The city of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is located in the north province of the country just inland of the North Sea. More than 800,000 people call Amsterdam home – a city steeped in historical heritage and new-age architecture.

The city is affectionately known as “the Venice of the North” – a name given because of its vast network of canals known as De Grachten. These canals are a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site and wind for more than 100 kilometers through the city. 

Amsterdam has many historical attractions and museums that house extensive collections of artworks from all around the world. The colored houses with gabled facades that line the canals are also a significant piece of Dutch history and a top attraction for tourists visiting the capital city. The historical Dutch Baroque architecture is coupled with amazing modern architecture – a harmonious coming together of two polar-opposite styles. 

Along with its network of museums, amazing nightlife, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, you cannot let pass a visit to this wonderful, vibrant city. I have compiled a jam-packed list of how to spend three days in Amsterdam as time is often not on our side these days. 

You will have enough time to discover the sights without feeling like you rushed in and out without stopping to smell the tulips. Without further ado, get ready to dive into the three-day guide to Amsterdam. Your Dutch adventure awaits.

How Many Days to Spend in Amsterdam 

In modern life, we are constantly rushing. Life is busy and travel is no different. With a limited amount of time, we often tend to miss out on things as we have to sacrifice one thing for another. I have compiled this guide with your best interests at heart.

You won’t have to ask yourself the tough question of how many days to spend in Amsterdam because I have the answer for you – three. Three action-packed days filled with sight-seeing, museum tours, boat trips on De Grachten, places to eat, and more. 

Three days is the optimal amount of time to properly discover Amsterdam and get a feeling for this vibrant city. The city itself isn’t massive and you definitely won’t have any trouble seeing all the wonderful sights that Amsterdam has to offer.

So, without further ado, get ready to immerse yourself in the list of top tourist attractions in Amsterdam for an action-packed three days of exploring. 

Day 1: A Day of Cultural Exploration

The greater Amsterdam area, made up of eight boroughs, fills an area of just over 219 square kilometers. This is a rather large area to cover and sounds rather overwhelming. However, the main tourist attractions are located in the Amsterdam Centrum borough which is a mere eight square kilometers.

Having said this, it is possible to cover many of the attractions in two days, with a third day reserved for a trip out of Amsterdam to explore one of the nearby cities. I will cover this in more detail a bit further one under day three – the third and last day in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is a city that is rich in historic buildings and beautiful museums to go along with its vibrant ambiance. So, what better way to kick off day one with exploring some of the best museums in the city.

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous artists to have ever lived. He is known throughout the world for his amazing paintings such as Sunflowers, The Starry Night, Bedroom in Arles, and the van Gogh self-portrait. It is possible to see some of his famous paintings as well as his life stories in the dedicated museum, located in Amsterdam South at the museum square. Tickets to the museum cost € 19 per person (€ 10 if you’re a student), available online only, while admission is free for those under the age of 18. Your ticket will allow you to see both the permanent exhibitions as well as the temporary exhibits that are on display at the time.

The Anne Frank House, located on the Prinsengracht canal, is a biographical museum dedicated to the Jewish wartime writer, Anne Frank. You will learn about the life of Anne Frank, her diary entries, and the secret annex that she would hide in. The museum is open daily, and tickets cost € 14 for adults, € 7 for children aged 10 – 17 years, and € 1 for children aged 0 – 9 years. 

The last museum to round off the cultural side of day one is a trip to the Rijksmuseum, also located in Amsterdam South, close to the van Gogh Museum. The Rijksmuseum is the national museum in the Netherlands that is dedicated to Dutch arts and history and is an absolute must in your Amsterdam itinerary. 

Tickets are € 30 a pop for adults, while children under 18 are free. Here, you will learn about more than 800 years’ worth of history in the Netherlands, from the Middle Ages right up until present time. Famous paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer can be seen here including the likes of Night Watch and The Milkmaid as well as a further 8,000 object representing Dutch history. For your convenience, I’ve attached a link that will take you to the Get Your Guide website, where you can organize your tickets for the museum ahead of the time.

