How to see Amsterdam in one day: the itinerary you’ll love
How to see in Amsterdam in one day: perfect itinerary and tips. What to see, where to eat, how to plan your day.
Visiting Amsterdam in one day is a wonderful experience and a frustrating one.
The city is one of the most dynamic and culturally rich in Europe and every corner seems to pull you in and demand your attention.
Cultural sites, shops, cafes, pretty corners: Amsterdam has a plethora of fascinating sites.
Therefore, if you want to see the best the city has to offer in 24 hours or less, you need a plan!
With the right tips, one day in the city will be enough to showcase the best Amsterdam has to offer.
I am here to share my Amsterdam tips with you and make this possible!
I love Amsterdam. My best friend lives in here and, thanks to do this connection, I have visited Amsterdam many times.
On the basis of my personal experience of Amsterdam and her local knowledge, this is my recommended one day in Amsterdam itinerary, with all our best picks for attractions, food places, museums, cruises and pretty spots!
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Find here >>> all our Amsterdam city guides (we have a few, based on all our trips!)
Can you see in Amsterdam in a day?
Amsterdam has a compact, walkable city center, which means you can see a surprising amount of attractions even in a short amount of time.
However, there are so many things to see in Amsterdam, that you will need to make some decisions when it comes to your itinerary, so you can prioritize the attractions that are most important to you.
The first thing to see is deciding if you want to see on of the city’s big museums.
Depending on how you feel about them, your Amsterdam itinerary can look as follows:
With museum visit:
- Morning stroll around Amsterdam’s canals, to get a sense for the aesthetic of the city
- Afternoon museum visit
- Evening canal cruise
One day in Amsterdam without museum visit:
- Morning stroll in parts of the canal ring
- Afternoon walks and shopping in Amsterdam city center and museum quarter
- Evening canal cruise
Below, I am sharing my recommended itinerary without a museum visit.
You can follow it as it is, or pick half of it and combine it with a museum visit.
For ease of planning, at the end of this post I have listed the top museums in Amsterdam with links to book tickets.
My in Amsterdam in a day itinerary: map top sights
To first time visitors, I recommend spending your day touring Amsterdam and see the following:
- The Canal Ring, UNESCO world heritage site, and unique to the city
- The Nine Streets
- The Amsterdam Begijnhof
- The Museum Plein
What’s the best way to get around Amsterdam?
There are four main ways to explore Amsterdam city center: on foot, by bike, by canal cruise or by tram.
We followed this itinerary mostly on foot but we are very active walkers.
Unless you love long walks, you may benefit for using the excellent Amsterdam tram system.
You can:
- Pay for a single tram ride by credit card, on the tram itself
- Get a pass such as the I Amsterdam card which includes public transport and entrance to several attractions (worth it if visiting more than one museum, see below).
Amsterdam in one day: suggested itinerary at a glance
- Start your day with breakfast in one of Amsterdam hip cafes. Croissants, avocado on toast or pancakes: go for filling meals that will keep your energy up for the long day of walking
- Take a stroll in the beautiful Jordaan area and its leafy streets
- Head towards the 9 streets and enjoy the area’s independent shops and boutiques. Stop in one of the many restaurants in the area (see suggestions below) for lunch
- Take a break in the green and quiet begijnhof where you can still see, among others, one of Amsterdam’s most ancient houses
- Take a leisurely walk towards the Amsterdam floating flower market and tip your toes into the history of the Dutch obsessions with tulips
- Hop on one of the canal cruises and enjoy a well-deserved rest as the boat show you around the many Amsterdam canals you didn’t get to cover in one day. Opt for a closed top one in the winter, especially if after dark
- End your evening in the stylish Pulitzer hotel bar, a popular spot for cocktails
Amsterdam itinerary: morning
Start your day in the Jordaan area.
This neighborhood is located immediately to the West of the city center and visitors usually know it because the House of Anne Frank is here (see below).
Jordaan is beautiful and wealthy and house prices here are said to be among the highest in the country.
Indeed, the houses look stunning from the outside, and the many cafes and restaurants give the area a dynamic and energizing vibe.
Jordan is also a great place to see the famous Amsterdam canals, part of the so called Grachtengordel, Amsterdam’s canal ring.
The Amsterdam canal ring is a series of canals dug up in the XVII century and now UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 3 main ones are Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht and they develop in a semicircle that embraces Amsterdam city center.
They are beautiful and the location where all the travel-envy-inducing photos of Amsterdam are taken.
While they are not only in Jordaan, this is a fantastic place for take envy-inducing photos of this Amsterdam marvel!
Top tip! In this area you find the pretty and easy to visit the Houseboat Museum. You can usually just hop in and visit in a matter of minutes: it is a great way to see what living in an Amsterdam houseboat is like!
Lunch: Negen Straatjes, the Nine streets
A short stroll along the canals will lead you to the so-called ‘Nine streets’ a group of, you guessed it, nine streets famous for its hip shops and cafes.
The area is a delight to visit.
The streets are narrow and packed with cute and trendy shops and cafe terraces.
The smell of freshly made pancakes fills the air and restaurants, concept stores and independent shops attract locals and tourists alike.
For the visitor, this is one of the most tempting areas to visit.
The only downside is that it does get crowded.
If you wish to escape the crowds, you are better off walking a little farther down the canals to more residential areas of the city: the views are as charming.
