AmsterDAM !
Nestled in the heart of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern innovation, making it a must-visit destination. We will go on a journey through some of the city’s best features such as picturesque canals and world-class museums. You will encounter a unique cultural melting pot and a place where history seamlessly meets the present. Join us as we uncover all the amazingness this city has to offer. Continue reading this blog for a 2 day travel guide to Amsterdam!
When I am researching activities and things to see in a new city, I wish I found more itineraries that ranked the list of activities they recommend. Everyone’s time is different in a new city and it’s important to be able to prioritize activities that are a MUST versus activities that are nice, but could possibly be skipped. I like to schedule my days and build an itinerary with one MUST item, one TRY TO DO item, and one SKIP item a day in case something happens or we are too tired, we can always hit the MUST item and SKIP the item that’s not as important.
★★★ MUST SEE
★★ TRY TO DO
★ SKIP (BUT WORTH IF YOU HAVE TIME)
★★★ Anne Frank Hosue
★★★ Zaansa Schans
★★★ Boat Ride through the canals
★★ Biking around the city
★★ Vondelpark
★ Flower Market
★ Dam Square
Use these jumps to navigate to a specific day or just keep scrolling to read the full itinerary!
When: June 2019
Who: My Family and I (so we purchased 5 adult tickets and 1 teenager ticket)
Where we stayed: In the heart of Amsterdam
Day 1 information ~
⚠ Europe Rail Pass ~ how we traveled between European countries
⚠ Hotel ~ this was our accommodation
Arrive in Amsterdam: We arrived in Amsterdam around 2:30PM on the Europe Rail Train; we came from Paris. I definitely recommend using the trains to get around Europe as they are very affordable, pretty comfortable, and they don’t take too long (depends on where you are going)
Check into Hotel: we stayed at the “Adam the First” Hotel which is off one of the canals in the Amsterdam City Centre. It was okay – we booked 2 rooms which were on the fourth and fifth floor; there was no elevator so we had to go up and down every time we left/came back. What wasn’t fun was, in 2019, the place right next door to us was a club so from midnight to 3AM there was loud music/bass and it was hard to sleep.
Flower Market: After settling into our hotel we walked around the canals a little bit and visited the Flower Market.
Dinner: We were craving Thai food that night so we went to a restaurant named Phutakun near our hotel.
Day 2 information ~
⚠ Anne Frank House ~ buy tickets ahead of time; timed entry
⚠ Bike Ride – no ticket needed; get bike rental when you arrive
⚠ Boat Ride – need to reserve boat ahead of time
★★★Anne Frank House: The first thing we did in Amsterdam was head to the Anne Frank House. The Anne Frank House is a museum dedicated to preserving the memory of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family during WWII to escape the persecution of Jews by the Nazis. Visitors can tour the annex where her family hid for months and actually get to see pages from her diary. We reserved 9AM entry tickets (museum opens at 9AM) and one adult ticket costs ~16 euros. We spent about 1.5 hours; the museum is self paced and keeps you flowing in one direction.
Lunch: For lunch I found this place on instagram I really wanted to try with decorative pancakes. The restaurant is named MOAK Pancake City Center and we loved it.
★★Bike Ride through Vondelpark: After lunch, we found a bike rental shop. We decided we wanted to ride bikes through the canals of Amsterdam. My boyfriend and I thought it would be fun and unique to get a tandem bike (one bike for two people). The price for one bike was around ~13 euros for 3 hours. We biked for a few hours along the canals and also through Vondelpark is a famous urban park right in the heart of Amsterdam. I definitely recommend doing this; Amsterdam is very bike friendly so we felt very safe the whole time.
★★★Boat Ride through the canals: I had reserved a small boat for us to rent and drive ourselves around the canals for the evening activity.This was extraordinary and I can’t recommend enough! We used a company called “Eco Boats” and we had a little delay getting our boat as the party before us went longer than scheduled and left the boat a mess. The cost for a 2 hour boat ride was ~120 euros.
Day 3 information ~
⚠ Zaanse Schans ~ buy ticket ahead of time or when you arrive
Breakfast: We had to try some Dutch pancakes while in the Netherlands so we went to the Pancake Bakery. This place was awesome and the wait for a table wasn’t too long.
★Dam Square: As we walked to the Metro station to head to Zaanse Schans, we walked through the Dam Square which was lively with people and street performers.
★★★Zaanse Schans: For our final day in Amsterdam, we really wanted to see the windmills so we spent the day at Zaanse Schans. To get here you have to take the train about 20 minutes outside of Amsterdam. You can find more information about how to get to Zaanse Schans HERE.
Zaanse Schans opened at 9AM, but I had read it didn’t get too crowded so we weren’t in a hurry to get there right at opening. We arrived around 11AM. You can also buy a timed entry ticket online or purchase tickets when you arrive; one adult ticket cost ~30 euros. This includes sightseeing historic windmills and going inside them, traditional Dutch houses, a craftsman workshop where someone makes clogs (and then you can buy clogs), cheese farms, traditional Dutch food, museums, and scenic views. We spent a good chunk of our day here (over 4 hours) and it was amazing to immerse ourselves into Dutch culture.
Dinner: My dad really wanted to have Dutch Indonesian food as there is much history between the two countries. The cuisine is called Rijsttafel which translates into “rice table”. It consists of small, flavorful dishes served along with rice and it’s very family style. The restaurant we went to to try this cuisine was named Blauw. The food was incredible, but I did have to call that morning and get a reservation.
We went to Rome after Amsterdam. This distance was too far to take the train so we flew instead. We took AItalia Airways (ITA) which is an Italian budget airline. We left out of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) and arrived in Rome Fiumicino (FMO). It was a quick 2 hour flight and cost ~$160 one way per person.
Amsterdam experiences a temperate maritime climate, characterized by mild temperatures and moderate rainfall throughout the year.
Spring: Highs will be around 60℉
Spring: Lows will be around 50℉
Summer: Highs will be around 72℉
Summer: Lows will be around 62℉
Autumn: Highs will be around 64℉
Autumn: Lows will be around 55℉
Winter: Highs will be around 43℉
Winter: Lows will be around 36℉
Amsterdam offers a variety of neighborhoods to suit different preferences and interests. When choosing where to stay in Amsterdam, consider factors like your budget, the type of experience you want, and proximity to attractions. Here are some popular neighborhoods to consider:
Getting around Amsterdam is relatively easy and convenient, thanks to its well-developed and efficient public transportation system, as well as pedestrian and cyclist-friendly infrastructure. Here are some primary modes to consider:
