I walked into The Upside Down expecting a gimmicky photo museum — the kind of place you breeze through in twenty minutes, snap a few pictures, and forget about by dinner. I was wrong. Two hours later, I was lying on a ceiling (technically a floor designed to look like a ceiling), holding my phone upside down, trying to figure out which direction gravity was supposed to be pulling me.
That is the thing about this place. It looks like Instagram bait from the outside, and honestly, that is part of the appeal. But the rooms are genuinely clever. Furniture bolted to ceilings, entire kitchens flipped on their heads, and optical illusions that mess with your spatial awareness in ways you do not expect. It is weird, it is funny, and it photographs absurdly well.
Getting tickets is straightforward, but there are a few things worth knowing before you book — especially around timing, combo deals, and whether the standard ticket is actually enough. Here is everything I learned.
Best overall: The Upside Down Experience Entrance Ticket — $30. The standard entry that covers all 25 rooms. This is the one most people should book.
Best for a full day: The Upside Down & The All Out Combo — $47. Adds two hours of unlimited games and activities on top of the museum. Worth it if you are with kids or want to make a half-day of it.
Alternative platform: Upside Down Museum Admission via Viator — $31. Same museum, different booking platform. Useful if you already have Viator credits or prefer their cancellation policy.
- How the Ticket System Works
- Standard Ticket vs Combo Deals
- The Best Upside Down Amsterdam Tours to Book
- 1. The Upside Down Experience Entrance Ticket —
- 2. The Upside Down & The All Out Combination Ticket —
- 3. Upside Down Museum Admission via Viator —
- When to Visit
- How to Get There
- Tips That Will Save You Time
- What You Will Actually See Inside
- Who This Is (and Is Not) For
- More Amsterdam Guides
How the Ticket System Works
The Upside Down Amsterdam sells tickets through its own website and through third-party platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator. All tickets give you the same access — there is no secret VIP tier or members-only section. You walk in, you explore 25 themed rooms at your own pace, and you leave whenever you have had enough.
Standard adult tickets run around $30 (roughly EUR 28) through third-party platforms. Buying directly from The Upside Down website is typically the same price, though third-party platforms occasionally bundle discounts or offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit.
Children under 3 get in free. Kids aged 3-12 pay a reduced rate (usually around EUR 18). There is no student discount, but group bookings of 15 or more can contact the museum directly for a deal.
One thing to note: tickets are time-slotted. You pick a date and a specific entry window when you book. Slots fill up on weekends and school holidays, so booking a day or two ahead is smart. Weekday mornings are the quietest — Tuesday and Wednesday between 10:00 and 11:00 are your best bet for photos without strangers wandering into every shot.
Standard Ticket vs Combo Deals
The standard entry ticket covers all 25 rooms in The Upside Down. That includes everything — the upside-down living room, the ball pit, the infinity mirror rooms, and all the interactive photo setups. For most visitors, this is plenty. Plan about 60 to 90 minutes inside if you actually want to take photos in each room, though you can technically rush through in 40 minutes if you are not the photo type.
The combo ticket adds The All Out, which is essentially an indoor playground for adults (and kids who do not want to leave). It includes two hours of unlimited access to trampolines, games, and other physical activities. At $47, it is not a huge premium over the standard entry, so if you are visiting with teenagers or a group that needs more than 90 minutes of entertainment, the combo is decent value.
There is also a family bundle available directly on the museum website that covers two adults and two children at a slight discount. If you are traveling with kids, check their site before booking through a third party.
My honest take: unless you are genuinely excited about trampolines and arcades, the standard ticket is the right choice. The museum itself is the main draw. The All Out area is fun but not essential — it is more of a bonus than a reason to visit.
The Best Upside Down Amsterdam Tours to Book
All three options below get you into the same museum. The differences come down to which booking platform you prefer, cancellation flexibility, and whether you want the combo experience. I have ordered them by popularity based on what works best for most visitors coming to Amsterdam.
