One Day in Amsterdam: How to Enjoy Amsterdam in a Day

From canals to cannabis, the Netherlands’ most popular city with visitors certainly has a larger-than-life reputation! Spending even one day in Amsterdam will allow you to sample much of what makes the city so incredibly special.

Amsterdam, in many ways, is a city of extremes: the ornate beauty of the architecture dating to the Dutch Golden Age is juxtaposed with the city’s party-heavy modern reputation, giving the Amsterdam of today a unique and fascinating flavor.

I’ve had a chance to visit Amsterdam during both the (relatively) uncrowded winter and at the height of its spring tourism season in April and loved experiencing both sides of the city.

I curated this one day Amsterdam itinerary to focus primarily on the beauty and history of the city, rather than its more modern, shall we say, attractions–though you’ll have no problem finding brown cafes or making your way to the Red Light District if you would like!

If your idea of how to enjoy Amsterdam in a day leans more toward canal views, historic highlights, and a museum or two, though, this one day in Amsterdam itinerary is for you!

The Perfect One Day in Amsterdam Itinerary

Start your morning in Amsterdam with a Dutch pancake.

Dutch pancakes are an extremely popular breakfast in Amsterdam and a great way to begin your time in the city!

The pancakes generally come in two forms: pannenkoeken (which are large, full-plate-sized pancakes) and poffertjes (which are small, bite-sized pancakes served in a pile).

Pannenkoeken can be served with either sweet or savory toppings, and poffertjes are generally sweet.

You can find Dutch pancakes for sale all over the city, but we enjoyed our first ones at the incredibly popular Pancake Bakery and loved the experience!

Enjoy a stroll through the 9 Streets.

The 9 Streets are one of the most picturesque parts of Amsterdam, made up of canal-lined streets packed with galleries and unique boutiques.

It’s easy to let yourself wander here, simply enjoying the architecture and views along the way.

Whether you’re hoping to snap photos, shop for a unique souvenir, or both, it’s well worth exploring the 9 Streets during your one day in Amsterdam.

… and Jordaan.

Located right next door to the 9 Streets, the beautiful neighborhood of Jordaan is like the quieter, slightly more residential sibling of the 9 Streets.

It’s one of the most popular neighborhoods to explore in the city, and a fantastic place to enjoy beautiful canal views in Amsterdam.

If you’re interested in small, quirky museums that don’t take long to see, you’ll also find the Amsterdam Houseboat Museum (located–where else–on a houseboat in a canal) just outside of Jordaan.

I loved visiting and can highly recommend stopping by if you want to experience the interior of a classic houseboat!

Hop on a canal cruise.

Easily one of the most popular things to do in Amsterdam, there’s nothing that can make you appreciate the ingenuity of a canal city quite like hopping on a canal cruise.

There’s something about admiring the phenomenal Dutch Golden Age architecture of Amsterdam’s city center from the water that makes it even more special.

Be sure to plan ahead: the canal cruises do fill up, and not all cruises are created equal.

During my most recent trip to Amsterdam, my friends and I opted to enjoy this popular canal cruise featuring cheese, wine, and beautiful views, and we had a fantastic time!

However, if you’d rather opt for a private, open-air boat, splurging on a cruise like this is on my Amsterdam bucket list for a future trip.

Book your Amsterdam canal cruise today!

Wander through Dam Square and past the Royal Palace.

Amsterdam’s main square is one of the most popular places to visit in the city, and its central location makes it incredibly easy to visit during your one day in Amsterdam.

Once a market square, and before that an actual dam that was initially built in 1270, today Dam Square is best known for being the home of the Royal Palace and the central hub of Amsterdam.

If you’re visiting Amsterdam in April, you’ll also find many pots of tulips scattered around Dam Square!

Check out the Floating Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt).

The Floating Flower Market along the Singel Canal proclaims to be the floating flower market in the world, and it has been brightening the city with colorful flowers and bulbs since 1862.

The market caters almost exclusively to tourists these days, but with a convenient location and bursts of color in every direction, it’s still worth stopping by when trying to sample Amsterdam in one day!

Tour one of Amsterdam’s incredible museums.

Amsterdam has hundreds of museums to choose from, ranging from iconic to quirky, but with only one day in Amsterdam, you’ll want to choose one of the city’s most treasured options.

Keep in mind that these museums are incredibly popular–be sure to book your tickets in advance, regardless of which one you choose to visit.