In the 9 streets area we had lovely meals in the hip Hoxton Amsterdam and Pluk, very different in ambiance but both serving great quality food in welcoming atmospheres.
The Amsterdam Flower Market
Near the Nine Streets you also have Amsterdam’s flower market.
The market is a lovely place to get plants and bulbs and a good place to tap into the Dutch love for tulips.
Have a look at what the flower parade looks like to get a sense of the scale of flower production in the Netherlands!
The Amsterdam Flower market is famous for being a floating market and indeed, the tulips are sold from boats.
However this is not a market you explore from the water but rather, a market with boats selling while moored alongside a city canal.
I feel this is important to know as expectations are key!
If you are hoping to buy the famous Dutch tulips, this is a great place.
Amsterdam begijnhof
Just across the canal from the nine streets, take the time to visit the Amsterdam Begijnhof.
Amsterdam begijnhof dates back to the 14th century and is an enclosed yard with beautiful houses overlooking a leafy area.
It is home to the oldest house in Amsterdam and it is a delight to visit.
It embodies the aesthetics and cultural references so typical of this part of Europe. It is one of the places you must visit to understand the many layers of Amsterdam’s history.
Like the ones in other locations in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Amsterdam begijnhof was built as living quarters of single women.
It is a lovely spot, tranquil and good for photos and is also one of the free attractions in Amsterdam.
Dam Square
The begijnhof is also close to Dam square that, while touristy and crowded, is a must-see for many first-time visitors to Amsterdam.
Dam Square is the large, public square with the Amsterdam Royal Palace and the National Monument.
Personally, I do not believe this is a must see.
However, I feel if this is your only trip to Amsterdam, a stop at its most famous square is a good idea, even just for completeness.
Museum Plein
You cannot spend a day in Amsterdam without at least passing by Museum Plain, the vast square overlooked by some of Amsterdam world-class museums.
The Rijks Museum, Van Gogh, Moco, among others, are here.
The square is beautiful and worth a visit even just as an outside space.
Make sure you see the small garden outside of the Rijks Museum, a lovely place to rest.
Top tip! If you want to rest your tired feet in a beautiful cafe/ bar, close to this beautiful piazza there is the wonderful and upscale Conservatorium: perfect for an afternoon drink!
Evening: Canal cruise
The canals of Amsterdam are one of the most significant traits of the city so I feel a great way to finish your day and take in this huge part of its history is by taking a canal cruise!
You can choose among several providers (this is a good one), duration and type of boat (open roof, semi-open, family-friendly etc).
If your cruise doesn’t come with dinner, you can then walk or take a cab to one of my favorite spots: Bistrot restaurant (European) or Ku Kitchen (Japanese)
Other things to see in Amsterdam when short on time
The best Amsterdam museums
Amsterdam has outstanding museums, ranging from art museums to spaces dedicated to cats!
If you opt for a museum, get skip the line tickets and head there at the start of your day to avoid being in a rush.
Buy tickets for Amsterdam museums following the links below:
- Rijks Museum: world-famous museums with Dutch masters
- Van Gogh museum, entirely devoted to the famous Dutch painter
- STRAAT Museum, newly opened museum of street art
- Nemo Science museum, for kids and adults who love the wonders of science
- Anne Frank House, hidden residence of famous Anne Frank and her family
- Want to visit more than one? Consider the Amsterdam Card which also includes pubic transport.
Visit Amsterdam Noord
If you want to see a different side of Amsterdam, one that brings you away from the canal ring and lets you dive deep into Amsterdam’s hipster heart, you should spend your day exploring Amsterdam Noord.
Located just in front of Centraal Station and easily connected to it by a free ferry service,
Amsterdam Noord has grown in recent years and developed into a vibrant area with hip cultural spaces, many restaurants and cafes and a fabulous, laid back atmosphere.
Lovely in spring and summer especially, when its many beer gardens and cafes come to life.
Experience the red light district
In this itinerary, I haven’t included the famous red-light district.
If you are curious, however, you may be happy to hear that the district is remarkably safe during the day (I haven’t been at night) and easy to reach from the central station.
This is one of the most ancient areas of the city and while it is mostly known for its red light element, it is also a beautiful and architectonically meaningful space.
Travel resources
Want to be comfortable and stylish on your trip? Check out our packing lists for fall/winter here and for spring/summer here.
If you have a choice about when to have your day in Amsterdam, you may want to check out our suggestions on the best time for visiting
Practical tips
- Get your walking shoes on – runners and sneakers are best!
- Keep your debit/ credit card handy for the occasional tram hop
- Decide on your priorities and allocate sufficient time for museum visits if in your plans
- Buy skip the line tickets for museums, especially the big ones such as Rijks and Van Gogh
- Careful with kids!
Bikes are everywhere in Amsterdam and when I say everywhere, I really mean it.
Locals use bikes extensively and the city facilitates cyclists giving bikes precedence.
If you are walking, make sure you look, look and then look again before crossing the road
Also, don’t presume being on the pavement is sufficient to keep you safe. You may think you are on the pavement while effectively on a bike lane!
The best way to stay safe is to pay attention or to join the cycling crowd.
You can rent bikes in several locations in the city including in the nine street area where our Amsterdam itinerary started.
Safe travels!
This post was published in 2019 and has now been fully updated based on my recent personal experience in Amsterdam during a trip in spring 2023
