Thinking of vacation? A city break in Amsterdam will surely impress you, starting from the emblematic canals that decorate the city to the spectacular markets and museums. In this travel guide you will find all the details for a perfect 3-day stay in Amsterdam!
Useful information
Transport
Here's how you can get there Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the city located approx. 20 km distance:
- Train: the ticket to the city center costs approximately 5.70 euros and a fee of 1 euro is added. The journey takes 15-20 minutes and the train station is located in the underground area of the terminal. You can buy tickets from the information offices or from the ticket machines in the airport. Trains run between 06:00-01:00.
- Bus: bus tickets (397 – going to the center) cost approx. 6.50 euros and the trip will take approx. 30 minutes. Buses run between 05:00-00:30, but there is also the N97 Niteliner night line that runs between 01:00-05:00. The fare is the same, and the stations are outside the terminal. You can buy the tickets either from the driver (only with card) or from the information office.
- Taxi: the taxi line is right at the exit of the terminal and obviously there are rides available 24/7. Depending on the traffic, the journey can take between 25-35 minutes. The average price of a ride is 45 euros.
You can also find information on WEBSITE official of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
What do you use to get around Amsterdam?
GVB is the name of the public transport company in Amsterdam and you can choose between bus, train, tram, metro and ferry. You can buy the tickets from the ticket machines and they must be validated once you have boarded the means of transport or before reaching the platform (metro). They generally run between 06:00-00:00, but there are also 10 night bus lines. Prices start at 3.20 euros/1 hour and day cards are also available: 50 euros/24 hours, 13.50 euros/48 hours and 20 euros/72 hours. You can purchase tickets for 1, 2 or 3 days directly from here.
Accommodation
From apartments to 5-star hotels, Amsterdam offers accommodation for all tastes and budgets! For one night at a 3-star hotel located 1-2 km from the center, prices start from 75 euros, and for a 4-star hotel located right in the center, you will pay at least 200 euros/night. To rent for one night an apartment less than 3 km from the center, you will pay approximately 110 euros. Here are our recommendations for accommodations at good prices and more than satisfactory conditions:
- Hotel Alexander: the 3-star hotel is located 1.5 km from the city center and 400 m from the tram and bus stations. The rooms are minimalistically decorated and have their own bathroom, TV and free WiFi. The price for a small double room starts from 90 euros/night.
- Sweets – Van Hallbrug: the hotel apartment is 1.5 km from the center and is in a historic building, right next to a bridge and a lake. The apartment has a view of the lake, private bathroom, air conditioning, refrigerator, coffee machine, TV and WiFi. The price to rent the 11 square meter apartment starts from 120 euros/night.
- XO Hotels Park West: the 4-star hotel is located 3.4 km from the center and the tram station is right opposite. The reception is open non-stop and there is a tourist office dedicated to hotel guests. The rooms are equipped with private bathroom, TV, Wifi and air conditioning. The price for a standard double room starts from 75 euros/night.
- INK Hotel Amsterdam – MGallery: the 4-star hotel is located just 300 m from the city center, in a historic building. Dam Square is only a 5-minute walk away, and the tram station is only 120 m away. The hotel has received numerous distinctions over time, and guests will enjoy a superb environment thanks to the hotel's decor. The hotel has a restaurant and a fitness center open non-stop, and the rooms are equipped with air conditioning, private bathroom, TV, coffee machine and WiFi, and the price for a classic queen room (standard) starts from 140 euros/night.
You can find many other offers on here.
Tourist card
Amsterdam is the most popular choice among tourist cards, offering free access to over 70 attractions, ferry or bicycle tours, but also 25% discount to other sights, tours, restaurants or bars. In addition, you can use the GVB public transport for free! You have options of 24 hours (68 euros), 48 hours (94 euros), 72 hours (114 euros), 96 hours (130 euros) and 120 hours (140 euros). You can buy it directly from here.
Amsterdam sights
Day 1
Old Church – Oude Kerk
Start your vacation by visiting the oldest building in the entire capital of the Netherlands! The Old Church was built at the beginning of the 13th century, but was rebuilt several times. Its current style is Gothic, and inside there are objects of historical importance, such as an organ from the 17th century. Every summer, the International Organ Festival is held here.
