A 2 Day Itinerary in Amsterdam That Will Steal Your Heart!

Last Updated on 27th May 2025 by Charlotte Nadeau

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The capital of the Netherlands is a dreamy (some might say hazy) city filled with charming canals, a whole lot of cheese and plenty of fascinating culture. A brimming city, as one of Europe’s most visited destinations, you can expect to find something for everyone in Amsterdam, and it can all be enjoyed within the space of 48 hours. Here’s how to spend 2 days in Amsterdam itinerary, as well as top tips to know before you go!

How long do you need in Amsterdam?

2 days is the perfect amount of time to explore, soak up the main sights and experience the city. Amsterdam is a fairly small capital city, and much of the main sights are within walking distance from one another. And, of course, as with most of the Netherlands being flat, it’s a very easy city to walk around so you can expect to cover quite a bit of distance in very little time.

That being said, you could easily spend longer and spend a few days taking day trips from Amsterdam, so that you can truly explore the Netherlands in all its glory.

Day One

Spend your first day in Amsterdam getting the lay of the land, exploring its main sights, many of which can be found in the Museum Quarter, as well as just soaking up the beauty and charm of this quaint city.

Pay a visit to the Van Gogh Museum

Start your time in the Dutch capital by paying a visit to the museum dedicated to one of the country’s most famous artists (and indeed the world’s), the Van Gogh Museum.

Vincent Van Gogh is a renowned painter, who, despite only working as an artist for 10 years or so, produced a vast collection of impressionist works (almost 2,100 to be precise). Although sadly he never saw the love for his art as he suffered from severe depression and ended his life at the age of just 37.

Posthumously, he gained great fame as one of the best artists of the era. This museum celebrates his life and artwork, displaying both his paintings and work from his contemporaries. 

Wandering around you can feel the paintings come to life through their colour and presence, it’s worth the cost to see such an amazing collection of Van Gogh’s work in one place. It’s worth noting, you’ll want to buy your ticket online in advance as tickets are limited and tend to sell out. Purchase your Van Gogh Museum ticket here in advance.

Check out the Rijksmuseum

As one of the most famous museums in the world, it should come as no surprise that the Rijksmuseum is one of the best places to visit in the city, even if you only have 48 hours.

Rijksmuseum is the National Museum of the Netherlands and is one of the most important museums in the country. It has a strong focus on art and design, with many of the country’s best artists’ work displayed here. Here, you’ll also find countless artefacts that detail the nation’s history. Purchase your Rijksmuseum ticket here in advance.

Wander along the canals

After visiting the world-famous Rijksmuseum, spend some time strolling beside the canals that the city is so famed for. Amsterdam is often referred to as the “Venice of the North”, thanks to the fact it is home to 165 canals. In fact, technically the city itself is made up of several mini islands, connected by some 1,200 bridges.

One of my favourite things about wandering along the canals is the endless enjoyment in people watching, spying out cute houseboats and watching the ducks (and their ducklings in springtime) bob along the gently flowing water.

Check out the Begijnhof Amsterdam

One of the better-known ‘open-secrets’ of Amsterdam, the term ‘hofje’ is a Dutch word, and signifies a usually privately owned courtyard surrounded by almshouses. The word is much like ‘mews’ in English, whereby it can’t easily be translated into other languages.

These small passageways and secret alleyways are filled with almshouses and often date back centuries. One of the best and most popular of these is the 14th-century Begijnhof Amsterdam.

Free to visit and open every day of the week, it’s best to visit the hofje earlier in the day so as to make the most of your time inside, and also so that you can arrive before the rest of the crowds (after all, Begijnhof Amsterdam is probably the Dutch capital’s worst kept secret).

Though the entrance can be a little tricky to find, it’s located near the American Book Centre. Nearby, it’s well worth sampling the gooey chocolate cookies from the Van Stapele bakery.

Take a canal tour of the city

One of the coolest things about Amsterdam has to be the fact that you can explore it via so many means. Whether its by foot, bicycle or water, you’re able to experience and enjoy the city from a whole other perspective.

Canal cruises generally take between 60 – 90 minutes and leave from various locations, many around the Central Station area. The best way to end your first day in Amsterdam is by taking a sunset cruise through the city, which offers views of the city bathed in a golden hour glow. Find more cruise details here.