Here are a few of the best museums in Amsterdam to consider adding to your itinerary!

The Anne Frank House

The secret annex where Anne Frank and seven other people hid from the Nazis for more than 2 years is set in an otherwise unassuming building in Amsterdam, right along a canal.

It is an incredibly moving museum, and we highly recommend visiting, but due to the small size of the space, tickets are very limited.

Ticket sales open six weeks before a given date, often selling out quickly, and can only be purchased through the official website. 

Shop tickets to the Anne Frank House here.

Can’t get tickets, but still want to learn more about Anne Frank’s experience in Amsterdam?

If so, this well-reviewed tour is a great way to do so.

Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam’s most famous art and history museum is home to some absolute masterpieces of Dutch artwork, perhaps most famously Rembrandt’s Night Watch, and the incredible collection of art in the Gallery of Honor.

The Rijksmuseum also holds some Van Gogh pieces, including one of his best-known self-portraits.

We love this museum enough that we plan to visit it many times over the years!

Book your Rijksmuseum ticket today!

Van Gogh Museum

While the Rijkmuseum has a handful of Van Gogh’s pieces, the bulk of his work in Amsterdam, as well as personal effects like letters, can be found at the Van Gogh Museum.

If you’re a fan of Van Gogh (or his contemporaries, as he’s not the only artist featured), this might be the right Amsterdam museum for you!

Shop tickets to the Van Gogh Museum today!

Take an evening stroll along the canals.

Without a doubt, one of the best parts of spending a day in Amsterdam is its beautiful canal views, and as the soft light of evening hits, the views become even more magical.

Grab your phone or camera and set off on foot before sunset, and you’re bound to feel the magic of the city amongst the canals.

Optional: Visit the Red Light District. 

This is up to personal preference, of course, but if you’re curious about Amsterdam’s (in)famous Red Light District, the best time to visit is after dark when the area comes to life.

One important tip: absolutely do not photograph any of the workers that are visible in the windows.

If you’d like to snap photos of the district, aim your camera carefully!

What about the iAmsterdam sign?

Many guides to visiting Amsterdam include a mention of the once-iconic iAmsterdam sign in front of the Rijksmuseum, but the sign was actually removed at the end of 2018.

The sign has been known to make appearances at various events and festivals around town, though, so who knows–maybe you will spot it while spending a day in Amsterdam!

There are also other, less well-known versions of the sign that you can still seek out, including at the Schiphol Airport–though I have to admit, it was looking a little worse for the wear in terms of graffiti when I last saw it!

Where to Stay When Visiting Amsterdam

There’s no way around it: Amsterdam is far from the most affordable of the top cities to visit in Europe, and lodging prices, in particular, tend to be quite high.

This is especially true if you want to stay in the city center!

Expect to pay more for lodging in Amsterdam than for comparable stays in many other cities in Europe.

If you have mobility limitations, be sure to read the description of your hotel carefully: very steep staircases are far from unheard of in Amsterdam.

These options all get great reviews (I particularly loved my stay at this hotel), and should give you an idea of what you can expect to spend on lodging in Amsterdam!

Budget

XO Hotels Van Gogh — A comfortable, affordable hotel with a fun design twist: that’s what you’ll find at XO Hotels Van Gogh, where rooms are decorated with creations inspired by the famous artist’s work.

With great reviews and a fantastic location practically next door to the famous Van Gogh Museum, travelers looking to stick to a reasonable budget without dipping into a hostel can’t go wrong with a stay here.

Check rates & book your stay at XO Hotels Van Gogh!

Mid-range

The Times Hotel — I loved my stay at this beautiful, modern, canal-side hotel during my trip to Amsterdam in April!

The room was incredibly comfortable, the location in the heart of Amsterdam perfect (just a short walk to most of the top things to do in Amsterdam, and walkable from the train station), and the proprietor was very friendly.

The included breakfast was a great way to kick off a day of exploring, too!

Check rates & book your stay at The Times Hotel today!

Luxury

Sofitel Legend, The Grand Amsterdam — For an unforgettable stay in the heart of Amsterdam, you can’t go wrong by checking into the luxurious Sofitel Legend!

Located less than a 5-minute walk from Dam Square (and many of Amsterdam’s other top sights), the Sofitel Legend boasts excellent reviews and spacious, beautifully decorated rooms.

Some suites also have access to a butler service, and everyone can enjoy the on-site fine dining restaurant, spa, and indoor pool.

