Amsterdam is not a big city, per se, but it may look vast depending on the location of the landmark. I found that, just like Brussels, the popular attractions are within walking distance from each other. If you’re traveling through Europe, a quick 2-day stop at Amsterdam isn’t a bad idea. That’s why I have compiled a detailed 2 day or weekend Amsterdam travel guide and itinerary for you.
Explore my Amsterdam travel gallery
After spending a few days in Brussels, I took a 3h45 Blablacar bus to Amsterdam. Entering the country, you will find white windmills across the fields and a view of the ever-busy Amsterdam Central Station. I only had a 15-minute walk from the Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station to my hostel.
WE’LL DISCUSS
- Seven things to know before you visit Amsterdam
- Where to stay in Amsterdam
- How to get around in Amsterdam
- Where to eat in Amsterdam
- A 2 day Amsterdam travel guide and itinerary
- Day 1
- Day 2
- 13+ free things to do in Amsterdam
Although the weather can be quite unpredictable, the best time to visit Amsterdam is around April to September. If you wish, you can plan your trip around festivities, like the King’s Day. Seasonal attractions like the Tulips Garden or seeing the Cherry Blossoms at Westerpark in spring is a great choice.
SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT AMSTERDAM
- Check if you need a visa. As an EU or Schengen resident, I do not need a visa to travel to Amsterdam. But if you are coming from other continents or countries, I strongly advise that you do your research to find out if you need a visa to enter the country.
- The weather can be unpredictable and chilly for most of spring and early summer. When I visited last May, there were light showers in the morning and evening. Don’t forget the wind too! So, pack accordingly.
- ‘Coffeeshops’ do not sell coffee. If you want a bite of glazed brownies (you know what I mean😉), just walk into a coffee shop. But if you are in desperate need of actual coffee, please find a ‘café’ shop. You’re welcome!
- Be wary of the red-marked bicycle lanes and stick to the pedestrian walks. Bicycles run the town here!
- If you are looking to have an ‘eventful’ holiday in Amsterdam, you can plan your trip around King’s Day or when the tulip fields are ready to bloom.
- Pack comfortable protective clothing. If you plan to explore the city for a 2 day Amsterdam trip, you may walk a lot. Amsterdam is also known to be windy so throw in a jacket.
- If you plan to rent a bicycle, plan for a safety lock too. Take your bike seats and helmets along with you when you station your bicycle. You can never be too careful!
Further reading: 47+ Travel Hacks and Tips For A Perfect Trip
WHERE TO STAY IN AMSTERDAM
Choosing a place to stay will depend on your budget, proximity to the city center, and main tourist attractions you wish to visit.
Neighborhoods like Oud Zuid and Sloterdijk are affordable and accessible from the central station. If you are on a tight budget, solo, or want to be in the company of other travelers, I recommend staying at the Dutchies Hostel.
The hostel is a 15-minute walk from Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station, with food stalls around, 2 mins walk from tram stops, and opposite a Lidl supermarket. This hostel also has a kitchen, an accessible refrigerator for guests, a lounge area, and access to laundry.
It is cleaned daily, affordable, and the staff were very nice and bilingual.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is not a complicated city to visit, even for a first-time visitor. Trains, trams and buses are connected seamlessly to help you navigate the city.
Tram stops are typically 3 minutes from each other. Locations like Artisplein Park or Westerpark require you to take two connecting trams. You can also consider the free ferries to ADAM Lookout or NDSM Werf from the Central Station.
To use the public transports, I bought the GVB transportation card at the Central Station, and recharged it for 48 hours. But, this pass gives you access to only trams, metros, and busses – not trains.
Then, there is the I Amsterdam City Card, which allows you access to the city’s public transportation, free access to about 70 museums and paid attractions, a canal cruise, and other discounts you might want to add.
If you want to feel like a Dutch, rent a bike. This way, you can wander through the city effortlessly and enjoy the sights.
Take a walk and explore the city! Thankfully, the city is not big and most attractions are about 10 minutes from each other. Attractions like The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Moco Museum are less than 5 mins from each other.
Further reading: A 2 Day Brussels Travel Guide and Itinerary
WHERE TO EAT IN AMSTERDAM
For an Amsterdam travel guide and itinerary, it is very important to plan your feeding with your budget.
