Amsterdam is a city of canals, narrow brick houses and bicycles, small enough to explore in a long weekend. Its centre is a ring of waterways that makes the city easy to read, and almost everything is within walking or cycling distance.
It is easy to love and easy to overdo. The most famous museums and houses draw long queues, so the trick is to plan those in advance and spend the rest of your time simply walking beside the water.
How many days: 2 to 3
Two days is enough for the canal ring, one major museum and a good wander through a couple of neighbourhoods. Three days gives you time to add a second museum, a park or a market.
If you want a day trip, the nearby towns are easy by train. Haarlem is the most straightforward, and Utrecht is also close.
What to do in Amsterdam
- Walk the canal ring
- The seventeenth-century canals are a World Heritage site. Walk them at different times of day and look up at the gabled houses leaning slightly over the water.
- Visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum
- Both are major collections, and both work best with a timed ticket booked in advance. Choose one if time is short.
- Book the Anne Frank House early
- Tickets are released in advance on the official site and sell out. If you want to go, check the booking arrangements well before your trip.
- Wander the Jordaan
- A district of quiet streets, small galleries and cafes west of the centre, good for an unhurried afternoon.
- Spend time in Vondelpark
- The city's main park is a good place to rest, picnic or watch the city go by.
- Take a canal boat
- A boat trip gives you a different view of the houses and bridges. Check the length and the commentary options before you book.
- Hire a bike, carefully
- Cycling is how locals get around, and rental shops are everywhere. Start on quiet streets, learn the hand signals, and lock the bike properly every time.
- Browse a street market
- A long street market in the De Pijp district sells food, flowers and clothes, and is a good place for a snack and for people-watching.
What to eat and drink
- Stroopwafel
- A thin waffle sandwiched with caramel syrup. Eat it warm, ideally resting on a hot cup of coffee.
- Bitterballen
- Small crisp meatballs served with mustard, eaten with a beer. A standard bar snack.
- Dutch pancakes
- Larger and thinner than the American kind, with sweet or savoury toppings. A good lunch.
- Herring
- Raw herring with onions and pickles, sold from street stalls. A traditional local snack, and an acquired taste.
- Indonesian food
- The Netherlands has a long link with Indonesia, and the city has many Indonesian restaurants. A rijsttafel is a spread of small dishes to share.
- Cheese
- Dutch cheese shops let you taste before you buy. Aged Gouda is a good one to try.
- Local beer
- Amsterdam and the wider Netherlands have a strong brewing scene. Many bars keep a short list of local beers, and staff will happily let you taste before you choose.
Getting around
The city is flat and compact, and walking covers most of what you will want to see. Trams and buses fill in the gaps.
Bicycles are everywhere, and bike lanes are not for pedestrians. Look both ways before you cross any lane, and listen for bells.
Schiphol airport connects to Amsterdam Centraal by direct train, which is the quickest way into the city. Check the national rail operator's site for the current options.
Good to know
- Cyclists have priority in practice. Stay out of the red bike lanes and step aside when you hear a bell.
- Cards are widely accepted, and some places no longer take cash. Check before you assume.
- Weather changes quickly. A light waterproof is useful in most seasons.
- Major attractions sell timed tickets. Book ahead, especially in busy periods.
- The city is flat but windy and often damp. A headwind on a bike can be tougher than it looks, so allow extra time.