Ahh Amsterdam…one of the most unique cities in Europe in terms of architecture and culture, and one of my favorite places to visit! It was the first city I visited on my very first trip to Europe more than 20 years ago, and probably the one I have visited the most. When I lived in Minneapolis, it was a hub for Northwest / Delta Airlines, so we stopped there all the time…and I did a lot of business with KLM Airlines back in the day! It’s just one of those cities that looks like you envisioned it to be…the shape and the width of the homes and buildings, the windmills, the flowers, the bikes…everywhere!
This itinerary is just 3 days, but it is jam-packed. You could easily stretch this in to 4 or 5 days if you’d like to go at a slower pace. And if you love art museums, definitely stay longer to see more. I’ve done Amsterdam with my kids when they were 14 and 17, which were good ages…I wouldn’t suggest taking kids under 10. The weather in Amsterdam doesn’t change too much throughout the year, so anytime of year is a good time to visit. A little cold in the winter, but the Christmas markets in December would be an extra bonus! Just be sure to pack layers and rain gear, because it can get pretty cool and damp there.
Before reading ahead, be sure to check out my post on 32 Tips for Traveling Overseas with Ease for tips on everything from currency to etiquette!
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DAY 1: ART MUSEUMS AND A CANAL TOUR
Assuming you’re flying in to Amsterdam, you’ll be coming in to Schiphol Airport (AMS). After collecting your bags, follow the signs to the train station, and before heading down the escalator, buy a ticket to Centraal Station at one of the kiosks on the main level. It’s super easy to do, and is a short ride right in to the city center…even with your bags in tow. I recommend staying at a hotel within walking distance of Centraal Station so that you can walk pretty much everywhere. Once you’ve walked a block or so away from the Station, turn around and take a picture…it’s one of the most beautiful train stations you’ll ever see! When I was in Amsterdam with the kids we stayed at the Kimpton DeWitt, and it was beautiful…full service amenities, bikes available for use, and great location. If you find yourself staying near the airport, I recommend the Steigenberger Airport Hotel. It was my go-to when I would travel for business…great restaurant, airport shuttle, well-appointed rooms. If you have an early flight out of Amsterdam, it’s a great place to stay to save time in the morning (warning…Schiphol is very busy in the mornings…always get there super early!).
Now for the itinerary…if you’re not a huge museum person or you have kids along that aren’t, I’ve laid this itinerary out so that there aren’t too many visits to museums / old buildings in one day. In my family, that can result in some bad moods…ha! While everyone is fresh, plan to start the day by spending some time at one of the art museums in Amsterdam. The two most popular (and the two that I’ve been to) are the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, and both are wonderful. The Rijksmuseum features all of the most famous Dutch Artists (Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Vermeer), whereas the Van Gogh Museum is centered around the life of Van Gogh, and mainly just his paintings (although a few others that he admired are on display as well). Be sure to buy tickets in advance (especially for the Van Gogh), and plan to spend at least 2-3 hours there. For this itinerary I’ve only included one museum, but if you’ve got more time I would add a day and visit both.
Depending on where you are staying, if the museums are a long walk, take a break along the way and get some stroopwafels at van Wonderen Stroopwafels. These light and tasty waffle cookies have a layer of caramel in between, and are best served warm (tip: you can place them over your cup of tea or coffee to warm up the caramel!). van Wonderen is a cute little cafe where you can choose fun toppings for your stroopwafel as well (we just had the plain ones shown below). You can also buy them packaged at the airport to take back as gifts for friends and family.
After some time at the museum of your choice and then finding some lunch along the way, on the afternoon of Day 1 I’d recommend taking a canal tour in one of the open or glass-topped boats. You can book them in advance through sites like Viator and Get Your Guide, and they are a ton of options to choose from (some include drinks, dinner, an evening cruise, etc.). If it’s your first time, I’d recommend doing one during the day so that you can fully appreciate the architecture of the buildings you’ll pass along the way. This is also a great way to see the house boats that line the canals, and learn about the history of the area.
For dinner, I have a few recommendations. They might be a long walk from your hotel, depending on where you are staying or where you find yourself at dinner time. There is a nice Tram system throughout the city of Amsterdam that you can use to get around as well. Here are some recommendations for moderately-priced dinner restaurants: Hearth for Italian with a cozy atmosphere, Namche for Indian (there’s a lot of good Indian food in Amsterdam), and Greenwoods Keizersgracht for European food in a beautiful outdoor setting.
DAY 2: COUNTRYSIDE TOUR, REMBRANDTPLEIN, FLOWER MARKET, AND THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE
If you’re interested in seeing a bit of the countryside, including windmills, I’d recommend one of these tours through Viator, that includes touring windmills, watching how wooden clogs are made, and a visiting a cheese farm (gouda anyone?!). They vary in length (the shortest is 3 hours, and a full day takes 6.5 hours), but cover the same locations…just less time at each spot to explore.
Assuming you’ve got some time left in your day when you return from your tour, I’d recommend walking through Rembrantplein (Rembrandt Square), which is the former gateway to the city, and now a great spot to walk around, admire the Rembrandt Statue and the beautiful gardens. Grab some of the famous Frietjes (fries) served in paper cones, and don’t forget the mayo!
After taking a break to enjoy your fries, walk South toward the Blumenmarkt Flower Market (typically open until 5:30PM) to walk through the rows of fresh flowers, bulbs, and seeds. You can’t take them back with you to the US, so be sure to take some amazing pictures or buy some to enjoy in your hotel room. Over 70% of fresh flowers, worldwide, come from The Netherlands!
Finally, book a tour in advance for the Heineken Experience. There are a few options for tours, but generally they are around 1-2 hours and include a couple of glasses of beer. It’s a pretty neat walk through the history of Heineken, how the beer is made, etc., plus they have a really nice gift shop where you can buy glasses and have them etched with your name on the spot! When we were there in 2019 our kids were able to join us (and there were some interactive displays and games they enjoyed), however in looking at the site now it appears no one under 18 is allowed anymore…
DAY 3: FOOD & HISTORY TOUR, AND ANNE FRANK HOUSE
For Day 3, I’d recommend doing a walking food tour…oh how I love a food tour! This is one of my favorite things to do on vacation. This 4-hour Grand Dutch Food & History Tour through Trip Advisor gets great reviews and looks like a ton of fun. It is offered several times throughout the day, so be sure to book in advance and plan it around your reservation at the Anne Frank House. You MUST book this in advance. I had been there years ago and just walked right in, however, when I was planning the trip with my kids in 2019, I found that the tickets were completely sold out in advance, so we weren’t able to go. Tickets go on sale six weeks in advance, every Tuesday at 10AM Central Europe Time. Set a reminder to book your tickets well in advance…it’s a really moving and worthwhile tour.
The Anne Frank House is in an area of Amsterdam called the Jordaan District, which is known for its beautiful homes, great restaurants, shops, and markets if you are there early in the day. Find somewhere for dinner in the area before walking back to your hotel.
Again, if you have extra time, you can do the longer countryside tour, take more time visiting the museums, go to the Red Light District, or if you are there in April or May, take a trip out to see the tulip fields. The most famous area to see the tulips is called Keukenhof Tulip Gardens, just 25 miles outside the Amsterdam City Center. There’s so much to do and see in Amsterdam, and in my opinion, should be on everyone’s European bucket list!