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Amsterdam is a city that is at the top of many people’s lists to visit in Europe. But I have to admit the first time I visited I was not that impressed.
I was mainly in the city center during my first visit which was crowded and full of drunk tourists at night.
But that was my mistake because the center of Amsterdam is full of what everyone associates with Amsterdam. The Red Light District, weed and drunk tourists.
But if you take some time to explore outside of this area you will find beautiful peaceful canals everywhere. Without the rubbish and craziness you will find in the city center. Just bikes canals and pretty buildings.
On my second visit to Amsterdam this is the area I explored and I really started to enjoy the city.
We have visited Amsterdam quite a few times over the last few years and Katharina lived there for over seven years.
So after after all those visits I think we can make quite a good Amsterdam Itinerary to make the most of your time there.
In this article, I will give you a two-day Amsterdam Itinerary that will help you avoid the tourist traps and have an amazing time.
I feel like many people visiting Amsterdam visit for a couple of days so I have made the itinerary for that amount of time.
But if you would like to make a 3-day Amsterdam Itinerary there are more than enough activities to spread out over 3 days.
Amsterdam Map
I have made the map below to give you a quick overview of different parts of Amsterdam.
Inside the blue circle is the center of Amsterdam. This is the most crowded part of the city where you will find the red light district and the most tourists.
This is by far the most crowded part of the city and in my opinion, has the most tacky tourist attractions.
Inside the green area is what I think are the most beautiful canals to explore in Amsterdam. There are plenty more beautiful areas outside the green area also. It is just to give you a rough guide.
Then the red area is North Amsterdam. You can take a ferry there to see a more artistic and industrial side of Amsterdam.
Day 1 Amsterdam Itinerary
TIP : My favorite thing to do in Amsterdam is to get lost in the pretty canals outside of the touristy center. These are the most beautiful and are full of cool house boats and beautiful buildings. So when you follow the guide below make sure to always get lost in the canals along the way!
1. Start with a Coffee in a Cute Cafe
If you are like me every day exploring a new city starts off with a coffee. During our time in Amsterdam, we visited many cafes, we even wrote an article on the best cafes in Amsterdam.
My two favorite cafes in the city center are Sango Specialty Coffee and Hummingbird Cafe. Both of these cafes make great specialty coffees using high-quality beans.
I particularly enjoyed Sango because it has a very nice area to relax inside, if it is a cold day. As it often is in Amsterdam!
2. Join a Free Walking Tour
One of my favorite things to do when I visit a new city is to take a free walking tour. They are always a great way to get to know the city without breaking the bank.
Although it is usually one of the first things I do, I only did a walking tour in Amsterdam on my fourth visit!
I had just never gotten around to it. But the walking tour was great and I learned a lot of interesting facts about the city that I had never heard before.
I chose to do my walking tour with Free Walking Tours Amsterdam, which was an excellent choice. You will need to book a time slot on their website. Then simply turn up and tip the guide what you think the tour is worth.
The tour lasts 2 hours and takes you to some interesting sights in the city center. But what will make or break your tour is what guide you get.
You will begin the walking tour at Dam Square which is right in the middle of central Amsterdam. It is a good starting point because you can see the center of Amsterdam on the way to the tour.
My tour guide was from the UK and he was an awesome. His name was Craig and he had only lived in Amsterdam for about 4 years but he had a real passion for the city that you could feel on his tour.
During the tour, you will learn some interesting facts about the history of Amsterdam on a range of different topics.
If you are more interested in Second World War history there is also an Anne Frank and World War 2 walking tour. This is a paid tour with a guide who has in-depth knowledge of the dutch experience during World War 2.
So it is a great option if you are a history buff and want some serious history.
3. Visit the Anne Frank House
After finishing the walking tour you will be right next to the Anne Frank House, This is the most popular tourist attraction in Amsterdam and something many people are interested in visiting.
I have to be honest. I have never visited the Anne Frank House because it does not interest me. But I am sure many of you will be interested in going as it is the most popular tourist attraction in Amsterdam.
If you do not know Anne Frank was a teenage girl who wrote a diary about her time spent hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War 2.
