Looking for where to stay in Amsterdam? To make your decision easier, we took the long list and narrowed it down to the best pick of the best areas and hotels in Amsterdam.
Visiting Amsterdam is one of the most incredible experiences. The city is the perfect combination of history and modern culture, with its charming brick buildings, open skyline, history museum, and beautiful waterway canals.
Amsterdam is a mega compact city and can be divided into smaller areas and neighborhoods. There is no shortage of accommodation in the city, ranging from luxury hotels, mid-range to budget, and extending to youth hostels. Depending on your budget, finding where to stay in Amsterdam can be stressful.
While most of the attractions are located in and around the city center, travelers can get around the city on foot, or by public transport such as metros, trams, and buses. This means that you’ll never be too far away from the action, even if you decide to stay in one of the city’s quieter areas.
In this article, we’ve handpicked at least five distinctively different neighborhoods in Amsterdam to help you choose which is the best area to stay in Amsterdam based on your interests.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? The top 5 best places to stay in Amsterdam are Centrum, Canal Belt / Nine Streets, Jordaan, Oud Zuid, and De Pijp.
We spent time putting together this comprehensive guide to make it easier for you to find the best area to stay in Amsterdam. Whether you are looking for a budget hotel or luxury hotel, or if you are traveling as a family, we get you covered.
Below are our top 5 picks for places to stay in Amsterdam, organized by areas, and following budget range:
Centrum – The best area to stay for first-time travelers as it holds all the main attractions, restaurants, and cool cafes.
Canal Belt / Nine Streets – A UNESCO-protected area with unique boutique hotels. The most scenic places to stay in the city.
Jordaan – The best place to stay in Amsterdam if you want to be located in a charming, romantic neighborhood.
Oud Zuid – Best place for the budget traveler to stay in Amsterdam with lower accommodation prices.
De Pijp – Also known as the Latin Quarter, De Pijp has a very local vibe with a picturesque urban layout.
Pro Tips: Already have a hotel booked? To search for the best accommodations at the best prices, I suggest checking out Booking.com with the best price always.
Centrum
Centrum is the most popular area to stay in Amsterdam for travelers. It is the oldest part of the city and you will find some of Amsterdam’s historical sites, major attractions, and landmarks, as well as a lively nightlife. No trip to Amsterdam is complete without spending time here!
Staying in Centrum means being close to everything you’ll want to see. It will be easy to walk almost anywhere in Amsterdam and a large number of hotels to choose from.
Canal View Room – Monet Garden Hotel
Luxury:Hotel TwentySeven – A member of the chain Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Located on Dam Square, this fantastic hotel with the best location you can get in the city. Extremely comfortable rooms with amazing features such as the hot tub in every bathroom and some rooms offer terraces with unbeatable views over Amsterdam.
High-Range: Monet Garden Hotel – Great location in the heart of the city, within walking distance to most of the city sights and central station. Good size room with coffee and tea facilities. The canal view rooms are definitely worth every penny. Bike rental is available right down the sidewalk.
Mid-Range – Hotel V Nesplein – A perfect boutique hotel in the heart of the city. Centraal Station, Dam Square, Jordaan, and the Anne Frank House are all within walking distance. Modernized and stylish rooms, friendly and helpful staff.
Budget – WestCord City Centre Hotel – It has an excellent location, with about a 7-mins walk to the city center and about 5-mins to Dam Square. Staffs are excellent, polite, and always helpful. Nicely decorated and clean rooms and great value for money.
Canal Belt / Nine Streets
Strolling along the canal ring is the best thing to do in Amsterdam. The canal rings are a posh area lined with picturesque canal houses with cobblestoned streets.
Canal Belt is a UNESCO-protected area and the most scenic place in Amsterdam, spanning the canals at the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht. If you love designing hotels, boutique shops, and cafés, stay in the Canal Belt / Nine Streets area.
The ‘t Hotel, Amsterdam
Luxury – Ambassade Hotel – One of the popular stays in Amsterdam. Rooms are elegantly decorated and most offer views of the canal. Easy walking distance to the center city area, restaurants, shopping, and local attractions. An excellent hotel for an authentic stay in the city.
Mid-Range – The ‘t Hotel – A charming boutique hotel with all the rooms decorated individually. The location is perfect, right between Jordaan and the old center. It is situated on a quiet canal and within walking distance of the main sites in the city.
Mid-Range – Hotel Sebastians – A historic canal house that offers boutique-style rooms. The location is superb and near the center of Amsterdam but still in a very quiet environment and a lovely neighborhood. You can walk easily to Dam, Central Station, Museumplein and make lovely walks along the canals.
Jordaan
For couples, the best area to stay in Amsterdam is Jordaan. Being on the canal, this is also one of our favorite areas of Amsterdam. It sits just to the west of the canal ring, and the areas are clean and charming with the traditional village-like vibe.
Jordaan is a quaint and authentic part of Amsterdam and has plenty to see and do. Art galleries, the local music scene, unusual restaurants, and vintage stores all add to the area’s appeal.
Canal View Room from Canal House the Tannery Amsterdam
High-Range – Canal House the Tannery Amsterdam – Convenient location in one of Amsterdam´s cutest neighborhoods. The rooms are spacious and have a nice window with a beautiful canal view.
High-Range – Mr. Jordaan – An exceptional hotel with fantastic decoration, which perfectly mixes of old and classic and also modern accents. Amazing location in Jordaan neighborhood, very close to Anne Frank House museum.
Hotel Mercier
Mid-Range – Hotel Mercier – A Nice stylish Hotel with a two-bedroom loft, making it a great choice for families. A classic and yet modern room. Location right near the canals and the beautiful old streets. A popular pick for where to stay in Amsterdam.
Budget: Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel – Small and cozy family hotel in the heart of Amsterdam. This quaint hotel offers a wide range of room types with antique furniture, from single rooms to family suites. The location is conveniently located in Jordaan right on the Prinsengracht canal. Reasonable price and great value for money.
