Amsterdam itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Amsterdam, day by day: the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, the canals, the Anne Frank House and the Royal Palace, the Jewish quarter and Rembrandt's house, and smaller museums as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Amsterdam in 1 day
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Amsterdam in 2 days
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Day 2
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Leidseplein
A busy square of cafés, theatres and nightlife near the Museum Quarter.
Amsterdam in 3 days
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Day 2
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Modern and contemporary art and design, from Mondrian to today.
Westerkerk
A Renaissance church near the Anne Frank House; climb its tower for the view.
De Balie
A cultural centre for debate, film and theatre on the Leidseplein.
Bloemenmarkt
The floating flower market on the Singel canal, full of tulip bulbs and souvenirs.
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a 13th-century church in the heart of the old town.
Day 3
Begijnhof, Amsterdam
A peaceful medieval courtyard of almshouses, entered through a small door off the Spui.
Amsterdam Museum
The story of the city from a small fishing village to a world port, near the Begijnhof.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The former city hall on Dam Square, now a royal palace open to visitors.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid and wrote her diary during the war.
Amsterdam in 4 days
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Day 2
Museumplein
The big lawn between the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Modern and contemporary art and design, from Mondrian to today.
Day 3
Begijnhof, Amsterdam
A peaceful medieval courtyard of almshouses, entered through a small door off the Spui.
Amsterdam Museum
The story of the city from a small fishing village to a world port, near the Begijnhof.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The former city hall on Dam Square, now a royal palace open to visitors.
Rembrandt House Museum
The house where Rembrandt lived and painted for twenty years.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid and wrote her diary during the war.
Day 4
Bloemenmarkt
The floating flower market on the Singel canal, full of tulip bulbs and souvenirs.
Munttoren
The Mint Tower, a 17th-century tower by the flower market.
Magere Brug
The Skinny Bridge, a white wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit up at night.
Hermitage Amsterdam
A museum in a 17th-century almshouse on the Amstel, now called H'ART Museum.
Westerkerk
A Renaissance church near the Anne Frank House; climb its tower for the view.
Waag, Amsterdam
A 15th-century city gate turned weigh house on the Nieuwmarkt.
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a 13th-century church in the heart of the old town.
Amsterdam in 5 days
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Day 2
Museumplein
The big lawn between the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Modern and contemporary art and design, from Mondrian to today.
Day 3
Begijnhof, Amsterdam
A peaceful medieval courtyard of almshouses, entered through a small door off the Spui.
Amsterdam Museum
The story of the city from a small fishing village to a world port, near the Begijnhof.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The former city hall on Dam Square, now a royal palace open to visitors.
Blauwbrug
The Blue Bridge over the Amstel, modelled on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid and wrote her diary during the war.
Day 4
Magere Brug
The Skinny Bridge, a white wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit up at night.
Hermitage Amsterdam
A museum in a 17th-century almshouse on the Amstel, now called H'ART Museum.
Joods Historisch Museum
The Jewish Museum, in four former synagogues in the old Jewish quarter.
Westerkerk
A Renaissance church near the Anne Frank House; climb its tower for the view.
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a 13th-century church in the heart of the old town.
Bloemenmarkt
The floating flower market on the Singel canal, full of tulip bulbs and souvenirs.
Munttoren
The Mint Tower, a 17th-century tower by the flower market.
De Kleine Komedie
Amsterdam's oldest theatre, on the Amstel, known for comedy and cabaret.
Day 5
Albert Cuyp Market
Amsterdam's biggest street market in De Pijp, with produce, cheese, fish and clothing stalls, and fresh stroopwafels.
Vondelpark
Amsterdam's best-loved park, with ponds, cafés and an open-air theatre in summer.
OT301
A former film academy turned alternative arts and music venue.
Leidseplein
A busy square of cafés, theatres and nightlife near the Museum Quarter.
