Amsterdam is one of our favorite European cities. It’s got endless charm, delicious food, renowned historical sites and museums, an incredible art scene, and beautiful outdoor spaces. Our 4 day Amsterdam itinerary will allow you to sample a little bit of everything that makes Amsterdam such an iconic travel destination. PLUS, it includes some options for day trips if you want to get out and explore more of the Netherlands.
Wanting to include Amsterdam in a longer itinerary with other European cities? Our 9 day itinerary for London, Amsterdam, and Paris has tips on how to see the highlights of western Europe’s most visited capital cities in a short amount of time!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this 4 day Amsterdam Itinerary are affiliate links. That means at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission from your purchase which will go toward bringing you more travel tips, tricks, and tidbits.
Where should you stay in Amsterdam?
In our opinion, you can’t beat a VRBO in De Pijp. This neighborhood is located just south of the historic city center and is just a short walk or tram ride to all the activities listed in this 4 day Amsterdam itinerary. It’s got the dreamy canals that you picture when you think of Amsterdam, eclectic shops, plenty of food options, and the Albert Cuyp Markt. Another bonus? It doesn’t have the overwhelming amount of tourists that you’ll find in the city center.
Read our blog post on De Pijp to see the many reasons why we would happily use De Pijp as our home base for for future trips to Amsterdam.
Transportation in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a fantastic public transportation system. You can get between neighborhoods by bus, train, tram, ferry, and metro. For our last visit, we used the train to get from the airport to the city center, the tram to get from De Pijp to other neighborhoods, and the ferry to visit NDSM Warf to look at street art (Day 2 of this itinerary!).
The Amsterdam Tourism Board has a handy breakdown of the various transportation methods, how to pay, and even how to save money depending on the type of travel you plan on doing within the city and your length of stay.
Key things to know about public transportation in Amsterdam: The easiest way to pay is with a contactless debit/credit card or your phone. You tap your phone/card when you board and again when you exit.
Day 1 – Hello Amsterdam!
Morning
Arrive in Amsterdam, and check into your accommodations: If you’re flying from the USA, there’s a high probability you’ll be taking an overnight flight and landing in Amsterdam in the morning time. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is easy to navigate and has signs pointing you toward the trains that will take you to the city center. The journey only takes around 15 minutes with trains running every 5 minutes-10 minutes. Tickets are inexpensive and can be bought in the baggage claim area.
If it’s too early to check into your accommodations when you arrive, don’t let it hold you back from exploring! Radical Storage has over 50 luggage storage spots located throughout Amsterdam where you can store your luggage for less than €5 per day. We have used them on our girls trips in London and Belfast, and had great experiences in both cities!
Afternoon
After you store your luggage or get settled into your accommodations, it’s time to officially start your 4 day Amsterdam itinerary!
Museumplein: Head to Museumplein, one of the most popular squares in Amsterdam that is lined with some of the country’s best museums. Choose which one sounds most interesting to you to explore for a few hours:
Rijksmuseum – This is the national museum of the Netherlands and will take you through 8,000 years of history through art and artifacts. Kayla’s favorite part of the Rijksmuseum is the Cuyper’s Library – it’s so beautiful! You can also see works from Van Gogh and Rembrandt, most famously The Night Watch.
Moco Museum – This small, quirky museum shows modern and contemporary art, with works by Banksy frequently being on exhibit as well as immersive exhibits. You probably won’t spend more than an hour here, so you can easily couple this with another one of the museums in this area if you’re doing good on time.
Van Gogh Museum – This is the largest museum dedicated to Van Gogh in the world! Learn about the artist’s life and see some of his most famous works in person.
Stedelijk Museum – Known as “The Bathtub” due to its unique shape, this museum showcases contemporary art and design
Lunch: For a quick and easy lunch that requires little thought, FoodCrib and T Museumpleintje are permanent kiosks with shaded outdoor seating in Museumplein.. Full disclosure: We ate at FoodCrib and thought it was mediocre. But we were honestly too hangry to care.
If you want to sit indoors and are a sucker for a themed restaurant (we definitely are), The Burger Room is located on the street behind Moco Museum and is Wizard of Oz themed!
Evening
Get acquainted with the city by boat: Amsterdam is famous for its canals, and it’s time for you to get up close and personal with them by taking a canal cruise! Doing a canal cruise on Day 1 of this 4 day Amsterdam itinerary is going to allow you to get the lay of the land and get a brief overview of Amsterdam’s fascinating history. You can usually get solid recommendations from your guide on restaurants and activities that you might not have known about otherwise.
This luxury canal cruise picks up right by the Rijksmuseum, meaning you won’t have to walk far to board your boat! It’s a fabulous tour that lets you get acquainted with the layout of Amsterdam in a relaxing way.
Aboard your electric boat, your skipper will let you know all about the history of Amsterdam and the iconic landmarks you’ll be passing. You’ll get your first glimpses of the Anne Frank House, the Jordaan, the Dutch National Opera and Ballet, the Seven Bridges Viewpoint, and so much more!
Dinner: If you’re wanting something on the fancier side, The Seafood Bar is conveniently located near the Rijksmuseum and has fresh seafood delivered to them daily. If you want to try some traditional Dutch entrees, The Pantry is also near Museumplein (but you’ll want to make a reservation in advance!).
Day 2 – Explore the Past & Present
Morning
Stroopwafels for breakfast: Treat yourself with one of Amsterdam’s most well known treats for breakfast – the stroopwafel. We went to Van Wonderen, which is known for having very Instagrammy (and thus more expensive) stroopwafels. But if you don’t care about aesthetics, look to see what places near your accommodations sell them! They can be found in shops all over the city.
Anne Frank House: Many have read Anne Frank’s diary that chronicles how she and her family lived in a secret annex during the Holocaust so that they could avoid being deported to concentration camps. But few realize that the annex was preserved after the Franks were forced out of their hidden world and that it can be visited today.
Eight people in total lived in the close quarters for just over 2 years. Anne faithfully kept a diary of her time spent there that has since been published and read by people world wide. She had dreams of one day becoming a famous writer. She achieved her goal, but sadly did not receive the recognition she yearned for until after her death in a concentration camp in 1945. The museum is a heartbreaking, but necessary reminder of the terrors Jews and other minorities endured during Hitler’s reign.
Tickets go on sale 6 weeks in advance, and we strongly advise setting an alarm & getting them as soon as they go on sale. They sell out VERY quickly! If you miss out, the museum sometimes releases additional tickets at midnight the night prior. The museum is designed for ages 10 and up. However there are several playgrounds in the area for younger children to play at if parents want to take turns visiting the museum.
Lunch: If you’re feeling hungry, The Lebanese Sajeria makes delicious wraps on homemade flatbread. You’ll also notice quickly that Amsterdam has a lot of pancake houses. We opted for The Pancake Bakery, which is housed in a 17th century former warehouse with canal views and just a short walk from the Anne Frank House.
Afternoon – Evening
Ferry to the NDSM Warf and see some street art: Lift your spirits by taking the ferry behind Amsterdam Central Station to the NDSM Warf. This FREE ferry runs every 20 minutes, and the crossing takes around 15 minutes.
Once you land on the Warf, head straight to the STRAAT Museum for Street Art and Graffitti. Situated in a former shipyard, this museum is so big that it feels open air. Light pours in from above, illuminating the massive colorful pieces of art. It’s an incredibly beautiful museum, and it ended up being one of our favorite things we did on our girls trip to Amsterdam.
After the museum, spend some time exploring the area. There is a flea market next door to STRAAT where you can find lots of vintage clothing and other odds and ends. The NDSM Loods is a studio nearby where over 250 artists and craftspeople work daily. It’s free to walk through, but please be respectful of the space and work going on there.
From STRAAT, it’s also only a 7 minute drive A’Dam Lookout Swing if it’s on your bucket list and the EYE Film Museum if you’re still feeling artsy (you can also take the ferry back across from STRAAT and then take the shorter ferry to the A’Dam Lookout Swing area).
Dinner: Have dinner near the Buiksloterweg ferry terminal (you can use this terminal to get back over to the city center area). Stick Up Indo Food offers authentic Indonesian food without artificial additives or MSG. Another solid option near the ferry terminal is Cafe Ons, which has a local feel and great prices.
When you’re finished eating, hop on the ferry to head back to your accommodations.
Day 3 – Take a day trip
You’ve spent a couple of days in Amsterdam, and you’ll have another one tomorrow. Use day 3 of our 4 day Amsterdam itinerary to get outside the city and see some lesser visited areas that most tourists miss. Below are some options that won’t disappoint:
Zaanse Schans: This historic heritage village is only a 17 min train ride (coupled with a 15 min walk) from Amsterdam or a 25 min bus ride. Here, you’ll be able to learn what life was like in the Netherlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. The village has several old windmills, a bakery museum, a clog workshop where you can see clogs being chiseled out of chunks of wood, a coopery where you can see barrel making, one of the last pewter foundries in the Netherlands, museums, shops, restaurants, and more!
The Hague: The Hague is the seat of Dutch Parliament and is around 35 min from Amsterdam by train. The Binnenhof is where the parliament buildings are located and worth visiting to see their gothic architecture. There are several notable museums in The Hague, including Mauritshuis (which houses Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”) and the M.C. Escher Museum.
Delft: This picturesque town is known for its blue and white Delft Blue pottery, and it’s also the birthplace of Vermeer. It can easily be combined with The Hague if you’re up for a full day trip, as the two are only around 20 minutes apart via train. At the Royal Delft Experience, you can take a factory tour and even have a hand at painting your own pottery if you sign up for their workshops. Delft also has canal cruises (because you can never have too many canal cruises in one trip!).
Efteling: This fantasy themed theme park is a 49 minute train ride from Amsterdam. The rides and attractions pay homage to European fairy tales and folklore. Whether you seek thrills or more laid back nostalgia, this theme park offers something for all ages. It’s a much cheaper alternative to larger parks like Disneyland and is widely considered the best themed park not just in the Netherlands, but all of Europe!
Day 4 – Choose your own adventure
This 4 day Amsterdam itinerary has been busy so far! Today is a day to wind down and enjoy Amsterdam’s beautiful scenery at your leisure. Here are some of the areas you might want to explore:
De Pijp: Go to Albert Cuyp Market to try Dutch street food and shop. Take advantage of fewer tourists by taking pics on the empty canal bridges. Have a picnic or take a stroll at Sarphatipark. De Pijp is also where the Heineken Experience is located, and this tour will teach you all about the bottle and brewing process (and of course you’ll get to try some for yourself!).
Jordaan: Considered by many to be the most charming neighborhood in Amsterdam, Jordaan has narrow canals lined with tall narrow 17th century buildings, lots of boutique shops, and countless restaurants and cafes. Here you can also find the Anne Frank House and several quirky museums.
If you want to see what one of the inside of the houseboats, pop into the Houseboat Museum. Wanna learn about Dutch cheese and sample them? Go to the Cheese Museum. Want to be able to say you’ve been to Amsterdam’s smallest museum? Go to the Pianola Museum. And if you’re there on a Saturday, the Noordermarkt is an absolute must!
Binnenstad: The medieval heart of Amsterdam in the innermost circle of canals. Here you will find Dam Square, Oude Kirk Amsterdam, and the Red Light District.
For a little quiet oasis unexpectedly tucked into the heart of the city, visit the Beginhof. Since the middle ages, this quiet courtyard lined with 400 year old buildings has served as the home to a devout, semi-monastic community of unmarried Catholic women. After the Beginhof, head over to Van Stapele Koekmakerij for some of the best cookies you’ll ever eat. This bakery only makes one type of cookie – dark chocolate with a gooey white chocolate core. They’re made fresh all day long and there’s usually a line wrapped around the building.
Have anything to add to our 4 day Amsterdam itinerary? Let us know in the comments below!
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