Oud Zuid
One of the top areas to stay if you are looking for where to stay in Amsterdam on a budget. It can be considered as one of the cheaper places to stay near the city center, with lower accommodation prices than other parts of the city center.
The location is close to major attractions and conveniently located near the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.
Conservatorium Hotel – Room view
De Pijp
Located in the South of the city, De Pijp is a cool area to stay in Amsterdam. Also known as the Latin Quarter, De Pijp has a very local vibe with a picturesque urban layout and is home to some of the hippest shops and restaurants in Amsterdam.
The location is slightly far from the city center but travelers can experience a bit of local life in this area.
Hotel Okura
Luxury – Pestana Amsterdam Riverside – A luxury 5-star hotel situated in a monumental building, the former Town Hall and Archive of the Amstel Community. Spacious, sparkly clean, and comfortable rooms. Located away from the heart of the city, but still well connected to the city 5-minute uber ride into town.
Luxury – Hotel Okura – Another luxurious 5-star superior hotel located in the trendy district De Pijp. It is a high-rise hotel that overlooks the Amsterdam skyline and offers unparalleled views of the city. The rooms are extremely clean and comfortable. The service was good and the staff are attentive. A refreshing experience where your stay feels sincerely valued.
The Arcade Hotel
Mid-Range – The Arcade Hotel – Probably one of the coolest Hotels in Amsterdam. The hotel is designed with the concept of Arcade classics making the experience even better. Great location, comfortable rooms, friendly staff, everything you need for a great stay in De Pijp neighborhood.
Budget – easyHotel Amsterdam City Centre South – Located at the heart of the De Pijp neighborhood and near the metro station. A basic hotel with clean and comfortable rooms, allowing for a good rest. Good value for money.
Final Tips for Where to Stay in Amsterdam
How Much Does it cost to stay in Amsterdam?
On average you will pay between €100 and €250 per night for a room for two for mid-range travelers. Luxury rooms can cost €400 and more. While budget travelers can find €30 per night in a hostel.
When is the peak season for Amsterdam?
The highest demand for hotel rooms is from April through October.
Where to stay in Amsterdam on a budget?
Oud Zuid is the best area to stay in Amsterdam on a tight travel budget. It is a major tourist area yet with lower accommodation prices than other parts of the city center.
Where is the best area to stay for first-time travelers?
Centrum is the most popular area and best place to stay in Amsterdam for first-time travelers. It is close to everything you’ll want to see with a large number of hotels to choose from.
Overview: Best Hotel To Stay in Amsterdam
All in all, we love Amsterdam and think its architecture and water canals make it one of the dreamiest cities in the world. We hope this guide helps you plan your trip much easier. That’s it! Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam.
>Friendly reminder: April and May is the peak season for Amsterdam. Be sure to book your accommodation in advance to avoid disappointment.
Here are more helpful guides to help you plan your trip to Amsterdam and nearby:
While you’re visiting Amsterdam, you might want to check out the Amsterdam food guide if you’re wondering what to eat here. Sharing my take on all the must-eat food from local snack stalls, cafes, and restaurants that you should try in Amsterdam.
Beyond the windmills and tulips, Amsterdam offers hungry travelers plenty of unique culinary experiences. This Amsterdam food guide isn’t a definitive answer to the question of what to eat in Amsterdam by any means. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve tried out all the best Dutch food during our visit. But our goal is to give you the best, most complete, and most diverse food experience that we ate to save you some time when exploring here.
We’ve put together a list of the best food we recommend in this Amsterdam food guide. Let’s check it out.
In our discovery of the local fare, we tried to find real Dutch food. The city has a multitude of dining options ranging from healthy, fast foods, snack foods, and more.
We recommend the following must-eat food when you’re looking for what to eat in Amsterdam:
Traditional Dutch Dishes: stamppot, Hutspot, snert.
Dutch Dessert: Stroopwafel, Appeltaart (Dutch Apple Pie).
Snack Food in Local Market.
Pro Tips: If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, then be sure to check out our detailed Amsterdam itinerary with detailed guide. It’ll have all the information you need – like which area to stay, what to do, how to get around, etc. – to help you plan your trip.
For your best sleep in Amsterdam, we recommended below:
Mid-Budget – Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel – Excellent location in Jordaan right on Prinsengracht canal. Great selection of rooms and some rooms offer a canal view.
Luxury – Monet Garden Hotel Amsterdam – Excellent location, comfortable and clean rooms, some rooms with a view of a canal, amazing staff.
When it comes to food, the Dutch tend to stick to their tradition of simplicity and frugality. Traditionally, Dutch cuisine is simple, with many vegetables and little meat.
A favorite Dutch recipe is stamppot, the comfort food at its best. Literally translating to ‘mash pot’, this comfort food involves mashing together potatoes with an infusion of vegetables like kale and swiss chard. The creamy hearty mash is usually added with sausage on the side with gravy.
While Hutspot is a type of potato, carrot, and onion mash and usually with meat on the side. It is often eaten in winter.
Another traditional Dutch food is snert. This is a thick, hearty split pea soup with sausage and vegetables. It’s a very dense type of soup that is usually eaten during the winter.
Few restaurants in the city center serve only the most traditional Dutch dishes. Here is a few recommended restaurant to taste traditional Dutch food:
Hap-Hmm | Eerste Helmersstraat 33, 1054 CZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
De Silveren Spiegel | Kattengat 4-6, 1012 SZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Pro Tips: In most restaurants in Amsterdam, especially nicer ones, you can call a day or two ahead and make a reservation, which is highly suggested.
Hap-Hmm
Beef Stew from Hap-Hmm, Amsterdam
We went to Hap-Hmm for dinner to taste some authentic Dutch food during our visit to Amsterdam. It is a small and cozy restaurant with a nice friendly vibe in a quiet street. You can feel the local atmosphere as there are a lot of local guests dining here.