During a visit to the museum, you can see the area where she hid during the war and lots of exhibits about here life.
Tickets to the museum are reasonably priced at 16 euros, but you must buy them in advance.
Popular times on Friday and Saturday can sell out a couple of weeks in advance. So you will need to plan your trip carefully if you would like to visit.
Tickets can be bought online here.
4. Go on a Canal Boat Cruise
One activity you have to do in Amsterdam is a boat cruise down the canals.
There are over 100 kilometers of canals in Amsterdam. The length of the canals is crazy because the city is not that big.
Everywhere you go in Amsterdam you will never be far from a canal. They are what make the city special and one of the best things to do is just get lost walking down canals away from the tourist hotspots.
When I visited Amsterdam I was very lucky because Katharina’s friend has a boat that he takes people out on. So we have not had to sign up for a tour group.
But every time I visit cruising down the canals is one of the highlights of Amsterdam. You get a unique perspective of the city from the canals that is much different than when you are walking the streets.
I cannot personally recommend any of the tourist boats as I have not taken one. But there are plenty of options many of them are reasonably priced and look like a nice experience.
You can book this Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Viator for 20 euros. The cruise lasts for one hour and you will have a guide and the option to purchase drinks on board.
Another slightly more expensive tour is the Captain Jack Canal Cruise. This tour costs 40 euros but you will have some drinks and snacks included.
If you have a group of friends then a great way to experience the canals is to rent a boat and drive it yourself. I and some friends did this on a backpacking trip to Amsterdam many years ago and it was so much fun!
We could not believe we could pay some money and take a boat out ourselves around Amsterdam.
If you have a group of friends it can be a very affordable option as you can rent boats starting at 50 euros per hour.
One company that you can rent boats from to drive yourself is Eco Boats Amsterdam. They have small electric boats that are quite simple but fun to take out with friends.
Lastly, if you want to splash out on an experience for you and your partner you can book a romantic private cruise. This costs 118 euros per person and includes drinks and snacks.
5. Visit Amsterdam’s Street Art Museum
After your canal cruise if you want to experience a different side of Amsterdam you can head to the North to see the STRAAT street art museum.
I liked visiting the North of Amsterdam because you get to see a different side of the city.
There is a large old industrial area that has been converted into different things such as art museums, work shops, cafes and restaurants.
The STRAAT street art museum is in this old industrial warehouse and has an amazing street art collection inside.
Most street art around the world starts to look the same after but the art in STRAAT is truly unique. There are enormous pieces of art everywhere and if you like art just a little bit you will be impressed.
You can buy tickets online here for the museum. Or simply just turn up and pay at the door.
TIP : In the last hour of opening hours at STRAAT tickets are half price
To get to the STRAAT museum you will need to go to the North of Amsterdam. This is on the other side of the river so you will have to take a ferry.
Luckily the ferries to the North of Amsterdam are free and leave from the the Centraal Station in Amsterdam.
You will need to take the F4 ferry from the Amsterdam Centraal Ferry terminal. The ferry leaves every 15 minutes and takes 20 minutes to reach the other side.
5. Check out NDSM Fuse
Next to the STRAAT street art museum is NDSM fuse. This is a free art gallery that is located in another old warehouse.
What is displayed here will depend on what time you visit because the displays can vary a lot over time. There could be a lot to see or the warehouse could be quite empty.
But it is free to enter NDSM fuse so I would definitley check it out after the STRAAT museum. There is also quite a lot of street art on the exterior of the buildings so it is a nice area to walk around.
6. Explore Downtown At Night
After a long day of sightseeing many visitors to Amsterdam come to party and want to see the infamous Red Light District.
While many people love the downtown core if they come to get drunk. I would recommend staying well away unless you really want to party.
The downtown core of Amsterdam is unfortunately super touristy and full of tacky restaurants and bars.
Katharina lived there in Amsterdam for 7 years and everyone who lives in Amsterdam generally avoids the downtown area like the plague.
But if you really want to see the red light district I would recommend just going for a quick walk. Or you can take the tour listed above so you can learn something while you walk ariund.
