3-Day Amsterdam Itinerary

Amsterdam is a lively and captivating city that offers a unique blend of culture, history, and entertainment. Its bike-friendly streets allow you to easily explore the city without the need for public transport or cars. Its picturesque canals and charming water-side houses create an enchanting atmosphere and one that is perfect for Instagram photos.

The city is filled with world-class museums including the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, and historical places of importance like the Anne Frank House. During tulip season, Keukenhof Gardens showcase millions of blooming flowers, making it a must-visit during the spring. Amsterdam’s compact size makes everything accessible, and the friendly nature of the locals make it an inviting place city to spend some time in. Hop on a bike, wander the canals, and immerse yourself in its unique charm. Here’s an Amsterdam itinerary to help you plan.

3 days in Amsterdam

Best area(s) to stay

Jordaan

This charming 17th-century district of Amsterdam is a great place to base your city break.

Prices here are higher than in other areas, however it is filled with a range of excellent hotels that are attractively designed and offer immediate access to many charming cafes and restaurants.

Despite its upscale appearance and price tag, Jordan offers a slower-pace of life in the city.

There are many galleries, boutiques and attractive places ti eat along the canal.

De Pijp

Amsterdam’s Latin Quarter in the south of the city is a colourful, fun and youthful place to stay in.

The area has been a popular student destination for a long time, with some of the best, and cheapest bars, restaurants and cafes in the city.

As well as having a great day-time atmosphere, De Pijp is also a great place to stay if you want vibrant nightlife on your doorstep.

Getting Around Amsterdam

The best way to explore Amsterdam is by bicycle, either independently or on a cycling tour which is a great way to uncover hidden gems around the city.

The city is incredibly cyclist friendly with many cycle paths, limited traffic and plenty of opportunities to rent a bicycle by the hour or for a day or more at a time.

Another great way to get around the city is on its excellent public transport network.

The city’s pubic transport network includes busses, metros, trams, ferries and trains offering unrivalled access to the city, its suburbs and beyond.

By using an Amsterdam city card you will be able to save some money, as the cards allow you unlimited use across the network for set periods of time.

It’s also a good idea to buy an eSIM to stay connected and avoid high phone roaming charges.

Save time by booking your transfers online:

• Amsterdam: Airport Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center
• Amsterdam: Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Amsterdam

Classic Amsterdam Itinerary

Day 1

Rijksmuseum

One of the best museums in Amsterdam is Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands.

The museum is dedicated to arts and history from the country, and documents around 800 years of history through a range of artefacts.

Inside works of art from Dutch masters including Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt.

Explore at your own pace, or book onto a guided tour with a museum expert to learn more about the artists, the history and the museum itself.

Rijksmuseum is at Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam.

Van Gogh Museum

Dedicated to the life and works of Vincent van Gogh, the Van Gogh Museum is a must visit when in Amsterdam.

The museum documents the troubled artists life and displays some of his most famous masterpieces in their permanent collection.

View masterpieces such as Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, and the notable Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat.

Van Gogh Museum is at Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam. Prebook your entry tickets online to avoid the lines.

Day 2

Anne Frank House

Send a reflective afternoon visiting Anne Frank House, one of the most important historical monuments in Amsterdam.

The famous diarist lived in secret in a cramped annex in the house with her family during WWII.

The family, who were Jewish, were forced into hiding when the German army invaded the Netherlands.

Following her death at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, her father, the only person from the annex to survive the horrors of the war, published her now famous diary and set up their hiding place as a museum and monument to his family.

Anne Frank House can become extremely busy, so booking in advance is recommended.

Anne Frank House is at Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam.

Picnic in Vondelpark

Enjoy a relaxing picnic in Vondelpark, a public park spanning 47 acres.

The park is the perfect destination to escape the bustle of the city, and is often filled with locals jogging, walking and soaking up the tranquil atmosphere.

Inside the park there are statues and sculptures, including Fish by Pablo Picasso.

Vondelpark is at Amsterdam.

Buy Flowers from the Floating Flower Market

Amsterdam and the Netherlands are synonymous with colourful and fragrant flowers, with tulips filling the fields each spring.

Treat yourself to a bunch of colourful blooms from Amsterdam’s unique floating flower market.

There are many stalls selling wooden tulips that make the perfect take-home souvenir.

Other stalls sell fresh and fragrant flowers, and a wide variety of bulbs that can be taken home, however do check before purchasing as some items may be prohibited by importation laws in your country.

Bloemenmarkt is at Signal Canal Koningsplein.

Day 3

Explore the City on a Bicycle

Explore the city at a slower pace and take in some of its most famous sites by cycling around.