Amsterdam in 6 days
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Day 2
Museumplein
The big lawn between the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Modern and contemporary art and design, from Mondrian to today.
Day 3
Begijnhof, Amsterdam
A peaceful medieval courtyard of almshouses, entered through a small door off the Spui.
Amsterdam Museum
The story of the city from a small fishing village to a world port, near the Begijnhof.
Dam Square
The central square of the old city, where the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Monument stand around a busy pedestrian space.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The former city hall on Dam Square, now a royal palace open to visitors.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid and wrote her diary during the war.
Day 4
Magere Brug
The Skinny Bridge, a white wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit up at night.
Hermitage Amsterdam
A museum in a 17th-century almshouse on the Amstel, now called H'ART Museum.
Joods Historisch Museum
The Jewish Museum, in four former synagogues in the old Jewish quarter.
Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
One of the world's oldest botanical gardens, founded in 1638, with glasshouses, a palm collection and a small butterfly house in the Plantage district.
Blauwbrug
The Blue Bridge over the Amstel, modelled on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris.
Bloemenmarkt
The floating flower market on the Singel canal, full of tulip bulbs and souvenirs.
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a 13th-century church in the heart of the old town.
Day 5
Albert Cuyp Market
Amsterdam's biggest street market in De Pijp, with produce, cheese, fish and clothing stalls, and fresh stroopwafels.
Vondelpark
Amsterdam's best-loved park, with ponds, cafés and an open-air theatre in summer.
OT301
A former film academy turned alternative arts and music venue.
Leidseplein
A busy square of cafés, theatres and nightlife near the Museum Quarter.
Day 6
Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum
The National Maritime Museum, with a full-size replica of an East India ship.
NEMO Science Museum
A hands-on science museum in a green ship-shaped building by the harbour, with a free rooftop terrace overlooking the city.
Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam
The central public library; its top-floor café has a great view over the city.
Waag, Amsterdam
A 15th-century city gate turned weigh house on the Nieuwmarkt.
Rembrandt House Museum
The house where Rembrandt lived and painted for twenty years.
Amsterdam in 7 days
Day 1
Rijksmuseum
The national museum: Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with gabled houses.
Jordaan
A former working-class district of narrow lanes, canals, small galleries, brown cafés and hidden courtyards, a good area to wander.
Day 2
Begijnhof, Amsterdam
A peaceful medieval courtyard of almshouses, entered through a small door off the Spui.
Amsterdam Museum
The story of the city from a small fishing village to a world port, near the Begijnhof.
Dam Square
The central square of the old city, where the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Monument stand around a busy pedestrian space.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The former city hall on Dam Square, now a royal palace open to visitors.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid and wrote her diary during the war.
Day 3
Museumplein
The big lawn between the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Modern and contemporary art and design, from Mondrian to today.
Day 4
Magere Brug
The Skinny Bridge, a white wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit up at night.
Hermitage Amsterdam
A museum in a 17th-century almshouse on the Amstel, now called H'ART Museum.
Joods Historisch Museum
The Jewish Museum, in four former synagogues in the old Jewish quarter.
Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
One of the world's oldest botanical gardens, founded in 1638, with glasshouses, a palm collection and a small butterfly house in the Plantage district.
Blauwbrug
The Blue Bridge over the Amstel, modelled on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris.
Munttoren
The Mint Tower, a 17th-century tower by the flower market.
Bloemenmarkt
The floating flower market on the Singel canal, full of tulip bulbs and souvenirs.
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a 13th-century church in the heart of the old town.
Day 5
Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum
The National Maritime Museum, with a full-size replica of an East India ship.
NEMO Science Museum
A hands-on science museum in a green ship-shaped building by the harbour, with a free rooftop terrace overlooking the city.
Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam
The central public library; its top-floor café has a great view over the city.
Waag, Amsterdam
A 15th-century city gate turned weigh house on the Nieuwmarkt.