The menu was only simple with traditional Dutch food options. We had the beer chicken, fish of the day, and beef stew which were really nice. We like that potatoes and veg are served in one separate bowl to your table and you can just help yourself!
The price is very reasonable and the food is great. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Amsterdam.
Amsterdam style breakfast
It’s always a good idea to start your trip with an Amsterdam-style breakfast. But, in a city often associated with being an expensive place, it was brilliant to find a delicious breakfast at great value for money.
An Amsterdam breakfast comes in a few different forms. And here are some of the best breakfast foods in Amsterdam to try and the best restaurants in Amsterdam to taste them at.
Bagels & Beans
Bagels & Beans is a famous chain restaurant that specializes in bagels. It is a great place for breakfast, brunch, or coffee. The menu has a wide variety of bagels with all kinds of toppings and is very unique. Gluten-free option too. The price is about €7 for a good bagel. Eat in or take away to enjoy.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, filling, incredibly tasty place to eat and refuel, Bagels and Beans should be top of your list. Reasonably priced with fresh ingredients, we can recommend it. Perhaps the best simple yet delicious meal in Amsterdam
There are many chain stores for Bagels & Beans in the city. Found the one near you.
Bagels & Beans
Address: Van Baerlestraat 40, 1071 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Operating Hours: Weekday from 8:00 to 17:30 and weekend from 8:30 to 17:30.
B&B Lunchroom
If you somehow still manage to find room in your stomach, the pastries from B&B Lunchroom are just as a decedent. This small but cozy shop has a huge selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, eggs, cakes, muffins, and much more. A favorite of the locals for breakfast and lunch!
All food is made in front of you with all fresh ingredients. Some you must pair with a nice coffee for your breakfast or lunch. Treat yourself, you won’t regret it. It was very reasonably priced and very tasty.
B&B Lunchroom Leidsestraat
Address: Leidsestraat 44, 1017 PC Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Operating Hours: Weekday from 8:00 to 18:00.
Pizzeria
Go to Pizzeria if you are looking for what to eat for lunch or dinner in Amsterdam. Pizza is a popular food in Amsterdam and there are many pizza spots in Amsterdam.
Locals and visitors flock to a pizza place for a hot slice. The fresh, thin, and crispy crust, is topped with the best ingredients. Nicely charred and slightly burnished from the intense heat of the wood-burning oven. The pizza is simply awesome with really authentic and tasty flavors.
Here is the best place where you can eat delicious pizza:
Dope: Eerste van der Helststraat 66, 1072 NZ Amsterdam The Netherlands.
Il Sogno Amsterdam: Koningsstraat 19, 1011 ET Amsterdam The Netherlands.
De Pizzabakkers Haarlemmerdijk: Haarlemmerdijk 128, 1013 JJ Amsterdam The Netherlands.
Haring (herring)
Don’t leave Amsterdam without eating a haring (herring). This is one of the best cheap eats in Amsterdam and actually a very common snack in the Netherlands. Every visitor to Amsterdam should give it a try.
The haringhandels (herring carts) serve up this Dutch specialty, or you can also eat it at food stalls in the markets as well as at restaurants like Seafood Bar all over the city.
Herring can be served in varieties. The Amsterdam-style herring is served with onions and pickles and eaten with a toothpick. While the broodje is served in a bread roll with finely chopped raw onion and pickles. Don’t be afraid to try a herring in Amsterdam even if you’re not a herring fan. The herring tasted wonderful but they also have other choices of fish. Simple but perfect!
Frens Haringhandel
For the true experience of eating herring on the street, try the raw herring from Frens haringhandel. This seafood stall is a must for anyone curious about Dutch snack food and has the best herring in town. It is in a popular spot and conveniently located in the middle of the city.
Frens haringhande is a takeaway, to-go stand by the canals. We stopped off for a little snack. Besides the herring, the kibbeling (fried cod) from Frens haringhandel is also not too bad!
Frens Haringhandel
Address: Koningsplein/Singel, 1017 AW Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Operating Hours: Open daily from 12:00 to 16:00.
Dutch-Style Chips
In fact, the Dutch are quite famous for their fries. Whether you call them fries, frites, chips, or, as the locals do “patatjes”, these Dutch-style chips are flipping tasty and delicious. Commonly referred to as ‘friet and mayo’, Dutch-style chips are traditionally served in a cone and topped with Fritessaus or frietsaus (“fries sauce”), a lighter version of mayonnaise with less fat.
Try and enjoyed Dutch-style chips covered in Fritessaus. They were absolutely delicious and flipping tasty!
Best Places For Fries in Amsterdam:
Vleminckx de Sausmeester | Voetboogstraat 33, 1012 XK Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Manneken Pis | Damrak 41, 1012 LK Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The Best Homemade Fries Shop In Amsterdam. Vleminckx de Sausmeester has been frying potatoes and topping them with sauce since 1957. All the fries are always freshly made and warm.
Great selection of sauces and massive portions. You can choose from up to 25 different selections of sauces and toppings to choose from based on your liking. The most common sauce in the Netherlands is traditional mayo, the classic Dutch condiment, or a curry-based mayo sauce (Joppie). We recommended trying the most popular Oorlog sauce where satay and Mayo and topped with onions.
Perfectly fried with a generous amount of sauce. We enjoyed dipping each potato stick into the sweet sauce on a cold day. These fries are so good, crispy, and soft at the same time! Please make it a point to visit this stand when you are in Amsterdam. You will not regret it.
There is always a line, sometimes long, but thankfully the line moves quickly and these fries are totally worth the wait.
Every day is Pancake Day in Amsterdam! Amsterdam lets the whole world enjoy the traditional and typical dutch pancakes. Unlike the thick and fluffy American-style pancakes, Dutch pancakes are often topped with sweet and savory options, served with local ingredients such as bacon, ham, Gouda cheese, or sweet fruits.
