Amsterdam in 3 Days: The Itinerary I Send My Friends

This is literally the itinerary I text people. I have sent some version of this to at least fifteen friends over the past two years, and every single one came back saying it was the best trip plan they got.

Three days is the sweet spot for Amsterdam. You can see the main stuff, explore a couple of neighborhoods properly, eat well, go out, and not feel like you are racing through a checklist.

Day 1: The Jordaan and Centrum

Morning: Start in the Jordaan. Walk along the Prinsengracht and Herengracht canals. If it is Saturday, hit the Noordermarkt for the farmers market — grab apple pie from Cafe Winkel 43 and people-watch.

If it is not Saturday, grab coffee at any of the Jordaan cafes and just walk. This neighborhood is designed for wandering. My friend Sara lives here and says she still discovers new streets after three years.

Afternoon: Anne Frank House — book tickets six weeks ahead online. I know I keep saying this but my friend literally could not get in because she did not book ahead. It takes about 90 minutes and it is genuinely one of the most powerful museum experiences you will have anywhere.

After, walk through the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) for boutique shopping. Small stores, vintage clothing, independent bookshops.

Evening: Dinner at Cafe de Klos — arrive by 5:30 PM or expect a wait. The spare ribs are massive.

After dinner, drinks at Cafe Papeneiland for the classic brown cafe experience, then Bar Oldenhof for cocktails if you want something fancier.

Day 2: De Pijp, Museums, and Going Out

Morning: Take the tram to De Pijp. Walk through Albert Cuyp Market — sample stroopwafels, kibbeling, and whatever else catches your eye. My roommate's Saturday routine is market plus Bakers & Roasters for brunch.

Afternoon: Museum time. Rijksmuseum is the big one — give it two to three hours. The Night Watch alone is worth the visit. If you have energy after, the Stedelijk Museum is right next door for modern art.

Walk through Vondelpark afterward to decompress. On a sunny day, this park is Amsterdam at its best.

Evening: Dinner at Restaurant Rijsel — get the rotisserie chicken. Arrive early because they do not take reservations for dinner.

Night out: start at Brouwerij 't IJ for beers in a windmill (closes at 8 PM), then work your way to whatever sounds good. For cocktails: Tales & Spirits. For dancing: Paradiso or Club NYX. For techno: take the last ferry to Noord and hit Shelter.

Day 3: Noord, Oud-West, and Wrapping Up

Morning: Take the free ferry behind Centraal Station to Noord. Walk around NDSM Wharf for street art and the industrial creative vibe. If you are here on a weekend, check if the IJ Hallen flea market is on — it is massive.

Grab coffee at one of the cafes around NDSM, or head to Pllek for the waterside container bar experience.

Afternoon: Ferry back and head to Oud-West. Lunch at Foodhallen — share a few things from different stalls.

If you have not done enough museum-ing, the Van Gogh Museum is right nearby. If you are museumed out, just wander Oud-West and explore the shops on Kinkerstraat and the streets around Bellamyplein.

Finish the afternoon in Vondelpark if the weather cooperates, or duck into a brown cafe if it does not.

Evening: Your last night. Make it count. My recommendation: dinner at La Perla for the best pizza in Amsterdam, then a final drink at Cafe 't Smalle on the canal terrace. Watch the boats go by, drink a beer, and think about when you are coming back.

Tips for These Three Days

• Buy a 72-hour GVB transit pass if you plan to tram a lot. Otherwise just walk.
• The I Amsterdam City Card is only worth it if you are doing three or more paid museums.
• Mornings are quieter everywhere. The Jordaan at 9 AM is a completely different experience than at 2 PM.
• Download the 9292 app for public transit. It is the Dutch Google Maps for trams and buses.
• Pack layers. I am not joking. Amsterdam weather changes every hour.

This itinerary covers the highlights without being exhausting. My friend Jake followed a version of this last fall and said it was "the most I have ever fit into three days without feeling rushed." That is the goal.