Planning to visit Amsterdam? This article provides a complete three-day itinerary for Amsterdam. The itinerary includes all the major tourist destinations and food suggestions for each borough and is perfect for a first-time visitor.
This article contains a complete itinerary for a three-day trip to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It includes what I learned when I visited Amsterdam, a few travel tips, food suggestions, and what I wish I had known or would have done differently. It'll also help you understand the different areas of the city.
Interested in the itinerary but don't have enough time to read the entire post? I've included an itinerary infographic at the bottom, where I've laid out my ideal trip. Just scroll down!
Also, be sure to check out my other Amsterdam blog posts. Specifically, read "About Amsterdam: History & Landscape" if you're interested in the Netherlands's culture, history, and climate and its capital city, Amsterdam. Before you visit, I highly recommend learning more about the city, its districts, and its neighborhoods.
Check out the article "My 6 Days in Amsterdam" if you're interested in how I spent my time in the city.
Day 1:
Arrival, Centrum, and Jordaan
Arriving at the Airport
If you're arriving via airplane at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol airport, you'll arrive southwest of the city. You have three options for getting to the city: train, Metro, bus, or car. To take the NS train or the Metro, head downstairs at the airport. If you're looking to take a taxi or Uber, you'll need to go outside. Taxis are available at the Schiphol Plaza; look for the "Officiële taxistandplaats" signs. Alternatively, Ubers are available across from Exit B on the arrivals level of the airport; look for the yellow ''App Pick-up Point" and "Uber X vervoer" signs.
Centrum
There are many places to visit in the central part of Amsterdam, called Centrum. If you like to explore, it's reasonable to see most of the main attractions in one day. It's also practical to walk to each destination. Alternatively, since Amsterdam is very bicycle friendly, you could rent a bike to get around the area faster.
There's no right or wrong order to visit the sites, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, if you want to see the Anne Frank House and Museum, you will need to buy a ticket in advance; in the summertime, tickets sell out months in advance. If you plan to visit the Anne Frank House and Museum, you should plan the day around your scheduled time. Second, you'll need to keep the closing times of stores in mind.
In the sections below, I'll cover the main things you should know about each destination.
Dam Square
The Dam is one of the most well-known areas in the city, and there's plenty to see and do in the area.
The west end of the square is home to the Amsterdam Royal Palace, King Willem-Alexander's official reception palace. Generally, the Palace is open daily except for Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the last admission is at 4:30); however, the Palace is closed on some holidays and for certain royal events. You can purchase tickets at the Palace or on the official website.
Adult tickets are €12.50, student tickets are €9, and visits are free for minors or those with an ICOM Card. The tour takes between 1.5-2 hours to complete. Tours are generally self-guided unless you purchase a group ticket for groups of 10 or more; the self-guided audio tour takes about an hour. The tour focuses on the first floor of the Palace, where you can see the Citizen's Hall, artwork, and other various rooms.
The Dam is also home to the National Monument and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). If you're in the mood for shopping, the De Bijenkorf (a high-end retailer) flagship store is also located here.
Oude Kerk
Even if you're not into history and seeing churches, you might enjoy seeing the oldest building in Amsterdam. The Oude Kerk was founded around 1213 and consecrated in 1306. The museum concentrates on heritage and contemporary art. Tour guides are also available, which can educate you on the church's history, architecture, or contemporary art archive.
The church is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 1 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays; however, the church is closed on certain days. You'll need a ticket for entry, which costs €12 for adults, with discounts available for students and free access for those with select cards (such as the I amsterdam City Card).
Anne Frank House and Museum
The actual Anne Frank House, the house where Anne Frank and her family lived while in hiding, is located next to the museum. For free, you can see the green façade from the eastern side of Prinsengracht. However, you must purchase a ticket well in advance to enter the house.
The museum is open daily, except for certain holidays, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can purchase tickets on the official website. Adult tickets are €14, but there are discounts for minors and those with Museumkaarts and ICOM Cards. You can buy a museum ticket or a museum + introductory program ticket; the former comes with a 30-minute education session about the history of Anne Frank in the context of the Second World War and persecution of the Jews. Museum tickets are available in fifteen-minute increments, but the museum usually takes 60-80 minutes to complete. In addition, you'll see Anne's room, her original diary, and a reflections exhibition at the museum.