It is a bizarre experience to see all the women in the windows as thousands of tourists pack the streets.
Just be prepared that it will be super busy and packed with drunk and stoned tourists. Along with families of tourists, which is even weirder!
I learned during my walking tour that sex workers started standing behind windows in Amsterdam in the 1500s! So you are viewing a centuries-old tradition even if it is incredibly seedy.
While you are exploring downtown one area that I liked was Chinatown.
It is only a small area of the city but it is still an interesting part of Amsterdam that I enjoyed walking around.
It is interesting to see the contrast between Asian-style temples located next to traditional Dutch architecture.
Chinatown is also obviously a good place to grab some Asian food if you are hungry after a long day sightseeing.
Optional: Exploring The City Center in the Morning
If you do not want to visit the Red Light District at night you may decide to walk around there in the morning.
This can be a good idea because there are not many people around. But just be prepared that there can be a lot of trash around.
Because the city center is overloaded with tourists every night there is a crazy amount of trash left behind.
It is cleared up every day by the city but if you decide to go for an early morning walk like I did you may be shocked at the amount of trash around.
The trash around the city center is one of the few negatives I noticed about the city. A lot of trash ends up in the canals as well! So hopefully tourists will start to become more respectful in the future with their trash.
Day 2 Amsterdam Itinerary
1. Have a Morning Coffee at Kafenion
If you are looking for a cozy place to have your morning coffee on day two of your Amsterdam itinerary I recommend heading to Kafenion.
This cafe is located on a beautiful quiet canal outside of the city center. At Kafenion you can get solid Greek coffee, not my favorite in Amsterdam but it is good enough.
But one of the main reasons to go to Kafenion is their delicious bougatsa greek pastries.
I am not usually a fan of sweet food in the morning. But since everyone said the bougatsa was amazing I had to try and I have to say it was very good.
The flaky pastry has a very nice texture and the custard filling is so good and not too sweet.
After visiting Kafenion I recommend going for a stroll around the canals nearby. This area is called Jordaan and is a very beautiful part of Amsterdam that is nice and peaceful and not to packed with tourists.
If pastries are not your thing then I recommend heading to Hummingbird Coffee. Their coffee is better than Kafenion and it is also centrally located and covenient place to start your day.
2. Stroll around de 9 Straatjes
After your morning coffee, you are a short walk from De 9 Straajtes or the 9 streets. This is an area of Amsterdam full of boutique shops, cafes and eateries.
The buildings around this area are beautiful and it is far enough away from the city center that it is not overrun with tacky tourist attractions.
Although you will definitely see many tourists around as the area is not a secret.
There are not a lot of huge attractions in 9 de Straatjes but it is one of the most beautiful areas in Amsterdam.
So just head there for a walk and soak up the atmosphere.
3. Visit the Rijksmuseum
After exploring De 9 Straatjes it is a short walk to the Rijksmuseum.
This is the most famous museum in Amsterdam and one of the most iconic buildings in the city.
If you like classical European art then this is one of the best museums you can visit in the world. But the tickets are quite pricey.
A ticket to the Rijksmuseum is not cheap at 25 euros. So I would only recommend going in if you are a fan of art.
Tickets for the museum can be bought online here.
But even if you do not want to go into the Rijksmuseum it is well worth walking around the area. It is a beautiful building and there are some nice canals around it.
One of the most interesting things I like about the Rijksmuseum is that there is a cycle lane that goes right through the middle of the museum. You cannot get more Dutch than that!
Walking through the archway in the museum is quite interesting as it is full of tourists entering the museum. But then on the road, there are tonnes of locals just riding there bikes on the way into town.
4. Check out the Van Gogh Museum
If you are a true art fanatic after the Rijksmuseum you can also visit the Van Gogh Museum.
The Van Gogh Museum is a short walk through the park from the Rijksmuseum and contains the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world.
Van Gogh is the most famous artist from the Netherlands so for art lovers this museum is a must see.
But if you are not into art you can give it a skip! I like a good museum from time to time but I find that I cannot visit too many in one day.
So I would recommend having a look at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum and choosing the museum that looks most interesting to you.
