Amsterdam in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more
If your trip to Amsterdam is for five days, as well as exploring every corner of the city, you'll also have the opportunity to do some sightseeing in the surrounding area to round off your trip.
Lights of Amsterdam | ©Andrew Hawkes
Travelling in and around the city of Amsterdam is quite easy. Efficient public transport can get you anywhere in the city in less than an hour. You can follow your instinct and get lost in the city, or follow this 5-day Amsterdam itinerary to make the most of your trip.
In this 5-day itinerary the idea would be to see the most important areas in the centre of Amsterdam and then do a short tour in the south and north of the city. For each day there will be a short description of the itinerary, so I won't go into it any further.
Day 1: City sightseeing on foot and by cruise ship
For a first day it is always advisable to explore the city on foot, at least the most interesting places. In addition, the flat nature of the city and the low temperatures will make it easy to get tired. On this tour you will visit Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Begijnhof, and then finish the day with a canal cruise.
Dam Square
The evergreen Dam Square is the first place to visit. You can see trams crossing every second, hundreds of people on their bicycles and travellers everywhere.
The National Monument is on one side and the Royal Palace on the other. I recommend you spend some time enjoying the first glimpses of Amsterdam and then head to the magnificent Royal Palace.
Amsterdam Royal Palace
Marvel at the architecture, royal furnishings and works of art in Amsterdam's Royal Palace for a couple of hours. Entrance to the Royal Palace costs 10 euros and is available at the ticket desk.
Be sure to ask in advance if the Royal Palace is accepting visitors on that day, as the palace is closed to visitors when it is in use by the royal family.
Begijnhof
This is an area characterised by a group of elegant houses built in the 14th century for unmarried women who lived as nuns and were not entitled to vote. The site encloses a beautiful, well-kept green courtyard. Unmarried women live in these houses to this day. Men are not allowed to enter before 10 am and after 6 pm.
Canal Cruise
After a good walk I recommend ending the day on an evening canal cruise. They are more or less the same and start every half hour at Damrak Pier. I recommend this development post about the price of these cruises.
The one-hour canal cruise will take you through the famous and significant canals, showing you the highlights of Amsterdam from the water. The canal cruise is very different from the conventional boat tour and is a must-do activity on your five-day Amsterdam itinerary.
Day 2: Museum day in the city
On this day we will delve into Dutch history, culture and art. We will focus this day on visiting Amsterdam's best museums: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is located on Museumplein in the centre of Amsterdam. For your location, it is close to the city' s historic canals and shops.
Amsterdam's most popular museum, the Rijk Museum, will take you on a journey through the Dutch Middle Ages, displaying artefacts and paintings from centuries ago. The museum has an entire section dedicated to the life and paintings of Rembrandt, a notable artist of the Dutch Golden Age.
If you are a history buff you will appreciate the museum like no other. The museum opens at 9am, and it is best to arrive early to avoid the rush and queues. Tickets for the Rijk Museum are priced at 17.50 euros and are also available at the ticket desk. Here is more information about the Rijk Museum (tickets, guided tours, prices...).
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is located 300 metres from the previous museum, which is about a 4 minute walk.
In this museum you can see the masterpieces created by the world famous Vincent van Gogh. In addition, this museum will teach you a lot about the life of Vincent van Gogh and his paintings.
I recommend you to buy your tickets online, with a price of 18 euros. This is due to the fact that only a specific number of people are allowed to enter, and to clarify any doubts, I recommend this complete post about the Van Gogh Museum. Continuing with the itinerary, you can easily spend a couple of hours here.
Albert Cuyp market
At this time of day it's time for a bit of street food and street shopping. A must-try treat at the Albert Cuyp Market is the Stroopwafel, a kind of thin, caramel-filled waffle.
On the other hand, at the Albert Cuyp Market you have the opportunity to use your bargaining skills by buying clothes, accessories and souvenirs. You can also take the opportunity to buy some dried fruits and nuts.
Vondelpark
Enjoy the journey from Westerkerk to Vondelpark by cycling or enjoying a nice walk through the popular Nine Streets and Jordaan areas. You'll find trendy boutiques and cosy cafés to spend some quality time.
Vondelpark is huge and exploring it is a blessing. The peaceful setting of Vondelpark makes it a relaxing place for an afternoon nap. Enjoy the sunset in Vondelpark reading a book or watching the interesting street acts.
Day 3: Explore and discover Amsterdam's mysteries
The third day of the five-day Amsterdam itinerary will focus on the famous Anne Frank House and the Red Light District. The former is the flagship establishment for understanding Jewish culture and its development during the Second World War and the latter is the area that chronicles the culture of prostitution in the Dutch capital.
Anne Frank House
One of the most remembered figures from the dark times of German history is the daring young Anne Frank. She was barely a teenager when she began to write about the sufferings of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her family hid in a warehouse in Amsterdam and remained there for two years before she was arrested by the Nazis in 1944.
This house is now converted into a museum dedicated to Anne Frank, and the museum tour will take you on a journey of her life. Tickets to the Anne Frank House are priced at 10 euros, tickets sell out very easily. A handful of tickets are also usually available at the entrance; however, I don't recommend taking a gamble. For more information on tickets, opening times and prices I recommend this post about the Anne Frank Museum.