Compared to other EU cities I have visited, I would say that eating out in Amsterdam is a bit pricey. Aside waffles and cheesy fries the Damrak Avenue is like a food hub – you will find pasta, steaks, Asian cuisine, pizzas, etc., on this avenue. I recommend a plate of pasta Bolognese at Allstars Steakhouse, a serving of fries at the Mannekin Pis fries’ shop (FYI: there’s a queue), or some Dutch Pancakes at the Dutch Pancake Masters.
Also check out the Turkish food stalls around the city for a chicken kebab or shawarma. They were good and cheap.
A 2 DAY AMSTERDAM TRAVEL GUIDE AND ITINERARY
DAY 1
For this Amsterdam travel guide and itinerary, let’s start from the Amsterdam Central Station!
THE FLOATING CHINESE RESTAURANT
If you want to stop for some sushi and Asian cuisine, try the floating restaurant – also called the Sea Palace Restaurant. This Michelin Guide restaurant serves Cantonese, Sichuan, and Chinese dishes, with a view of the Amsterdam canal.
NEMO SCIENCE MUSEUM
From the Amsterdam Central Station, ask for directions and take a 5 minutes walk to the NEMO Science Museum.
If you love science and would love to see exhibits, videos, or experiments, this museum is a must-visit. The museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm, and to get a view of the city, take the stairs to the roof top.
ADAM LOOKOUT
Walk back to Amsterdam Central Station and take the free ferry to ADAM Lookout. It is a tower with a rooftop that overlooks most of Amsterdam, including the Central Station and is a paid attraction.
NDSM WERF
If you think you have seen street art, the NDSM Werf has more for you. Although it is a 30 minutes walk from ADAM Lookout, you can take the free ferry back to the Central Station and take the F4 ferry to NDSM Werf.
EXPLORE THE DAMRAK AVENUE
Damrak Avenue is like a hub – there are food stalls, restaurants, game shops, a tourism office, hotels, a sex museum, clothing stores, and even a TKMaxx. Although food may be a bit pricey here, the options outweigh the price.
DAM SQUARE AND ROYAL PALACE AMSTERDAM
Through the end of Damrak Avenue, you will find yourself at the Dam Square. Take your time to explore the square.
Right at the square, you will find the Royal Palace, Amsterdam. The palace dates back to the 17th century and was once home to the Royal Dutch family. At the time of my visit, the palace was temporarily closed to the public but make sure to look out for new dates regularly.
SHOP AT KALVERSTRAAT
From the middle of Dam Square, you will find a small busy street (not the Damrak Avenue). Talk a stroll along Kalverstraat and splurge if you want to. You will find every fashion, cosmetics and beauty shop you can think of on this street. But you find H&M just by the Dam Square (not at Kalverstraat).
RESIDENCE FLOWER MARKET
Oh, how I love this market!
Away from the Dam Square, stroll towards the Singel area and you will find the Residence Flower Market. Take time to explore the flower shops along the street.
PRO TIP: If you are coming from Singel, walk to the end of the flower stalls and you will find the most beautiful flower shop on that line. I forgot the name of the stall, but if you find them, please leave a comment below.
ANNE FRANK HOUSE
About 10 mins from the Residential Flower Market is Anne Frank House. This museum exhibits the biography of Anne Frank when she was hiding from the Nazi during the war.
Her diary is now a famous collection and allows visitors to see the war in Anne’s eyes. This museum is located along the Prinsengracht canal and is a paid experience.
AMSTERDAM TULIPS MUSEUM
If you can’t go to the Tulips field at Keukenhof (outside Amsterdam) then the Tulips Museum is a good choice. You will find it in the Jordaan neighborhood and features exhibits about tulips.
DAY 2
TAKE A CRUISE ALONG THE AMSTEL CANAL
I took a boat cruise on the first day of my 2-day trip, but if you take it on the Day 2 it will give you room to explore other locations.
I booked the Lovers Boat Cruise on Booking.com for €15. Depending on the cruise company, a boat cruise is typically a 1-hour cruise along the canal, with an immersive lecture along the ride. You will have the opportunity to choose your language of choice while listening with earphones.
Look out for the ‘house with six heads’ (not human heads though).
It’s a story of a kitchen maid who cut off the heads of six robbers who broke into her masters house with a bread knife and hung their heads in front of the house. Right now, the heads on display are the heads of six Roman gods – three males and three females.
EXPLORE THE RIJKSMUSEUM AND GARDEN
From the entrance, walk through the alley and you will find the entrance to the museum. Although this is a paid experience, the museum allows you to explore 800 years of Dutch history.