You won’t want to miss Pannenkoeken (buttery Dutch pancakes) or Poffertjes (pancake puffs made with yeast and buckwheat flour). Eggs, milk, flour (traditionally buckwheat flour), and a pinch of salt to make the batter for these delicious pancakes.
Visit one of the best pancake restaurants in Amsterdam before flying home. I promise they are really delicious. Be warned, though, that these pancakes are so large that people often eat them as a main course!
Check out our selection of the best pancake houses in Amsterdam:
The Pancake Bakery, Prinsengracht 191, 1015 DS Amsterdam.
The Happy Pig Pancake Shop, Rosmarijnsteeg 12, 1012 RP Amsterdam.
Dutch Kaas (Cheese)
Next on the Amsterdam food guide is Dutch Kaas (Cheese). Holland produces almost 900 million kg of cheese annually and Dutch take pride in their delicious cheese. Among all the cheese produce, the most popular cheeses are Gouda which many of us might recognize as the small snack-sized cheese encased in red wax, and followed by Edam. Soft cheese, hard cheese, old or young, we like them all.
In Amsterdam, you can visit the Amsterdam Cheese Museum which features the history of cheese making and tastings. Alternatively, there are many ‘kaas’ shops or markets that offer free tasting on Gouda, Geitenkaas, or Maasdammer. Besides, almost all Amsterdam cafés offer some sort of kaas broodje (cheese on a bread roll).
Pro Tips: In fact, every cheese shop in Amsterdam that we visited had bowls of cheese nibbles for shoppers to try. So be sure you don’t leave without tasting this Dutch specialty.
Beer Sampling in Amsterdam
The Netherlands has a long history of beer and it is the most popular alcoholic drink in the Netherlands.
Known for its world-famous pale lagers like Heineken, Grolsch, and Amstel, the Netherlands is one of the world’s most prominent exporters of beer. While Hollands have been brewing beer for centuries, you can find the nicest breweries in Amsterdam.
Here are a few selections of Dutch beer:
Heineken has been starting to brew beer since 1873. One of the biggest breweries in the world.
Amstel is a Dutch beer brand belonging to Heineken, another famous Dutch beer brand.
Grolsch is one of the oldest beer brands in the Netherlands since 1615.
Bavaria is the largest independent brewery in the Netherlands, with a yearly production of over 7 million hectolitres of beer.
Pro Tips: Join the Heineken Experience if you want to take a look at the history of Heineken and learn how they do it. A great experience visiting the fabulous ancient brewery.
Dutch Dessert
For sweet-toothed visitors to Amsterdam, for sure you won’t disappointed with Dutch dessert.
Stroopwafel – Probably the most popular dessert in the Netherlands. The stroopwafel (syrup waffle) is made with two buttery waffle layers stuck together with sweet, gooey molasses. A perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee. You’ll find them at grocery stores, local markets, and even souvenir shops.
Appeltaart (Dutch Apple Pie) – The Dutch version of apple pie is infused with cinnamon, dotted with raisins, and served until a smothering of whipped cream. Café Papeneiland serves some of the best apple pie in Amsterdam that has been handed down through generations.
Snack Food in Local Market
If you are looking for the “real” Amsterdam local snack food, you’ll want to head straight to the local market. The Albert Cuyp Market is the largest and most popular outdoor market in the Netherlands, with 260 stands operating six days a week.
Albert Cuyp Market is the best place where you’ll find friendly vendors selling seafood of any kind, cheese, and many more. Not to forget all those mouthwatering desserts such as Stroopwafels (syrup-filled waffles) and Poffertjes (sweet mini griddle cakes) if you are looking for Dutch sweet treats.
Overview: What To Eat in Amsterdam
All in all, here is my Amsterdam food guide for a taste of the Dutch food experience. We really enjoyed and liked the food we tried during our trip to Amsterdam. Although we didn’t sample much variety of delicious Netherlands food, still, we hope that we can give you even the tiniest idea of the food scene here in Amsterdam, and then share the restaurants where we tried them.
From sweet treats and salty fries to traditional Dutch fish, have we missed any good food? Just try out as much as you can to get a true taste of Amsterdam!
Thanks for reading and I hope this Amsterdam food guide leads you to some exceptional meals in Amsterdam. Free feel to continue to read on our Amsterdam trip and also some other interesting places in Amsterdam.
In this Amsterdam travel guide blog, I’ll go over my favorite things to do and see in the city with detailed planning on 1, 2, or 3 days Amsterdam itinerary. For your convenience, I’ve also compiled links to transportation, hotels, tours, and other services here.
Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its open skyline, rich history with tons of museums and art galleries, and some charming brick buildings. It’s one of the popular attractions for most tourists traveling to Europe.
I truly love the international feel of the city and enjoy the visit here, by strolling along the beautiful canals and parks, and visiting the historic homes and Dutch village. One of my favorite cities in Europe.
For a first-time visitor to Amsterdam, it is recommended to plan for 2 to 3 days Amsterdam itinerary to experience the city. I visited Amsterdam during my trip to the Netherlands and have spent a wonderful holiday here. There are so many things to do in Amsterdam that it deserves more than just a few days.
This Amsterdam travel guide blog will show you just how many things there are to do and see in your Amsterdam itinerary, and why it should be a part of your next itinerary. While this travel guide to Amsterdam is long. For your convenience, I’ve compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here. Check it out!
To plan your Amsterdam itinerary, remember to check out our travel tips here to make sure you’re maximizing the days and visit in Amsterdam. Check out the details!
Getting Around in Amsterdam
Amsterdam can be visited on your own two feet to discover the beauty of Amsterdam at your own pace. However, you can also take advantage of the trams and the metro to save some steps. The best transport ticket that we highly recommended using in Amsterdam is the Amsterdam Public Transport Pass. It is a very useful pass that covers unlimited transportation on buses, trams, and the metro for all GVB transports during its period of validity.
