Do you have 72 hours to spend in the Dutch capital? Then check out the must-see tips in this 3 days in Amsterdam itinerary.
First day in Amsterdam
Morning: canal boat tour
A classic way to get to know Amsterdam is by taking a boat trip along the canals. On these, you can see the buildings, sights and houses of the area. There are several different routes on the city’s different canals, so you can choose the one that departs closest to your hotel.
As there are tours of different lengths, the best thing is to think about what you want to do for the rest of the day and then calculate your time. There is, for example, a full-day tour, where you get on and off the boats whenever you want, at certain points.
Want to buy your tour in advance to avoid a headache and be able to compare the options? We recommend this Amsterdam Ticket Site. It’s also valid for the tour we’re going to show you next, and for all the others on this itinerary.
Afternoon: Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the National Museum of the Netherlands. It is one of the most important in the whole country. It is huge and houses a collection of works of art by painters such as Rembrandt and Jan Steen, as well as many other 17th century artists.
As it’s a very large museum, you can spend a whole afternoon there if you want to take your time. The length of this tour depends on how much you dedicate to looking at each work, but it’s worth taking your time to appreciate everything on offer.
This museum is located in a place called Museum Square in Amsterdam, which is also home to the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk. On this first day, it’s also worth taking a stroll around to get to know it. However, if you prefer to spend a lot of time in each museum, you can visit just the Rijksmuseum and come back at another time to see the others.
Tour of the Van Gogh Museum: as we mentioned above, another museum that deserves its fame and is located on Museum Square is the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. It houses the artist’s main works, canvases, illustrations and other original objects.
The museum also has a vast collection of Van Gogh’s biography and career, as well as paintings inspired by him by other artists. If you want to take a full tour of Museum Square, reserve the first day of your 3-day Amsterdam itinerary for this.
A full visit takes about two hours, but allow extra time for the queue, which is usually long. So if you’d rather do a full tour of Museum Square, it’s worth setting aside the whole afternoon for this.
Evening: bars in Amsterdam
To round off the first day of this 3 days in Amsterdam itinerary, we recommend a visit to Amsterdam’s bars. There are many of them, of different types, and they are scattered throughout different neighborhoods. Some of them, for example, are considered coffee shops and there are also pubs.
Some of the establishments we recommend:
- Gollem’s Ploeflokaal – a café and bar with three locations throughout Amsterdam. It offers more than 60 different beer options, most of them Belgian. Worth a visit!
- Hiding in Plain Sight – is a good choice for those who want something more intimate, cool and that serves great drinks.
- Restaurant de Plantage – if you don’t want to give up good food to go with your drinks. The place has an incredible space, being surrounded by centuries-old trees, the 1870 building withstood the war and the Nazi occupation. Mediterranean food can be served with great drinks.
Second day in Amsterdam
Morning: Jordaan district
Let’s move on to the second day of our 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam. The Jordaan district is one of the coolest in the city, with its romantic vibe and village atmosphere. It lies within the tourist zone and is full of charming streets and canals, as well as having a large number of art galleries, restaurants, stores and cafés.
The best way to get to know it is on foot, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes on your second day. Another good idea is to rent a bicycle, one of the Dutch people’s main means of transportation. You can rent it for just a few hours in the morning while you’re in the Jordaan.
There, you can go to the 9 Straatjes, “nine streets”, a very famous place for shopping. It’s also nice to go to one of the restaurants or cafés in the area and have a good meal there.
There you’ll find boutiques, antique stores, thrift stores, cafés, art stores and much more. In this area, there are also options for more internationally famous stores, such as H&M. It’s a great place to visit.
Afternoon: Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is one of the most important museums and tourist sites in the Dutch capital. It’s also in the Jordaan district, so it’s easy to get there after your morning stroll.
It was the house where Anne Frank and her family lived during the Second World War, when the girl wrote the diaries that became famous all over the world. The rooms and most of the objects are intact and on display for visitors. You can also visit the bookshop and café inside at the end of your tour.
Evening: Red Light District
Going to the Red Light District in Amsterdam is a must. Contrary to what many people think, this place is visited by all kinds of tourists, from families to couples and even groups of friends. But it’s worth noting that, at night, the crowd is more limited to adults. If you’re with children, prefer to go there in the morning.
There are a lot of nightclubs, coffee shops and a few bars. The best thing to do there is to walk around as you see the places and enter those where you feel most comfortable. Be aware that it is strictly forbidden to take photos of women in shop windows and breaking this rule can lead to serious problems, such as fines and punishments.
Third day in Amsterdam
Morning: Leidseplein and Singel Canal
The Leidseplein is one of the coolest areas to visit because it’s very trendy, full of cafés, pubs, bars and shops.
From there, you can walk to the Singel Canal in Amsterdam and see it, along with the Bloemenmarkt, which is the city’s floating flower market. As well as the flowers themselves on the floating boats, you can also buy various souvenirs of the Dutch capital.
If you’re traveling in winter, you might want to rethink this tour, but in spring, summer and even autumn, you can’t skip it.
Afternoon: Dam Square
Amsterdam’s Dam Square is one of the city’s most famous sights. It is home to the Royal Palace and Madame Tussauds Museum. If you’re traveling in winter and don’t want to go to the flower market, or if you prefer a more cultural attraction, then you can opt for one or both museums.
The Royal Palace is open to the public and has beautiful architecture. It was built around 350 years ago, between 1648 and 1665, and is very well preserved. The building has a classic Dutch style and, although it was built as a town hall, today it represents the royal palace. The Dutch royal family doesn’t live there, but it serves as a representation and as a guest house for official state visits.
Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam is the famous museum of wax replicas of personalities. Many tourists pass through the area without knowing that there is a branch there. If you have some time left over, go, as it’s a fun outing. The wealth of detail in the dolls is impressive, and many of them really do look exactly like their namesakes.
In addition to these great attractions, Dam Square has several bars, restaurants and stores around it.
Alternative > Tour of the Heineken Experience: would you prefer a different kind of tour? Our tip is to take a tour of the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam. This attraction is a visit to a Heineken factory, where you can see all the processes involved in making the drink, which has been around for over 150 years.
The tour takes an average of an hour and a half, and most of it is done standing up or walking. Children under 18 can only go in accompanied, as it involves beer tasting.
Evening: Leidseplein
Finish your 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam at Leidseplein, one of the best places to go at night in Amsterdam. Leidse Square and the whole neighborhood are very bohemian, full of nightclubs, restaurants and coffee shops.
In the summer, many artists perform live in the center of the square and, in the winter, people tend to go to the closed clubs, which play pop and electronic music. The streets around the square are usually very busy at night and the bars and pubs cater for many customers. Don’t worry about transportation, because the streetcars will take you there.
Save money on your trip to Amsterdam:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Amsterdam cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Amsterdam tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Amsterdam. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
