After four trips to Amsterdam, I can say it is one of my favorite European city breaks. So I’ve put together the ultimate 3-day Amsterdam itinerary to make the most of your time. The tree-lined canals with narrow buildings, incredibly walkable or bikeable, and great dining are just a few reasons to visit.
I find myself discovering more of Amsterdam each time I visit. Of course, I always return to favorites like time in the Jordaan neighborhood to a classic canal night cruise. But then I always find a new gem or two, like this hip udon restaurant I came across, and this cute local boutique store.
Amsterdam is the perfect place to spend three days as everything feels close while having the dynamic nature of a larger city. From museums dedicated to some of the greatest Dutch painters in history to the leafy green spaces and cozy coffee shops perfect for catching up with friends, life here feels like the locals have the balance right.
Blending history, the arts, and plenty of great food, this Amsterdam 3-day itinerary helps you conveniently see the best parts of the city. In this guide, I recommend many of my personal favorites — consider this the best of all my trips. From where to stay and eat, to what to see and do, all so you can plan the perfect stay while visiting Amsterdam.
Short on Time? Here is the Ultimate Amsterdam 3 Day Itinerary:
Where to Stay
Over several trips to Amsterdam, I find myself always returning to stay in the Jordaan neighborhood. Mostly because you’re on the ring of the best canals, but secondly because you’re close to a lot on foot. If I were to pick my top hotels and Airbnbs to stay in Amsterdam they would be:
Hotels
- Pulitzer, for the best canal-front hotel
- The Hoxton, for the best boutique hotel
- Conservatorium, for the best design hotel
Airbnbs
- 1 Bedroom Luxurious Suite in Jordaan, for a cozy ground-floor stay with a garden-view soaking tub
- 1 Bedroom Loft in Jordaan, for a charming attic loft in a 17th-century canal house
- 1 Bedroom Canal Apartment in Jordaan, for waking up to canal views in the heart of the Jordaan
- 1 Bedroom Canal-View Apartment in Centrum, for a quiet retreat overlooking the Amstel
- 1 Bedroom Loft in Centrum, for a walkable home base near Waterlooplein and Rembrandt Square
- 1 Bedroom Loft with Nieuwmarkt Views, for stunning views over one of Amsterdam’s oldest squares
Day 1: Jordaan & Canals
- Morning: Jordaan and visit Anne Frank House
- Afternoon: Late Lunch at Small World Catering or Raïnaraï
- Evening: Canal Cruise and Dinner
Day 2: Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, and Van Gogh Museum
- Morning: Rijksmuseum
- Afternoon: Vondelpark and Lunch, then Van Gogh Museum
- Evening: Rijsttafel dinner at Tujuh Maret
Day 3: Bloemenmarkt, De Pijp, Heineken Experience
- Morning: Stroll to Bloemenmarkt
- Afternoon: Lunch in De Pijp, Cheese Tasting, Heineken Experience
- Evening: Dinner at one of these incredible Amsterdam restaurants
Things to Do
- Night Canal Cruise
- Day Time Canal Cruise
- Cheese & Food Tour
- Van Gogh Museum Tickets (Consider this Tour with Guide)
- Anne Frank House Tickets (Consider this Guided Walking Tour)
- Heineken Experience
Helpful Guides to Plan our Trip
Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Don’t miss my complete guide of where to stay in Amsterdam for a more comprehensive insight into the different neighborhoods and hotels I recommend, my in-depth Amsterdam travel guide, and my recommendations for the best restaurants and best boutique hotels in Amsterdam!
Travel Tip: If you plan to visit a few attractions, I’d consider purchasing an I Amsterdam City Card. The tourist card gives you access to and discounts on a variety of museums and attractions and unlimited use of Amsterdam’s public transport network for 24, 48, 72, or 96 hours.
The Perfect Amsterdam 3-Day Itinerary
Things to Know Before Deciding on Your Itinerary for Amsterdam
After visiting Amsterdam four times, I have plenty of tips and tricks to make your time in the Dutch capital enjoyable. From how to get around to knowing which activities you need to pre-book, here is some useful advice.
How to get from Amsterdam Schipol Airport to the City Center
Amsterdam city center is less than 20 minutes from Schipol Airport by train, which arrives at Amsterdam Centraal Station. You can purchase tickets via the machines at the airport before you enter the platform, and a one-way ticket starts from €5.20 to the Centraal train station.
Alternatively, if you don’t feel like navigating trains, I’d hop in an Uber which you can request on arrival. There is a special Uber pickup area at Schiphol. This time, our ride to the Jordaan cost about $60 for door-to-door service.
