- February 9, 2021
- in Capitals, Cultural, Netherlands, Western Europe
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Overview
Amsterdam is a city packed with eclectic culture and life. There is a little bit of everything, be it architecture, cuisine, history or nature. So much is packed into this small city, it’s perfect for an adventure filled trip. With our Amsterdam one day itinerary you’ll explore the famous canals that cover the city, whilst dipping into fun museums, munching on stroopwafel and soaking up the lively, yet laid-back, atmosphere of the Dutch capital.
When
Visiting Amsterdam in a day during any season has unique benefits. In the summer, you can enjoy beautiful warm weather, and in the winter, you can see the magic of the snow, Christmas markets and frozen canals. Choosing when to visit will depend on the kind of short break you prefer.
Amsterdam is a very popular city and is usually busy year-round, but to avoid crowds as much as possible and get the best hotel and flight deals, choose the shoulder seasons of March to May and September to October.
Travel
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is a major international airport, and one of the most well-connected in Europe and the world. The airport lies 17km south-west of Amsterdam city center.
You have several options to get to downtown Amsterdam from the airport;
- Transfer – the quickest and most convenient option, you can book in advance with Intui Travel.
- Taxi – grab a metered cab which will cost around €45 and take about 15-20 minutes. Uber is present in Amsterdam and airport-city transfers cost €40-€60 (Uber Black) and around €30 (UberX)
- Train - catch the NS Sprinter from platforms1, 2 or 3 in Schiphol airport, to Amsterdam Central Station. Trains leave ten times an hour and the journey takes 15-20 minutes. A one way ticket to Amsterdam Central cost €5.60 in 2nd class or €8.59 in 1st class – these prices include the €1 surcharge for buying a disposable ticket. It is mandatory to check-in and check-out of your train journeys in Amsterdam using the yellow card readers which are located around the entrances and exits to stations.
- Bus – The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 leaves from Schiphol Plaza bus stop B17 to Amsterdam Elandsgracht every seven minutes, with stops in central Amserdam including Museumplein, Rijksmuseum or Leidseplein. A single ticket costs €6.50, and an open return is €11.25.
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Stay
On one of Amsterdam’s main canals and just ten minutes from Amsterdam Central station is The Craftsmen, an hotel which pays homage to the 17th century artisans who built the original canal-side house. With a family-run vibe, friendly staff and cleverly designed, quirk rooms, this is a perfect place to stay for your one day Amsterdam itinerary.
Hotel Estheréa is located in the heart of Negen Straatjes – the ‘Nine Streets’, a cool shopping, cafe and restaurant quarter, that so characterises Amsterdam. With opulent and colourful decor stretching through eight buildings including three adjoining canal houses, the privately owned hotel is charming and welcoming. This is a lovely spot from which to enjoy Amsterdam in 24 hours.
See & Do
This is a very walkable city, with most things to do in Amsterdam in one day in a relatively small area. Walking is one of the pleasures when you’re in Amsterdam for the day, it gives you a chance to soak up the special atmosphere of the city, find hidden architectural treats and immerse yourself in Amsterdam life.
If you like your city visits organised for you, then check out these top walking tours of Amsterdam, or do it like the locals and take a bike tour instead.
Morning
Wander Dam Square
Start your day in Amsterdam by visiting one of the most famous spots in the city – Dam Square, in the heart of historic Amsterdam. Built in the 13th century, when a dam was built around the river Amstel to prevent the Zuiderzee sea from flooding the city, this spot is one of the most important places in the city.
The square is surrounded by a number of historic buildings, including the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) and the grand Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace), a 17th century building which was once home to the Dutch royal family. You’ll also find the National War Memorial, built in 1956 to commemorate Dutch soldiers and members of the resistance who died in World War II.
Although Dam Square is a must-see when you’re in Amsterdam for a day, it won’t take you long to visit unless you hang around to watch the street performers and live musicians who play here, or take a spin on the ferris wheel which appears in the warmer months.
Top Tip
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If you want to see some cool cityscape views from above you can visit Madame Tussauds or climb to the top floor of H&M that’s on the right side of the square.
Visit Anne Frank's House
Many know the harrowing true story of Anne Frank, whose life and experiences have been preserved in her diaries written during her time in hiding. For those who don’t, Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl from Germany, who was persecuted for her religion during the Nazi reign, and forced into hiding in the annexe of a townhouse in Amsterdam. She and her family were discovered and Anne was deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where she died in February 1945, at just fifteen years old.