You can visit the church from Monday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm, and on Sunday between 1 pm and 6 pm. The access price is 12 euros/adult and 7 euros/person between 13-18 years old. Children under 13 have free access, as do all Amsterdam card holders! You can buy tickets from here or from the entrance to the church.
The Red Quarter
If we started the itinerary in this part of the city, here is also the most coveted neighborhood, The Red Quarter. It consists of a network of streets on which there is a very large number of shops where, especially women offer their special services from behind a window, these windows are decorated with red lights. The area is entertainment for adults; from shows for adults, to shops and even museums in the same niche.
Royal Palace in Amsterdam
About 500 m southwest of the Old Church you will find the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. It was built in the 17th century in baroque and classical style. Even if it is not the residence of King Willem-Alexander, important guests are often invited here. With various sculptures and paintings, as well as a huge chandelier, the exhibitions in the palace are absolutely special and worth discovering.
The price of access tickets starts from 13 euros/adult and includes an audio guide available in several languages, including English. You can buy the tickets here. Those under 18 have free access! The palace can be visited between 10 am and 5 pm, but on days when royal events take place, the palace is closed to the public.
Dam Square
In front of it, there is the Dam Square, which appeared to commemorate those who died during the Second World War. And besides the Royal Palace, there are many colorful and impressive buildings here. Outdoor events are also held here, being one of the liveliest and most popular areas in the whole country.
Canals of Amsterdam
Going another 250 m to the west, you will come across the Amsterdam Canals. They cannot go unnoticed, they represent the most famous attractions of the city. Amsterdam was even called the "Venice of the North" due to the large number of canals. The more than 60 canals exceed, if gathered together, 100 km in length.
A more than pleasant way to fully enjoy the beauty of the canals is through a small boat ride! Here find more details.
Anne Frank House
Go northwest about 650 m and you will pass over 3 canals. There you will reach the Anne Frank House, which today is a museum. During the Second World War, Anne Frank hid for 2 years in a secret annex of her house and wrote a diary about her experience as a Jew during the Nazi genocide. Later, she was caught and died in 1945.
You can visit both the front room and the annex where Anne Frank hid. In another room are placed documents and her writings in original format. The museum can only be visited with prior reservation here. Tickets start at 14 euros/adult, 7 euros/person between 10-17 years old and 1 euro/child up to 9 years old. You can book tickets to visit the museum between 9am and 9pm, but access is limited, so it's good to book them at least 1 week in advance.
Bloemenmarkt
Turn about 700m east (approx. 8 minutes walk) to near the Royal Palace and take tram 2 or 12 from Dam station to Amsterdam Koningsplein. The ride will last approximately 3 minutes and you will have to get off at the third stop. From here, you have to walk about 150 m to the east to a unique place in the world - the only floating flower market.
The Bloemenmarkt floats above a canal in Amsterdam and amazes not only with its uniqueness, but also with the vibrant colors and scents of fresh flowers. And besides the tulips, which are the national flowers of the Netherlands, or other beautiful plants, you will also find numerous souvenirs to fondly remind you of this wonderful place! The market was opened in the middle of the 19th century and attracts many tourists, so it is possible that the area is quite crowded, but it is definitely worth a visit!
Day 2
Rijksmuseum
The Rijkmuseum was founded at the end of the 18th century and is a national museum dedicated to history and art. With a large collection of Dutch and Asian paintings and sculptures, the museum is every year in the top 3 most visited museums in the Netherlands. In addition, it is also the largest museum in the Netherlands. It is located south of Amsterdam city center, and nearby is the Ruysdaelkade bus station where lines N84, N88 run and the Rijkmuseum tram station where tram lines 2, 5 and 12 run.
Access tickets start at 21 euros/person, and those under 18 have free access. And those who have an Amsterdam Card have free access! You can reserve the tickets from here. You can visit the museum daily between 9am and 5pm.
Moco Museum
Only 300 m to the west is the Moco Museum. This museum focuses on modern, contemporary and street art. The museum is an independent one, and many artists have temporary or permanent exhibitions here. The building in which the museum is located was built at the beginning of the 20th century.