Negen Straatjes
The 9 Straatjes, or 9 Streets, is an area full of quirky shops and eateries between Centrum and Jordaan in the canal belt. Be sure to visit the official website for a list of shops and eateries, as each store and restaurant has its own open and closing times. The area has vintage shops, boutiques, health and beauty, home and lifestyle, art, books, and more. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars, ranging from coffee shops and sandwiches to upscale dining. Additionally, there are also a handful of excellent hotels in the area.
Red Light District
While you can visit the Red Light District, or De Wallen, at any time of day, the area comes alive at nighttime. The area is unique and interesting, even if you're not into boozing, smoking, and erotic scenes. De Wallen is often referred to as the Red Light District due to the red lights illuminating the 300+ one-room cabins rented out by prostitutes offering sexual services. However, particular cabins contain different colored lights, such as blue lights, that transgender women often use. While men are generally not found in the Red Light District, there has been an increased effort to promote equality in this area.
Bloemenmarkt
Founded in 1862, Bloemenmarkt is the world's only floating flower market. It is located on the Single canal. The market has over 15 souvenir and gift shops, with some selling fresh flowers, bulbs, and plants. The market is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Centrum Food Suggestions
De Koffieschenkerij (a real coffee shop)
Dutch Pancake Masters
La Zoccola del Pacioccone (pizza)
MR PORTER
Restaurant Klein BREDA
Zuivere Koffie
Restaurant Jansz.
Door 74 (cocktail bar)
Patisserie Kuyt (bakery)
Jordaan
One local told me she loved the Jordaan neighborhood the most in Amsterdam because it looks and feels more like a village. The narrow canals of Jordaan are filled with indie boutiques, hip shops, and eateries. It's worth walking around the area if you have the extra time.
Cheese Museum
The Amsterdam Cheese Museum is located next door to the Tulip Museum along the western side of Prinsengracht. The museum is free and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the top floor, a large variety of cheeses is available for purchase and sampling. The cheese for purchase is vacuum sealed, so you can easily take it home. The basement contains a small "museum" where visitors can learn a little about Dutch cheese and take photos.
Tulip Museum
Located next door to the Cheese Museum along Prinsengracht, the Amsterdam Tulip Museum has many tulip bulbs for purchase and a small museum where visitors can discover the story of the Netherlands' most famous flower. Currently, the museum is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. While it's free to visit the tulip shop and purchase bulbs, you'll need an admission ticket to go through the museum. Standard admission costs €5, but there are discounts for students and families with three or more. Alternatively, the museum also accepts the I Amsterdam City Card. The museum has six rooms and takes approximately 25 minutes to complete.
Houseboat Museum
As you walk along the Prinsengracht canal, you'll notice plenty of houseboats. You can visit the Houseboat Museum if you're wondering what it's like to live on a houseboat. A ticket lets you step into an actual houseboat and experience this type of living space. The Houseboat Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. An adult ticket costs €4.50, with discounts or free entry for minors; additionally, entrance is free for those with an I amsterdam City Card, an Amsterdam Pass, or a Go City Pass.
Jordaan Food Suggestions
Domenica
Drupa Coffee Roasters
Luuk's Coffee
Day 2:
De Pijp and Zaanse Schans
On day two, plan to spend half a day in De Pijp and half a day at Zaanse Schans. At the minimum, you'll want to reserve 2-4 hours for each destination.
De Pijp
De Pijp, pronounced "the pipe," was built in the early 19th century to accommodate a rapidly-expanding population. Still today, the neighborhood has a diverse population. As a result, de Pijp has many excellent and diverse restaurant options. In addition, the area is known for its superb brunch spots and is also home to the famous Albert Cuyp Market.
You can plan to start your day here with brunch or end the day with dinner, or both! But save room to try traditional Dutch food at the Albert Cuyp Market.
Albert Cuyp Market
The Albert Cuyp Market is the Netherlands' largest, most popular, and most beautiful street market. It's been around since 1905 and claims to be the largest street market in Europe. The market is located on the north side of De Pijp on Albert Cuypstraat.
You'll find over 260 market stalls at the market, selling everything from souvenirs, clothes, cosmetics, spices, fruit, cheese, and more. You'll even find food stalls, with some selling classic Dutch food such as stroopwafels (a thin waffle with sweet filling), poffertjes (mini pancakes), croquettes (a type of dumpling), kibbling (fried fish), and raw herring.
The market is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. I'd also recommend bringing cash, but all the vendors I went to accepted credit cards.