After the war, Anne’s father Otto, the only member of the family to survive the Holocaust, decided to publish Anne’s diaries and the young author became a symbol of hope in the face of adversity, with words so positive it’s hard to imagine the circumstances in which they were written. The Diary of a Young Girl, also known as The Diary of Anne Frank, was published in 1947 and has since been translated in more than 70 languages and sold over 30 million copies.
The townhouse where she and her family lived for those two horrifying years has now been converted into the Anne Frank Museum, and you can visit and learn all about the true difficulties of life there, and of life in Nazi Europe in general. This can be a difficult museum to visit and you have to be quiet and respectful of the surroundings, but if you are interested in European history this is such an important place to see.
Check Out the Nine Streets Neighbourhood
Spend the rest of your morning wandering around Amsterdam’s Negen Straatjes, or Nine Streets. This hip micro-neighbourhood that lies between the Singel and Prinsengracht canals is full of cute little streets filled with stylish hotels, independent boutiques and quirky cafés, and many Instagram worthy photo opportunities.
The canals of the district date back to the 16th and 17th centuries and are lined with stunning gabled townhouses so distinctive of the Dutch Golden Age. Since 2010 the canals have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that recognises their significance in the development of Amsterdam - no wonder this city is knows as “the Venice of the North”.
You could pop into a fun museum, like the Amsterdam Cheese Museum or the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, grab a coffee and watch the world go by, or simply walk around and take in the surroundings. This is the perfect way to finish your morning.
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Afternoon
Marvel at the Bloemenmarkt
After a busy morning exploring the west of Amsterdam, head south and discover one of Amsterdam’s most unique attractions - the colourful and fragrant floating flower market, the only one of its kind in the world.
Bloemenmarkt sits along a long line of canal boats attached to the harbour and has been here since 1862. You can see plenty of flowers, including tulips, as well as bulbs to take home and grow yourself, and other Amsterdam themed souvenirs.
Visit Museumplein
Amsterdam is absolutely full of museums, so a day in Amsterdam has to be full of them too! Museumplein is where you’ll find the most famous museums in the city. You can choose between the Rijksmuseum, dedicated to art and history from Amsterdam and the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum of modern and contemporary art and design, and the MOCO museum.
Of course, if the weather is nice during your visit, take some time to relax in the grassy area around Museumplein, a beautiful square that is used for festivals and celebrations, and where Amsterdam locals meet to while away an afternoon. In the winter, the pond is transformed into an ice skating rink.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is the biggest, and great if you want to discover more about the Netherlands, with art from the Dutch Golden Age on display, including pieces by Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt, most notably the Night Watch.
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelick Museum
The Stedelick Museum is Amsterdam’s answer to the Tate Modern. Housed in an historic building from 1895 with a new wing, it is home to the largest collection of modern and contemporary art and design in the Netherlands, including works by Chagall, Matisse, Kandinsky, Pollock, de Kooning and Warhol.
MOCO Museum
The MOCO museum is best for those who aren’t as interested in traditional museums, as it is filled with modern art. There is a long-running Banksy exhibition filled with street art and a light and reflection exhibition which is really fun. The exhibitions do change in this museum so you might come across something new, but it is guaranteed to be fun and modern.
Enjoy a Beer at the Heineken Experience
Of all the things that Amsterdam is known for, beer might just be the most exciting. There are several famous beers, but Heineken is the most famous worldwide. At the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, you can take a tour through the company’s old brewery, to learn all about the history of the beer-making process. Of course, your ticket includes some beer that you can enjoy!
Evening
Take an Amsterdam Canal Cruise
One of the best things to do in Amsterdam is take a city canal cruise. You’ll spend your Amsterdam day wandering around them, and this is a wonderful way to experience the city in a different way. I recommend booking a canal cruise during the evening as once the sun sets you can see the city and the canal bridges lit up.
It’s a really unique experience, and there are countless different options based on your budget – a regular highlights tour, dinner on a canal boat, a private tour – the list is endless. Most canal tours start at Damrak, and you can see the famous dancing houses when you pass by for your tour, a great way to end your perfect day in Amsterdam.
Check out the Craft Beer Scene
Proeflokaal Arendsnest is one of the best places in Amsterdam to get a taste of the growing Dutch craft beer scene. With a range of over 52 Dutch craft beers on tap and over 100 beers by the bottle, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The helpful and knowledgeable bar tenders are happy to guide you through their selection. If you get the munchies, the bar snack menu offers excellent, traditional Dutch charcuterie and cheese.