Tickets to the Van Gogh Museum cost 34 euros and can be bought online here.
5. Wander through Vondel Park
If the weather is nice and sunny in Amsterdam then one of my favorite places to visit is Vondel Park. This is the largest park in Amsterdam and is a great place to ride a bike or have a picnic on the grass.
On sunny days the park will be packed with locals enjoying all the sun they can get. There is not a lot of it in Amsterdam!
The streets between the Rijksmuseum, The Van Gogh Museum and Vondelpark is one of the wealthier areas of Amsterdam.
So there is a lot of beautiful architecture that I recommend checking out while you walk through.
Vondel Park is a lovely green park that is full of cycle lanes, ponds, cafes and restaurants.
If your legs are tired from sightseeing Vondel Park is a great place to just sit down and recharge before moving on.
6. Enjoy Dinner in De Pijp
After visiting Vondel Park you are quite close to De Pijp. This one of the trendier areas of the city that is the closest Amsterdam has to a ‘hipster area’.
As a result, there are quite a lot of nice places to grab something to eat.
If you make it to De Pijp before 5 pm you can also visit the Albert Cuyp Market. This is the most famous market in Amsterdam and is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.
The market is a good place to grab something to eat. Although, do not expect the prices to be low!
If you would like to sit down at a nice restaurant then there are many options in De Pijp. It is a great place to sit down for a nice meal and finish off your time in Amsterdam.
This brings us to the end of my Amsterdam Itinerary. Remember that you can easily spread the activities in the itinerary over more days if you have the time.
Keep reading below to find out more useful information like how to get around Amsterdam, how to get there and where to stay in Amsterdam.
Tip: I Am Amsterdam Card
While doing research for this article I came across the I Am Amsterdam Card. I am usually not a fan of buying tourist cards while traveling.
But the I Am Amsterdam Card could be useful for certain travelers.
As with other tourist cards around the world the I Am Amsterdam card gives you access to a range of tourist attractions for a set price. The card costs 60 euros for 24 hours and 85 euros for 48 hours.
Included in the use of the card is free public transport and you can also rent a bike using the card. So all your transport would be taken care of with the card.
The Rijksmuseum, House Boat Museum, Canal Cruise, A Paid Walking tour, STRAAT street art museum and the NEMO science museum are included. If you visited all of these the attractions it would cost you close to 72 euros.
So you will have to visit a lot of attractions to make it worth your while.
But you could also go on multiple canal cruises using the card. So if you could potentially go on several cruise during your time in Amsterdam which could save you quite a lot of money.
I think that for most travelers the I Am Amsterdam Card will not be worth it. But if you would like to buy one you can do so here.
How to Get to Amsterdam
By Plane
When you are flying into Amsterdam the main airport is Schiphol. To get from Schipol to Amsterdam Centraal Station the best way is to take the train.
A ticket only costs 5 euros and the train will take you to Amsterdam Centraal in 15 minutes.
If you are trying to find cheaper flights to Amsterdam you can look at flights to Eindhoven.
From many destinations in Europe it can be cheaper to fly into Eindhoven and then take the train from Eindhoven to Amsterdam.
We have taken this train a few times because the flights Vienna to Eindhoven are significantly cheaper than flights to Schipol and it is a great option if you want to save money.
So if you are looking for the cheapest flights possible check out Eindhoven.
By Train
Amsterdam is also very well connected by train with many popular European destinations. If you are in Belgium, Paris or London then taking the train could be a good option.
If you would like to book train tickets then check out TrainLine. You can book train tickets all over Europe using their site.
How to Get Around Amsterdam
The fastest way to get around Amsterdam is of course by bike. I remember when I first visited Amsterdam I was blown away by the number of bikes. You will see bike stands with hundreds of bikes all over the city.
It is the perfect city to ride a bike because all of the streets are flat and there are bike lanes everywhere.
So if you want to experience traveling around the city like a local rent a bike and go for a ride.
If you would like to rent a bike there are many options. But the cheapest I have found is rent-a-bike-amsterdam.com. You can rent a bike from 9 euros for 24 hours which a price that is hard to beat.
