Amsterdam Winter Paradise 2026
December 17, 2026 @ 9:00 am – January 2, 2027 @ 11:59 pm
Amsterdam Winter Paradise (Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs) runs from 17 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 at RAI Amsterdam, about 3.5 km south of Dam Square. It is an indoor winter fair with ice rinks, a Ferris wheel, a snow hall, shows and an après-ski village – not a Christmas market. From the canal belt you get there in about ten minutes by metro 52, and one timed ticket covers all activities.
This page looks at Winter Paradise from the point of view of a visitor staying in the city centre: how to get there, how to fit it into a winter day along the canals, and whether it is the right choice for you. For the day-by-day line-up, the food stalls and group packages, see the complete Winter Paradise guide on our sister site Winter Festival Amsterdam.
On this page
- Winter Paradise at a glance
- Is Winter Paradise worth it for visitors?
- Getting there from the canal belt
- Plan a winter day: Winter Paradise and the canals
- Winter Paradise or the city centre?
- Tickets and availability
- Tips for international visitors
- Frequently asked questions
Winter Paradise at a glance
| Dates | 17 December 2026 – 2 January 2027 (closed on 31 December) |
| Opening hours | Mostly 09:00–00:00; Sundays 20 and 27 December until 23:00; 1 January from 10:00. Rides and the outdoor area close at 22:00, entry closes one hour before closing time. |
| Location | RAI Amsterdam, Europaplein 24, Amsterdam-Zuid |
| From Dam Square | About 3.5 km; around 10 minutes by metro 52 |
| Indoors or outdoors? | Mainly indoors in the RAI halls, plus an outdoor Winter Square with a rink and rides |
| Payment | Cashless: card payments only |
| Children | Free up to and including 2 years; ages 3–12 get €3 off when arriving before 14:00 (bring ID) |
| Après-ski | 21+ only |
| Ticket | Arrival time slot, price varies by day and time (cheapest early in the day), no re-entry |
Is Winter Paradise worth it for visitors?
Winter Paradise is a winter fair: think of a day at a funfair and theme park rather than a stroll past wooden chalets. Whether it suits you depends on what kind of Amsterdam winter you are looking for.
- Weatherproof. Most of it is under the roof of the RAI halls. On a grey, windy December day when a walk along the canals is no fun, this is one of the few big outings that does not depend on the weather.
- Strong for children. Separate rinks and play areas for young children, a snow hall and morning shows. Children aged 3–12 pay less before 14:00.
- Skating included. Both the indoor and the outdoor rink are part of the ticket, as are the rides, apart from fairground games.
- Largely Dutch entertainment. The stage programme features Dutch singers and sing-along hits, and the children’s shows use Dutch TV characters. The atmosphere is infectious, but it is not an English-language show.
- Busy in the evening. Evenings, weekends and the days between Christmas and New Year draw the biggest crowds. Mornings are quieter and usually cheaper.
Our verdict: well worth it for families with children, groups of friends looking for a party and anyone who wants a full indoor day out. If you only have one evening and want classic Christmas atmosphere, the illuminated canals and the Christmas markets in the city are a better fit.
Getting there from the canal belt
Winter Paradise is outside the canal belt, in Amsterdam-Zuid, but it is one of the easiest places to reach from the centre. Metro 52 runs underground from Amsterdam Centraal via Rokin and Vijzelgracht to Europaplein, a short walk from the entrance.
| From | How | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Centraal | Metro 52 to Europaplein | 10 min |
| Dam Square / Rokin | Metro 52 from Rokin to Europaplein | under 10 min |
| Rembrandtplein / Muntplein | Tram 4 towards Station RAI, get off at Europaplein or the RAI | 15–20 min |
| Museumplein / De Pijp | Metro 52 from Vijzelgracht or De Pijp, or cycle | 10–15 min |
| Schiphol Airport | Train to Amsterdam RAI station, then a short walk | about 10 min by train |
Travel times are approximate; check 9292.nl for the current timetable. Coming by car? The RAI car park has to be booked in advance. From the city centre, public transport is faster and cheaper.
Plan a winter day: Winter Paradise and the canals
The most important rule for planning: your ticket is valid for one entry. Once you leave, you cannot come back in on the same ticket. So plan Winter Paradise as one block of your day, and do the canals before or after.
- 09:00–13:00 – Winter Paradise. The earliest slots are usually the cheapest and quietest, and the child rate only applies to arrival before 14:00.