Westerkerk
Just a short walk from the Anne Frank House is Amsterdam's largest church. The Westerkerk is one of the oldest churches in the city, and the bell tower is a real eye-catcher. It usually rings every hour.
If you visit Amsterdam in June or Amsterdam in September, I recommend joining one of the group tours organised by the church and focused on its observation deck, which are organised every half hour and will give you the opportunity to get a spectacular 360-degree view of the city centre. For more information visit the website.
Red Light District
Get ready to discover the history of prostitution in Amsterdam in the Red Light District. It is natural to be a little afraid to walk through the Red Light District, but you might be surprised how safe the location is.
The district is a magical place that stands out for its light, atmosphere and all the stories and legends that revolve around it. In addition, the neighbourhood has several food out lets and even restaurants. Definitely a great way and an iconic place to end the day.
Day 4: Excursion to Zaanse Schans
After spending the first three days in the centre of Amsterdam, it would be good to use this fourth day to explore the serene countryside of the Amsterdam region. A trip to the windmills of Zaanse Schans.
How to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam
-
By bus: Take the bus (# 391) from Amsterdam Central Station every two hours from stop E to Zandaam / Zaanse Schans. The whole journey takes less than an hour and tickets can be purchased for €7 and include a return trip.
-
By train: From Amsterdam Central Station, take a train to Koog-Zaandijk, which takes just 17 minutes. Then follow the direction board and walk for about 15 minutes to Zaanse Schans. It's a straight road, so you won't get lost.
I highly recommend taking the bus to Zaanse Schans, as it's the most cost-effective option and you won't have to walk.
Visit the historic windmills
The real attraction of the Zaanse Schans are the historic windmills. As soon as you enter the village, you will be greeted by beautiful greenery, including greenhouses and vintage windmills along the river. There used to be many more along the river, but now only 13 windmills remain and they are scattered throughout the resort.
All these windmills provide a great insight into what life was like in the 17-18th century. Some have been converted into shops, others now have platforms to climb up and see the town from above.
Each windmill has its own admission ticket and usually costs €3 each. However, if you are interested in visiting them all, I recommend buying a Zaanse Schans card for €10.
Visit the great clog shop of the whole country
Right at the entrance of the Zaanse Schans, there is a gift shop with multiple pairs of brightly painted wooden clogs on display on the outside wall.
This shop is part of the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop, a sort of shoe museum where you can see clog skates and many other unique clogs. It is simply the largest selection of clogs in all colours and sizes in the Netherlands.
In the past, clogs were made by hand and could produce up to seven pairs each day, nowadays machines are used for this; however, the clog makers still make them by hand in the workshop. The Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free.
Free clog making demonstrations are held continuously throughout the day. You can watch the making of a shoe from start to finish. Presentations of this type last about 15 minutes.
Visit Catharina Hoeve Farm
In addition to the shoe factory, there is a cheese shop with seemingly endless samples that you can sample as you walk through the shop above.
The variety of gouda at this cheese farm is admirable. There's regular gouda, herb-smoked gouda, chilli gouda and even a neon green gouda with pesto. If gouda is not your thing, there are also many other types of Dutch cheese. Catharina Hoeve 's Farm is open daily from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Enjoy the scenery back in Amsterdam
To round off your visit, you can also take a stroll through the village and admire the Dutch countryside. From the east bank of the river Zaan you can see the typical green wooden houses lined up. There is a farm opposite the windmills, where you can see cows grazing freely in the area. In addition, there is also a distillery museum and a soap factory.
Day 5: Bid Amsterdam farewell from the heart of the city
On the last day of the five-day Amsterdam itinerary we won't stray far from the centre of Amsterdam and will visit the city museum, the famous Bloemenmarkt market and the lively Leidseplein district.
Amsterdam Museum
Amsterdam's history museum tells the story of the city over the last millennium through multimedia exhibits, religious artefacts, porcelain and paintings. Exhibits also include why cycling is on the rise.
Its Gallery includes group portraits of medieval guards and citizens, and photographs of Anne Frank and Alfred Heineken. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00, and admission is free.
Bloemenmarkt
Located in the city of Amsterdam, Bloemenmarkt is a flower market famous for its scents and pleasant appearance. Historically, flowers were brought here by boat from the countryside. Bloemenmarkt sells everything from cut flowers of all kinds, to seeds, plants and other gardening essentials. However, it's not just a must-visit for lovers of greenery, as this is an establishment with a lot of history and a lot of atmosphere. The Bloemenmarkt is open from 9:00 to 5:30 in winter and autumn; and from 8:30 to 7:30 in spring and summer.
There are many reasons to visit Amsterdam's Bloemenmarkt, not least because it illustrates how Amsterdam used to work. There are 15 market stalls to visit, each offering something slightly different from the last. Bloemenmarkt is the perfect place to buy flowers and other trinkets, and is open all year round. I recommend a visit to the Bloemenmarkt especially if you visit Amsterdam in spring.
Leidseplein neighbourhood
When it comes to party atmosphere, no other neighbourhood in Amsterdam sums it up better than the Leidseplein. This has become a haven for bar and pub crawlers. Watching a street performance here will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere. From the moment the sun sets, Leidseplein becomes the perfect stage to say goodbye to Amsterdam with music and joy.