Through the alley, you will come up to a street and by your left is the Rijksmuseum Garden. Depending on what time of the year you visit, you will find that the garden is well tended and open for visitors to explore.
MOCO MUSEUM
Barely five minutes from the Rijksmuseum Garden is the Moco Museum. The Moco Museum is an art museum that features independent exhibits of modern and contemporary art, and is a paid experience.
Just in front of the museum is a floor chess and food stalls for your refreshment.
VAN GOGH MUSEUM
Just behind the Moco Museum, you will find the Van Gogh Museum that houses art collections of Vincent van Gogh. While this is a paid experience, entry is free from 18 and under, and your ticket includes access to collections and exhibitions.
OUI ZUID NEIGHBORHOOD
This neighborhood, along with the Van Gogh Museum, is a pleasant neighborhood with a beautiful, clean, and arranged housing. After your time with Van Gogh, continue your way to the main road and explore the Oui Zuid Area.
ARTISPLEIN
Let’s not forget the pink flamingos and cute animals at Artisplein Park. This zoo and park is a beautiful place for animal lovers. This zoo is about 6 mins on tram from the Amsterdam Central Station and is a paid experience.
VISIT THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
Since I was on a solo trip, I visited the district in the day. But if you’re in a group or with a partner, it’s beautiful to visit the district at night but respect the workers’ privacies.
CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT WESTERPARK
One of my best experiences on this trip was seeing the bloomed Cherry Blossoms at Westerpark. Bear in mind, that there could be a little crowd from mid-morning till late afternoon, and the cherry flowers blossom at a certain season, so plan to visit between May and August.
GO TO ZAANDAM
What is an Amsterdam experience without visiting Zaandam?
About five minutes from the Amsterdam Central Station is Zaandam – an area with beautiful picturesque architecture. At the time of my visit, it was too windy to do a full tour but do well to take in the sights from the train station and beyond.
VISIT ZAANSE SCHANS
If you have more time and wish to see the old windmills of Amsterdam, take a 30 mins train ride from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaanse Schans. Zaanse Schans is a simple neighborhood near Amsterdam that recreates the look of a village with windmills and green houses. You can also explore the Zaanse Schans Museum if you have the time.
THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE
For beer lovers, the Heineken Experience is a must-try. It is an hour-and-a-half guided tour of Heineken’s oldest brewer and its brewing process. To plan your trip in advance, you can purchase your tickets and choose your tour dates.
13+ FREE THINGS TO DO IN AMSTERDAM
- Climb the NEMO Science Museum rooftop and get a view of the central station.
- Take the free ferry and visit the NDSM Werf
- Explore the Damrak avenue
- Visit the Dam Square
- Explore the Residence Flower Market around Singel
- Take a picture in front of the Royal Palace Amsterdam
- Visit the Rijksmuseum Garden and Park
- Stroll around the Oud Zuid area
- Walk around the Jordaan area
- Visit the Red-Light District at day and night
- Take a 5-mins train from Amsterdam Central Station and explore the picturesque Zaandam
- Depending on your travel season, go to Westerpark and have a picnic with the Cherry Blossoms.
- Wander through Keizersgracht and see the house with 6 heads.
- Bike through Vondelpark
Further reading: Solo Travel 101: The Ultimate Guide To Traveling alone
TO CONCLUDE
Generally, I would say that Amsterdam is a safe city, even for female solo travelers (and women of color). But while it is safe to visit, be wary of your personal items, how you use your phone in public, and plan to get travel insurance before your trip.
If you have more days to spare, you can plan to visit Rotterdam, Utrecht, or The Hague, which are outside the capital but have beautiful architectural designs for you to see.
In my opinion and my travel experience, a 2 day Amsterdam travel guide and itinerary is enough to cover the major attractions I suggested earlier. But if you wish to see beyond Amsterdam, then a 3-day trip and itinerary might be necessary.
My everyday tip is to explore free attractions first before going for paid activities, this way, you cover gain more experience from your trip. Also, don’t forget to shop at Kalverstraat!
This post is an honest review and itinerary (no sugar coating) for maximizing your 2 day Amsterdam travel guide and itinerary, with all activities and attractions to visit. And don’t forget to pack a comfortable shoe.
I hope you found this itinerary useful, and don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have a question or input to add.
Happy travels!😉
