In a city filled with dozens of museums and heritage sites, deciding which one to visit isn’t always straightforward. One of the most popular (and I mean really popular) is the Anne Frank House — a small but powerful museum in the city center that tells the story of a young Jewish girl in hiding during WWII.
Before visiting, I read a lot of mixed reviews in Facebook groups and on travel blogs. Some people said it’s a must, while others suggested skipping it because of the crowds and how hard it can be to get tickets. I also came across complaints about the removal of original furniture in the annex, the modernized entrance, and even claims that it’s a tourist trap.
But since the Anne Frank House had been on my radar for a while, I decided to check it out anyway and form my own opinion.
So, is the Anne Frank House really worth visiting? Here’s my take, along with what to know before adding it to your Amsterdam itinerary.
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What Is the Anne Frank House?
The Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam’s most important and moving historical attractions.
It tells the story of Anne Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl who, along with her family and four others, hid in this very house for over two years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands (1940-1945).
Inside, you can walk through the secret annex where Anne and the others lived in hiding and see photos, documents, and personal items that belonged to them. A real highlight here, is seeing her original diary and notebooks up close, which offer a glimpse into her life and experiences.
Practical Information
Why You Should Visit
The Anne Frank House isn’t just another museum. It’s a deeply moving, educational space that brings the horrors of WWII into sharp focus.
Walking through the actual rooms where Anne and her family hid from 6 July 1942 to 4 August 1944 makes her story feel incredibly real in a way you can’t get from a book or film. Just being in the space where she actually wrote it is hard to put into words, and something I’ll never forget.
Beyond Anne’s story, the museum also gives you a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and what life was like during WWII. It’s heavy, yes, but I think that’s part of what makes it important. I’d recommend bringing some tissues if you’re sensitive.
It’s also an important reminder of a very dark chapter in our history. Just in the Netherlands alone, more than 100,000 Dutch Jews, including Anne Frank, were deported and killed during this horrific time.
What struck me most were the small details — the cramped rooms, the quotes from Anne’s diary on the walls, the everyday objects left behind, the short videos throughout the museum, and the audio guide that shared her story in her own words.
I’ll be honest, it’s impossible not to feel something as you walk through the spaces. So just prepare yourself — it’s not the kind of place you easily forget. The experience stayed with me for days, and I even found myself crying several times afterward.
Tips for Visiting Anne Frank House
Getting Tickets
The trickiest part of your whole visit will be getting tickets! Since Anne Frank House is super popular, tickets often sell out, especially during peak seasons. So, if you want to go, you’ll need to plan and be patient (and keep your fingers crossed that the website doesn’t crash)!
The key thing to know is that you can’t just show up and expect to get in. Tickets are only sold online, and you should really only buy them directly from the official Anne Frank House website to avoid any scams (yes, they happen).
Tickets are released every Tuesday at 10 am CET for the next six weeks, and you’ll need to pick a time slot for your visit. (Choose this wisely because you cannot exchange/get a refund for your ticket after you’ve booked it!) Also, make sure you’re at the entrance on time! You only have the allocated 15 minutes on your ticket to enter the museum, and visitors are only allowed in based on the specific booked slot.
Just be aware that these times are based on local time (UTC+1 during standard time and UTC+2 during daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October). If you’re in a different time zone and want the best shot at securing tickets, don’t forget to set an alarm to catch them as soon as they’re released!
Ticket Types & Prices
Another super important thing to know is that there are two types of tickets for the Anne Frank House: a standard museum entry ticket and a museum ticket with an introductory program. Make sure you buy the right one, as you can’t change it later!
For the standard ticket, you’ll move through the museum on a self-guided audio tour. The audio guide is available in several languages, including English, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, and Spanish.
This ticket costs €16.50 for adults and €7 for children aged 10-17. If you’ve got a Museumkaart like me, you only need to pay the €1 booking fee. You still need to book a time slot online, though! And don’t forget to bring your card.
For kids aged 0-9, the entrance is €1, though I would suggest using your own judgment when bringing younger kids here, as it is quite intense (even for adults) and not really suitable for children under 10. If you are visiting with kids, the museum actually recommends that they listen to a separate audio tour, Anne’s Story. It was created especially for children aged 10 to 15.
If you want to join the introductory program (in English), note that it costs an additional €7 (so €23.50 in total). It’s a 30-minute session before your museum visit, where an educator provides a bit more background on Anne’s life, WWII, and the persecution of Jews to help contextualize what you’ll see inside the museum. To join this one, make sure you select the “ticket + introductory program” option when booking.
