Here’s the best two-day itinerary in Amsterdam to make the most of your trip to the Dutch capital.
I suggest staying in Amsterdam for at least two or three days because there’s a lot of things to see. If the weather is nice, you can also take a day trip to the surrounding countryside to see windmills, tulip fields, or charming neighbourhoods like Haarlem. I wrote a dedicated article on Amsterdam day trips here.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, and is located in the west, in the province of North Holland.
I’ll list here all the things to do when spending a few days in Amsterdam, from the cute canals to the Museum Quarter, including the famous Jordaan district.
- Day One : Oude Kerk – Beurpassage – Torensluis – Dam Square – City center
- Day Two : Lomanstraat – Vondelpark – Museumkwartier – Spiegelgracht – Bloemenmarkt – Pathé Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski – Zuiderkerk – Red Light District
Note : You can basically do everything on foot, otherwise public transportation is great in the city if you need a break from walking.
Day One
Day one circuit : 5 stops, 55 minutes walk
Start your day at Oude Kerk (Old Church), which is Amsterdam’s oldest building. This gothic-style church was founded in 1213 and consecrated in 1306.
Plus, the surrounding streets are great for a first stroll in the city, with their traditional leaning houses (see picture 2).
Entrance fee : Tickets are 13,5€ for adults and 7€ for students. You can directly book tickets online on the official website here.
Opening hours : Everyday from 10am to 6pm, except on Sundays where it’s open from 1pm to 5:30pm.
5 minutes from Oude Kerk is Beurspassage, a hidden gem in Amsterdam. This beautifully decorated passageway showcases a mosaic ceiling inspired by Amsterdam’s canals, bicycles, and trading history.
The Torensluis is the oldest and widest bridge in Amsterdam, built in 1648 over the Singel Canal.
Dam Square is the central place of Amsterdam and is surrounded by monuments like the Royal Palace, the New Church, and the National Monument dedicated to WWII victims :
- De Nieuwe Kerk : Meaning New Church – even though it was built in 1408 – is a Gothic church now used for exhibitions.
Entrance fee : 12,5€ for adults, 6€ for students. You can directly book tickets online on the official website here.
Opening hours : Everyday from 11am to 6pm, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Royal Palace Amsterdam : It was originally built as a city hall in 1648 and was converted into a royal palace in the 19th century.
Entrance fee : 12,5€ for adults, 9€ for students. You can directly book tickets online on the official website here.
Opening hours : Usually open from 10am to 5pm.
There are many areas and little street worth the detour, so here’s some of the best streets in Amsterdam to take a stroll :
- Start with Rokin Street, a lively street, perfect for wandering at the architecture and doing some shopping.
- Continue to Begijnhof, a medieval courtyard with a chapel and the city’s oldest wooden house.
- Now onto the best of the best : Negen Straatjes, consisting of nine little streets with many vintage stores, cafes, and art galleries, it is the perfect place to soak in the atmosphere of Amsterdam :
- Finally, Jordaan, one of Amsterdam’s most beloved neighborhoods, with the three main streets being Bloemstraat, Prinsengracht, and Herengracht.
Visiting all those little streets and bridges is also very beautiful at sunset :
Finally, if you’re up for more adventure, take a stroll at night along the canals :
Day Two
Day two circuit : 8 stops, 1h15 walk
Start your day at Lomanstraat, a street in the western part of the city, known for its leaning trees and charming neighbourhood.
It is a peaceful stroll to start your day beautifully, and in a less known area.
10 minutes from Lomanstraat is Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s most famous park. It offers a huge green space, where people come to walk, bike and relax.
The surrounding streets are also a wonderful place to stroll and admire the architecture :
10 minutes from the park is Museumkwartier (Museum Quarter), home to some of the city’s most famous museums :
- Rijksmuseum: Netherlands’ largest art museum. It displays works or art by Dutch artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer.
Entrance fee : 25€ for adults. You can buy directly buy the tickets online on the official website here.
Opening hours : Everyday from 9am to 5pm.
- Van Gogh Museum : Home to the world’s largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh, it showcases over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and personal letters.
Entrance fee : 24€ for adults and 11€ for students. You can buy directly buy the tickets online and in advance on the official website here.
Opening hours : Everyday from 9am to 6pm.
- Moco Museum: This museum offers contemporary art exhibitions, often featuring works by Banksy.
Entrance fee : Depends on the time of day, busy slots are 22,95€, others can be as low as 14,95€ (end of day for example). Check out the prices on the official website here. Travel tip : booking online can save you a fair amount on the total price !
Opening hours : Everyday from 9am to 8pm.
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: this museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
Entrance fee : 22,5€ for adults and 10€ for students. You can buy directly buy the tickets online on the official website here.
Opening hours : Everyday from 10am to 6pm.
Spiegelgracht is a picturesque canal, located just south of the Rijksmuseum, really worth stopping by :
The Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market. Why floating you might say ? Well, because the flower stalls are built on houseboat-like platforms that float on the Singel canal. This tradition dates back to 1862, when flowers were delivered by boat. Here you can buy tulip bulbs, fresh flowers and souvenirs.
Opening hours : Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm and Sunday from 11:30am to 5:30pm.
Right next to the flower market is Pathé Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski, a stunning Art Deco cinema with influences of Art Nouveau and Amsterdam School styles. It opened in 1921, and still operates today.
Plus, the canal right behind is stunning and clearly worth the detour :
10 minutes from the cinema is Zuiderkerk (Southern Church), a Renaissance-style Protestant church, built 1603. The church is no longer used for services, but now hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
To end the day, you can take a stroll to the famous Red Light District, called De Wallen, located 5 minutes away from the previous spot.
The world’s oldest profession – prostitution – doesn’t happen behind closed doors in Amsterdam. Here, you’ll find prostitutes offering their services from behind a window, but also live sex shows, sex shops, and strip clubs.
I would say while the atmosphere might seem a bit strange, it is a beautiful district with colourful neon lights and it is a part of the city’s liberal culture.
That’s it for my two days itinerary in Amsterdam ! Amsterdam is a city with a lot of things to see and do, I listed only the main ones but you could easily spend a few more days there and you wouldn’t be bored a second. If you need more information about what to know before going to The Netherlands, you can check out this article.
I have also made a post about restaurant and food recommendations, click here to check it out !
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