Single ticket costs €3.20 for one hour, and you can purchase a single or multi-day ticket from 1-7 days transport passes that best out your travel schedule. However, please note that you can’t use the train from the airport to Centraal with this pass. This Amsterdam Public Transport Pass is more economical and saves you the hassle of visiting the ticket machines whenever you want to take the tram, bus, or metro.
Amsterdam is famous for its bike culture and there are more bikes than people. So no surprise there are many hotels and shops throughout the city that rent bikes for visitors. MacBike is one of the largest bike shops in Amsterdam that rents bikes and provides bike tours in Amsterdam. It’s great to do if you just want to have fun for an hour, or day to explore the city like local by bicycle.
Another BEST way to see Amsterdam get around Amsterdam during your visit.
I Amsterdam City Card
Amsterdam Travel Guide – I Amsterdam City Card
I Amsterdam City Card is a must-have for first-timers when traveling to Amsterdam. The perks of having such a card give you what Amsterdam has to offer via free museum passes and metro tram rides! With access to 70+ museums, public transportation, and a canal cruise, you’re able to visit different attractions and museums using the city card.
Cards are available for 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours. Although it is a bit pricey, I Amsterdam card will be worth it if you decided to walk around Amsterdam and visit many museums.
At least two days if you plan to visit Amsterdam’s top sight. Three days will allow enough time for you.
What is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
We believe the best time to visit Amsterdam is from April through June. It is also one of the busiest times to visit Amsterdam, especially during the prime blooming time for spring blooms starting from April until May. Many travelers around the world flock to Amsterdam and Keukenhof. So expect larger crowds during this time.
Where To Stay
Amsterdam is a big city with several options for accommodation in Amsterdam, of course, which will vary depending on your budget. I’ve been searching for the best hotels, for each budget and these are my recommendations:
Mid-Budget – Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel – Excellent location in Jordaan right on Prinsengracht canal. Great selection of rooms and some rooms offer a canal view.
Mid-Range – Hotel V Nesplein – Great location in the heart of the city, modernized and stylish rooms, friendly staff.
Luxury – Monet Garden Hotel Amsterdam – Excellent location, comfortable and clean rooms, some rooms with a view of a canal, amazing staff.
Already have a hotel booked? To search for the best accommodations at the best prices, I suggest checking out Booking.com with the best price always.
This Amsterdam itinerary for three days is perfect for you if you are visiting the city for the first time. It covers all the places you must see. You can find detailed planning from this Amsterdam itinerary.
Day 1 in Amsterdam Itinerary:
Arrived in Amsterdam in the morning.
Tour the Anne Frank House (1-2 Hours)
Wandering at The Nine Streets (1-2 hours)
Dam Square (1 hour)
Exploring the De Wallen (1-2 hours)
Day 2 in Amsterdam itinerary:
Strolling along the Albert Cuyp Markt (1-2 hours)
Visit the Rijksmuseum (2 hours)
Explore the Van Gogh Museum (2 hours)
Relax at Vondelpark (30 minutes)
Sniff the Tulips at Bloemenmarkt (1-2 hours)
Try the Heineken Experience (2 hours)
Canal Tour (1-2 hours)
Day 3 in Amsterdam itinerary:
Day trip to Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans, or Keukenhof.
Amsterdam itinerary: Day 1
Our first day in Amsterdam itinerary is more free and easy. After we check in to our accommodation, we spend most of the time wandering around the city. Most of the attractions are flexible and easily adjust, except the Anne Frank House which recommended pre-booking the time slot in advance.
Day 1 in Amsterdam Itinerary: Arrived in Amsterdam in the morning – Tour the Anne Frank House – Wandering at The Nine Streets – Dam Square – Exploring the De Wallen.
A wonderful day to explore the amazing Amsterdam.
Anne Frank House
Firstly, we took the tram to Amsterdam Centraal and walked towards Anne Frank Huis, one of the top attractions in Amsterdam.
Dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank on how she and her family lived in a secret annex, hidden away from the Nazis for two years and one month. During this time, Anne kept a journal which would become one of the important pieces of WWII. The Anne Frank House is the secret hiding annex mentioned in the journal and visitors can tour the hidden rooms and see the movable bookcase here.
Anne Frank left her mark on Amsterdam despite her untimely passing in 1945. This statue pays tribute to the young writer near her former house.
This popular Anne Frank House can only be visited with a ticket bought online for a specific time slot. You will reserve a specific time slot, which eliminates the waiting time.
Amsterdam Travel Tips: If you are curious about Anne and plan to visit Anne Frank House in your Amsterdam itinerary, just be sure to book your tickets online in advance. Tickets are released two months in advance.
Alternatively, you can consider joining the Guided Walking Tour on the Story of Anne Frank that covers Amsterdam’s Jewish sites. In this walking tour, you will discover Amsterdam’s WWII history and follow in the footsteps of Anne Frank in the Jewish Quarter. Note: Tour ended outside the Anne Frank House (entrance not included).
Nine Streets (DE 9 STRAATJES)
Next, we spend the late afternoon exploring the Nine Streets of Amsterdam. Located to the south of Anne Frank House, the 9 Streets are transverse streets that consist of nine side streets of the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht, and Singel in central Amsterdam with many small and diverse boutique shops, cafes, art galleries, and restaurants. It is one of the best places in Amsterdam if you are looking for what to eat in Amsterdam.
At nine street, you can very easily spend the rest of the day here, hopping from shop to shop. Even if shopping is not your thing, many monumental buildings can still be admired. A delightful place to explore.
Dam Square
Continue your walk through Dam Square, the main square of Amsterdam. There are two notable buildings sitting on Dam Square, Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and Royal Palace. The Royal Palace was built to be a town hall but was later converted to a palace for King Louis I.
Dam Square is a bit crowded and touristy, but worth a quick visit for a limited time.
