Amsterdam 3-Day Itinerary — What a Local Would Actually Do

Three days in Amsterdam is the sweet spot. Enough time to see the good stuff without turning into a zombie who's just checking boxes. Here's what I'd actually tell you to do if you texted me asking for a plan. Not a bucket list. Not "top 10 attractions." An actual good three days.

Before You Start

Two things to handle on day zero (arrival day):

1. Get a GVB multi-day pass at Centraal Station. You'll use it constantly.
2. Eat something near your hotel and go to sleep. Jet lag is real. Don't try to be a hero on night one.

If you haven't booked accommodation yet, check our Sleep guide — stay in Jordaan, De Pijp, or Oud-West. Not Centrum.

Day 1: Jordaan + Canal Ring

Morning (9-12) Start in Jordaan. Walk — don't plan, just walk. The streets between Prinsengracht and Lijnbaansgracht are where the magic is. Tiny shops, crooked buildings, houseboats with cats on them. Stop for coffee at a cafe that looks lived-in, not designed for Instagram.

If it's a Monday, hit Noordermarkt for the Monday morning market. Organic cheese, fresh bread, local vendors. It winds down by noon so get there by 10.

Afternoon (12-5) Lunch in Jordaan — pick any place that doesn't have a menu outside. Seriously, that's the filter. If the menu is on a chalkboard inside, you're in the right place.

After lunch: Anne Frank House (you booked weeks ago, right? Right?). If you didn't get tickets, walk along the Prinsengracht canal instead. The Westerkerk is free to enter and has views from the tower in summer.

Around 3 PM, walk south along the canals toward Leidseplein. Don't stop there — keep going to Vondelpark. Grab a bench. Breathe. Watch people bike past with two kids and a bag of groceries balanced on the handlebars. That's Amsterdam.

Evening (6-late) Dinner reservation somewhere in the Eat guide — book it before your trip. Aim for 7:30 or 8 PM. After dinner, walk the canals at night. The bridges light up, the reflections on the water are ridiculous, and you'll understand why people get obsessed with this city.

If you want a drink after, find a brown cafe (bruine kroeg). These are the old-school Amsterdam bars with dark wood interiors, low ceilings, and zero pretension. Check our Going Out guide for specific ones.

Day 2: Museums + De Pijp

Morning (9-12) Rijksmuseum. Book your ticket online in advance. Get there at opening — by noon the main hall is packed. The Night Watch room is worth the visit alone, but don't skip the upper floors. The library inside the museum is one of the most beautiful rooms in the Netherlands and most people walk right past it.

If you're not a museum person, swap this for a canal tour — but pick a small-boat one, max 12-20 people. The big boats are floating tourist factories. Book ahead because the good ones sell out.

Afternoon (12-5) Walk from Museumplein to De Pijp. It's a 15-minute walk. Albert Cuyp Market for street food — the fresh stroopwafels, a broodje haring (herring sandwich, just try it), and kibbeling (fried fish). Eat standing at the stall like everyone else.

Spend the afternoon wandering De Pijp's side streets. This neighborhood has some of the best restaurants and bars in the city but they're all tucked away. Sarphatipark is the local equivalent of Vondelpark but without the crowds. Sit. Read. Nap.

Evening (6-late) Dinner in De Pijp. Indonesian food is a must-try at least once during your trip — the colonial history means Amsterdam has genuinely incredible Indonesian restaurants. Look for a rijsttafel (rice table) — it's a dozen small dishes and you'll be talking about it for weeks.

After dinner, head to a cocktail bar or live music spot. Amsterdam has a quieter, more sophisticated nightlife scene than people expect. Not everything is a club.

Day 3: Noord + Your Pick

Morning (9-12) Take the free ferry behind Centraal Station to Noord. It's 5 minutes and feels like crossing into a different city. Industrial buildings, street art, warehouses turned into creative spaces.

Visit the A'DAM Lookout tower if you want panoramic views (and a swing on the rooftop if you're brave). Or just walk around the NDSM wharf area — it's raw, creative, and completely unlike the rest of Amsterdam.

Afternoon (12-5) This is your flex time. Options:

• Rent a bike and ride through Vondelpark to Amstel river. The ride along the Amstel south of the city center is flat, beautiful, and very Dutch.
• Visit Oud-West — quieter, excellent food, real neighborhood feel. Ten Kate Market is small but good.
• Take a day trip to Zaanse Schans for windmills and traditional houses. It's 20 minutes by train. Go early, leave by noon before the bus tours arrive.
• Just sit at a canal-side terrace with a beer and do absolutely nothing. This is a legitimate Amsterdam activity.

Evening (6-late) Last night. Make it count. A nice dinner somewhere you've been wanting to try — or go back to the place from night one if it was that good. End at a canal-side bar or a rooftop spot in Noord watching the lights across the water.

Logistics That Save Your Trip

• Book accommodation early, especially April-September. Amsterdam is small and fills up fast.
• Book dinner reservations before you fly. Not "when you get there." Before.
• Get an eSIM for data so you're not hunting for WiFi.
• If you're coming for King's Day (April 27), read our King's Day guide first. It's a different city that day.

The Honest Version

You won't see everything in three days. That's fine. Amsterdam isn't a city you conquer — it's a city you experience. If you leave having walked the canals at night, eaten something that surprised you, and sat somewhere for an hour doing nothing, you did Amsterdam right.

Places mentioned in this guide

Every spot here is personally vetted — no sponsored placements.

€€€

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The Hoxton Amsterdam

Local Favorite

jordaan·boutique hotel

If you want a hotel that feels like a stylish apartment with a great lobby bar, The Hoxton is it. Book early—especially in summer.

€€

O'Donnell's Irish Pub

Local Favorite

de pijp

My buddy watches every Premier League game here with a Guinness in hand. Proper Irish pub, proper pints, and the pub grub hits different when you are homesick for comfort food.

€€

Gollem's Proeflokaal

Local Favorite

oud west

My neighbor calls this beer heaven and he is not exaggerating. Over 200 beers, staff who actually know what they are talking about, and the coziest little bar you will find.