Day Two

Your second day in the Dutch capital will be spent getting to know the city on a more local level, as such a touristic hot spot, it’s easy (and of course fun) to enjoy the main tourist attractions, after all, they are popular for a reason. However, there is much more to the city than meets the eye, which is what we’ll show you through the second day of this itinerary!

Explore the Jordaan District

Spend a couple hours of the morning exploring the one of Amsterdam’s oldest (and nowadays trendiest) neighbourhoods, the Jordaan District. Filled with independent boutique shops, cafés, leafy canals and 17th-century architecture, it’s a charming spot to soak up Amsterdam in a more relaxed ‘local’ way.

If visiting on a Monday or Saturday, be sure to head to the Noordermarkt, a vibrant and bustling marketplace selling all sorts of Dutch crafts, second-hand books, clothing, jewellery and plenty more.

Another must-visit spot in the district is Almond Bakery, I highly recommend stopping by for a delicious freshly baked Apple Pie, smakelijk!

Visit the Anne Frank House

Found within the Jordaan District is the important museum, Anne Frank’s House.

Anne Frank was a Dutch Jewish figure who gained posthumous fame due to her diaries being published after her death. Tragically, she was ultimately caught by the Nazi party and sent to Auschwitz, where she and most of her family died. Nowadays, Anne Frank Haus details her occupation of the city and her life. 

The only way to purchase a ticket for the Anne Frank House Museum is online through the official website, where you can choose a time slot. As the museum is quite small and very popular to visit, you’ll want to book this in advance.

Seek out some filming locations

From John Green’s, The Fault in Our Stars to  Sean Connery’s James Bond movie, ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, Amsterdam has been used countless times as the setting for films thanks to its historic buildings, leafy canals and charming cobblestoned streets. So, why not spend an hour or two spying out locations from your favourite scenes in cinema! Read our guide to see the Fault in Our Stars filming locations here.

Enjoy a smaller museum

If there’s one thing that should be adored about Amsterdam, it’s the number of quirky and small museums on offer. From a museum dedicated to tulips to a cultural hub that’s all about cats, there truly is something for everyone when it comes to the Dutch capital.

When it comes to off the beaten path museums, a personal favourite of mine has to be, Our Lord in the Attic. One of the oldest museums in Amsterdam, Our Lord in the Attic (known in Dutch as ‘Museum Amstelkring Ons Lieve Heer op Solder’), is a fairly substantial church, located in the attic of a 17th-Century house. For more inspiration, check out our guide to the best small museums in Amsterdam. 

Things to know before visiting Amsterdam

If you’re looking for Amsterdam advice before you travel to the Dutch capital, then there are a few things you should know before you go. For example, despite the fact that Dutch is the native language of the country, you’ll likely find that almost anyone you come across can speak English, but it’s always nice to make an effort and look up a few simple Dutch words beforehand!

For those who might not know, the term “coffee shop” doesn’t just refer to the caffiene fixing haven you might think it is. Although you can usually buy coffee here, these shops are also where customers can buy and smoke marijuana, so if that’s not your scene it’s best to not head there for coffee (there are also plenty of cute cafés in the city, don’t worry!)

When it comes to booking things, you might want to do a lot of booking online in advance. As mentioned, Amsterdam is fairly small but it’s also one of the most visited places in Europe, so when there are limited tickets for attractions they tend to sell out fast. Read our guide on what to book in advance for Amsterdam here.

Where to stay in Amsterdam

As one of the most visited cities in Europe, there’s no shortage of places to stay in Amsterdam, though of course, this also means that it is much more expensive than other cities in the Netherlands to stay in.

You should also be sure to book your accommodation in advance to ensure you get the best possible price, as well as securing the place you want to stay in. Here are a few suggestions of where to stay (based on web-reviews):

Flying Pig Downtown – If you are looking for a more budget friendly stay (or solo travelling and wanting to meet people) then you should know that Amsterdam is filled with fantastic hostels! This is a popular city centre hostel, located right next to Amsterdam Central Station. With dorms sleeping from 4 – 32 people, there’s something for all budgets here. Check prices and availability here.

NH Amsterdam Leidseplein – Situated within the museum district, this easy-going hotel is just a 5-minute walk from both the P.C.Hooftstraat shopping area and Museum Square. Amenities include free WiFi and a 24 hour reception. Check prices and availability here.

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