De Wallen (Red Light District)
Perhaps the most famous place in Amsterdam. While prostitution is legal in Dutch, “window shopping” in the Red Light District once was a very popular thing to do. The Red Light District, also known as De Wallen, is the biggest and oldest prostitution area in the Netherlands. It is lined with sex shops, gay bars, peep shows, and cannabis shops along the valley.
During day time, De Wallen is a quiet place and just look like any other part of the city. But, at night, this area is full of window prostitutes under the typical fluorescent neon red lights. Tourists from all around the world move slowly down the street and stare at the girls in the window.
This attraction may not be for everyone, but worth taking a look at what all the fuss is about. A place to see and experience for a very brief time.
Amsterdam Travel Tips: No photo. It is said that they will grab and smash your camera if you dare to take a picture of the girls at work.
Note: As of 2021, a decision was made to relocate the Red Light District farther from the city center.
Amsterdam Itinerary: Day 2
For your second day in Amsterdam, I recommend starting the day 2 Amsterdam itinerary with a satisfying breakfast before kick starts any activities.
Next, spend your morning visiting Amsterdam’s most popular museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. These are Amsterdam’s most popular museums, so expect them to get crowded, especially at midday. Spend the afternoon time to try the Heineken Experience and canal boat tour. Fun fill activities in Amsterdam.
Day 2 in Amsterdam itinerary: Strolling along the Albert Cuyp Markt – Visit the Rijksmuseum – Explore the Van Gogh Museum – Relax at Vondelpark – Sniff the Tulips at Bloemenmarkt – Try the Heineken Experience – Canal Tour.
Start Your Day with a Great Breakfast
What to do in Amsterdam in the morning? A satisfying breakfast at Amsterdam.
Bagels & Beans is a famous chain restaurant with a few other stores in Amsterdam. We stopped for a quick breakfast before spending a day at the nearby art museums. Good selection of bagels and delicious ‘fillings’ for breakfast and good coffee to start your day in Amsterdam. So fresh and tasty!
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, filling, incredibly tasty place to eat and refuel, Bagels and Beans should be top of your list. Highly recommended.
After a satisfying breakfast, we kicked start our day 2 of the Amsterdam itinerary at Albert Cuypmarkt
Albert Cuyp Market
After your breakfast, it is time to visit Amsterdam’s local market. Whenever visit a country, I always make time to go to the local market. The ‘Albert Cuypmarkt’ is my favorite thing about visiting Amsterdam. An excellent market in Amsterdam with a wide variety of things to buy.
Situated in the historical neighborhood De Pijp, Albert Cuyp Markt is the largest and most famous place to go if you are up for a taste of the “Real” Amsterdam. It is a nice place where you can find fresh food such as seafood of any kind, cheese, and not to forget all those mouthwatering street food.
If you are there, try eating a raw herring the traditional way — by holding on to its tail. Everything is very fresh.
Address: Albert Cuypstraat, 1073BD Amsterdam.
Opening Hour: Open daily from 9:00 until 17:50. Closed on Sunday.
Amsterdam has its fair share of museums and the Rijksmuseum is one of the city’s most distinguished institutions. Rijksmuseum is a national museum boasted of 80 galleries full of art and artifacts that tell the history of the Netherlands.
Rijksmuseum housed an extensive Rembrandt collection including the famous “The Night Watch” painting by other classic Dutch painters, like Frans Hals and Johannes Vermeer. For art lovers, Rijksmuseum is a museum on your Amsterdam itinerary.
Amsterdam Travel Tips: Rijksmuseum is extremely popular among travelers visiting Amsterdam. The lines can get very long with long waiting hours. It is recommended to buy your entrance tickets online in advance.
Explore the Van Gogh Museum
Another major attraction in Amsterdam is the Van Gogh Museum. Dedicated to the famous Dutch painter, this world-famous museum has the largest collection of Van Gogh’s best works of art, as well as his contemporaries like Monet, Manet, and Matisse. There are over 200 paintings and 500 drawings inside the museum.
To visit the Van Gogh Museum, you need to purchase your tickets online in advance with the pre-reserve time slot and enter the museum within a half-hour of your reserved time. This helps to eliminate the waiting time to enter the museum.
After some time indoors at the museums, walking through the Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter to the massive Vondelpark. It is Amsterdam’s largest green space spans over 120 acres. The park is fountains, statues, and plenty of locals exercising and getting together.
Take a rest in the Vondelpark. A great place to go for a walk if you get a case of museum overload.
Sniff the Flowers at Bloemenmarkt
Heading south, our next stop is the delightful Bloemenmarkt to see the beautiful flowers and florists traded in Singel Canal.
Amsterdam is known for its flowers and canals, and this floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt combines the two. The delightful Bloemenmarkt is found down on the Singel canal. It never runs out of beautiful flowers and florists have traded on barges at Bloemenmarkt since 1862.
The market starts operating at 9:00 on Weekdays and Saturdays and only opens at 11:00 on Sundays.
Try the Heineken Experience
One of the best-known beers in the world. The Heineken Experience is an an-hour-long interactive self-guided tour where you take a look at the history of Heineken, learn how they do it, and how to serve your own beer. The whole journey through multiple floors of the museum takes one through an exhilarating experience.
It’s indeed a great experience visiting the fabulous ancient brewery. We loved the experience and the beer. The staff were super friendly and always with a smile on their face. You get two free beers at the end, to enjoy in a nice atmosphere. It’s not a must-see, but if you like Heineken then it is worth checking out.
Amsterdam Travel Tips: Pre-order for Heineken Experience online and avoid the long queue. Besides, you can couple your Heineken Experience visit with a canal boat tour with an additional €10 once finish the beer tour. Perfect planning.
Operating Hours: Open daily from 12:00 to – 18:00.
Admission Fee: €21
Tour the Amsterdam Canal Ring
Amsterdam is known for canals and you cannot experience Amsterdam without a walk along the canal. The city center is surrounded by four canals with concentric belts that go around the city. They are kept really clean and it’s very relaxing walking alongside the canals. A beautiful and landmark piece of manmade landscape.
