Planning a trip to Amsterdam and looking for the best things to do? Welcome to your Amsterdam 2 day itinerary and travel guide!
Amsterdam is a fantastic city! In addition being beautiful, it’s also a ton of fun. There are so many things to do in Amsterdam and you’ll find tons of interesting museums, markets, river cruises and fun places to go out!
Keep reading for the perfect Amsterdam 2 day itinerary – complete with hotels, restaurants, museums, tours and more!
Day 1 in Amsterdam
Brunch at Bakers & Roasters or Locals Coffee
Start your first day in Amsterdam by grabbing a delicious breakfast or brunch at Bakers & Roasters or Locals Coffee.
Both spots come highly recommended and are extremely popular, especially during the weekend. However, getting a table doesn’t take too long, especially at Locals, and the food is definitely worth it.
Bakers & Roasters has 2 locations, but for today’s itinerary, head to the De Pjip location (Locals is right down the street!).
After grabbing a bite to eat, make the short walk over to the Heineken Experience.
Take Part in the Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience pleasantly surprised me! The experience is located in the original Heineken brewery and all of the employees are very knowledgeable about the history and brewing process.
Adult tickets are €21,00 for a semi- guided tour and this includes 2 Heineken beers! Because the majority of the tour is self-guided, you can choose your pace. For us, it took about an hour and 15 minutes to complete the tour and drink our beers.
For a more local experience, I’ve heard good things about Brouwerij’t IJ brewery. However, I did not have a chance to visit it myself. These brewery tours occur every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 3:30pm in English and 4pm in Dutch. The tour lasts about 20 minutes and is free, but limited spots are available so be sure to show up early to grab a spot!
Check out the Museums at Museumplein
After the Heineken Experience, walk about 10 minutes to Museumplein, a large green space surrounded by some of Amsterdam’s most iconic museums. While you could spend a full day here, to get the most out of your time in Amsterdam, I recommend spending around 4 hours here.
The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museums are absolute musts. While Rijksmuseum tickets can be bought day-of, Van Gogh tickets need to be bought at least a week in advance – so be sure to plan ahead. Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh adult tickets cost €20 and €19 respectively, with those under 18 receiving free admission.
The Moco Museum and the Stedelijk Museum, both dedicated to modern art, with the former specializing in street art, are also located within Museumplein. If you have time, they are well worth visiting!
If you’re pressed for time, definitely still walk around the area and check out the Rijksmuseum Garden. It has free admission!
Pick Up Snacks at Albert Cuyp Market
Next, head to the Albert Cuyp Market. Popular with locals and tourists alike, this market was definitely a highlight of my time in Amsterdam!
Stroll through the famous open-air street market and pass by vendors selling fruits and veggies, clothes, street food, art, and more. Grab some lunch and a stroopwafel, and also pick up some snacks to take to the next stop, Vondelpark!
Have a Picnic in Vondelpark
With your drinks and snacks in tow, hop on the tram or walk to Vondelpark. Vondelpark is the largest park in Amsterdam and is perfect for picnicking and people-watching. It is easy to spend a few hours here.
BONUS: If your group likes beer, there is a beer garden within the park that was a ton of fun!
Hangout in the park and enjoy your picnic dinner and drinks before your sunset boat cruise!
Evening Canal Cruise
A must-do in Amsterdam is taking a canal cruise. There are seemingly endless cruises to book online and many with open-bar options. For the best experience possible, be sure to book a cruise that only fits 20-30 people and doesn’t have a roof covering the whole boat.
We booked the Salonboat Canal Cruise with Cheese and Drinks, which included unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks. This canal cruise was great – the guides were awesome and informative, and we made friends! We booked the cruise for sunset (~10pm in the summer) and we thought this was the perfect time.
Day 2 in Amsterdam
Have Breakfast at MOAK Pancakes City Center
For breakfast on your second day in Amsterdam, head to MOAK Pancakes, formerly known as MOOK Pancakes. There are a few locations around the city, but if you’re staying in the city center, there is a location right next to the Rembrandt House Museum.