Sarphati Park
Take a post-meal stroll through Sarphati Park, an urban park near the center of De Pijp. The park is named after Samuel Sarphati, a Jewish doctor and philanthropist. The park is small, but it's well-maintained and easily walkable.
There are also a few great coffee shops (real coffee) near the park if you need a pick-me-up: Scandinavian Embassy and Coffee & Coconuts.
Heineken Experience
Located on the north side of De Pijp along the water, you'll find the Heineken Experience. You can purchase tickets in advance or at the entrance for €21. The ticket includes a tour of the first Heineken brewery, a view of the original brew room, and two chilled beers at the end. On the website, Heineken offers other tours, such as a live music tour, a VIP tour, and a canal cruise tour. All visitors must be 18+.
Currently, the Heineken Experience is open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
De Pijp Food Suggestions
Pizzeria Dope
Restaurant Zaza's
Coffee & Coconuts
Omelegg (great for breakfast)
Little Collins
Serre
Ciel Bleu
Yamazato
Zaanse Schans
Located about 15 km north of Amsterdam, you'll find the beautiful windmill village of Zaanse Schans. To get the best experience, you should visit Zaanse Schans on a decently windy day. Otherwise, the windmills may not be in operation, and you won't be able to tour them fully (the upstairs closes on some). Thus, it's wise to plan your trip around the weather. On average, it takes people 2-4 hours to visit Zaanse Schans, but you may need longer if you plan to visit every windmill, the museums, and the clog workshop.
As for tickets, you have three options. First, on the Zaanse Schans website, you can buy a Zaanse Schans card for €23.50, allowing you to visit several museums at Zaanse Schans. Second, you can pay for a ticket at the entrance of each destination. For adults, windmill entrance is €5, and the Zaans Museum is €12.50. Third, you can visit the Zaansche Molen website to purchase windmill tickets in advance. On average, it takes people 2-4 hours to visit Zaanse Schans, but you may need longer if you plan to visit every windmill, the museums, and the clog workshop.
Zaanse Schans Tip: Be careful about pickpockets. When I went, there were pickpocket warnings at every windmill.
Visit the Windmills
During the 1600s, there were over 600 windmills in the Zaanse Schans area. Today, there are 12 windmills, two of which are mini-mills:
De Bonte Hen: an oil mill
Het Klaverblad: a wood saw mil and the only real hallow post mill
De Os: an oil mill
Het Jonge Schaap: a wood saw mill
De Zoeker: an oil mill that also milled paint and cocoa previously
De Kat: a paint mill
De Gekroonde Poelenburg: a wood saw mill
De Huisman: on top a spice warehouse, Indië’s Welvaren
De Bleeke Dood: the oldest smock mill in the Netherlands
De Ooievaar: an oil mill
Mini-mills De Hadel and De Windhond
Be sure to visit the Zaanse Schans website to see what windmills are open. Some mills are open only during high season (April to September), and some mills aren't currently open to the public at all.
Gecroonde Duyvekater Bakery Museum
The Bakery Museum is located in a house dating back to 1658, though it was relocated to Zaanse Schans in the 1970s. The name of the Bakery Museum comes from a well-known Zaans sweet bread called Duivekater, which you can taste along with other traditional Dutch baked products and confectionaries.
It's open during both high and low seasons from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Cheese Farm De Catharinahoeve
De Catharinahoeve is both a cheese farm and a museum. You can learn about cheese making, visit the animals, sample cheese, and buy cheese and gifts in the shop. The farm offers cow, goat, and sheep cheese in various flavors and maturity.
The entrance is free. The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in both the high and low seasons.
Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop
See how wooden clogs are made at the Clog Workshop. The shop has painted clogs, carved clogs, ice clogs, and horse clogs. The shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Zaans Museum
The Zaans Museum opened in 1998 to protect the heritage of the Zaan area. At the museum, you can view art from the area, Claude Monet paintings, experience the Verkade Experience (chocolate and biscuit making), see weaving and barrel-making, and more.
You can book tickets online. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Day 3:
Zuid, Museumkwartier, Oud-West
Zuid
Formed in 2010 from the boroughs of Oud-Zuid and Zuideramstel, the borough of Zuid has some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Amsterdam. It's home to Vondelpark, Amsterdam's largest park, and the Museumkwartier. Compared to other areas, such as Centrum and De Pijp, many areas of Zuid are residential and relatively quiet.