Check rates & book your stay at Sofitel Legend, The Grand Amsterdam today!

Getting Around During One Day in Amsterdam

This one day Amsterdam itinerary is designed to be completed primarily by walking around the city.

In fact, except for enjoying a canal cruise, virtually everything on this Amsterdam guide can be completed on foot.

Of course, if you’d like to truly get into the spirit of Amsterdam (or have the opportunity to explore further afield), you can also rent a bike during your day in Amsterdam and enjoy zipping alongside the canals at a faster pace!

If you do choose to rent a bike or join a bike tour, be sure to lock the bike carefully when you leave it and to be cognizant of biking etiquette in the city!

Central Amsterdam is also home to a series of trams that can help you navigate the city if you’d like to take a break from walking at some point during the day.

Tips for Exploring Amsterdam in a Day

If you want to visit one of Amsterdam’s popular museums, book in advance.

I mentioned this above, but it bears repeating: Amsterdam’s most popular museums book up well in advance.

If you’d like to visit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, or Anne Frank House during your day in Amsterdam, be sure to plan ahead!

Plan on paying for most things with a card.

Amsterdam is an incredibly card-friendly city, and in fact, you may find that some establishments you visit don’t accept cash at all!

In 2025, tap-to-pay is also an increasingly common option.

If you’re a book lover, plan to peruse plenty of bookshops.

We were absolutely smitten with the number of bookshops in Amsterdam, from large, modern shops to crowded storefronts selling used books.

If you’re a bookworm who happens to be visiting Amsterdam on a Friday, also consider adding the city’s outdoor book market to your plans for exploring Amsterdam in a day!

Plan for crowds.

Amsterdam is one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe, and that combined with the narrow, canal-lined streets and the fact that many of the city’s top attractions are located close together means that Amsterdam deals with very heavy crowds.

Especially if you’re visiting in the spring or summer (like during tulip season, for example), be prepared to share the city with thousands of other tourists.

Wear very comfortable shoes–you’ll be walking a lot.

Nothing will limit your explorations of Amsterdam quite like sore feet or blisters!

Exploring Amsterdam in a day means spending most of the day on your feet, so dress accordingly.

I basically lived in these sneakers during my most recent trip to Amsterdam!

Stay out of the bike lane!

Amsterdam’s bike lanes are taken quite seriously, and traffic moves fast.

Don’t risk being yelled at (or even accidentally hit) by impeding traffic in them.

More Than One Day in Amsterdam?

If you have more than one day in Amsterdam, you definitely won’t run out of things to do in the city!

In the spring, of course, one of the most popular things to do when visiting Amsterdam is to take a day trip outside the city to see the blooming tulips!

Keukenhof is the most popular garden to visit, and I did enjoy it, but there is no shortage of places to admire tulips in the Netherlands.

Personally, The Tulip Barn in Hillegom has been my favorite tulip experience in the Netherlands so far!

It gets much closer to a “tulip field” experience while still respecting the fact that Dutch farmers naturally do not want tourists traipsing through their carefully grown flower fields (if you do want to visit a working farm, your best option is to sign up for a tour like this).

Other popular day trips from the city include nearby Delft, Haarlem, Bruges, Zaanse Shans, and Rotterdam.

Within the city itself, consider visiting the additional museums you don’t have time for when trying to see Amsterdam in a day, taking part in the Heineken experience, strolling through Vondelpark (one of the best parks in Amsterdam), meandering down to the Skinny Bridge, and checking out more of Amsterdam’s many markets.

The Our Lord in the Attic Museum (housed in a formerly hidden Catholic Church) and Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk are both worth a visit as well!

That being said, while there’s no way to experience everything the city has to offer when exploring Amsterdam in a day, you can definitely make time for a surprising number of the city’s highlights with just one day in Amsterdam!

Read More About Visiting the Netherlands + Beyond

Planning a trip to Amsterdam soon and eager to keep reading?

You can browse our blog posts about the Netherlands here, or check out these guides:

• Amsterdam in April: Things to Do + All About Tulips!
• 21+ Dreamy, Romantic Cities in Europe for a Couples Getaway
• The Ultimate 3 Days in Belgium Itinerary
• The Ultimate Packing List for Europe: Spring Edition (+ What to Wear)
• Planning a Trip to Paris in 11 Easy Steps (+ First Time in Paris Tips!)

Your One Day in Amsterdam Itinerary Map

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