They have great sweet and savory options and the décor at all the locations is very aesthetic and instagrammable.
Visit the Rembrandt House Museum
After breakfast, take the short walk to visit the Rembrandt House Museum. Between 1639 and 1659, this house was Rembrandt’s house, studio, and art gallery. Visiting the historic house is a great cultural visit.
Adult tickets cost €15, but there are discounted rates for students and children.
Check Out the Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)
Next, head to the world’s only floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt!
Amsterdam is famous for their tulips and they even have a tulip festival every spring.
March, April, and May are the best months to visit the flower market, as they have tons of fresh tulips. However, the market sells tulip bulbs year round and also ships internationally.
While it is a very touristy spot, it is worth the visit! They sell lots of souvenirs, including wooden tulips, for those who can’t bring the bulbs home.
Stop By Begijnhof
On the way to the next stop (9 Streets Shopping District,) be sure to stop by Begijnhof, an enclosed, peaceful courtyard. This is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Begijnhof was originally a beguinage, a community of lay religious women, and is one of the oldest hofjes (concealed courtyards) in Amsterdam.
The houses are still occupied, so it’s important to be quiet and respectful while visiting.
Note: Gartine, a small and highly recommended breakfast and lunch restaurant, is nearby. They also offer high tea!
Go Window Shopping at 9 Streets Shopping District
After seeing Begijnhof, continue walking to the 9 Streets Shopping District. This district includes mostly upscale and expensive shops, making it great for window shopping and browsing.
Grab Lunch at Fou Fow Ramen
After visiting the shopping district, I recommend grabbing some lunch! Nearby is Fou Fow Ramen, a delicious spot, popular with both locals and tourists.
Visit the Anne Frank House
After lunch, walk along the canal to the Anne Frank House. If you want to visit inside, you must get tickets in advance. Tickets go on sale the first Tuesday of every month, for the upcoming month, at 12pm Amsterdam time. Get them quickly, because they sell out fast!
There is a small quantity of tickets that you can buy day of, but if you really want to visit the museum, I encourage you to buy tickets in advance. Tickets cost €14 for adults, €7 for those 10-17, and €1 for those 9 and under.
TWO OPTIONS FOR THE AFTERNOON:
Walk by the Dam Square and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam
After visiting the Anne Frank House, head back to the city center. On the way back, be sure to walk by Dam Square and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
After, you can also walk along the main shopping street that features stores like Bershka, Stradivarius, and H&M.
OR – Head to the A’DAM Lookout
A’DAM Lookout is an observation tower with beautiful views of Amsterdam!
It is a little out of the way, and you have to take a ferry, but the ferry is free and quick (less than 5 minutes) and the views are cool. You take the ferry from the wharf behind central station. Make sure to buy tickets online in advance!
I wouldn’t consider this a must-visit, but it’s definitely a cool spot if you have time.
NOTE: If you put A’DAM tower into your maps app, it will bring you to the ferry location
Get Dinner and Drinks on the Canal
To finish up your 2 days in Amsterdam, grab drinks along one of the canals. Café de Jaren has a beautiful location on the canal, but can be quite busy and have a long line. If this is the case, there are several other bars across the canal that are nice as well.
For a more lively experience, I also recommend Coco’s Outback. While this spot is quite touristy, we really enjoyed our time at Coco’s.
There are a lot of bars near Coco’s, but we found that this one was the most fun at night and had an extensive (and not too pricey!) drink menu!
If You Have Extra Time in Amsterdam:
If you have extra time in Amsterdam, there are many other sites to check out and experiences to take part in!
- Go on a food tour
- Visit the Science Museum
- Especially great if you are traveling with kids (or kids at heart!)
- Check out the Zoo
- Explore the Botanical Gardens
- The Zoo and Botanical gardens are right next to each other (and not far from the Science Museum), so it’s easy to do all 3 in a row.