If you have spare time I recommend walking or cycling along these canals, there are many little restaurants and pubs to stroll around. Besides, there are so many different areas you can walk around all connected by canals. It’s particularly beautiful when you walk on the bridges while sunset, such a view!
We also recommend boat rides to see a bigger area of Amsterdam. It’s amazing to cruise the canals and take in the architecture and people along the way. It gives first-timers a very good idea of Amsterdam. Simply stunning.
There are numerous options, from enclosed boats with large groups of people to open boat tours to private tours. Most of the Canal tours are started from Central station which cost €15 to €50 per person depending on the boat type.
Within two days you have seen the highlights most tourists visit while in Amsterdam city. For visitors staying 3 days in Amsterdam, planning a day trip is a great idea for your Amsterdam itinerary. There are some beautiful places to see in The Netherlands, from tulip fields to windmills. do yourself a favor and explore more.
There are so many day trips from Amsterdam and you can either use one of my suggestions mentioned below or find other activities that interest you.
Here are the multiple day trip options from Amsterdam for you depending on your interests:
Giethoorn – Quaint village in the east of the Netherlands and famous for its fairytale canals.
Keukenhof – Wonderful flower garden that you can’t miss in April and May.
Zaanse Schans
One of the popular day trips from Amsterdam is Zaanse Schans. This picture-perfect stereotypical Dutch village is located not far from the city, making it perfect for a day trip in the Amsterdam itinerary.
Zaanse Schans is like an open-air museum by showcasing the visitors what life was like in the Netherlands back in the 18th and 19th centuries. This charming Dutch village has collections of the historical windmills, cheese and clog-making process, and gorgeous green cottages with greenery and animals.
If you’re looking for a taste of the Dutch lifestyle, plan for a day trip to Zaanse Schans. Great photo opportunities!
Set in the province of Overijssel, Giethoorn is a quaint village in the east of the Netherlands and famous for its fairytale canals. The most special about Giethoorn is the fact that it has no roads, only canals connecting up the many cute cottages and old wooden bridges in the village. Taking a boat ride is the best way to see Giethoorn and admire all the beautiful old cottages with their traditional thatched roofs.
Imagine cruising peacefully down the canals, passing ancient thatched-roof farmhouses, drifting under tall old wooden bridges, and hearing those ducks quacking just by the boat. A perfect day trip from Amsterdam.
Getting to Giethoorn by public transport is time-consuming and complicated as you’ll have to change several trains and take one bus. Due to the complexity of transport arrangements, the easiest way to get to Giethoorn is to book a tour to Giethoorn directly from Amsterdam.
If you plan to visit Amsterdam during April and May, make sure to include a day trip to Keukenhof. Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is a gorgeous wonderland of flowering daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. It is also one of the world’s largest flower gardens with more than 7 million flower bulbs planted every year. The best place to admire the beautiful flowers of Holland.
To get to Keukenhof by public transport, take bus#397 to Schiphol Airport. Next, from the airport, take bus#858, the Keukenhof Express, to Keukenhof.
For hassle-free, you can consider going to the Keukenhof with a tour arrangement. This tour will get it easy to get to the gardens and enjoy them at your own pace. Skip-the-line Keukenhof Ticket is included.
In short, here is an overall perfect Amsterdam itinerary for first-time travelers. There are so many attractions with wonderful things to do and see in this compact nature city. Three days in Amsterdam is never enough to fully explore this amazing city.
There are still more attractions awaiting us to discover and we wish to spend more time here. That said, you won’t be disappointed and will know why Amsterdam is one of Europe’s best destinations.
Here is our other travel post related to Amsterdam Travel Guide:
Hope you found this Amsterdam itinerary travel guide blog useful and can you give a rough idea of planning your trip to Amsterdam. Anything else we should add to this Amsterdam itinerary? Share with us!
Planning for Zaanse Schans itinerary for a short day trip from Amsterdam? Here is the travel guide blog for everything you need to know for visiting this well-preserved Dutch village town.
For generations, Zaanse Schans has been a tourist mecca, welcoming tons of visitors from all over the world. It is a Dutch village town filled with sprawling green fields, fanciful windmills, and full of traditional handicrafts and culture. It is set up like an open-air museum and visitors can experience life as it was lived by Dutch people in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Netherland you’ve always pictured.
Zaanse Schans is a popular day trip from Amsterdam. Since we have one more day in our Amsterdam itinerary, we decided to visit Zaanse Schans to experience Dutch culture.
In this Zaanse Schans travel guide blog post, we are sharing all the things to do on a day trip from Amsterdam.
Zaanse Schans Windmills village is located in the Zaandam area of the Netherlands Europe. Distance is 16.5 kilometers one way. There are tours for a day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam every day. But it is also possible to visit Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam on your own by public transport. As I’ve said, public transportation in Europe is easy.
Getting to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam:
By Bus: Take the bus (#391) departed from Amsterdam Central Station, which leaves twice hourly from Platform E to Zandaam/Zaanse Schans. The entire ride takes less than an hour and tickets can be purchased for €8 round trip.
By Train: From Amsterdam Centraal Station, takes a train to Koog-Zaandijk which takes only 17 minutes. Next, follow the direction board and walk for about 15 minutes to Zaanse Schans. Anyway, it is just a straight path, easy!
We highly recommended taking the bus to Zaanse Schans as it is the most convenient option and the bus stop is right outside of Zaanse Schans.
Zaanse Schans Tour Option
Another great way to get around to discover the typical Dutch countryside outside the capital is by joining the tour. Here is our recommendation from Viator (Tripadvisor) for a half-day or full-day tour to Zaanse Schans. Take a look!
We recommended download the “Zaanse Schans” App” to enhance your experience in Zaanshe Schans. The app will become your digital tour guide, offering an interactive tour and sharing with you some hidden gems of the area.