It can also be a bit intimidating riding a bike in Amsterdam because the bike lanes can be very busy and locals can ride quite aggressively!
If you do not feel like riding a bike Amsterdam is a very walkable city. The city center is very small and you can walk from one side to the other in about 45 minutes.
Walking is also my favorite way to explore Amsterdam because you can take your time and look at all the houseboats along the canals and toher details around the city.
Just remember when you are walking that there are bike lanes everywhere! During my first visit to Amsterdam, I was nearly run over multiple times because I was not used to so many bike lines.
They are not obvious a lot of the time. So just remember to constantly be on the look out for bikes because locals will not be happy if you wander in their way while exploring!
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the most expensive cities in the world. So finding good accommodation will be one of the most important parts of planning your trip.
If you are not rolling in money it will be hard to find affordable accommodation. But below I have listed the most affordable options, and one free option, for accommodation in Amsterdam.
Tip: Amsterdam Pet Sitting
Amsterdam is one of the most expensive cities in the world. So it is one of the best places to do pet sitting to save some money.
Petsitting is great if you love pets and are traveling slowly and have time to get to know a city.
On both of our recent trips, we have looked after pets in exchange for a place to stay. Because we travel slowly it is an awesome option for us.
Because we travel slowly we do not have to see all the attractions in a small amount of time. So we can take time out of our day to look after pets.
The site we use to find petsits is Trusted House Sitters. They have thousands of petsits all over the world and there are regular petsits in Amsterdam.
Although you will have to be quick to get a petsit as it is a very popular place.
If that’s something you are interested in you should check out TrustedHousesitters and browse their listings. With code HAPPYHEALTHYNOMADS you get 25% off.
We have done more than 10 housesits so far and loved every single experience. You can read more about it here.
Amsterdam Hotels
Below is a list of the most affordable Amsterdam hotels I could find with good ratings.
TIP : We usually book hotels using booking.com. If you use booking.com regularly you get a “genius” account. Once you have genius you get big discounts on hotels. Often up to 30 percent off. So it is well worth your time to set up a profile and make regular bookings on booking.com. To get a genius level 3 account you need to make 15 bookings within 3 years and you will have access to discounts for life.
Motel One Amsterdam – is a comfortable hotel in the south of Amsterdam with rooms starting at 100 euros during off peak times.
Double Tree By Hilton Amsterdam – is a nice hotel located in the North of Amsterdam across the river. If you visit in winter rooms can start at 80 euros. In the summer months, rooms can be well above 200 euros. The hotel has a fitness center, roof top bar and optional buffet breakfast.
The Cabin – is a super budget option where you can get a room as low as 54 euros during the week. It is a unique option as the room is on a house boat. But be prepared to get what you pay for. The rooms are tiny and it doesn’t have the best reviews. But it will be a unique experience and could fit in your budget.
Amsterdam Hostels
If you are on a very tight budget then the best option in Amsterdam will be to stay at a hostel.
Just be prepared that if you go to Amsterdam a hostel bed could be up to 50 euros per night!
But if you travel during winter you can get a bed for around 20 euros a night. So traveling in winter could be worth it if you do not mind the cold.
Also, Amsterdam is not well known for its amazing summers. We visited last summer and had days where the high was only 15 degrees! There were other warmer days. But you can never expect to have great weather when you visit.
Below are some of the best quality Amsterdam hostels for those of you on a budget.
Bulldog Hostel – is one of the most well-known hostels in Amsterdam. It is located right in the center of the city. It is a good hostel if you want to party and meet people. But not a good one if you would like to get some sleep.
Meininger Amsterdam Amstel – is located next to Amstel train station. So you will have convenient access to public transport into the city center. It is a nice, clean hostel that is good if you would like a hostel where you can get a good night’s sleep.
De Bedstee Capsules – is a good option if you want a hostel but a little more privacy. The capsules all have their own wooden doors so you can escape other guests.
Amsterdam Itinerary Roundup
I hope my itinerary helps you to have an awesome and affordable trip to Amsterdam. If there is anything you think I should add to the itinerary or any other comments let me know in the comments below.
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