Plan to spend at least half a day here, especially if you visit some museums.
Vondelpark
Opened in 1865, Vondelpark is 120 acres and has over 10 million visitors annually. The beautiful park has an open-air theatre, restaurants (De Vondelltuin, Vondeling, Proeflokaal 't Blauwe Theehuis, Groot Melkhuis), and three famous status (one of which is by Pablo Picasso).
Explore Willemspark
Willemspark is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Amsterdam. It's worth a short tour to get a vibe of the area and check out the impressive houses. There are also some lovely restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.
Museumkwartier
Located just south of Vondelpark in Zuid, you'll find the Museumkwartier. Here, you can visit the most famous museums in Amsterdam. The area is a must-visit for art lovers or those interested in Dutch culture and history. You can also see diamonds at the Diamant Museum and experience one of the best concert orchestral venues on the planet (Concertgebouw).
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum, one of Amsterdam's grandest museums, has over 800 years of art history with pieces from Rembrandt and Vermeer. The gallery is famously home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch painting. The museum also has a rich cultural history of the Netherlands, with thousands of historical objects through the ages.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. To ensure you'll be able to visit, especially during high season, you can buy tickets online for €20 (note that minors are free).
Van Gogh Museum
At the Van Gogh Museum, you can experience the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. You can learn about his art and life, see his artwork, and read his letters. Tickets sell out quickly, so it is advised to purchase tickets online in advance.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and costs €20 (minors are free).
Moco Museum
The Moco Museum is an independent museum with locations in Amsterdam and Barcelona. It exhibits modern, contemporary, and street art. Artists of the museum include Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets are €19.95 or less, depending on age and the discount applied at booking.
Stedelijk Museum
The Stedelijk is home to contemporary and modern art. It features artists like Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, and more.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult tickets are €20, but free tickets are available for minors and those with select passes (such as the I amsterdam City Card).
Diamant Museum
If you're interested in diamonds and jewelry, you will enjoy the Diamant Museum. Founded in 2007 by Ben Meier of Coster Diamonds, the museum hosts a collection of diamond jewelry, teaches visitors about diamonds, and has a permanent crown collection from crowns worldwide.
The Diamond Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult tickets are €11, with discounts for students, minors, and those with select cards.
Concertgebouw
The Royal Concertgebouw is one of the finest concert halls in the world. The hall is beautiful from the inside and the outside. Depending on your visit, you might be able to catch a real, live concert.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. The hall is open Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday during the high season (June, July, and August). Ticket prices vary by event; see the concert calendar for pricing.
Zuid Food Suggestions
Moods Coffee & Brunch
Taiko Asian Restaurant
TOZI Restaurant & Bar
The Seafood Bar
Dignita Vondelpark (great brunch)
The Harbour Club (ok food but a good view)
Oud-West
Oud-West claims to be an up-and-coming neighborhood in Amsterdam. When I visited in the summer of 2022, a large part of the neighborhood was under construction. Many new shops and restaurants have recently opened in the area, including the popular De Hallen and Foodhallen.
De Hallen
Located in a former train depot, De Hallen is now home to an arthouse cinema complex, a boutique hotel, and independent creative outlets.
Foodhallen
This indoor food market inside De Hallen has a wide variety of cuisines from all over the world, but also has some Dutch favorites. Currently, Foodhallen has 21 stands.
Foodhallen is open 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., but food stops by 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (some stalls close earlier if they're not busy).
Spending more than 3 days in Amsterdam?
If you're staying more than 3 days in Amsterdam, I would personally check out Rivierenbuurt.
The New Pragmatism architecture is prominent throughout the neighborhood, and the area is pretty quiet. If you're in the mood for a sweet while in Rivierenbuurt, check out Patisserie Tout. On the weekends, you'll see a lot of families out and about, especially along the river Amstel and at Amstelpark. While Voldenpark is more extensive and elegant (think Central Park in NYC), Amstelpark is more family-oriented (think more Maggie Daley Park in Chicago). The neighborhood is also home to the Anne Frank Statue near the Merwedeplein area, where Anne and her family lived before going into hiding.
If you haven't visited Amsterdam, I hope this guide inspires you to consider a few days in the city. Be sure to save my free guide (below)!
If you visit Amsterdam after seeing my guide, leave a comment or shoot me a message to let me know how your trip was and if you found the guide helpful. Or if you just want to chat about your trip!
Groeten,
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