1. The Upside Down Experience Entrance Ticket — $30
This is the standard entry and the one I would recommend to almost everyone. At $30 per person, you get full access to all 25 interactive rooms, plus the on-site cafe where you can grab a drink and decompress after an hour of fighting gravity. The experience is self-guided, so you move through at whatever pace suits you — no guide herding you through like cattle.
The rooms rotate themes periodically, which means even if you visited a year ago, there will be new installations to explore. The QR code photo option (included with your ticket) is genuinely useful — staff take photos in key rooms and you scan a code to download them later. Saves you from awkward selfie angles in rooms where the setup really needs a third-person perspective.
It is the most booked Upside Down ticket by a wide margin, and the free cancellation up to 24 hours before makes it low-risk to lock in early.
2. The Upside Down & The All Out Combination Ticket — $47
If the standard entry feels too short for your group, the combo adds The All Out — a separate activity space with two hours of unlimited access to trampolines, climbing walls, interactive games, and a bar for the adults who would rather sit and watch. At $47, it is only $17 more than the standard ticket, which makes it reasonable value if you are with kids, a birthday group, or just the kind of person who thinks trampolines are always a good idea.
The two experiences are in the same building, so there is no awkward commuting between locations. You do The Upside Down first, then head into The All Out section. The whole thing can easily fill 3 to 4 hours. The combo is particularly popular with families and groups visiting during weekends, and the activity space is loud and energetic — if you want a calmer experience, stick with the standard ticket.
3. Upside Down Museum Admission via Viator — $31
This is essentially the same experience as option one, sold through Viator instead of GetYourGuide. The price is nearly identical at $31 per person, and you get the same access to all the interactive rooms. The main reason to choose this over the GYG version is if you prefer Viator’s platform, already have Viator credits, or want their specific cancellation terms (free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance).
The listing notes approximately one hour for the visit, which is realistic if you are efficient, though I would allow 90 minutes if you actually want to take photos. The Viator version draws a slightly different crowd — more international visitors and a mix of families. The staff are friendly across the board, though some visitors have noted the experience feels short for the price if you are not into photography. Fair point, honestly. If taking photos is not your thing, you might feel it is over too quickly.
When to Visit
The Upside Down Amsterdam is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:00. Hours can extend to 21:00 during school holidays and peak summer weeks — check their website for seasonal adjustments before booking a late afternoon slot.
The best time to go is Tuesday through Thursday, before noon. Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter, which matters when every room is a photo setup and having three strangers in the background ruins the illusion. Fridays pick up in the afternoon, and weekends can get properly crowded — especially between 13:00 and 16:00.
Rainy days bring a rush of travelers looking for indoor activities, so paradoxically, a sunny afternoon might give you a quieter visit since everyone else is at Zaanse Schans or cruising the canals instead.
If you are visiting during King’s Day (April 27), Amsterdam school holidays, or the Christmas period, book at least a week in advance. These are the times that sell out.
How to Get There
The Upside Down is located at Europaplein 24, in the south of Amsterdam near the RAI convention center. It is not in the historic center, so you will need transport unless you enjoy a very long walk.
By tram: Tram 12 from Amsterdam Centraal stops at Europaplein, which is a two-minute walk from the entrance. The ride takes about 20 minutes and costs a standard GVB ticket (around EUR 3.50 with an OV-chipkaart).
By metro: Take the North-South line (metro 52) to Europaplein station. The museum is essentially next door. This is the fastest option from Centraal Station — about 12 minutes door to door.
By bike: If you have rented a bike (and you should, this is Amsterdam), the ride from the center takes about 15 minutes along well-marked cycling paths. There is bike parking at Europaplein.
By car: The Q-Park Europaplein parking garage is directly underneath the building. It is expensive (expect EUR 3-4 per hour), but convenient. Honestly though, driving in Amsterdam is a headache. Take the tram.
Tips That Will Save You Time
- Book time-slotted tickets online. Walk-ups are technically possible, but slots can sell out, especially on weekends. Booking in advance guarantees your entry time and usually comes with free cancellation.