Want to do something quirky while you’re in Amsterdam? Grab lunch on the Pancake Boat! StudioPortoSabbia/Shutterstock

After a morning of cultural exploration, it’s a good idea to grab a drink and a bite to eat to keep the energy levels up for the rest of the day. Amsterdam has a great variety of Michelin star restaurants, bistros, and terraces to choose from, depending on your preference. 

It’s always lovely sitting at one of the canal-side establishments as you watch the boats cruise past on De Grachten. The Pancake Boat is also a great option as it incorporates a tour of the canals with all-you-can-eat pancakes. It’s also highly recommended to grab a traditional Dutch frikandel from FEBO – the hole-in-the-wall vending machine concept.

After lunch, I recommend a visit to the Heineken experience located on the Stadhouderskade alongside the canal. The old Heineken brewery used to be housed in the building until the brand outgrew it and moved premises. It is here that you will learn about the history of this world-famous beer and everything that goes with it.

Not only will you learn about the heritage of the brand and the brewing process, but you will also get to enjoy some of the freshest beer as your ticket includes two pints. I’ve included another link from Get Your Guide that is a combination ticket that allows you to experience the Heineken story followed by a boat trip on the canals of Amsterdam.

Following your boat trip along the canals, for those willing and able, a trip to one of the famous Amsterdam coffee shops is a fun experience. Now these aren’t your normal coffee shops that serve the caffeinated beverage – you’re able to order coffee as well as a joint of weed or hashish to go along with it. This started back in the 1970s and is still permitted today. However, there are certain rules that apply so make sure you are fully aware of them before setting out to do so.

The truly epic swing at the A’DAM lookout tower. Konstantin Tronin/Shutterstock

A trip to the A’DAM Lookout is a great way to end off the day of exploring and to watch the sunset. Located in Amsterdam Noord, the A’DAM Lookout is a 20-storey building that treats you to 360 degrees of the city. There is also a swing called Over the Edge that sits 100 meters off the ground and is not for the faint-hearted.

After a full day of sightseeing, you’ll be more than ready to retire to the comfort of your bed at the hotel. Be sure to take a walk past the Red Light District on the way home and take a look into the world of the ladies that work there. Always remember to be respectful and to not take photos – your phone might end up in the canal.

Day 2: Cycle the City like a Local 

After a busy first day exploring the city, day two is a great time to take it a bit easier and get yourself a bicycle to do a bit more exploring and discovering. Cycling is a way of life for the Dutch people – there are more than 800, 000 bicycles in the city. That’s more bicycles than it is people. By getting yourself a bicycle to move around, you can cover more distance and find hidden gems located within the city. Amsterdam is also well-equipped for cycling with cycle lanes, cycle routes, and of course, its favorable flat landscape. 

If you’re not comfortable with tackling the city on a bicycle on your own, there are different tours available that you can join and rather head out in a group with a guide. There are also options available for heading out of the city and discovering the countryside. You will cycle alongside cows, weaving through green pastures and historic farms, over bridges and will also get to experience windmills, clogs, and cheese along the way.

A couple of giraffes at Artis Zoo. Robin Nieuwenkamp/Shutterstock

The first stop on your second day of discovering the city can be a trip to the Artis Zoo, located towards Amsterdam Oost (the east side of the city). The Artis Zoo is the oldest zoo in the country and the fifth largest zoo in the world, founded in 1838. Artis Zoo is open daily, and an admission ticket will cost you € 25 for an adult and € 21 for children ages 3 – 12, while children two and under are free. Aside from the zoo, there is an aquarium, a planetarium, an arboretum, Micropia, and the Grote Museum which makes the somewhat steep entry fee worth it. 

The Amsterdam Dungeon is so much fun! lornet/Shutterstock

The next fun thing to do in Amsterdam is to visit the Dungeon tour, a mere two-minute walk from the Begijnhof station. The Dungeon tour is an interactive way to discover the history of the city and sets out to give you a bit of a scare while doing so. There are various shows available to watch such as Torture Chamber, The Flying Dutchman, and Murder on the Zedijk, with tickets starting at € 22. After finishing the tour, be on the lookout for a traditional herring dish at one of the herring carts within the city. It will fill the void and get you ready for the rest of the day.