Amsterdam is incredibly bicycle friendly with many cycle paths and specially designed cycling routes enabling you to see more of the city.

If heading out on your own sounds daunting, there are also cycling tours available, where a dedicated guide will show you around, introducing you to both must-visit tourist attractions and local favourites.

Canal Cruise

Another great way to see the city is by booking onto a canal cruise.

Take in some of the city’s sights on a 1-hour boat tour along some of its many waterways and canals.

Canal cruises typically take in famous neighbourhoods such as Jordan and Nine Streets, and pass by famous destinations including Anne Frank House and the popular Skinny Bridge.

De Negen Straatjes

De Negen Straatjes, or Nine Streets in English, is a popular neighbourhood in Amsterdam and is one well-worth exploring whatever the time of day.

It is also one of the most photographable neighbourhoods thanks to its pretty buildings, canal bridges and plenty of flowers.

Here you will find quaint boutiques, desirable museums and a range of popular restaurants and cafes.

Foodie

Day 1

Cheese Museum

A visit to the Cheese Museum is a must for cheese-lovers when in Amsterdam.

This small museum documents the history of cheese making in the Netherlands and offers a variety of tastings throughout.

Round off your trip to the cheese museum at their shop where a wide variety of cheeses and accompaniments can be purchased.

Cheese Museum is at Prinsengracht 112, 1015 EA Amsterdam.

Cookies at Van Stapele Cookies

Indulge at viral Van Stapele Cookies and enjoy their unique product.

Van Stapele only sells one type of cookie; a dark chocolate cookie dough filled with white chocolate.

This warm and inviting cookie is crisp on the outside and gooey inside, with baking happening throughout the day, so you are always guaranteed a fresh cookie.

Be prepared to wait in line as queues begin long before the shop opens at 10am, but stay patient, the cookies are worth it!

Van Stapele Cookies is at Rokin 17, 1012 KK Amsterdam.

Day 2

Albert Cuypmarkt

One of the best food markets in Amsterdam is Albert Cuypmarkt.

The outdoor market is the largest in the Netherlands with 260 vendors selling a variety of produce, dishes and cookware.

Look out for stalls selling traditional and freshly made stroopwaffles, or try something a little different from one of the many world-food stalls.

Albert Cuypstraat is at 1073 BD Amsterdam.

Cocktails at The Butcher

The Butcher is a trendy burger bar in Amsterdam with a secret.

Tuck into a delicious burger with traditional Belgian fries and milkshake, before giving the secret password to your waiter and entering the speakeasy through a meat fridge.

Once inside, the speakeasy is warm and cosy with large leather sofas and a dimly lit atmosphere, and the cocktails and food are excellent.

The Butcher is at Albert Cuypstraat 129, 1072 CS Amsterdam.

Day 3

Brouwerij’t IJ Microbrewery

A must-visit for fans of small-batch beers, Brouwerij’t IJ Microbrewery is the perfect destination.

Book onto a tour of the brewery to learn more about the history of the brewery and how they make beer.

Following your tour, enjoy sampling some of their best beers in their tap rooms, before browsing the shop for some to take away.

Brouwerij’t IJ Microbrewery is at Funenkade 7, 1018 AL Amsterdam.

Lunch at De Hallen

De Hallen is a popular centre for arts, culture and fashion, however its excellent food hall Foodhallen, is what draws many through its doors.

Taking inspiration from food markets in other major European cities such as Copenhagen and London, Foodhallen offers a wide variety of cuisines available from its stalls, restaurants and bars.

Enjoy a meal at the trendy Kanarie Club on its terrace, or curl up with a good book at Belcampo Reading Cafe.

De Hallen is at Hannie Dankbaarpassage 47, 1053 RT Amsterdam.

Michelin-starred dinner at Ciel Bleu

Dine in style at Ciel Bleu, one of Amsterdam’s most popular Michelin-starred restaurants.

With incredible views over the city from its 23rd floor location at Hotel Okura, the restaurant serves up delicious and artfully presented European flavours.

Their Experience Menu, at €270 per person, includes a variety of fresh and delicious dishes including lobster with blood orange, Waygu with artichoke, and North-Holland Lamb with lemon.

Ciel Bleu is at Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH Amsterdam.

Active

Day 1

Walking tour of De Pijp in search of Graffiti

De Pijp is Amsterdam’s trendy heart, and is one filled with interesting and unique colourful murals and graffiti.

Whether you choose to explore the area yourself, or if you go with a knowledgeable guide, you will find some of the most incredible street art in the city.

