The North-South oriented ellipse-shaped Amsterdam Island is 9.2 km long, 7.4 km wide and about 55 square km. large with a 28 km long coastline .

The shoreline entirely consists of cliffs except for "Pointe de la Recherche" (Research Point) on the North and "Mare aux Elephants" (Elephant seal pond) on the North-west, close to the base. The western high cliffs (400 to over 700 m high) have been caused by a geological collapse and give the island a dissymmetrical section. Facing South-west, Entrecasteaux Head is the only jutting headland of the isle.

The highest peak is 881 m high "Mont de la Dives" (La Dives Mount)