Buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Rijksmuseum here! Another excellent option is the Van Gogh Museum. Book your Van Gogh Museum tickets here! For a post-museum lunch away from the crowds, check out Cafe Loetje for Dutch classics and excellent desserts. After lunch, pass along the Spiegelgracht on your way to Remembrantplein for some especially pretty canal houses.
Start just outside the main area at the famous Skinny Bridge Magere Brug. Once serving as a city gate, you can still see the chains that controlled the barrier. From here, walk a few blocks north to the Blauwbrug bridge for excellent Amstel canal views. Be sure to walk down Reguliersbreestraat for a nice view of the Munttoren clock tower at the end. This will bring you to Bloemenmarkt , where flower merchants on floating barges sell fresh tulips, bulbs, and other gardening supplies.
Start at the Staalmeestersbrug , the Instagram-famous love lock bridge of Amsterdam. After your photo op, head a few blocks north to Nieuwmarkt Square.
Here, the castle-like De Waag stands imposingly amongst the shops and restaurants. From here, go east for a walk along photogenic Buiten Bantammerstraat , which has nice views of the 15th century Montelbaanstoren Tower. Finally, wrap up your first day in Amsterdam exploring the Red Light District. Start your second day in Amsterdam with a stroll through Vondelpark.
Depending on how much time you have and how much you like parks , I recommend sticking to the eastern half of the area. As you exit the park, head up Vondelstraat for a beautiful view of Vondelkerk church. And for even more remarkable architecture, check out nearby Roemer Visscherstraat.
This street features Zevenlandenhuizen , a row of seven colorful houses built in different international architectural styles. For a mid-morning snack, head to De Hallen , a covered market known for its trendy cafes.
Located at the Museum Square Museumplein , it is dedicated to the Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to the present day. This museum is massive. As I grew weary of the crowds in other museums in Europe, I was pleasantly surprised that this famous museum was not cramped. I spent about 2 hours here, which was just the right amount for me.
Book Rijksmuseum Skip-the-Line Tickets here. De Pijp used to be a working-class area. But now many Amsterdamers claim it as their favorite neighborhood in the city. This neighborhood attracts young professionals, artists, students and families. But the highlights here are local snack foods:. Vishandel Molenaar : Get Dutch haring herring and fried fish platter. You can never have enough of Dutch haring in Amsterdam. The freshly baked stroopwafels ooze out sweet caramel syrup from the crispy wafers.
The Stroopwafels guy shared the Dutch tradition of how to eat stroopwafels at home. Put a stroopwafel on top of a hot coffee or tea for a minute, and the caramel inside melts. By the way, if you are ever going to buy stroopwafels for a souvenir, make sure to get them in a tin box. Unfortunately, my tin box got dinged inside the luggage but protected the stroopwafels from turning into crumbs.
I got poffertjes with Nutella. Great snack food. Take a tram from De Pijp to Vondelpark. Vondelpark is a sizeable public park near the Museumplein in Amsterdam.
The urban park was designed and built in the 19th century. It takes about one hour to walk the full loop. In the middle of the park, there is a teahouse if you prefer to enjoy nature from indoor, too. In summer, the open-air theater takes place to host a free concert, theater and dance performances.
Vondelpark is also family-friendly with multiple playgrounds for children. Open Google Map for Vondelpark Location. Head over to Amsterdam Oud-West for a relaxed meal at Foodhallen. Foodhallen is an indoor street food market and bars with music, where locals unwind after work and enjoy a happy hour. The food and beverage vendors here feature a variety of international flavors. Foodhallen used to be a tram depot before it was renovated into a refined food court. The original red brick walls and a trace of railway reminisce the original architecture.
The open space with high ceiling invites plenty of natural lighting. With a hint of nostalgia, its contemporary design creates the relaxed luxury vibes that are as inviting and chill as the city of Amsterdam.
We drank a serious amount of beers traveling through Europe over a month. Although European beers — especially Belgian Trappist beers — are all tasty, it was nice to switch to something else. Open Google Map for Foodhallen location. If you have a chance to eat breakfast outside of your hotel, try Dutch pancakes at Pancakes Amsterdam Centraal.