Rembrandt House Museum
The house where Rembrandt lived and painted for twenty years.
Day 6
Albert Cuyp Market
Amsterdam's biggest street market in De Pijp, with produce, cheese, fish and clothing stalls, and fresh stroopwafels.
Vondelpark
Amsterdam's best-loved park, with ponds, cafés and an open-air theatre in summer.
OT301
A former film academy turned alternative arts and music venue.
Leidseplein
A busy square of cafés, theatres and nightlife near the Museum Quarter.
Day 7
Museum Van Loon
A merchant family's canal house with its period rooms and a formal garden.
Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
A photography museum in a canal house on the Keizersgracht.
KattenKabinet
The Cat Cabinet, a canal-house museum devoted to cats in art.
Westerkerk
A Renaissance church near the Anne Frank House; climb its tower for the view.
Negen Straatjes
The Nine Streets, a canal-side grid of small boutiques, vintage shops, cafes and galleries between the main canals.
Begijnhof Chapel, Amsterdam
A hidden Catholic church built inside two houses in the Begijnhof courtyard.
Allard Pierson Museum
The University of Amsterdam's archaeology museum: Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Watch: Amsterdam in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
When to go to Amsterdam
April to May and September are good months, with mild weather and fewer visitors than in midsummer. The tulip season peaks from about mid-April to early May, when Keukenhof gardens are open and the city is busy; King's Day on 27 April fills the streets with parties. Summer is crowded and hotels are expensive, while November to February is cold, grey and quieter.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Amsterdam on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Amsterdam on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Amsterdam on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Amsterdam with Kiwitaxi
- Sightseeing pass: save on Amsterdam's top attractions with Go City
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Netherlands from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Amsterdam with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Amsterdam
- Anne Frank House tickets are sold only online, released weeks ahead; book as soon as you know your dates.
- Book the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum online too; the Van Gogh Museum uses timed tickets.
- Bike lanes are for bikes: look both ways and keep off them when walking.
- A canal cruise is the easiest way to see the canal ring; many leave from near Central Station.
- The I amsterdam City Card covers public transport, a canal cruise and many museums.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Albert Cuyp Market: Michiel1972 at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Allard Pierson Museum: www.bma.amsterdam.nl, Attribution
- Amsterdam Museum: bureau Monumenten & Archeologie (bMA), Attribution
- Anne Frank House: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Begijnhof Chapel, Amsterdam: Massimo Catarinella, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Begijnhof, Amsterdam: Massimo Catarinella, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Blauwbrug: M.Minderhoud, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bloemenmarkt: Massimo Catarinella, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Canals of Amsterdam: Juke Schweizer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dam Square: Deerpeter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- De Balie: Elekes Andor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- De Kleine Komedie: unknown author, Public domain
- Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam: Dqfn13, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl
- Hermitage Amsterdam: Fentener van Vlissingen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam: Elekes Andor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joods Historisch Museum: S Sepp, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jordaan: Jvhertum, Public domain
- KattenKabinet: PersianDutchNetwork, Public domain
- Leidseplein: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Magere Brug: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Munttoren: The original uploader was P.H. Louw at Dutch Wikipedia ., CC BY 2.5 nl
- Museum Van Loon: Remi Mathis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museumplein: darwinist, CC BY 3.0
- NEMO Science Museum: pj soans, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum: S Sepp, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Negen Straatjes: Alf van Beem, Public domain
- OT301: daniel zimmel from bonn, germany, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam: Ceinturion, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oude Kerk: No machine-readable author provided. Dave1980~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- Rembrandt House Museum: 14:43, 17 October 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rijksmuseum: Marco Almbauer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Royal Palace of Amsterdam: Deerpeter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: Editør, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Van Gogh Museum: Alf van Beem, Public domain
- Vondelpark: Dguendel, CC BY 4.0
- Waag, Amsterdam: Kmhofmann at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Westerkerk: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