How to Get Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is easy to walk around and it’s also the best way to see the cobbled canal-lined streets. Be sure to download Google Maps to help you navigate. There are also a few other options to choose from including trams and bicycles.
Trams are easy to use and connect Amsterdam Centraal to neighborhoods including De Pijp, Jordaan, and Museumplein. From 2025, ticket machines will be phased out. You will either need to purchase tickets directly from the conductor on the tram or check in/out using OVpay by touching your debit or credit card or smartphone against the card reader.
Alternatively, you could do as the locals do and hire a bike to ride around. With cycle lanes throughout the city, it’s easy to get around. There are also buses and ferries that you can use to get around Amsterdam, but this itinerary is easily managed on foot or by bike.
Book Tickets for Attractions in Advance
If you want to visit popular attractions like the Anne Frank House, you will need to book your ticket ahead of time. Some museums or guided tours sell out well in advance, so to ensure you don’t miss out or spend time waiting in long queues, pre-purchase your tickets. Some tickets and guided experiences I would book before:
- Night Canal Cruise
- Day Time Canal Cruise
- Cheese & Food Tour
- Van Gogh Museum Tickets (Consider this Tour with Guide)
- Anne Frank House Tickets (Consider this Guided Walking Tour)
Consider Purchasing an I Amsterdam City Card
The I Amsterdam City Card is a tourist card available for use for either 24, 48, 72, or 96 hours. It gives you discounts on a variety of museums and attractions. You will also have unlimited use of Amsterdam’s public transport network for the duration of the card’s validity.
Are Three Days in Amsterdam Enough?
Three full days is perfect for a first-time visit to Amsterdam. It gives you enough time to explore some of the city’s best museums, sample some of the incredible restaurants and cafes, and see the world-famous canals. The city is quite small and walkable, so you can maximize your time easily with this Amsterdam 3-day itinerary.
When is the Best Time to Visit Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is a year-round city break, but the absolute best time is in spring. You can make the most of the spring flowers, including a day trip to Keukenhof Gardens, and the weather is comfortable for walking around the city. Fall in October and November is another great time to visit, when the trees overhanging the canals turn shades of yellow and orange, adding to the cozy charm of this postcard-perfect city.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
Over several trips to Amsterdam, I find myself always returning to stay in the Jordaan neighborhood. Mostly because you’re on the ring of the best canals, but secondly because you’re close to a lot on foot.
You’ll have all the charm of the city right there, restaurants everywhere, but you’re not in the busiest section of the city either. On this last trip, I stayed at the Pulitzer, which is truly a dream stay for the neighborhood. The other hotel I always recommend is The Hoxton for a boutique stay, it never fails.
If you’re looking for a memorable hotel closer to the museum district, don’t look further than the Conservatorium. It is spectacular in design and service, one of my favorite stays in Amsterdam. It’s a touch out of the city center, but it is near the parks and museums.
My Top Picks for the Best Hotels in Amsterdam
- Pulitzer, for the best canal-front hotel
- The Hoxton, for the best boutique hotel
- Conservatorium, for the best design hotel
My Top Picks for the Best Airbnbs in Amsterdam
- 1 Bedroom Luxurious Suite in Jordaan, for a cozy ground-floor stay with a garden-view soaking tub
- 1 Bedroom Loft in Jordaan, for a charming attic loft in a 17th-century canal house
- 1 Bedroom Canal Apartment in Jordaan, for waking up to canal views in the heart of the Jordaan
- 1 Bedroom Canal-View Apartment in Centrum, for a quiet retreat overlooking the Amstel
- 1 Bedroom Loft in Centrum, for a walkable home base near Waterlooplein and Rembrandt Square
- 1 Bedroom Loft with Nieuwmarkt Views, for stunning views over one of Amsterdam’s oldest squares
My Top Picks for the Best Design for Dollar Hotels in Amsterdam
- Mr. Jordaan, for the best Jordaan boutique budget hotel
- Linden Hotel, for the best city center boutique budget hotel
- Adam Suites, for the best overall boutique budget hotel
Day 1: Jordaan & Canals
A Morning in Jordaan
One of Amsterdam’s hippest neighborhoods, Jordaan is home to a collection of art galleries, cafes, and restaurants that feel distinctively cool. This area is where you’ll find some of the city’s prettiest cobbled streets and iconic historic Dutch narrow buildings, all surrounded by Amsterdam’s famous canals.