- Lunch. Eat inside (food and drinks are not included in the ticket) or take the metro back and have lunch in the centre.
- Afternoon – the canal belt. Metro 52 brings you back to Rokin within ten minutes. Use the short daylight for a walk or a museum; see Amsterdam in winter for ideas.
- From about 17:00 – lights on the water. In late December it is dark by around half past four. That makes the early evening ideal for the Amsterdam Light Festival by boat or an evening canal cruise.
- Evening. Finish at the Christmas markets or on the outdoor rink of ICE Amsterdam at Museumplein.
Travelling without children? Turn it around: the city and the canals during the day, Winter Paradise in the evening for the music and the après-ski village (21+). Keep in mind that the rides and the outdoor area close at 22:00.
Winter Paradise or the city centre?
In December Amsterdam has several winter outings that compete for the same afternoon or evening. This is how Winter Paradise compares with the options in and around the canal belt.
| Option | Indoors? | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Winter Paradise (RAI) | Mostly | Families, groups, a full day out | Timed ticket, all activities included |
| ICE Amsterdam (Museumplein) | No | Skating with a view of the Rijksmuseum, a short visit | Separate rink ticket |
| Christmas markets | No | Atmosphere, snacks and shopping | Varies by market |
| Light Festival by boat | Covered boat | Couples, an evening outing | Cruise ticket |
Many visitors combine two of these: Winter Paradise for the day and the Light Festival for the evening, both easy to reach from the same hotel in the centre.
Tickets and availability
Book a ticket for Amsterdam Winter Paradise below. You choose a day and an arrival time slot; the price varies per day and time, and the early slots are usually the cheapest. Check the availability for your date directly in the calendar:
- Arrive within your chosen time slot; you can then stay until closing time.
- No re-entry: once you leave, the ticket is used.
- Children up to and including 2 years enter free.
- Tickets bought via Tiqets cannot be refunded or rescheduled, so double-check your date.
- Beer tables and VIP tables are not included in the regular ticket.
Tips for international visitors
- Bring a bank card. Winter Paradise is cashless; you cannot pay with cash on site.
- Leave your umbrella at the hotel. Umbrellas are not allowed. Wear a jacket with a hood for the walk from the metro.
- Dress code. Jogging and tracksuit bottoms are not allowed from 18:00.
- Gloves. Handy on the outdoor rink and on the Winter Square in the evening.
- Après-ski is 21+. Bring ID; no alcohol is served to anyone under 18.
- Dietary needs. There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
- Accessibility. The event is wheelchair accessible, but wheelchairs cannot be borrowed on site.
- Staying nearby. Want to be within walking distance? Look at nhow Amsterdam RAI or the hotels in Amsterdam-Zuid. A hotel in the canal belt works just as well with metro 52.
Frequently asked questions
Take metro 52 from Amsterdam Centraal to Europaplein. The ride takes about ten minutes and the entrance at Europaplein 24 is a short walk from the station. Tram 4 also goes to the RAI but takes longer.
Mostly. The ice rink, snow hall, shows, food court and après-ski village are inside the RAI halls. There is also an outdoor Winter Square with an ice rink, rides and the Ferris wheel.
No. It is a winter fair with rides, skating, shows and music. There is a small winter fair with stalls, but if you want a traditional Christmas market, visit one of the markets in the city.
Yes, the rides, skating and snow hall need no language. The music programme and children’s shows are mostly in Dutch, so expect Dutch sing-along hits rather than English entertainment.
It is open on 24 and 25 December (the après-ski village is closed on those days) and closed on 31 December. On 1 January it opens at 10:00.
Yes. Visit Winter Paradise in the morning or early afternoon, take metro 52 back to the centre and board a Light Festival cruise after dark, which in late December is from about 16:30.
No. Winter Paradise is a cashless event and only accepts card payments.
Hotels around the RAI and in Amsterdam-Zuid are within walking distance. A hotel in the canal belt or near Amsterdam Centraal is also convenient, because metro 52 gets you there in about ten minutes.
More winter in Amsterdam
- Winter Festival Amsterdam 2026–2027: all winter events in one overview
- Amsterdam in winter: what to do in the city from November to February
- New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam: where to celebrate on 31 December, when Winter Paradise is closed
- Canal cruises: every type of boat trip compared
- Full Winter Paradise guide on Winter Festival Amsterdam: line-up, food and group packages
