Here’s our 2 days in Amsterdam itinerary. With beautiful sites, fantastic attractions and a vibrant nightlife scene, the city has a lot to offer.
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
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 your first day, it’s also worth taking a stroll around. However, if you prefer to spend a lot of time in each museum, you could just visit the Rijksmuseum and come back at another time to see the others.
- Alternative suggestion: tour of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
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.
And to fit it into your 2 days in Amsterdam itinerary, you’ll need to get to know the first museum more quickly. 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 that.
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 there is more restricted to adults. Therefore, if you’re with children, prefer to go there in the morning.
The nightclubs are packed, as are the 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.
Second day in Amsterdam
Morning: Jordaan district
Let’s move on to the second day of our 2 days in Amsterdam itinerary. The Jordaan district is one of the coolest in the city, with a romantic vibe and a village feel. 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 many others. 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: Leidseplein and Singel Canal
The Leidseplein area is one of the coolest to visit, ideal for rounding off this 2 days in Amsterdam itinerary. It’s a very trendy area, full of cafés, pubs, bars and shops.
From there, you can walk to the Singel Canal in Amsterdam and see it, along with 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.
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!
