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Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world<\/a>. I love its beautiful brick buildings, majestic canals, open skyline, rich history, and relaxed, easy-going attitude toward life.<\/p>\n Over the years, I\u2019ve visited Amsterdam<\/a> more times than I can count and have spent countless hours walking the city, making friends with locals (I briefly lived here years ago), and getting under its skin.<\/p>\n The city was founded in the 12th century but came into prominence during the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672). At that time, Amsterdam was the center of the world economy and an economic and cultural powerhouse.<\/p>\n Today, Amsterdam is one of the most popular places in the world to visit (try to avoid the summer when the crowds are a little too much). There are so many things to do in Amsterdam<\/a> that it deserves more than just the few days most travelers give it.<\/p>\n So how should you spend your time in this world-class city?<\/p>\n With so much to see and do, I put together what I think is the perfect Amsterdam itinerary for you. This itinerary can help you get acquainted with this cosmopolitan city while also taking you off the beaten path to show you the real Amsterdam.<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/p>\n Day 1<\/strong>: Canal Tour, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, & more<\/a><\/p>\n Day 2<\/strong>: Anne Frank House, Jordaan, Amsterdam History Museum, & more<\/a><\/p>\n Day 3<\/strong>: Bike tour, Museum Amstelkring, Rembrandt House Museum, Oosterpark, & more<\/a><\/p>\n Day 4<\/strong>: FOAM, Museum Van Loon, Noord, & more<\/a><\/p>\n Day 5<\/strong>: Waterlooplein Flea Market, Alternative Art Tour, Houseboat Museum, & more!<\/a><\/p>\n Day Trips from Amsterdam<\/strong>: Haarlem and Windmills<\/a><\/p>\n Where to Stay in Amsterdam<\/strong>: My Favorite Hostels & Hotels in Amsterdam<\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Both tours give you a general historical overview of the city and its landmarks. Be sure to tip your guide at the end!<\/p>\n For more tours (walking tours, museum tours, food tours), check out my list of the best walking tours in Amsterdam<\/a> as well as Get Your Guide<\/a>. I use them a lot in destinations I visit as they have a really good selection.<\/p>\n Do a canal tour<\/strong> If you don’t want to do a private tour, expect to pay around 20-25 EUR for a small-boat canal tour with Flagship Amsterdam<\/a>.<\/p>\n Explore the Van Gogh Museum<\/strong> Try to come late in the late afternoon when the crowds subside. You can choose your entry time when you book skip-the-line tickets and avoid the long line to get in.<\/p>\n Visit the Rijksmuseum<\/strong> You can get skip-the-line tickets here<\/a> or book a joint canal tour and museum ticket<\/a> for just a few more euros.<\/p>\n Hang out in Vondelpark<\/strong> Tour Anne Frank House<\/strong> Tickets are only sold online via the official Anne Frank House website<\/a>.<\/p>\n For a more intimate and guided look at Anne Frank’s world in context, this expert-led guided walking tour<\/a> through the Jewish Quarter covers the life of Anne Frank and the Dutch Resistance during World War II. It’s a really good tour to take!<\/p>\n Wander Jordaan<\/strong> Visit the Tulip Museum<\/strong> Have Lunch at Foodhallen<\/strong> See the Amsterdam History Museum<\/strong> See the Red Light District<\/strong> Get all my best travel tips along with these guides:<\/p>\r\n Enter your info below to get your FREE<\/strong> guides sent to you today!<\/p>\r\n\nAmsterdam Itinerary: Day 1<\/h3>\n
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\nTake a free walking tour<\/strong>
\nA great way to orient yourself to the city is with a walking tour. You can learn some history, find out where the major sights are, and explore all those winding canals. I think free walking tours are a wonderful first activity in any city. Amsterdam has two really good free walking tours:<\/p>\n\n
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\nAmsterdam is a city tied to the water; it grew around its canals and the taming of the Amstel River. The canals are incredibly beautiful and there\u2019s nothing like seeing the city from a boat. But skip those big canal boat tours you see around the city \u2014 they\u2019re overpriced and cheesy. You can instead hire a private boat for about 50 EUR an hour. The boats are small, the tours more intimate, and you’ll be able to interact with the captain and bring your own food and drinks. If you can split the cost with some other travelers, you’ll get a cheaper and more hands-on experience.<\/p>\n