Start the day with breakfast at one of the cozy cafes in Jordaan. PLUK is my top pick, with its Dutch breakfast menu featuring everything from avocado toast to seasonal soups. If you’re just looking for a coffee or matcha, Cloud and Wandu are both great options.
Spend the rest of the morning wandering around Jordaan, and don’t miss De 9 Straatjes, a collection of nine streets in Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canal belt. I love the boutiques, secondhand and vintage shops, and local art galleries that line the streets here. It’s the best place if you want to do some shopping. A few notable mentions are Waxwell Records, Episode for pre-loved fashion, and Kings of Indigo.
Book in to see the Anne Frank House
A must-visit for any Amsterdam itinerary is Anne Frank House. Opened in 1960, this museum is the location where Anne and her family hid during World War II. The exhibition showcases Anne’s diary that she kept during her time recounting her experiences during the war, as well as photos, and a look at the annex where she and her family stowed away to avoid the occupation. Anne Frank House is a deeply moving experience that many consider an essential museum to visit when in Amsterdam.
The museum is located on Prinsengracht, just a short distance from Westerkerk, and is ideal to visit while spending time in Jordaan. Tickets sell out in advance, so you need to purchase them ahead of time. Tickets go on sale weekly on Tuesday at 10 am CET for the following six weeks. If you do miss out on booking in advance, you can occasionally get lucky by checking for tickets on the day, but you will need to visit first thing in the morning to check. Alternative, this guided walking tour is a great way to secure tickets and dive deeper.
Get a Late Lunch at Small World Catering or Raïnaraï
After you visit the Anne Frank House, I have two suggestions for lunch — either walk to Small World Catering or stop at Raïnaraï. I ate one of the best sandwiches of my life at Small World Catering, it’s a small deli-meets-cafe with a range of sandwiches and fulfilling salads. Raïnaraï, on the other hand, is a North African restaurant which has hearty portions to order for sit down. The food is incredible at Raïnaraï, and we always have a meal here.
Canal Cruise and Dinner
Built around a series of canal belts, one of the best ways to see Amsterdam is by boat. Joining a canal cruise will give you a lovely perspective to admire Amsterdam’s tree-lined waterways and crooked houses. It will provide you with lots of historical details too.
I recommend a small group or private tour where you can enjoy a more intimate experience. Some tours are held in traditional Dutch boats, and others have a glass-top roof option. I loved that we learned so much about the city from the captain along the way. You can browse all the options here.
Most tours last between 60-90 minutes and some offer local snacks and drinks, including craft beer and wine. This is certainly one of my favorite ways to take in the scenery of Amsterdam. On this last trip, I did this nighttime canal cruise which was a lot of fun.
After your canal tour, spend some time wandering around on foot before heading to dinner. Try Restaurant Smelt or Café George, which are both in the Jordaan district and lovely. Another place I loved this last trip was Jansz, inside the Pulitzer Hotel.
Day 2: Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, and Van Gogh Museum
A Morning at Rijksmuseum
Have breakfast at the hotel or get a quick pastry at SAINT-JEAN Bakery before making your way across town to the Rijksmuseum. One of the world’s most renowned museums housing an extensive collection of art, history, and cultural artifacts. Combining more than 1,000 years of Dutch and European heritage, you should dedicate a few hours to meandering the galleries, halls, and library. You will need to pre-book tickets for the Rijksmuseum.
A few highlights of note are the works of Rembrandt and Vermeer, among other Dutch artists. Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’ is the standout piece in the Dutch Golden Age art exhibition, with most of the exhibit’s collection from the 17th century.
Be sure not to overlook the museum’s exceptional wood-paneled library. Tall shelves are filled with books and a collection of rare manuscripts, making it the perfect place for peaceful contemplation.
Beyond the exhibitions, make time to admire ‘The Atrium’, the museum’s grand entrance hall, and the manicured garden where you’ll find a series of sculptures and fountains. This is especially lovely on a warm, sunny day. I recommend spending at least 3-4 hours at the Rijksmuseum to avoid rushing through the exhibitions.
Stroll through Vondelpark and Lunch
Between a day of museums, hire a bike and spend time cycling around Vondelpark. The largest green space in Amsterdam, this is the perfect space to escape Amsterdam’s urban setting for an hour or two.
Named after the famous Dutch playwright Joost van den Vondel, the park spans 47 hectares of open lawns, wooded areas, ponds, and plenty of walking and cycle-friendly paths. On a sunny day, do as the locals do and make the most of the space with a picnic lunch and relax.
