Aside from a 19-hour layover during which I couldn’t leave the airport, Amsterdam remained on my bucket list for years. I finally managed to spend 3 days there in May of 2024 as a stop-over on my way to Bulgaria. Deciding what to do in my time there was not easy – this itinerary should help!

First, Some Basics

As usual, avoid summer to minimize crowds. I used the long Memorial Day weekend in 2024 (May 25 – 27) to visit Amsterdam and it was perfect. The temps were in the upper 60s and low 70s, there were only a couple of hours of rain on one of the days, and the crowds were quite manageable.

Look into getting the Amsterdam Card. I discuss city cards in depth in another blog post, but suffice it to say I am a big fan and I always get them when I travel to Europe.

There are plentiful hotels in Amsterdam and the surrounding cities. Budget-conscious travelers often head to Haarlem, but I chose to stay on the edge of the Red Light District at Hotel CC. My hotel room was tiny, faced the street and was on the ground floor, but I always sleep with an eye mask and ear plugs, so it didn’t bother me. I found the location incredibly convenient – I was just 5 minutes from the train station, right behind one of the locations where boat tours departed from, and less than 10 minutes from Dam square. This itinerary makes the most sense if you stay in that area.

I did not need any cash while I was in Amsterdam. I paid for everything with a credit card that did not charge foreign transaction fees.

Download the Rick Steves Audio Europe app. It includes walking tours of major European cities that you can download ahead of time. I did all 3 Amsterdam walking tours in the app and they are included in the itinerary below. Be sure to bring headphones in order to listen but don’t forget to also be aware of your surroundings!

Day 1 – Amsterdam City Walk, Van Gogh and Moco Museums, canal boat tour

The Amsterdam city walk on the Rick Steves Audio Europe App is a great introduction to the city. Allow about 2 hours for the walk; more if you want to stop at one of the cafes mentioned on the walk.

In the afternoon, visit the Van Gogh Museum (advance reservation required, not included with the I Amsterdam card) and the Moco Museum (no reservation required, included with the I Amsterdam card). If you have energy, visit the nearby Vondelpark.

On your way back to your hotel, stop by the Manneken Pis Flaamse Frites at Damrak 41 to replenish your energy stores.

But by now, you’ll be plenty tired, so it makes sense to finish the day with a canal tour. There are many choices that start right at Damrak. One will be included with the I Amsterdam card, and additional ones can be purchased at a discount.

Day 2 – Rijksmuseum, Grachtenmuseum, ADAM Tower, Eye Museum, dinner on a canal

A 9 am reservation at the Rijkmuseum (included with the I Amsterdam card) is the way to go. Allow about 3 hours for this amazing museum. To save time, you can have lunch in the gorgeous cafe.

In the afternoon, visit the Grachtenmuseum – the museum of the canals. This was not originally on my list but it was included with the I Amsterdam card and it sounded really interesting!

Afterwards, cross the Ij to the north side of Amsterdam. Here, you will find the ADAM tower. Admission is included in the city card but the swing on top is not. It’s worth the ~7 EUR additional fee.

Right next to ADAM tower is the Eye Film Museum. You don’t have to spend a lot of time here but the building is like nothing else in Amsterdam and the inside is very pretty. The museum cafe faces the water and it would make for another great meal. But if you’d rather have dinner by the canals, return to that area and pick whatever place looks good – that’s what I did!

Day 3 – Jordaan walk, Anne Frank House, Resistance Museum, Zaanse Schans, Red Light District walk

This seems like a lot, and it kind of is, but it’s worth it!

The Jordaan neighborhood walk on the Rick Steves Audio Europe app passes by the Anne Frank House, so it makes sense to combine the two. Allow about 45 minutes to cover the first part of the walk up until the Anne Frank House. Tickets for the Anne Frank House go on sale on Tuesdays at 10 am Amsterdam time 6 weeks ahead, so plan accordingly!

After you’re done with those, stop by the Frans Herringhandel stand for some dutch herring before continuing on to the Dutch Resistance Museum. This is the stop to skip if you want to shorten the day, but I really enjoyed it!

In the afternoon, take the 20 minute train ride and then 15-minute walk to Zandaam, which hosts the Zaanse Schaans neighborhood. This is where you’ll get your fill of windmills and Dutch clogs!

Upon returning to Amsterdam, finish with the Red Light District walk. This is best done in the early evening, when it’s not yet crowded but not dead either. The area is now quite gentrified so don’t be put off by its infamy.

I hope you enjoyed this Amsterdam itinerary! Let me know what you think about it in the comments!