Home » Destinations » Europe » Netherlands » Amsterdam » Amsterdam Itinerary: 3 Days
- Last Updated on November 3, 2024
Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, and for good reason. Its beautiful streets and canals were built during the city’s heyday in the 1600s, and haven’t changed much since. Walking around town can feel like strolling in a Rembrandt painting. It’s unique culture is created by a distinctive mix of traditional history and modern progressive attitudes. Whether you take in the excellent museums, enjoy the traditional cuisine, or hit up the Red Light District, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your stay here. While Amsterdam could easily keep you busy for a week, this itinerary will help you get the most out of 3 days in the city. Do the activities in the order listed to optimize your time.
Table Of Contents - Amsterdam Itinerary
STAR RATING KEY:
★★★ Top priority
★★ Highly recommended
★ Worthwhile
No Star – Skippable if not interested
Amsterdam Itinerary
Day 1
Walk Around Jordaan
This is the most residential neighborhood in touristy Amsterdam. In this quiet area, you’ll walk by beautiful canals, gabled townhomes, and bicycles galore. To get there from Dam Square, simply walk to the Ann Frank house and wander around the surrounding streets from there. Give yourself at least an hour to aimlessly stroll, stop for some fries, and maybe even go on a bike ride. Make sure you get off the beaten path to the quiet back streets.
Anne Frank House
This is the house where Anne Frank and her family hid for more than two years during WWII, and where she wrote her famous diary. It is perhaps the most important historic sight in Amsterdam. It is imperative that you reserve tickets in advance using the website below. Every first Tuesday of the month, all tickets for the following month become available. Try to reserve them the day they become available to ensure you get your chosen time. If they don’t appear that day, check every subsequent day until they become available.
Cost and Hours: €14 per adult, open 9:00am-10:00pm. Reservation required.
Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam
Website: www.annefrank.org/en/
Canal Boat Tour
One of the best and most popular ways to see the city is by canal boat. There are many options when picking a tour, and probably most major companies are equally good. We decided to take the Flagship boat tour, because it is conveniently located, and they serve drinks on board.
Amstelkring Museum (aka Our Lord in the Attic Museum)
This interesting museum houses a hidden 17th-century Catholic church. While Amsterdam has long been a stronghold for tolerance, Dutch politics during the early Renaissance was strictly anti-Catholic. During this period, Catholics were forced to worship in secret. Step inside the museum to see how the attics of three merchants’ houses were transformed into a surprisingly traditional church.
Cost and Hours: €15.50 per adult. Open Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 1pm–6pm.
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38, 1012 GD Amsterdam
Website: www.opsolder.nl/en
Red Light District Stroll
The Red Light District is the most famous/infamous neighborhood in Amsterdam. This is the area where prostitution is legal, and services are advertised by prostitutes in full-length windows with a red light on top. While this area used to be gritty and full of red light windows in every direction, it has been cleaned up over the past 10 years, and is now a pleasant place for nearly all visitors to walk around. Some say it is actually the cutest neighborhood in Amsterdam.
Walk all around this area, up and down narrow lanes, and along the canals. Make sure to walk around the old church (Oude Kerk) and up the entire Oudezijds Achterburgwal street (along the canal). There are various Red Light District walking tours, but due to local regulations, they are not allowed to walk by the red windows. Because of this, we recommend wandering around on your own here.
If you’re looking for marijuana, it is allowed in coffee shops here – most famously the Bulldog. Of note, coffee shops cannot advertise marijuana – you have to ask for the cannabis menu.
Be advised, while the area has been cleaned up dramatically, the Red Light District is still not a place to bring young kids.
Day 2
Amsterdam City Walk
The most important thing to do in any Amsterdam itinerary is walk around this beautiful city of narrow streets and canals. You can easily create your own walking tour of the city by just wandering around – just make sure to include Dam Square and the canal belt. If you want to learn more about the city, consider a guided walking tour, such as one by New Europe Tours. They have a bunch of options you can check out. Of note, even if you take a guided tour, make sure to spend some time roaming around yourself.
Rembrandt House
Rembrandt lived in this house in the 1600s, once he became a famous and popular artist. He had a studio upstairs, where you can see the spot where he created several masterpieces. This is a 
for fans of his work.