Ticket prices start at 20 euros/adult, 17 euros/person between 10-17 years old or student. Children under 10 have free access, as do those who hold the Amsterdam card. You can book tickets directly from here. The museum can be visited between 10-20 (Monday-Thursday) and 10-21 (Friday-Sunday).
The Van Gogh Museum
Right next to the Moco Museum, just 100 m away is the Van Gogh Museum. Here is the largest collection of art by Vincent Van Gogh in the whole world. With over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 750 letters, the museum also offers an exhibition on the history of art from the 19th century. Here you can also find works by Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet. Like the Rijkmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum is among the 3 most visited museums in the Netherlands.
The price of access tickets starts from 21 euros/adult, while people under 18 have free access. You can buy them directly from here and you can visit the museum daily between 9-18.
The Stedelijk Museum
You probably already noticed that the most important museums in Amsterdam are located in the same area, so the Stedelijk Museum is right next to the Van Gogh Museum! It houses modern art collections from the 19th century to the present day. The way in which the works and exhibitions are presented is innovative, precisely to be even more special, so it is worth spending at least 1-2 hours here.
The museum is open every day of the year and you can visit it between 10 am and 6 pm. With the Amsterdam Card you have free access! Tickets start at 20 euros/adult, and those under 18 have free access. You can book tickets from here.
Vondelpark
And to end this day full of explorations of history and art, we recommend a walk in Vondelpark. This is the largest public park in Amsterdam and certainly the most famous in the whole country. On the 45 hectares you will find an open-air theater, playgrounds, picnic areas, fountains, lakes and terraces. The park is approximately 400 m north of the Stedelijk Museum.
Day 3
Windmills in Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken
Amsterdam is itself a beautiful city and one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe, but the villages outside are not inferior either! Visit on a seven-hour trip Zaanse Schans Windmills, a wooden shoe factory, a cheese factory where you can taste the famous cheeses Edam and Gouda, but also the old fishing villages Volendam and Marken with many small colorful houses.
The price for such trip starts from 30 euros/person and includes transport, tourist guide, cheese tasting and a demonstration of making wooden shoes. And after this trip, you will definitely fall in love with Holland!
Gastronomy
Among the traditional dishes of Amsterdam it is counted Bitterballen – meatballs prepared from minced beef, seasoned and then fried after being rolled in breadcrumbs. Stamppot is another dish specific to Dutch gastronomy, being among the simplest - smoked sausage, mashed potatoes to which are added carrots, onions or kale and sauce. There are other traditional dishes Kibbeling, cod fried in oil or Pindasaus, peanut sauce. The traditional dessert Wow it is a delicious tart with a creamy fruit filling.
Where do you eat in Amsterdam?
- By Drie Graefjes it is located in the Dam Square area and is the perfect place where you can enjoy a snack, a coffee or a dessert on the beautiful terrace or in the restaurant. (between 2-12 euros/preparation)
- Moeders it serves traditional food (between 5-21 euros/preparation) and is located southwest of the Anne Frank House. It is decorated with numerous pictures of mothers (hence the name of the restaurant Moeders - "Mame")
- Brasserie Keyzer is a restaurant with dishes (between 3-55 euros/dish) from both Dutch and international cuisine. It is located southwest of the Stedelijk Museum and you can also find vegan and vegetarian options on the menu.
The capital of the Netherlands is a unique destination for lovers of art, architecture and for gourmets who want to try new, truly surprising tastes! You will definitely be impressed by the greatness of the city of contrasts. The minimum budget for a 3-day citybreak in Amsterdam for 2 people is at least 400-450 euros, including plane tickets. And for a successful vacation, you can consult the links below.
Useful Links
activity
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g188590-Activities-c61-t167-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html
- https://www.getyourguide.com/amsterdam-l36/day-trips-tc172/
restaurants
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g188590-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188590-d1174180-Reviews-De_Drie_Graefjes_Dam-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188590-d804416-Reviews-Moeders-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188590-d1536872-Reviews-Brasserie_Keyzer-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html
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