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early. They run a brief welcome introduction before letting you into the rooms. If you arrive late, you might wait for the next group.
- Charge your phone fully. You will take more photos here than at any traditional museum. A dead phone battery at room 12 of 25 is genuinely frustrating.
- Wear socks. Some rooms require you to remove your shoes. This is not the day for bare feet.
- Use the QR photo service. Staff photographers position you in each room’s sweet spot and take photos with proper framing. They know the angles better than you do. Scan the QR code at the end to download everything.
- Skip the weekend afternoon slot. If your schedule allows it, Tuesday or Wednesday morning is a completely different experience. More space, more time per room, better photos.
- Budget 90 minutes minimum. The museum says 60 minutes, and you can do it in that, but you will feel rushed. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to actually enjoy each room.
- The cafe at the end is worth a stop. The on-site bar and cafe has a fun, themed interior. Grab a coffee or a cocktail and go through your photos while everything is fresh.
What You Will Actually See Inside
The Upside Down Amsterdam spreads across 25 individually themed rooms over multiple floors. The concept is simple: everything is flipped, tilted, or designed to create optical illusions when you photograph them. Stand in the right spot, flip the image on your phone, and suddenly you are walking on the ceiling, sitting on furniture that hangs above you, or floating in a room with no apparent gravity.
The highlight rooms include an upside-down kitchen (complete with pots and pans dangling from what is technically the floor), a ball pit room that looks like it is defying physics, a mirror infinity room, and several neon-lit spaces designed purely for color and contrast. There is a candy-themed room that kids go wild for, and a slightly disorienting hallway that plays with perspective and makes you feel genuinely off-balance.
It is not a traditional museum in any sense. There are no plaques to read, no audio guides, and no historical context. The entire point is interaction and photography. You touch things, you climb on things, you position yourself for the shot. Staff in each room help with angles and tips, which is genuinely useful — they know exactly where to stand to get the best illusion.
The rooms rotate on a roughly seasonal schedule. If you visited last year, there will be new installations. The museum has been open since 2021 and has steadily added rooms and upgraded existing ones, so it is not the same place it was three years ago.
Who This Is (and Is Not) For
The Upside Down is perfect for couples looking for a fun date activity, groups of friends who want content for their social feeds, and families with children over about age 5. Kids younger than that can still enjoy it, but the photo element — which is the core experience — is lost on toddlers who just want to run.
It is probably not for you if you are looking for a culturally enriching Amsterdam museum experience. This is the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum territory. The Upside Down is pure fun and entertainment — no pretense about it. If that sounds like a waste of time, save your money and spend it on a food tour or walking tour instead.
More Amsterdam Guides
If The Upside Down has you in an exploring mood, the Moco Museum is another modern, photography-friendly museum that draws a similar crowd — it is closer to the center and pairs well with a visit to the Rijksmuseum next door. For something completely different, the Anne Frank House is a must, though you will want to book those tickets even further ahead. A canal cruise is the best way to wind down after a full day of museums, and if you are spending more than a couple of days, the A’DAM Lookout observation deck gives you Amsterdam from an entirely different angle. On a sunny day, renting a bike and riding out to Zaanse Schans is one of those quintessentially Dutch experiences that sticks with you long after you fly home.
Amsterdam is one of those rare cities where you could fill a week without repeating yourself. Between the world-class museums, the canal-side walks, the food scene that keeps improving every year, and places like The Upside Down that remind you a city can be serious and silly in equal measure, it is hard to run out of reasons to stay another day.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep producing free travel guides.
Upside Down Amsterdam is on the edge of the city center, and the playful, photo-heavy experience fits well alongside other attractions that prioritize fun over traditional culture. The This Is Holland 5D flight and the Fabrique des Lumieres immersive art shows share the same interactive spirit, and all three can fill a single day if you plan the route. The Heineken Experience and XtraCold Icebar add food and drink to the mix, and between the five of them you have a full Amsterdam day that never once asks you to stand quietly in front of a painting.