Cost and Hours: €15 per adult. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm (open Monday 10:00am-6:00pm July 18th-August 22nd).
Address: Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam
Website: www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/
Amsterdam Museum
This museum tells the story of Amsterdam, from fishing village to modern day. The collection’s layout is unique, recounting the city’s history mostly through works of art. Because of this, you must make use of the audio guide if you want to get anything out of your visit.
Cost and Hours: €18 per adult. Open daily 10:00am-5:00pm.
Address: Amstel 51, 1018 DR Amsterdam
Website: www.amsterdammuseum.nl/en
Day 3
Van Gogh Museum
This museum houses an impressive collection of Van Gogh’s paintings, as well as a section on various artists that influenced him, including Monet, Cezanne, and Pissaro. It is well worth a visit for fans of impressionism. You must buy a ticket in advance.
Cost and Hours: €19 per adult. Open daily 9:00am-6:00pm. Reservations required.
Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Website: www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en
Rijksmuseum
This large museum houses the greatest collection of art in the Netherlands. Especially notable is its sizable collection of great Dutch painters, including Rembrandt and Vermeer. You should book your tickets in advance.
Cost and Hours: €20 per adult. Open daily 9:00am-5:00pm. Reservations required.
Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam
Website: www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/
Heineken Experience
The building where Heineken was first brewed has now been converted into the Heineken Experience. Here you will discover how beer is made, learn the history of Heineken’s founders, see advertising from the good old days, and finish up with 2 free beers in their fun bar. The basic tour is all we recommend.
Cost and Hours: €21 per person. Open daily 10:30am-9:00pm.
Address: Stadhouderskade 78, 1072AE, Amsterdam
Website: www.heinekenexperience.com/en
Vondelpark
This is the central park of Amsterdam. This huge park is a great place to stroll around and relax after a busy day of sightseeing.
Address: Vondelpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Practical Info
Getting Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is easy to navigate on foot. For sights that are a bit further from the center, use the trams. Avoid bringing a car here.
Where To Eat In Amsterdam
There are three important foods to eat in Amsterdam, and we have included our favorite places for each, as well as a cute place to get a quick bite.
Traditional Pancakes
Dutch Pancake Masters
This diner has the best quality and selection of pancakes in Amsterdam. Service is quick and there is usually availability for walk-ins.
Hours: Open daily 9:00am-10:00pm.
Telephone: +31 20 777 0711
Address: Damrak 44, 1012 LK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website: www.dutchpancakemasters.com
Indonesian Food (famous in Amsterdam since colonial times, a 3-star experience)
Aneka Rasa Restaurant
This quiet restaurant is located in an otherwise subpar spot in the Red Light District – don’t be discouraged as you walk up to it. Owned and operated by an Indonesian couple, Christina and Jerry, this is the perfect spot to have the famous Rijsttafel (like a smorgasbord for Amsterdam Indonesian food). Make reservations or arrive early.
Hours: Open daily 5:00pm-10:00pm.
Telephone: +31 20 626 1560
Address: Warmoesstraat 27, 1012 HV Amsterdam
Website: www.anekarasa.nl
Traditional Fries (also famous in Belgium)
Heertje Friet
This is a great spot to chow down on various traditional Dutch snacks, including classic fries with homemade specialty mayonnaise, bitterballen, croquettes, and frikandel. Eat inside on one of the stools, or order it to go and munch while you walk around the canals.
Hours: Open daily 12:00pm-8:00pm.
Telephone: +31 64 826 1179
Address: Herengracht 169, 1015 BJ Amsterdam
Website: www.heertjefriet.nl/en
For A Quick Bite
Le Petit Deli
This adorable little patisserie also makes fantastic sandwiches, avocado toast, salads, etc. The place is tiny and oh-so-cute. This, of course, comes with the risk of insufficient seating. Make sure there is a spot for you before you order if you want to eat in.
Hours: Open Sun 12:00pm-5:00pm, Mon 10:30am-6:00pm, Wed-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm. Closed Tuesday.
Telephone: +31 20 337 3228
Address: Tweede Egelantiersdwarsstraat 16, 1015 SC Amsterdam
Website: www.lepetitdeli.nl
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