Opening Times & Best Time to Go
The museum is open from 9 am to 10 pm daily, except on a few important holidays when it opens/closes a little earlier (see the exceptions on the website). The last entry time slot is at 8:45 pm.
Generally, it takes about 1-1.5 hours to explore the museum, although I probably spent a little closer to 2 hours to see it all.
Anne Frank Huis is always busy, so I’d suggest securing your ticket first and planning your itinerary around your visit. Early morning or late afternoon tickets are usually a little easier to get.
- Data: I use Airalo for eSIMs. It’s easy to set up and works instantly when you land.
- Attractions: I book skip-the-line tickets or tours through GetYourGuide or Viator to avoid queues and last-minute stress.
- Accommodation: I use Agoda and Booking.com to compare prices, location, and cancellation options.
- City Pass: The I amsterdam City Card is a great way to save money if you’re visiting many sights. It includes free entry to top attractions, unlimited use of GVB trams, buses, and metros, and a canal cruise.
- Travel Money: I use Wise to pay in local currency at the real exchange rate and skip hidden bank fees.
Other Things to Know Before You Go
Accessibility
Like many of Amsterdam’s canal house museums, the Anne Frank House has lots of steep stairs and narrow spaces, so it can be tricky if you have mobility issues.
When I visited, a few people made rude remarks about others taking too long on the stairs—if you think you can tackle them, don’t let that stop you. The museum is worth the visit, so take your time and ignore the bullies.
Since it gets busy, the space can feel cramped quickly. If you’re claustrophobic, you might want to wait for the crowds to pass before moving through.
Honestly, it’s not the easiest place for those with limited mobility, so I suggest using your own judgment to decide if it’s right for you.
Storage facilities
You can’t bring your backpack or a large handbag into the museum. These must be stored in the dedicated storage area in the lobby. If you’re not comfortable with that, a good rule of thumb is to make sure your handbag isn’t larger than A4 size.
Also, keep in mind that luggage or trolleys are strictly not allowed.
No Photography
Unfortunately, you can’t take any photos inside the museum. It makes sense, though. Firstly, it protects the artifacts, and secondly, it avoids bothering other visitors.
But once you’ve finished the tour of the annex, there are some cool 3D models of the house’s interior that you can photograph. I also grabbed some postcards (the pictures you’re seeing in this guide) at the little museum shop to remember my visit. Other mementos, like Anne’s diary, books, posters, magnets, and more, are also on sale here.
Be Respectful
Many of the areas are emotional spaces, so please respect the museum and other visitors. Keep an eye out for the “quiet zone” signs, and if you must talk, use a low voice.
How to Get There
While Anne Frank’s former hiding place is at Prinsengracht 263, the museum’s entrance is actually around the corner, at Westermarkt 20.
It’s about a 20-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal to here, but if you’d prefer not to walk, you can take Tram 13 or 17. Get off at the Westermarkt stop, which is just a 2-minute walk to the museum’s main entrance (Entrance 1).
Remember that you can only enter the museum during your specific time slot. Be sure to arrive within the 15-minute window noted on your ticket.
If you have a bit of extra time before your visit, Café Wester on Prinsengracht makes a delicious latte and has outdoor tables with pretty canal views. The Westerkerk, Tulip Museum, and the Amsterdam Cheese Museum are all within walking distance, too.
You can also easily pair your visit with a canal cruise — a handful depart right in front of the museum. If you’re not sure which one to book, I’ve put together a full guide to choosing the best canal cruise in Amsterdam so you can pick the right option for your trip.
Another great stop nearby is Museum Van Loon, a grand canal house still partly used as a private residence by descendants of the Van Loon family, co-founders of the Dutch East India Company. If you’re planning to visit, it’s worth booking tickets in advance.
Is the Anne Frank House Worth Visiting?
If you’re even a little curious, I’d say it’s definitely worth visiting.
For me, it was a deeply moving experience. Walking through the rooms where Anne spent her time in hiding gave me a whole new perspective on her life and the unimaginable hardships of the Holocaust. It was not an easy visit, but I’m really glad I went.
If you’re still planning your time in the city, start with my Amsterdam city guide — it maps out my favorite spots, the best areas to stay, and tips to help you make the most of your time. And if you weren’t able to get tickets, the Corrie Ten Boom House in Haarlem is also incredibly powerful and well worth the trip.
Is the Anne Frank House on your radar? Let me know why or why not in the comments or feel free to ask any questions about visiting the historic landmark!
