Last Updated on 29th January 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
Sundays in Amsterdam can be a beautiful way to explore the Dutch capital at a chilled out pace. After all, it’s only really at the weekend that you’ll be able to experience the city through a local’s eyes as everyone will actually be out! Here’s how to spend the perfect Sunday in Amsterdam.
If you’re thinking about seeing a lot of attractions and monuments while in Amsterdam, Consider purchasing the I Amsterdam City Card, which includes free access free admission to 70 museums and attractions in Amsterdam and region and access to public transportation.
To work out whether or not the pass is worth it for you or not, add up the cost of the individual attractions you wish to visit and see if you’ll save money. Find more details here.
Contents
Is Amsterdam busy on a Sunday?
The answer to this question is yes and no, depending on which time of the day you go out! You see, first thing in the morning many people will be sleeping in, having gone out for drinks and to restaurants and clubs the night before.
Later on in the day (from midday onwards) the city can get pretty busy as everyone gets up and starts to enjoy the rest of their weekend. Sunday is also one of the most popular days of the week to visit the Rijksmuseum (the largest art museum in the Dutch capital).
Is everything open in Amsterdam on a Sunday?
Yes, just about everything you could possibly want to see and do is open on a Sunday. From museums to attractions to restaurants and cafés, there’s no shortage of open places to visit.
As mentioned earlier, just be warned that the city can get pretty busy in the afternoon (particularly the museums) and so be sure to go earlier in the day if possible.
With this being said, certain shops will be shut on Sunday and some supermarkets may be open on a reduced schedule, so be sure to get any grocery shopping out of the way on the Saturday beforehand.
Sunday activities in Amsterdam
Whether you’re the kind of person who prefers to partake in activity followed by activity or enjoy your weekend long and lazy, Amsterdam has you covered. For an even greater insight into the city, be sure to check out our top Amsterdam travel tips and our suggested itinerary for one day in Amsterdam.
Grab brunch
Over the past decade or so, like many other places in Europe (Paris and London included) brunch has become more and more popular. As such, a favourite pastime of many Amsterdam residents is to grab a few friends and head to brunch.
Some of the top spots in the city include Coffee & Coconuts and Florentin Brunch (in the trendy de Pijp neighbourhood of Amsterdam), Benjis ( in the Oost neighbourhood), and Koffie Academie (there are two locations of this popular café). Just be sure to book in advance as many places can be reserved and so fill up fast at the weekend!
Cruise around the canals
The canals are beautiful to walk around, but cruising on them gives you a sense of how they work and why they are so important to the city. Plus, you’ll see some of Amsterdam’s best landmarks and beautiful architecture from a different perspective.
Canal cruises generally take between 60 – 90 minutes and leave from various locations, many around the Central Station area. Alternatively, you could save your cruise time for later on in the day and take a sunset cruise through the city, which offers views of the city bathed in a golden hour glow. Find more cruise details here.
Relax in the park
If you’ve chosen to get around the city on bike (and I highly recommend you do as it’s definitely the best way to see Amsterdam) then the first thing you’ll notice is just how many little parks and green spaces are.
The biggest park in Amsterdam is Vondelpark. During the weekends, this delightful green space is filled with people enjoying picnics and there’s even several cafés and restaurants scattered around the park. In the spring, there’s even flowering blossom trees in the Helmerbuurt part of the park.
Discover a small museum
If there’s one thing I absolutely adore 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 really is something for everyone when it comes to the Dutch capital.
One of my personal favourites when it comes to off the beaten path museums is 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.
Take an Amsterdam food tour
One of the best ways to discover any new city or culture is to discover the place by mouth. If it’s raining during your stay in the city, the one of the cosiest ways to relax is by enjoying a food tasting or tour.
Explore the city through its food scene on this guided visit of Amsterdam. Highlights of this Dutch foodie tour include the chance to taste seven local specialities, including the ever-so-famous Stroopwafel. Otherwise, visit the largest market in Europe and discover the Pijp district of the city. Check prices and availability here.
Head out on a day trip
If the sun is shining and you want to see more of the Netherlands outside of its capital city, then why not head out on a day trip? If it’s the spring, then no doubt you’ll want to visit ‘The Garden of Europe,’ i.e. Keukenhof.
If you’re after another city with a good vibe and plenty of interesting architecture, then you should make sure to head to Rotterdam.
If it’s a foodie day trip that you’re after, then heading to Gouda or Zaandam is a no brainer. Just be warned that, outside of Amsterdam, more places will be shut on a Sunday so don’t head out on a day trip from the city and expect to do plenty of shopping!
What to wear when exploring Europe
In the summer, you can’t go wrong by pairing a cute midi dress with classic white tennis shoes for a laid-back smart casual look that’s just as chic for walking around a city’s cobbled lanes as it is for wandering coastal paths. I love this dress and have it in several colour ways. In terms of tennis shoes, this is my go-to shoe.
When it comes to winter in Europe, most places (with the exception of a few islands) can get pretty cold and so warm layers is a must. I find that cute ankle boots like these ones are the perfect mix of practical meets cute.
Shoulder seasons (spring and summer) in Europe tend to come with a mix of rainy and sunny days and so, again, layers are a must. Trench coats and sneakers are the best uniform to explore the continent in.
Finally, a cross-body bag like these ones is a must. I personally use a crossbody bag by this brand and love its shape, size, and versatility. As well as being convenient and compact, it’s one of the safest ways to transport your valuables, all the while looking chic. I also recommend bringing along a travel adapter like this one so you can charge all of your electronics during your stay!
Enjoyed reading about how to spend Sunday in Amsterdam? Pin this article now, read it again later:
Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.