The NEMO roof terrace

Right opposite, the NEMO Science Museum, designed by Renzo Piano in the shape of a ship's bow, has a sloping roof laid out as a public square. You can climb up for free, without a museum ticket, via the stairs on the east side, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:30. The view takes in the Oosterdok, the old town and the harbour; a bar and the museum restaurant's terrace are set up there. The two terraces are easy to combine: allow five minutes on foot from one to the other along the water.

Church towers: only one can be climbed

The Oude Kerk tower, open until the end of October

The roofs of the Oude Kerk and central Amsterdam seen from its tower

In the heart of the Red Light District, the Oude Kerk, the oldest building in the city, is the only one of the big churches in the centre whose tower can be visited in 2026. The climb is 155 steps up to a height of 67 metres and is by guided tour only, Wednesday to Sunday, from late April to the end of October. Tours start at 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 from Wednesday to Saturday, and at 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30 on Sunday. From the top you get a bird's-eye view of the Red Light District roofs, St Nicholas Basilica, Central Station and the A'DAM Tower across the IJ.

The tower and church ticket costs €22 for adults and €15.50 for students; it is only sold together with entry to the church. The minimum height is 1.20 m, and the climb requires good physical fitness. Tickets are on sale online and at the church entrance.

Westertoren and Zuiderkerk: closed to visitors

Two other towers were long part of the classic sightseeing route, but can no longer be climbed:

The Westertoren, the tower of the Westerkerk and the tallest in the city (about 85 metres), cannot be visited during the years of restoration announced by the church. The church itself remains open free of charge Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 15:00.
The tower of the Zuiderkerk, near Nieuwmarkt, has been closed to visitors since summer 2023, and no reopening had been announced in October 2026. The church only opens to the public for concerts and fairs.

Both towers are still great photo subjects from the canals: the Westertoren from the Prinsengracht, the Zuiderkerk from the Groenburgwal. Our guide to Amsterdam's churches details their visiting hours.

Drinks high above the city

LuminAir, on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton

Behind Central Station, the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station hotel (Oosterdoksstraat 4) is home to LuminAir on its 11th floor, the sky bar formerly known as SkyLounge. Its lounge and terrace look out over the IJ, the A'DAM Tower and the rooftops of the centre. The bar is open Monday and Tuesday from 17:00 to midnight, Wednesday from 17:00 to 01:00, Thursday from 17:00 to 02:00, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 03:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to midnight. You can book online, which is advisable at weekends and around sunset.

Kindred Spirits, on the roof of Zoku

On the 6th floor of the Zoku hotel (Weesperstraat 105), near Weesperplein, the Kindred Spirits bar takes up the top level, with a greenhouse and a terrace facing the rooftops of the centre, towards the Skinny Bridge. Sofas and green plants give it the feel of a living room, bright by day and candlelit at night. Open Saturday to Thursday from 07:00 to 23:00 and Friday from 07:00 to 00:30; walk-ins are welcome, or book a table to be sure of a spot.

For more evening ideas, see our guide to Amsterdam at night.

Summary table

Viewpoint	Height or floor	Hours	Price
A'DAM Lookout	100 m (roof)	Daily 10:00-22:00 (last entry 21:00)	€16.50 online, €18.50 on site; swing +€7.50
OBA library (restaurant Babel)	7th floor	Mon-Fri 10:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00; terrace closed November to March	Free
NEMO roof	Sloping roof	Tue-Sun 10:00-17:30	Free
Oude Kerk tower	67 m, 155 steps	Wed-Sun, guided tours in the afternoon, until the end of October	€22 (church included)
Westertoren	About 85 m	Closed to visitors	—
Zuiderkerk tower	—	Closed since summer 2023	—
LuminAir (DoubleTree by Hilton)	11th floor	Mon-Tue 17:00-00:00, Wed 17:00-01:00, Thu 17:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-03:00, Sun 12:00-00:00	Price of drinks
Kindred Spirits (Zoku)	6th floor	Sat-Thu 07:00-23:00, Fri 07:00-00:30	Price of drinks

Prices and hours checked in October 2026 on the official websites. Rooftop bars may close for private events: check on the day.

Tips for enjoying the views

Pick your time: the sun sets around 19:15 in early October and around 17:15 in late October, after the clocks go back. The A'DAM Lookout Skydeck, which runs all the way round the tower, is the best place to watch it, then to see the city light up.
On a budget: the OBA library terrace and the NEMO roof are free and next to each other; add the free ferry crossing to Amsterdam-Noord and you see the city from three angles without spending a cent. More ideas in our guide to free things to do in Amsterdam.
Wind and weather: the open-air terraces are very exposed to the wind off the IJ; bring a jacket even in summer. When it rains, choose the glass-walled room at A'DAM Lookout or the inside of the library's 7th floor.
Fear of heights: the A'DAM Lookout swing and the Oude Kerk stairs are not for everyone; the OBA and NEMO terraces, at rooftop height, are much easier to reach.
Passes: the I amsterdam City Card includes entry to A'DAM Lookout; the Oude Kerk tower climb, on the other hand, is only sold as a combined ticket with the church (€22).