What to do in Amsterdam: A 3 day Itinerary
- Amy Harris
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
Amsterdam is a beautiful vibrant city where you can get lost in the winding canals, take in rich history and world renowned art while enjoying the relaxed, easy-going vibe toward life.
My daughter and I recently traveled from London to Amsterdam, and with just 3 days to explore I created an itinerary aimed at helping us visit as many must-see locations as possible, along with a list of foods we "had" to try.
Amsterdam was founded in the 12th century but really became popular as the a economic and cultural hub during the Dutch Gold Age between (1588-1672).
Today it is one of the most popular destinations to visit.
Day 1:
We took a very early flight from London City airport to Amsterdam and because it is a short 45 minute flight, we arrived with plenty of time to make the most of the day.
After dropping our bags at our hotel, The Toren, Amsterdam by the Pavilions, we headed out on a walking tour.
A walking tour is a great way to acclimate yourself with the city, it's landmarks and to get an idea of some of the history and what you'd like to see more of while you're there. There are several great walking tour options, some are even free! Like Free Walking Tours Amsterdam
Seeing the city from a boat is a must! Amsterdam's stunning canals are best explored by boat, allowing you to learn about their history and uncover intriguing details about the city. We joined a group tour that included cheese and wine, which was enjoyable, but in hindsight, I would opt for a private, more intimate tour for a personalized experience.
Visit the Anne Frank House
A tour of the Anne Frank House was next on our agenda. This home is where Anne Frank, her family and another family hid during World War ll. It is a very popular tour, you can only book tickets on their official website, and it fills up quickly, so make sure you book your timeslot early! The tour showcases Anne's childhood, where they hid within the attic of the house and gives you a sobering view of what that life was like and how horrific the Holocaust was. There is a display of her real handwritten diary, and the audio tour is very informative. Thankfully, we booked an evening tour, so it was less crowded than during the morning or day tours which can be completely packed and make you feel rushed. This was a moving experience and we left feeling sad, yet we were so glad to experience and see it.
Wander through the Jordaan Neighboorhood and Nine Streets
Located just beyond the city center, this neighborhood is a labyrinth of cafes, shops, and excellent restaurants. We found some fantastic dining spots here and tried our first Stroopwafel, which definitely wasn't our last on the trip. The moment you enter any store handmaking this sweet treat, the aroma will captivate you even before your first bite
Time for Dinner After a long day we were ready to relax and freshen up for the evening. We loved the lounge area at our hotel for delicious pre and post dinner cocktails and while there we asked our server a lot of questions about where to eat. We wanted to try Rijsttafel which is an elaborate Indonesian meal that was adapted by the Dutch. He recommended Max, located in the Jordaan neighborhood next to the canals. Neither of us had ever eaten Indonesian food and didn't know what to expect, but we absolutely loved it and everything we had at Max was outstanding!
See The Red Light District and Stop in a Coffee Shop
Although it may seem a bit intimidating to visit this area, especially at night, I recommend you pass through just for a quick peek at what it's all about. At first my daughter didn't want to go there, but she found it very interesting and we even popped in a coffee shop. You can even take a walking tour where you can learn all about the history of this area. If you find you want more information or are maybe intimidated to see it at night, check out Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution.
**Tip, you do not have to go the the Red Light district to visit a coffee shop, you will find them throughout the city. If that is something you're interested in you might like a red light district and coffee shop tour.
Day 2
Start your morning with Dutch Pancakes! This popular treat can be found throughout the city, but why not go to the oldest pancake house? The Pancake Bakery has been serving Dutch pancakes in a beautiful warehouse on the Prinsengracht canal since 1973.
Another popular place with multiple locations is Pancakes Amsterdam, they serve both Dutch Pancakes and Poffertjes at their Westermarkt location near the Anne Frank House. That location is in a building built in 1900 and was once the first cocktail bar in Amsterdam and also the original burial place of Rembrandt! We tried both the Poffertjes and Dutch Pancakes at this location.
After Breakfast head over to Museum Square and visit Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum or both, if two museums in one day isn't too much for you.
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands and showcases Dutch art from the middle ages to the 20th century. You will find masterpieces by Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Jan Steen and so many more. Rembrandt's Night Watch, located at the museum, is one of the most famous paintings in the world.
The museum is quite large so if you plan to see all of it you will want to allow three or four hours. If you have time and want to see more, head across Museum Square to the Van Gogh Museum where you will find the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh.
After the museums, head over to Vondelpark. This 70 acre park is a beautiful place to take a walk, bike ride, picnic or just relax. There are a few restaurants in and around the park if you are ready for lunch, a snack or a drink. We stopped at Groot Melkhuis, a waterside cafe with a beautiful terrace and a kid's playground.
Explore Bloemenmarkt. This "floating" flower market is situated on the Singel Canal and is an excellent spot to purchase souvenirs, tulips, and various bulbs. The shops are positioned on barges lined up consecutively, and from the front, you wouldn't realize they are floating stores. Unfortunately, our visit to Amsterdam didn't coincide with the renowned tulip season, making this a must-visit location for us to get some souvenirs and bulbs.
After a long day of walking and exploring, we were ready for some downtime at our hotel before we got ready for dinner.
End your day with a Night Canal Cruise. Seeing the canals lit up at night while on the water is a beautiful ending to your day.
Day Three:
Take a day trip to Zaanse Schans and Volendam
A visit to Holland wouldn't be complete without seeing a windmill! We hired a driver to take us to Zaanse Schans and then to the fishing village of Volendam. If we had been visiting in the Spring, we would have chosen to visit Keukenhof Gardens instead of Volendam.
Zaanse Schans is a village that offers tourists a glimpse into the heritage of Old Holland. There are eight restored windmills, a clog-making store, a cheese-making store, and several other small shops. You can also visit the Zaans Museum.
Zaanse Schans
When enjoyed walking through all of the shops. It was interesting to learn about the history of clogs and watch a man show how clog making use to be and then how machines have simplified the process. We also really enjoyed sampling cheese and purchased some to take home. It was fascinating to climb up inside one of the windmills. Although this village is not an authentic historical village, you still get the feeling you've stepped back in time.
Volendam
Located on the Markermeer Lake, this little fishing village is so quaint and charming. We enjoyed walking through the village, admiring the colorful Dutch houses and even saw some residents dressed in traditional clothing. Before leaving we stopped for a traditional Dutch lunch. The Kibbeling (dutch version of Fish and Chips) was delicious.
Keukenhof is just about 50 minutes outside of Amsterdam and it is known as the country's most beautiful place to see millions of flowers. Visit in the Spring when the park is brimming with tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and so many more spring bulbs. You can easily spend an entire day enjoying this beautiful park that has nearly 80 acres of colorful flowers and over 9 miles of walking and biking paths. There are several companies that offer day trips from Amsterdam to Keukenhof or combine the day with other places like Zaans Schans.
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