Be sure to take your camera to capture some of the art, as it does change.

Brave heights at A’Dam Toren

For a truly unique thing to do in Amsterdam, brave the heights of A’Dam Toren, a 22 storey tower filled with offices, restaurants and cafes.

The lookout at the top however is what makes this building truly unique.

From its observation deck enjoy beautiful views across Amsterdam’s port and its historic centre.

Take your visit to the next level and enjoy Europe’s highest swing, that swings eager visitors out over the edge of the building at a height of 100m (328ft).

A’Dam Toren is at Overhoeksplein 1, 1031 KS Amsterdam.

Day 2

Swim outdoors in Flevopark

If you are visiting Amsterdam during the summer, or fancy a winters swim in warm waters, visit Flevopark’s outdoor swimming pool.

The pool’s waters are heated year round making swimming, whatever the weather, a pleasant experience.

The opal is Olympic sized and is perfect for those in training, with a smaller pool that is perfect for children.

Flevopark is at Insulindeweg 1002, 1095 DH Amsterdam.

Canoe at Amsterdamse Bos

Enjoy the beauty of Amsterdamse Bose from the water on a canoe.

This beautiful forest park has a large lake and waterway, with a special canoe route through the water marked by purple poles.

Canoes can be rented by the hour, or if you are looking for something a little different, try hiring a water bike.

Rent your canoe from Amsterdamse Bos Canoe Rental at Grote Speelweide 5, 1182 AD Amstelveen.

Experience the nightlife at some of the best clubs in the Netherlands

Amsterdam is well-known for its excellent nightlife and clubs, so if this is your ideal night out, why not visit some of the best clubs in the Netherlands.

Some clubs open only once or twice a week, with others dedicated to providing clubbers with 24-hour experiences.

Across the city you will find clubs catering to every need, from metal and rock to EDM and rave.

Some of Amsterdam’s most notable clubs are uniquely designed, including one set in a 1940s bunker, and another inside an old car repair shop.

Day 3

Klimbos Fun Forest

Head a little out of the city for an action-packed fun family day out at Klimbos Fun Forest.

At the forest there are many different activities in the heights of the trees, with 10 challenging routes to experience.

Enjoy challenging tree-climb routes, zip lines cutting through the trees, and even the opportunity to bungee jump.

Klimbos Fun Forest is at Bosbaanweg 3, 1182 DA Amstelveen.

Water Sports at the Beach

If you enjoy water sports or are looking to try them out, head to Zandvoort, one of the most popular beach resorts in the Netherlands, and only a short drive away from the centre of Amsterdam.

The 9 kilometre (5.59 mile) beach is the perfect place to relax on the sand, or to use as a base while you surf, wakeboard or kite surf.

There are regular activity classes held on the sands throughout the year, including summer surf camps and daily yoga classes on the sand.

Zandvoort Beach is at Boulevard de Favauge 13, Zandvoort.

To extend your stay

Take a boat trip to Vuurtoreneiland

Vuurtoreneiland is a beautiful and relaxing island only 1 hour away by boat from Amsterdam.

Translating to Lighthouse Island the island is home to little else, save for an excellent restaurant serving up a spectacular dining experience.

The restaurant changes its setting depending on the time of year, adding to the uniqueness of your dining experience.

Visit in summer to dine in a glasshouse surrounded by plants, and stay warm during winter as the setting moves underground into a bunker complete with roaring fire and cosy blankets.

The island itself is pleasant to walk around, and the views back across the water are magical.

Vuurtoreneiland is at Durgerdam.

Admire the windmills at Zaanse Schans

No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without admiring the windmills that the city and indeed country are famous for.

Take a trip outside of the city to admire the famous windmills of Zane Schans.

Zaanse Schans is filled with historical windmills that were relocated to an area designed to replicate an 18th century village.

Within the area you will see traditional wooden windmills that date back to the 18th century, and a range of traditionally designed buildings including workshops, mills and barns.

Zaanse Schans is at Zaandam, Amsterdam.

Admire the Tulip Fields

Synonymous with the Netherlands, tulips are found throughout the city during their blooming season.

Rather than admiring the flowers at markets, the floating flower market, or in people’s windows, head out to one of the many tulip fields surrounding the city to see them in their thousands.

The best time to see the tulip fields in their full glory is during spring, when the flowers are in full bloom.

Known as the Tulip Festival, the famous tulip fields of brightly coloured, neat rows of flowers attract thousands of tourists each year.

Tulip season is so popular that special transport is put on to take visitors from the city to the tulip farms.

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