Amsterdam in 2 Days - Itinerary & Things to Do

Apr 11
4 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

🤩 My reflection

My beautiful home for 3 years… Amsterdam is such a unique city. With its architecture, canals, and bicycles, it’s not your average European town. Especially during summer, the city gets a whole different vibe - people really know how to enjoy good weather and the outdoors. And the amazing thing is that its beauty never gets old, even after 3 years. You might catch a random sunset on your way home from work and suddenly wonder how you got so lucky to live in this town. Don’t come here only for the weed - of course, try the experience, but also stay awake and appreciate everything else the city has to offer. I have a huge love for this city, and it’s my number one place that should be seen in Europe.

✍🏻 Itinerary

The order of each day is designed as a walking route, so you can follow it directly.

Day 1

Walking Tour Route 1 & Walking Tour Route 2

Breakfast near Vondelpark

Vondelpark - Largest park in the city, the central park of Amsterdam
Museumplein - The main museum square where all major museums are located
Rijksmuseum / Van Gogh Museum - These are the two most famous museums, and if you are not an art expert, their styles are quite similar, so you can visit just one
Leidseplein - A lively square with shops, cafes, and street life
Herengracht / Keizersgracht / Prinsengracht - Walk along these iconic canals and take photos
Koningsplein - Central square connecting shopping and canal areas
Nieuwendijk & Kalverstraat - The busiest shopping streets in the city
Van Stapele Koekmakerij - Famous for its soft chocolate cookies
Dam Square - The main square with historic buildings and crowds
Tony's Chocolonely Superstore - Colorful chocolate shop with Dutch treats
Damrak - Classic canal view for photos with narrow houses
Amsterdam Centraal Station & IJ River - Walk behind the station for waterfront views

Dinner near Centraal Station

De Wallen - The Red Light District, best experienced at night

Day 2

Walking Tour Route

Breakfast in De Pijp (trendy neighborhood with great cafes)

Albert Cuyp Market - Famous street market for food and local goods
Heineken Experience - Interactive beer museum inside the original brewery
Rembrandtplein - Busy square with nightlife and restaurants
Bloemenmarkt - Floating flower market on the canal

Have a break by the canal at Café de Jaren

Koningsplein - Central meeting and walking point
Fabel Friet - Popular spot for loaded Dutch fries
De Negen Straatjes - Charming area with boutique shops and cafes
Anne Frank House - Historic house museum; book tickets in advance
Winkel 43 - Famous for its Dutch apple pie
Jordaan - Beautiful neighborhood with picturesque streets

Dinner in Jordaan

Back to Centraal Station for canal boat tours

What to Eat and Where in Amsterdam

Bitterballen at any bar - The most famous traditional Dutch fried snack
Stroopwafel at Albert Cuyp Market or Hans Egstorf - A must-eat in Amsterdam. Fresh waffle with caramel syrup filling
Chocolate cookies at Van Stapele Koekmakerij - They only sell one type of cookie, which is rich, soft, and very popular
Fries at Fabel Friet - Crispy fries with unique toppings, and yes, the line by the canal is for this :)
Apple pie at Winkel 43 - I normally don’t like cinnamon or apple pie, but this one is really good
Cannabis products at Tweede Kamer Coffeeshop - This is a very clean and nice store in case you’d like to try anything

Breakfast Recommendations in Amsterdam

De Pijp

Bakers & Roasters
Little Collins
Florentin
The Breakfast Club
Omelegg
Harmani
Locals
Flow

City Center

Omelegg
Eggs Benedict

Near Vondelpark

Anne & Max
Staring at Jacob
MOODS Coffee & Brunch

Restaurant Recommendations in Amsterdam

Night Kitchen - Middle Eastern
Branie - Modern European
Zaza’s - Mediterranean
Tapas Amsterdam Tia Rosa - Spanish
SENT - Meat
Café Caron - Meat
Bar Bario - Italian
Pizza Project - Pizza
Pesca - Fish
Le Smash - Burger
Zero Zero - Sandwiches

Bakery Recommendations in Amsterdam

Grammes
Saint Jean
Brittons Bakery
Fort Negen
Ulmus Bakery
brioche.
louf

📢 Essential tips

The best time to visit Amsterdam

The best time to visit Amsterdam is May to September, when the weather is generally mild, the city is lively, and outdoor life around the canals is at its best.

What to wear in Amsterdam

If you’re from the south like I am, always bring a jacket with you. Here, even summer isn’t really summer most of the time, except for maybe a week.

Bookings / Reservations in Amsterdam

If there is a specific museum or restaurant you’d like to visit, I would always recommend booking in advance. For restaurants, unless it’s a very hyped place, booking about two weeks in advance should definitely be enough, and even one week in advance can often be sufficient. Museum tickets are usually available, but I have seen some sell out in high season, so the same principle applies here.

Boat rental in Amsterdam

As a tourist, your initial reaction will likely be to join a group canal tour through a booking. However, there are websites where you can rent your own small boat and drive privately through the canals of Amsterdam. I can 100% say it’s a much better experience. You are right on the water, picnicking on a boat. Check out the links I will share below for some of the options. And no, you don’t need a license to drive it - it’s quite simple.

Nearby cities to visit

If you have an additional day, you can easilty add one of the following destinations to your plan.

1/2 day in Zaanse Schans - Traditional windmills, wooden houses, cheese farms.
1-2 hours in Volendam - Classic Dutch fishing village by the sea.
1/2 day in Utrecht - Charming canals at street level, cozy cafes, historic old town, and a less touristy Amsterdam-like vibe.
1 day in Den Haag - Government city with elegant architecture, museums, a beach (Scheveningen), and a more upscale, calm atmosphere.
1/2 day in tulip fields (if it’s the season) - Colorful endless tulip fields in spring
1/2 day in Leiden - Beautiful canals, old university town feel, and quiet streets