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Eat
Van Wonderen Stroopwafels
You can’t visit Amsterdam and not have a stroopwafel! The cutest stroopwafels in the city are definitely from Van Wonderen Stroopwafels, and they’re delicious too. Visiting the shop is an experience in itself, as the decoration is so exquisite and mesmerising. You can choose from a range of different toppings for your stroopwafel, and then enjoy it warm after it’s made right in front of you.
Pluk & Ree 7
The cute cafés of Amsterdam’s nine streets neighbourhood are the perfect place for lunch. Pluk and Ree7 are my top picks – they are sister cafés, only a few doors away from each other, both serving delicious brunch and lunch options.
Grab a seat at either restaurant and you can enjoy sandwiches, eggs, salads, smoothie bowls or pancakes! The best part about these cafés (aside from the food, of course) is that the interior is an absolute dream! They are so well designed and have such a great atmosphere - at Ree7 you can even sit outside to watch the world go by.
Moeders
Moeders, or Mothers, is a quirky restaurant serving traditional Dutch cuisine in Amsterdam. Decorated in a shabby-chic antique style, with a mothers wall of fame, it’s a convivial (in the Netherlnds, there is a word for this: gezellig, which translates roughly as ‘convivial’ or ‘cosy’) and lively place. Their most famous dish is stamppot, a delicious combination of mashed potato, cabbage, bacon and sausage that is comfort food personified.
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Come hungry, the portion sizes are large and the home-made Dutch cookie ice-cream is to die for!
Top Five Amsterdam Travel Tips
- Buy all your museum tickets in advance. In a lot of cities, it’s nicer to go with the flow and book attractions and experiences as you go. In Amsterdam, it pays to be organised and decide where you want to visit before the trip. Amsterdam is a very busy city so you can avoid long queues by booking skip the line tickets online in advance, and in some places, it’s actually a requirement. For the Anne Frank House, you’ll want to book as far in advance as possible as tickets are limited – tickets are released two months in advance, so as soon as you book your trip, book the tickets.
- Look out for bikes. Amsterdam is full of traffic and cyclists, and the locals will not stop or slow down for you! Always stay alert to what is going on around you, especially on the narrow streets around the canals, or before you know it, you’ll be knocked off your feet by a speeding cyclist.
- You don’t need to take public transport. Unless you’re staying outside of the city, ditch the tram tickets and walk everywhere. Of course, if this isn’t an option for you, the public transport system is very well connected.
- Research the IAmsterdam City Card. It’s no secret that this city card is great, with over 70 attractions, public transport and a boat tour included. However, if you are following our one day in Amsterdam itinerary, it may not be worth your money. Look up any additional attractions you want to visit, and you’ll quickly be able to decide if it’s good value for money for you.
- Visit the red light district during the day. This somewhat infamous district of Amsterdam has turned into a rowdy tourist’s dream. At night, throngs of groups emerge, be they stag or hen dos, or just general visitors, to get drunk in the streets and enjoy all that the red light district has to offer. Of course, if this is your style, go for it! But, if you’d prefer to avoid this slightly seedier part of the city, visit during the day. You can still experience this part of Amsterdam’s culture but in a much more peaceful way.
Do you have just a little longer in Amsterdam?
If you have another half a day, or two days in Amsterdam, add these top attractions to your itinerary;
- March to May is tulip season and visiting the tulip fields of the Netherlands makes the perfect one day trip from Amsterdam if you have a little longer in the city. Keukenhof Botanical Gardens, not far from the city, has some of the best tulip displays.
- Rent a bike and take an Amsterdam self guided bike tour around the Zaanse Schans. These iconic Dutch windmills are just outside the city and can be easily reached. It’s a great way to dive even deeper into all things culture, and you can discover the history and legacy of the mills.
- Visit the beautiful botanical gardens at Hortus Botanicus. The botanical gardens are right in the centre of the city and perfect to do something a little different if you’re in Amsterdam for one day more.
- Take a city ferry across to the north side of Amsterdam, and you can visit A’DAM Lookout. This attraction comes in the form of a huge tower and observation deck, where you can enjoy a drink or bite to eat with a view over Amsterdam. If you feel brave enough you can have a shot on their over the edge swing at the top of the tower, where you’ll swing off the edge of the building and see the city in all its glory.
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