It is free to visit the area when it is open. But you will require to purchase the entrance ticket to enter the windmill or museum. The price is vary based on the attractions.
Here are the travel tips to plan for your Zaanse Schans itinerary:
How much time do you need in Zaanse Schans?
You don’t need a full day trip to Zaanse Schans, instead, a few hours should suffice. Personally, I would suggest planning for a half-day Zaanshe Schans with about 3 to 4 hours is sufficient to explore the area.
Is Zaanse Schans free?
There are no entry fees for Zaanse Schans, but you will need to purchase the ticket to enter the windmill or museum.
What is the operating hour for Zaanse Schans?
Zaanshe Schans is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00. However, not every portion of the museum is open every day, and each has a separate schedule for demonstrations and tours. Check the schedule of events during your visit at Zaanshe Schans official website.
Besides, specific highlights like the working windmills or clog factory demonstration have limited hours.
Things To Do in Zaanse Schans Itinerary
No matter whether you take a guided day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam or visit independently, there are enough attractions to keep you busy for half a day in Zaanse Schans itinerary. You will find windmills, museums, souvenir stores, a clog factory, and a Gouda cheese-making workshop inside the village.
Here is everything you need to do in Zaanse Schans itinerary:
Visit the historical Windmill (1 hour)
Clog making demonstration (30 minutes)
Go for cheese tasting (30minutes)
Strolling and admiring the Dutch scenery in Zaanse Schans (1 hour)
Visit the Historical Windmill
There’s a reason when you think of the Netherlands, you think of windmills! The real draw of Zanse Schans is the historical windmills.
As soon as you enter the windmills village Amsterdam site, you will be welcomed by gorgeous greenery all around, including greenhouses and vintage windmills along the river. There used to be many more along the river, but now only 13 windmills are scattered all across the complex.
Of the 13 existing windmills, only 6 are in working condition, which is a mustard mill, two sawmills, two oil mills, and the world’s last working dye mill, still operating in their full glory. They are vintage and historical, and completely functional to this day.
All these historical windmills are providing a great insight into what life must have been like back in the 17-18th century. Some have turned into shops, others have decks that can be climbed up to see the city from above.
There is a boat rental service available where you can even rent the boat that crosses the Zaan River to admire the windmills. The windmills are technically open every day and operating at all hours, but check their schedule for a visit, especially if there is a specific mill you’d like to visit.
Zaanse Schans Travel Tips: A visit to at least one of the windmills is not to be missed when visiting Zaanse Schans. All windmills have separate admission tickets and each may costs €5 to visit. If you are interested in visiting all of them and also some of other attractions, I highly recommend you purchase a Zaanse Schans card. For only €29.50 you can visit several museums free of charge for an entire day.
Clog Making Demonstration
In the Netherlands, Dutch clogs are part of the heritage. But are really only worn mostly in rural areas by farmers and gardeners because they’re great for walking around on the swampy ground.
At the entrance of the Zaanse Schans, there is a clog gift shop with a huge pair of brightly painted wooden clogs on display on the wall outside.
This shop is part of the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop, dedicated to an interesting Wooden Shoe Museum where you can see clog roller skates, betrothal clogs, and many other unique clogs. It is the largest selection of clogs in all colors and sizes in The Netherlands. Be sure to try on a pair and see what it feels like to clomp around in your klompen.
In the past, clogs were made by hand and could produce up to seven pairs each day. But today machines are used to manufacture clogs, but clog makers still do make them by hand at the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop.
Free clog-making demonstrations take place continuously throughout the day. You’ll get to see the making of a shoe from start to finish, presented by a young Dutch lad. The presentation takes about 15 minutes.
The Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop is open daily from 8:30 – 17:00. Free Entry.
Go For Cheese Testing
In addition to the shoe factory, there is a cheese store with seemingly endless samples that you can taste as you walk through the store on your way to visit the windmills.
We’ve never seen so many different types of Gouda in our lives. There was regular Gouda, smoked Gouda with herbs, Gouda with chilies, and even a neon green Gouda with pesto. If Gouda isn’t your thing, there are many other Dutch kinds of cheese as well.
We happily sampled a huge variety of cheeses at the cheese factory.
The Farm de Catherinenoeve is open every day from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Strolling and admiring the Dutch Scenery
My favorite thing to do in Zaanse Schans. We spent hours just strolling around and admiring the Dutch scenery, busy photographing whatever stood out to us. From the entrance to the east bank of Zaan’s River, typical green wooden houses lined up and showcasing the traditional architecture of the area.
There is a farm opposite the windmills, we were thrilled to see cows pasturing freely in the area.
Additionally, there’s also a distillery museum, soap factory, and weaver’s house, if you want to wander around in Zaanse Schans.
What To Buy in Zaanse Schans
We couldn’t recommend anything to bring back from Zaanse Schans. Since it is a popular tourist hotspot, I honestly think that everything is kinda overpriced, correct me if I am wrong.
So the best thing to bring back home? Pretty photos and beautiful memories!
Overview: My Zaanse Schans Itinerary
All in all, our visit to Zaanse Schans was an educational one and a great detour from city life. Its picturesque settings with plenty of windmills, where you could spend a whole day here just strolling and admiring the scenery.
We spend about 4 hours for the Zaanse Schans including the traveling time. Honestly, I was slightly disappointed due to the lack of authenticity. The attraction is merely a recreation of a Dutch Village from the late 19th century, with most of its windmills relocated from other sites. But I appreciate the effort put into the reconstruction of the mill, shops, and restaurants where visitors can experience life as it was lived by Dutch people in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In short, Zaanse Schans is a perfect half-day trip from Amsterdam city center, and highly recommended adding Zaanse Schans itinerary to your trip to the Netherlands to get a glimpse of the windmills village in Amsterdam.
Lastly, free feel to continue to read about our Amsterdam trip and also some other interesting places in Amsterdam.