\nThis may be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, but don\u2019t let the crowds deter you. The museum features many of Van Gogh\u2019s best works of art alongside an excellent biography of his life. I can spend hours just staring at the paintings as Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters. The museum also has paintings by other famous artists of the period, like Monet, Manet, and Matisse.<\/p>\n
\nThe Rijksmuseum is located right next to the Van Gogh Museum, and after years of renovation, it\u2019s now beautifully remodeled. The museum still features an extensive Rembrandt collection, and you can see his famous “The Night Watch” painting here. Besides Rembrandt, there\u2019s also an incredible and robust collection of other classic Dutch painters, like Frans Hals and Johannes Vermeer. Over 1 million works of art, craftworks, and historical objects are kept in the collection, and around 8,000 objects are on display in the museum so be sure to budget a few hours!<\/p>\n
\nVondelpark was created in 1865 and spans over 120 acres. It\u2019s Amsterdam\u2019s largest and most popular park and is a great place to walk, bike, people-watch, enjoy a picnic, or just relax, especially after a visit to a local coffee shop. There\u2019s a playground as well as places to play sports, and numerous areas for kicking back. During the summer, Vondelpark is filled with people, especially locals who hang out at the caf\u00e9 Blauwe Theehuis for drinks in the center. It’s a great spot to end your day.
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nAmsterdam Itinerary: Day 2<\/h3>\n
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\nThis is where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. It showcases her childhood, life in the attic, as well as other information about the Holocaust. There\u2019s also a display of her real handwritten diary. Personally, I think the Jewish History Museum does a more thorough job of relating the events in Anne Frank\u2019s life to the Holocaust. However, if you don\u2019t mind waiting in line and are curious about Anne, it’s worth the wait as it is really moving and educational. Be sure to book your tickets online in advance or you’ll be stuck waiting in line.<\/p>\n
\nThis heavily residential area is an old working-class neighborhood turned hip. It’s probably the most overlooked part of Amsterdam. Although it\u2019s right near the city center, hardly any tourists enter this maze of restaurants, cafes, and shops. It\u2019s peaceful and a great place to wander while avoiding the mass of tourists crowding the main streets just a few blocks away. While in the area, be sure to eat at Moeders (traditional Dutch food) and Winkel 43 (get the apple pie).<\/p>\n
\nLocated in a room inside a tulip shop, this little basement museum does a wonderful job of telling the history of tulips in Holland and the infamous tulip craze that rocked the Dutch economy. It\u2019s one of the best off-the-beaten-path attractions in Amsterdam<\/a>. It\u2019s never crowded, and it\u2019s only 5 EUR!<\/p>\n
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\nLocated in the western part of Amsterdam, this place is what the name implies \u2014 a food hall! This indoor food market has various vendors serving a variety of delicious food. Personal favorites include Viet View, Le Big Fish, and Friska. It’s a very local spot and gets really busy during lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n
\nThis museum features a very thorough history of Amsterdam. It\u2019s big, so you’ll need 3\u20134 hours to really go through it in detail. There are a lot of relics, maps, paintings, and audiovisual displays throughout the museum. My favorite is the computer graphic at the entrance showing the growth and construction of the city over time. I can\u2019t recommend this museum enough. It’s one of the best history museums I’ve ever visited.<\/p>\n
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\nThough much tamer than in previous years, the Red Light District manages to balance sex and seediness with being a major international tourist attraction. During the day, it’s a quiet place. If it wasn’t for the red lights and sex signs everywhere, it would almost look like any other part of the city. But, at night, the area becomes awash with drunk, gawking tourists.<\/p>\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPlanning a trip to Europe?<\/h5>\r\n
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