3 Days in Amsterdam: Your Ultimate Guide

Amsterdam city located in the North Holland province is the capital of Netherlands and the most populous city in the country. A dream destination for me, it knocked me off my feet as soon as I entered the city center. The city is like an open air museum, so much beauty in all directions! We were lucky to visit Amsterdam in spring, the weather was perfect and helped us make most of our visit in 3 days. Be prepared to see a lot of cycling all around as a quarter of Netherland’s population cycles every day! Amsterdam has been rated as the world’s 2nd most bike-friendly city with 320 miles of dedicated cycle lanes. It is a charming small city with most places of interest around the bustling city center. While it is most enjoyable on foot, there are cute convenient trams running across the city. There is also a beautiful train station to take you on one of the many day trips out of Amsterdam. Here is how you can spend the perfect 3 days in the city of bikes and canals!

Day 1 – Boat Cruise & Rijksmuseum

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Amsterdam, also known as Venice of the North has 160 canals spanning over a 100 kilometers. It came as a surprise that the city has more canals aka grachten than Venice and is home to about 90 islands connected by over 1500 bridges. Hence, the first thing we had booked in the city was a canal boat cruise with an audio guide informing us about the history, the canals and the stunning architecture as we were passing by. There are a couple of options you can choose from. A covered boat being driven by a captain with an audio guide in 19 languages, a small open boat with a personal guide and limited people on board or any of the customized tours offering meals and drinks on board.

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We booked our cruise with Blue Boat Company in advance, the covered boat was helpful when it got chilly and the audio tour in our native language helped my Mom make the most of it! There is an open deck in case you want to enjoy the weather and take beautiful pictures as you sail by some of the most scenic spots that cannot be reached on foot. They are absolutely right when they say Amsterdam is best viewed from the water. There are more than 3000 houseboats in Amsterdam situated around the canals with some of the locals actually living in them. Another interesting fact I came across was that every year more than 10,000 bikes are fished out of the canals. Yes you heard that right! Locals love biking but unfortunately sometimes the bikes end up in the water.

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After the boat cruise, we grabbed a quick lunch and headed to the most visited museum in Netherlands – the Rijksmuseum (booked in advance). Located in the Museum Square, Rijksmuseum showcases the Dutch masterpieces from different eras. First opened in 1800s, the museum has been relocated and renovated a couple of times with the current structure built in Dutch neo-Renaissance style. 80 galleries and 8000 objects welcome over 2.5 million visitors every year. Vermeer’s Milkmaid and Rembrandt’s Night Watch are two of the most revered masterworks in the museum. There are other artifacts as well as the Cuypers Library, storing the oldest and biggest collection of art history books in the Netherlands. At a close walking distance you can also find the Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank house, although you may need to fit them on a different day due to the time crunch. Grab dinner at one of the many restaurants and cafes sprawled around the city center and get a good night’s sleep as tomorrow there is going to be a lot of walking!

Day 2 – Explore the City on Foot & Heineken Experience

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Day 2 begins with a breakfast of stroopwafels and a self guided tour of the city.

Amsterdam Centraal -> Magna Plaza (Dam Square) -> Anne Frank House -> Westerkerk -> 9 Little Streets (Jordaan) -> Kalverstraat -> Spiegelkwartier -> Leidseplein Square

Our first stop is the second busiest railway station in the country known as Amsterdam Centraal. Built in 1800s, the building is an excellent example of Dutch Neo-Renaissance architecture. While the station is beautiful in and out, it is also an important part of Dutch history and culture. Interestingly, it is also home to the Royal Waiting Room (Koningklijke Wachtkamer) which was used for royal carriage back in the day and has been preserved with limited access to public on occasions. Next we are going to the Magna Plaza at Dam Square, the most beautiful shopping mall I have ever laid my eyes on. The Neo-Gothic building was built in the 19th century (1899) and was previously home to the Amsterdam’s Central Post Office. It is also part of the Top 100 Dutch heritage sites and hence retains the historical significance despite being a mall now.

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Moving on, now we are going to walk by the Anne Frank House. You may tour the writer’s house or pay your respects from outside. She is a Jewish wartime diarist whose books have been published in 70 languages and read by millions of people. At a close distance is the biggest church in Amsterdam known as the Westerkerk. It is also home to Amsterdam’s highest church tower known as Ouwe Wester. Standing tall at 85 meters, you can climb the tower and appreciate panoramic views of the city. Next we are heading to the 9 Little Streets (De Negen Straatjes) located in the Jordaan neighborhood crossing two canals known as Herengracht and Keizersgracht. The picturesque streets are located in the Amsterdam canal belt and are perfect for taking the much needed break sipping coffee and enjoying the views.

If you are in mood for some shopping, head to the most popular shopping street known as Kalverstraat. You may skip the shopping and head directly to Amsterdam’s art district known as Spiegelkwartier. Located in the heart of the Amsterdam Canal Ring, this neighborhood is home to more than 100 specialist art and antique dealers. It’s time to visit Leidseplein Square famous for the street performers, bars, restaurants, theaters, nightlife and so much more. Hop to one of the many bars, grab a drink and maybe come back later after the Heineken experience to dance the night away at one of the many clubs.

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Finally, it’s time for the Heineken Experience tour! We toured the very first Heineken brewery started over 150 years a go. We learned how the Heineken beer is made, nitty-gritty of the brewing process, saw the different equipment used, and understood how the experience has evolved over the years. Of course, the tour ended with fun games, a pint of freshly made ice cold Heineken beer and long lasting memories we took back with us!

Day 3 – Day Trip to Zaanse Schans & Red Light District

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Our time in Amsterdam was coming to an end and it was already our last day in the city. The trip would have been incomplete without visiting the famous windmills of Netherlands. The best place to see them without having to travel too far is Zaanse Schans. A small Dutch village part of the Zaandam city, Zaanse Schans is known for it’s well preserved historic windmills, wooden houses, mills and shops. It is like an open air museum visited by a million visitors every year. A short train ride away from Amsterdam, it’s an unique experience that takes you back in time offering the perfect escape from the packed city.

There is a variety of windmills including De Huisman (spice mill), De Kat (paint mill), De Gekroonde Poelenburg (wood saw mill), De Zoeker (oil, paint and cocoa mill), De Bonte Hen (oil mill), De Bleeke Dood (oldest smock mill in Netherlands), and Mini-mills on the Schans. We actually got to visit the spice mill from inside and saw it hard at work! We were surrounded by the fragrance of spices and purchased a souvenir magnet from the gift shop. There were small canals and farm animals all around, couldn’t have asked for more in such short time. In addition to windmills, you can also visit a cheese farm, a cocoa lab, a coopery, and a foundry! Time to head back to the city and spend our last evening exploring the Red Light District.

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De Wallen, also called De Rosse Buurt or the Red Light District is an area dedicated to adult entertainment. The streets are safe and the neighborhood is friendly. There is a lot to be admired including the historical buildings and the night views adorned by the beautiful red lights. One can visit the Museum of Prostitution and learn about one of the world’s oldest profession or visit the Cannabis College to learn about the varied uses of Cannabis and it’s safe consumption. You can view the city’s oldest residence located at Warmoesstraat number 90. Some of the buildings date back to 1400s.

*Please be respectful of the women doing their job and DO NOT click pictures*

While walking back to our hotel, we got a glimpse of some beautiful monuments at night which marked the perfect end to another perfect day in this lively city.

Our last and final day in the city has come to an end. I wish we had more time and hope to get back some day. I hope you enjoyed this blog and it helps you plan your perfect itinerary!