Booked a trip to Amsterdam? Follow our ultimate 3 day Amsterdam itinerary to enjoy the best areas, attractions and eateries that this city has to offer.
Amsterdam isn’t huge, but if you’re overwhelmed – or just want the hard work done for you – then follow our itinerary. There’s so much to explore even beyond the city centre, and there’s loads of things to do in a 3 day trip.
My 3 day Amsterdam itinerary
Day 1
Take an Amsterdam walking tour
Kick things off in Amsterdam with a walking tour to get your bearings. There are loads of options here, if you prefer to be independent and go at your own pace, then google ‘Amsterdam’ and ‘free walking tour’ – and just do your thang!
If you like a bit more structure, or local insights, then book onto a guided tour. You could choose a ‘free’ tour where you tip at the end, or pay for one – some even have specific themes.
A walking tour is my favourite thing to do when I first arrive in a city because then for the rest of my trip I feel like I know my way around!
Have a coffee or sample a local beer
Once the tour is done, reward yourself with a pit stop – maybe a coffee from Bocca Coffee or a local beer from Brouwerij ‘t IJ – a tap room next beside De Gooyer – an actual windmill. Pretty cool huh?!
Then, it’s a good time to visit a museum if that’s on your list. Try the Van Gogh Museum to learn more about this famous artist and admire his works, or Anne Frank’s House which is a moving reminder of what happened here during WWII. Just make sure you book in advance as these spots are very much in demand.
Wander the 9 streets and Jordaan
Spend the afternoon wandering through one of Amsterdam’s districts like Jordaan, or specifically the 9 streets area. There’s lots to see here – snazzy boutiques, cool vintage stores, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Stroll the cobbled streets alongside the canals and settle into a spot of people-watching.
Take a canal cruise
Finish up your first day with a canal boat ride. There are loads of different types, from dinner cruises to party boats. James and I loved our unlimited booze cruise – and before you come for us, these generally cost just 10€ or so more than a cruise without drinks included, so you only need to have a couple of drinks to break even!
Many boat tours typically depart from near the Red Light district, which mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a good opportunity for a stroll if you are curious. Remember to be respectful and that photos aren’t allowed.
Day 2
Cycle to see the windmills
Begin your second day here in true Dutch style – jump on a bike and get out to see the city’s iconic windmills.
Cycling in Amsterdam isn’t just a means of transport – it’s a lifestyle! It’s SO nice to cycle in a city that’s designed for bikes, and a great way to breeze past all those canals, houseboats and classy canalside houses. Just have your wits about you – cyclists here are well seasoned!
Use Donkey Bike if you just need a bike for a few hours, or a company like Black Bikes. Another option is to hire a bike at one of the train stations, lots of them will hire you a bike for the whole day for less than 5€!
See some more of the landscape and get those Instagrammable shots by going to Zaanse Schans. This spot is out in the countryside and full of historic windmills, wooden houses and traditional crafts that still continue today.
If you don’t fancy a long cycle, then hop on the train from Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Shans (it takes less than 20 minutes and costs €3.90) and then hire a bike from Enjoy Bikes by the station. You can easily spend an afternoon here without spending a cent, soaking up the views, taking photos of the windmills and browsing the shops.
You can actually take a look inside some of the windmills in Zaans Shans – some still operate today and accept visitors. You’ll generally need to pay a fee to do this – and you might need to book ahead too. It’s an intriguing insight into traditional industries here – the mills process everything from wood and pepper to paper and paint. You feel like you’re stepping back in time and it’s nice to see this really authentic part of the city.
For all the info, head to the Zaanse Schans website, where they have a list of all the windmills. Here you can find their opening times and how much it costs to go in, as well as a link to their own websites. Make sure to check out the websites of the ones you’re interested in, as they’ll have the full info such as whether you’ll need to arrange your visit in advance or if you can just drop in. If you want to visit a few different spots, or maybe do a tour, then check out a site like Get Your Guide.