We had a Dutch pancake elsewhere in another city and liked it a lot. The red light district a. De Wallen is uniquely Amsterdam. As many of you may already know, prostitution is legal in this neighborhood of Amsterdam. UPDATE: Starting , Amsterdam will ban organized tours of the red-light district as a measure to prevent mass tourism and sex workers as a tourist attraction.
If you are intimidated to visit this alley in the evening but curious, join a walking tour while you still can. Sex workers here do not appreciate being photographed, and their privacy is protected. Our Lord in the Attic Church is a 17th-century canal house and a house church , which became a religious museum.
The house church was built in the attic of a private home, hence the intriguing name of Our Lord in the Attic church. I highly recommend visiting this church museum. Not only can you peek at the historic bourgeois house from the 17th century, but also explore an excellent example of a secret house church. Age enters for free. They are located right across from the Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Why are Amsterdam houses crooked? Amsterdam houses are built on unstable land on the water. The foundation gets moved over time, and the houses end up looking crooked. It gives Amsterdam some endearing characteristics. But if you have an OCD, it might drive you crazy. The typical Amsterdam homes have a narrow, tall facade but go deep on the side. Besides the narrow living space, a narrow facade makes it inconvenient to move furniture in and out through the doorway and up and down through spiral staircases.
The Dutch engineers have figured out that a metal hook holstered on the top of the building could help lift heavy, bulky furniture up to move through the windows. Noord is a family-friendly residential and industrial neighborhood preferred by locals who want to live away from the expensive, crowded area.
And the city wants to encourage people to sprawl out, so the ferry is free for everyone and runs quite often. Pro Tips : Make sure you are lining up at the right terminal. Ferries run back and forth between Central Station and the designated terminal in the Noord.
We decided to go directly to NDSM. The NDSM wharf looked a bit rougher and edgy with the industrial vibes. NDSM features colorful art displays outside and often hosts live music performances and outdoor cultural events. The food, beer and smoothies here were all excellent. The view also was amazing. This would be a perfect place to chill in the afternoon. IJ-Hallen hosts a monthly flea market in an industrial space. The second-hand market sells clothing, decorations, furniture, and home goods.
Check the event date here. This is a unique and quirky hotel. The giant crane was converted into an industrial-chic hotel. During the audio tour, you will get a fascinating history lesson about Amsterdam and the Netherlands, as you walk through the rooms of this year old house.
The tour ends with a visit to the spectacular church on the top floor. I loved this museum. This area, also called De Wallen, does have some very picturesque canals and canal houses, so this is another spot in Amsterdam that is a delight to stroll on foot. From here, make your way over to Dam Square. Dam Square is crowded and touristy, but it is the main square of Amsterdam, so I think it is still worth a very quick visit.
Just expect large crowds and beware of pickpockets. Two notable buildings sit on Dam Square. The Royal Palace is also located on Dam Square. It was built to be a town hall but was later converted to a palace for King Louis I. Just down the street from Dam Square is the Buerspassage. The walls, the ceiling, and the floors of this passageway are a piece of artwork titled Amsterdam Oersoep by artists Arno and Iris. For the rest of the day you are free to explore more of Amsterdam.
Rent bikes and explore the city, or consider making a quick trip to Haarlem for dinner and drinks. Even more thrilling are the swings. Yes, you can swing out over the edge of the tower.
Click here to learn more on the official website. Haarlem is just 15 minutes from Amsterdam by train. Haarlem is awesome. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers.
If you click the star, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. In April and May, Keukenhof is a wonderland of flowering daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. It is gorgeous and well worth the visit if you plan to be in Amsterdam during these two months.
With two days in Amsterdam, you have enough time to visit Keukenhof and the best of the city. On day 1, after your visit to the Van Gogh Museum, skip Vondelpark and the Bloemenmarkt and make the trip out to Keukenhof. It just may be one of your favorite experiences in Amsterdam.
In , the park is open from March 20 through May 9 from 8 am to pm. To get to Keukenhof , take the bus to Schiphol Airport. Bus stops at Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum and takes you to Schiphol Airport. From the airport, take bus , the Keukenhof Express, to Keukenhof. Since this includes your Keukenhof entrance ticket, you will not have to queue for tickets at Keukenhof.