If you’re looking for a place for a sit-down lunch, I love Brasserie Van Dam, just off the park. Another good option is The Seafood Bar for all things seafood. You also could go a short distance to Foodhallen, home to one of the better food markets in Amsterdam with lots of eateries.
A Late Afternoon at Van Gogh Museum
Dedicated to the life and work of the legendary Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, the Van Gogh Museum is the perfect way to round out a day of art and culture in Amsterdam’s museum quarter. Opened in 1973, the museum showcases 700 paintings and drawings, as well as letters from van Gogh throughout his life. You will need to pre-book tickets for the Van Gogh. This guided tour of the museum is another option worth considering.
The exhibitions span works from his entire artistic career, from the early years in the Netherlands to his time spent in the South of France. Some notable pieces in the permanent collection include ‘Sunflowers’, ‘The Starry Night’, and ‘Irises’.
In addition to the permanent collections, temporary exhibitions switch up regularly, always offering new insight and work into one of the best-known Dutch artists.
If you’re interested in more creative work by Rembrandt and van Gogh, you can see their works transformed into an interactive exhibition at Van Gogh & Rembrandt in Amsterdam. An immersive experience, it allows you to experience art from these Dutch masters in a new way.
A Rijsttafel Dinner at Tujuh Maret
(Wish I had photos, it was so good I never took out my camera!)
Something very unique to experience in Amsterdam is a traditional Indonesian rijsttafel dinner. Rijsttafel is a traditional Indonesian meal that has become a popular dish in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam, due to the historical connection between the two countries.
It means “rice table,” and it’s a feast of many small dishes served with rice. The concept was brought to the Netherlands during the colonial period when Indonesia was part of the Dutch East Indies. My husband is Dutch Indonesian himself, and on our last trip, we did a ton of research to find a good spot.
We landed on Tujuh Maret (reservations required). We loved it so much, we went back twice on the same trip.
Day 3: Bloemenmarkt, De Pijp, Heineken Experience
A Morning Stroll to Bloemenmarkt
The Netherlands is known for its tulip production, but did you know it is also home to the world’s only floating flower market? What once began as a canal-side series of stalls in the 1860s, Bloemenmarkt has become a large and colorful market of houseboat structures on the Singel Canal. I’d go for a stroll along the canals to get there.
Operating all year long, you can buy fresh flowers, potted plants, bulbs, and gardening accessories, or just admire the colorful display. The best time to visit is undoubtedly in spring when tulip season is in full swing, but it’s still a lovely spot any time of year.
After you’re content with your fill of florals, head on over to the hip neighborhood of De Pijp.
Lunch in De Pijp
Popular for its bohemian atmosphere, this corner of Amsterdam is where you’ll find plenty of trendy cafes and brunch spots, eclectic restaurants, and shops. De Pijp is an area thriving on multicultural influence just south of the canal belt. It’s easy to reach and a great spot for breakfast or brunch, my recommendation is either Factory Girl or Little Collins.
After breakfast, spend the morning wandering the streets of De Pijp checking out the independent boutiques and vintage stores. Be sure to stroll through Sarphatipark, a park in the heart of De Pijp that makes for a great place to enjoy good weather. In spring and summer, the park is filled with blossoming flowers and you’ll spot plenty of locals enjoying a picnic here.
For lunch, head to Albert Cuyp Market, where you’ll find Amsterdam’s best-known market, which has been operating for 125 years. From street food and fresh produce, it’s the perfect place to enjoy lunch. Continue through the market, checking out the trinkets and handmade goods on offer.
Add on a Heineken Experience
On the edge of De Pijp is the Heineken Experience. The interactive museum is housed in the former Heineken brewery and highlights the company’s history and brewing process, with the opportunity to taste beer as well. It’s perfect for beer lovers or anyone interested in the process behind brewing it. It’s a super popular experience to consider adding to your Amsterdam itinerary. You will need to pre-book tickets for the Heineken Experience.
Afternoon of Cheese Tasting
Round out your time in Amsterdam with a Dutch cheese tasting. Henri Willig offers the opportunity to taste five cheese varieties with a range of accompaniments in the heart of Old Amsterdam. You can learn about the authentic Dutch cheese-making traditions and pick up a few to take home. Many Dutch cheeses are sealed in wax, which makes them easier to transport home without refrigeration.
A Final Dinner
For your final dinner, choose one of these 20 incredible Amsterdam restaurants to enjoy some of the city’s best dining.
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PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