Hang out in De Pijp
Back in Amsterdam, you can make your way to De Pijp. This is a super cute and creative part of town with loads of delicious global food spots. Refuel with some snacks and soak up some local atmosphere by visiting Albert Cuyp Market, a giant street market which runs Mon-Sat from 9.30am till 5pm. It sells everything from Dutch stroopwafels and herring Surinamese roti and Vietnamese bánh mì. You can also get your groceries here, and they sell clothing and other items too.
If you’re in the mood for more culture, you could check out the Rijksmuseum which is nearby – it’s a famous museum dedicated to Dutch art and history which has lots of masterpieces by artists like Vermeer and Rembrandt.
There’s also the Heineken Experience, if you want to really embrace the tourist trail – just know it’s more a museum dedicated to Heineken than a brewery tour. If you want more of an authentic brewery experience, then try monastery-turned-taproom Brewery Troost.
If you’re all tuckered out, then just settle back and soak it all in at a pavement cafe like Het Paardje or Café Binnen Buiten.
Get Surinamese or Indonesian for dinner
Try delicious flavours for your dinner by dining at a Surinamese or Indonesian restaurant. You can find a good number of spots serving up these tasty cuisines here, as these countries were once Dutch colonies.
Warung Spang Makandra and its sister spot, Warung Mini, are popular local haunts serving up Javanese and Surinamese dishes – and they cater to vegetarians and vegans too. Try a nasi rames – a typical rice-based dish – and sample their fried cassava with peanut sauce too. There’s also New Fusion, a Surinamese-Chinese spot for delicious curries, tasty roti and roasted meats.
Another thing to try is a rice table (rijsttafel), a typical meal that’s made up of lots of small dishes like chicken, beef and beans – served with rice. Desa, from €28pp, is also a good option in De Pijp.
Day 3
Visit Vondelpark
On your last day, cycle over to Vondelpark for a final hit of chilled ‘dam vibes. It’s a great spot to relax, grab a morning coffee and just watch the locals enjoying the green space.
Have lunch at De Hallen
Next, pop over to De Hallen, a converted tram depot in Oud-West that’s one of my favourite Amsterdam spots. This is just one of the city’s hip hangouts that blends shops and eateries with cultural spots like gallery spaces and artist workshops. Get your lunch from the food hall and do some window shopping – perhaps even getting some original souvenirs to take back home.
Head to Haarlem
Spend your afternoon doing a trip to Haarlem, a super charming town where you can even stay if you want to avoid the chaos – and hotel prices – of Amsterdam centre. James and I loved visiting here, as it’s a city in its own right, but it’s much more chill!
You just need to get a train here from Centraal station, it takes about 10 minutes and is only 5.20€. There’s a lovely main square – Grote Markt – with an impressive cathedral and lots of spots for sipping a drink.
We loved Jopenkerk – a converted church which now houses a brewery. Other places to visit are Teylers Museum – a kind of tiny Natural History museum that’s said to be the oldest museum in the country – and the Hofjes – a kind of social housing for poor and unmarried women back in the day, that have cute little courtyards and are free to poke your nose into.
You can also visit De Adriaan – an iconic windmill which is a famous landmark in Haarlem. The original sadly burnt down but you can do tours of the restored version.
Something we didn’t get to, but got loads of recommendations for, was Corrie ten Boom House, where a family sheltered Jews and Dutch radicals during WWII. Anne Frank House can be very busy and hard to book, so this is a good alternative spot to absorb some of that same history.
So there you go! A delightful few days in dreamy Amsterdam and its surroundings. Whether you came for the culture and canals or the tolerant and laid back vibes, you’ll probably feel like you want to come back before you even leave!
My biggest tip is to get out beyond the city centre to places like Zaanse Shans and Haarlem as there’s so much charm and beauty everywhere. As much as being in the middle of the action is great, there’s plenty to capture your heart beyond the canal ring too!