Visit the Keukenhof website for more details. Here are tours to Keukenhof from Amsterdam. The Museumcard is a card that gives you free entrance into museums in the Netherlands. For Dutch residents only, the card is valid for one year. For tourists, it is valid for 31 days and can be purchased at a handful of museums. If you are only visiting Amsterdam in the Netherlands, there is minimal savings to buying the Museumcard, unless you plan on visiting museums that we did not include in this itinerary.
However, if you also have plans to visit Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam, or other cities in the Netherlands, this card may be worth the money. The Museumcard covers entrance to other popular museums in cities other than Amsterdam so this card may save you money.
If you plan on purchasing the Museumcard, you can buy it at your first museum, which is the Rijksmuseum on this Amsterdam itinerary. The I Amsterdam Card covers your entrance fees into most museums in Amsterdam, a free canal cruise, and unlimited transportation on public transportation but not to Schiphol Airport. On this itinerary, the I Amsterdam Card is overpriced for what you will do. One of the best ways to get around Amsterdam is on your own two feet. However, you can also take advantage of the trams and the metro to save some steps.
A GVB ticket covers unlimited transportation on buses, trams, and the metro during its period of validity. You can also purchase multi-day tickets , which are more economical and save you the hassle of visiting the ticket machines whenever you want to take the tram, bus, or metro.
Once you activate the ticket use it for the first time the period of validity begins. You can purchase the single and multi-day tickets at GVB service points, in metro stations and at tram stops. For this Amsterdam itinerary, we recommend purchasing the hour ticket. If you also need to use public transportation to get to your hotel when you arrive or depart Amsterdam, consider purchasing the hour ticket or simply purchasing additional single tickets as you need them. You can also get around Amsterdam by bicycle.
Hotels and small shops throughout the city rent bikes by the hour or by the day. MacBike is one of the top shops in Amsterdam that rents bicycles.
If you want to see the bulbs in bloom, visit Amsterdam in April and early May. The prime blooming season varies year to year, depending on the weather. However, the end of April is a fairly reliable time to visit if you want to see Keukenhof and Amsterdam carpeted in spring blooms.
April through June is one of the busiest times to visit Amsterdam, so expect larger crowds and larger prices during these months. The summer months can also be quite busy. October is a gorgeous time to visit Amsterdam, with fall colors and cool nights. During the winter months, the crowds fade away. The best area to stay is in Jordaan and along the canal ring.
This is our favorite area of Amsterdam and being on the canals at night is magical. Luxury: The Dylan. Modern, trendy, luxurious, this hotel is located on Keizersgracht, within walking distance of the Anne Frank House. This hotel is also home to Vinkeles, a Michelin-starred restaurant we recommend for dinner. This is where we stayed on our first visit to Amsterdam. Since our visit in , the hotel has been renovated and prices have gone up.
The family room is the penthouse of the hotel with a loft for the kids. Mid-Range: Crowne Plaza South. On our most recent visit to Amsterdam, we stayed here at the Crowne Plaza.
It took us 15 minutes by metro to get into town but we saved a lot of money by staying outside of the heart of Amsterdam. Budget: Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel. This hotel has an excellent location in Jordaan right on Prinsengracht canal. There are a wide range of room types, from single rooms to family suites. Some rooms offer a canal view. For more recommendations on where to stay, read our Best Hotels and Neighborhoods Guide for Amsterdam.
Get recommendations whether you are looking for a budget hotel, luxury hotel, or if you are traveling as a family. It puts a lot of what you will see in and around the Anne Frank House into perspective.
Are you planning a trip to Amsterdam and the Netherlands? Comment below if you have any questions about this Amsterdam itinerary or how to spend two days in Amsterdam. Read all of our articles about the Netherlands in our Netherlands Travel Guide. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Although you could sightsee in Amsterdam for a week, this longer stay demands a slower pace of travel. It also helps to rent an apartment outside popular areas near Dam Square, Vondelpark and the Museumplein, so you can focus on living like a local, as opposed to rushing through the city like a tourist.
With this being said, how many days in Amsterdam you spend on your next trip to Europe can help determine how much you enjoy the city. If, on the other hand, if you plan to explore The Netherlands more in-depth, condensing your trip to two or three days might motivate you to do more in less time.
Two days is enough for Amsterdam, assuming you have a limited itinerary and plan to work on executing it from dawn to dusk on both of your days in the city. Spend day two indoors: Either at legendary museums like Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House, or in a coffee shop…not drinking coffee.
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