- Wander around the Red light district
I amsterdam City Card
The I amsterdam City Card includes admission to over 70 museums/attractions, public transportation, a canal cruise, and a bicycle rental. This card can be purchased for 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours.
Is it worth buying an I amsterdam City Card?
Personally, I did not purchase a card and I do not regret this decision.
However, if you are planning on visiting as many museums/attractions as possible, as well as using public transportation, the card may offer a cheaper alternative than paying for individual tickets. I recommend planning which tickets you will need to purchase during your trip and comparing that to the price of the I amsterdam City Card in order to make your decision.
Read more about the card here
A few things to note:
- You can purchase a physical card, but there is also a smartphone app, so you can use your card digitally.
- The canal cruise that is included is a huge boat that packs a lot of people on board. If you purchase the card and have time, you might as well do the cruise, but I still recommend booking a second, more intimate cruise.
- The card does not include public transportation to/from the airport.
- Even with the card, you still need to reserve time slots for the majority of the museums and experiences.
- Admission to the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank Museum is not included
- For a list of locations and activities included, check out the list here.
Amsterdam 2 Day Itinerary Q&A
- Where should I stay in Amsterdam for 2 days?
- I loved staying in the Old City Center of Amsterdam. Everything was very walkable and it’s where most of the attractions are.
- Check out these hotels:
- Can you walk everywhere in Amsterdam?
- Amsterdam is a very walkable city! If you’re staying in a centrally located hotel, you can definitely walk to most of the main tourist attractions.
- Is 2 days enough in Amsterdam?
- 2 days in Amsterdam is enough time to see many of the major landmarks, sites and tourist attractions. But Amsterdam is a wonderful city and after visiting for two days you’ll likely want to plan another trip!
- Is it expensive to stay in Amsterdam?
- Compared to many other European cities, Amsterdam is relatively expensive. While it is possible to visit Amsterdam on a budget, I wouldn’t consider it a budget destination.
I hope you found this Amsterdam 2 day itinerary and travel guide to be helpful! If you have any questions, or other Amsterdam recommendations, let me know in the comments.
As always, I appreciate you sharing this post on social media or with someone you know who’d love to visit Amsterdam!
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♡Maggie
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I love your 2 day itinerary! I went to Amsterdam 5 years ago, and I feel like I missed so much. I would love to go back and visit some of the places you have suggested. The flower market looks very pretty 🙂
I absolutely loved Amsterdam and spent 10 days there just before the pandemic. With 10 days, we did everything on your list and more! All great experiences, but loved just strolling the streets and enjoying the city life with a great arts and culture experiences.
I’ve always wanted to visit Amsterdam! The food and culture look amazing – I mean that brunch looks delicious and the brewery tour sounds like so much fun. I’ll definitely be saving this to refer to as I plan my trip!
Wow, this itinerary is incredible! Amsterdam has been on my bucket list forever, and I can’t wait to visit and check out all of these spots one day. Thanks so much for the recommendations; I will definitely be referring back whenever I start planning my own trip! Xx Sara
Love this guide! We spent 24hrs in Amsterdam but it clearly wasn’t enough. Can’t wait to go back and check out some of these spots.
I love how much information you provide here! It can be so overwhelming when I start planning. This is the perfect guide! Thanks!
This is amazing! Visiting Amterdam has been a dream for several years. I hope to be able to go within the next 3 to 5 years — there are so many cities on my list!
Fun! You definitely hit the highlights. I love the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. I would love to get tickets to the Anne Frank house next time I go. Also would love to see the 9 Streets shopping district. I didn’t know about that area the last time I was there.
I would love to visit Amsterdam! My hubby has been there for work and said it’s beautiful. I’d especially like to see Rembrandt’s house. What a perfect-sounding itinerary!
This is such a great itinerary for Amsterdam! Unfortunately, Amsterdam went into a lockdown when I was travelling through Europe so I had to miss it. Will definitely save this post for when I finally get to go!