How to spend 3 Days in Amsterdam: The Best Itinerary + Where to Stay

You want to spend 3 days in Amsterdam and you’re looking for the best things to do?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared for you this 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam.

It’s perfectly optimized to allow you to discover the city’s must-see attractions.

In addition to the best places to visit and activities for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, what are the best places to visit in Amsterdam in 3 days? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

How to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time!) at Amsterdam’s tourist attractions

It’s the fate of many large European cities, and the capital of the Netherlands is no exception: the main tourist attractions are packed with visitors, some of them prepared to spend over an hour queueing to get in.

If you’ve ever visited the Duomo in Florence or been inside the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, you’ll definitely know what I’m talking about!

But if you’re an experienced traveler (and you follow my blog!), you’ll also know that you can avoid this inconvenience.

So I will now give you the 2 options to save a lot time during your 3 days in Amsterdam:

1. The I Amsterdam City Card

If you want to visit as many of the attractions as possible, your first option is to get the I Amsterdam City Card. It gives you free entry or discounts on the city’s museums and attractions.

Valid for a period between 1 and 5 days (depending one what you choose when booking), it also gives you free access to public transport, including trams, buses and the metro.

Once you’ve reserved your pass, you’ll receive an email confirmation that you will use to pick up your pass when you will arrive in Amsterdam.

With the I Amsterdam City Card, you will get:

• Free entrance to all the city’s museums
• A canal cruise
• Discounts on attractions such as the Amsterdam Dungeon or the Heineken Experience
• 25% off bike hire and in certain restaurants
• Unlimited use of public transport during your 3 days in Amsterdam.

Click the button below for a description of all the attractions included, and to purchase your I Amsterdam City Card:

3. Fast track tickets for Amsterdam’s best tourist attractions

The last solution to save a lot of time at the most popular attractions is to buy fast track tickets for each of the sites individually. Simply decide what you want to see during your 3 days in Amsterdam and book accordingly!

You’ll have no problem finding skip the line tickets for the city’s best museums and activities. They are a very convenient way to optimize your itinerary and visits.

Here’s the list of attractions and activities I will talk about in this itinerary.

Simply click on the orange links or green buttons to book. For your convenience, I will of course also include these links throughout the article:

3 Days in Amsterdam: Must-See Attractions:

• The Royal Palace of Amsterdam
• The Dungeon
• The Amsterdam Museum
• Guided tour of the Red Light District
• Private tour of the Jordaan district
• The Rijksmuseum
• The Van Gogh Museum
• The MOCO
• The Stedelijk Museum
• Canal cruise
• Guided tour of Amsterdam
• Guided bike tour
• THIS IS HOLLAND
• Anne Frank walking tour of Amsterdam
• Guided Segway tour

One Last Tip for a Perfect 3-Day Stay in Amsterdam

If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!), you should really book your accommodation.

As Amsterdam is one of the most touristic cities in the world, the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.

As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.

You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in Amsterdam by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅

So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at traveler’s favorite hotels in Amsterdam.

And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!

It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the best hotels deals in Amsterdam, simply click on the green button below:

After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!

3 days in Amsterdam: recommended itinerary

Let’s now plan your 72-hour itinerary in Amsterdam!

For this itinerary, I assume you’ll be spending 3 full days in Amsterdam and purchased the I Amsterdam City Card or your fast track tickets.

That’s the best way to save time and money during your stay!

If you still have questions once you’ve read this article or need help planning you holiday, please send me all your questions via the comments section located at the end of this article.

So, what should you do during your 3 days in Amsterdam?

Day 1 of your Amsterdam itinerary – The historic centre

Day 1 visits:

A. Dam Square and the Royal Palace
B. The Amsterdam Dungeon or the Amsterdam Museum
C. The Béguinage (Begijnhof)
D. The flower market
E. Zuiderkerk and Nieuwmarkt
F. The Red Light District
G. Oude Kerk

A. Dam Square and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam

To start the first of your 3 days in Amsterdam, you should head to Dam Square, the city’s main square.

From Amsterdam central station, it’s just a 10-minute walk away via Damrak Street or Nieuwendijk. And if you don’t feel like walking, you can take the tram.

After marvelling at the National Monument and the surrounding buildings including Nieuwe Kerk church, you should visit the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.

Serving as the Town Hall from the 17th to the 19th century, and then as a royal residence, the palace’s rooms are worth a look for their period furniture, paintings and sculptures.

Since entry is not included in either of the 2 City Passes, you should buy your skip the line tickets in advance. The price is the same as at the ticket office but you won’t have to queue early in the morning!

The audio guide is included as well, so you will be able to learn everything about the history of the royal palace.

B. The Amsterdam Dungeon or the Amsterdam Museum

For your second visit of the day, you will have the choice between the Amsterdam Dungeon and the Amsterdam Museum.

They are both located less than a 5-minute walk from Dam square.

As they are very different (even if they both relate to the city’s history), I will let you decide which one to visit.

1) The Amsterdam Dungeon immerses you in the dark history of the Netherlands. During staged productions performed by actors in period costume, you will see (and participate in!) short shows such as witches being burned at the stake or a trial during the Spanish inquisition.

You’ll soon be soaking up the dark atmosphere of this period, especially if you“volunteer” to be tortured!

The I Amsterdam City Card gets you a 25% reduction on your entrance ticket.

If you don’t have the pass, you need to buy your entrance ticket by clicking here.

2) The Amsterdam Museum: a great visit if you want to learn more about the history of Amsterdam but in a more conventional way.

Interactive, modern and instructive, it takes you through the the 1,000 years of the history of the Dutch capital.

Free entrance with the Amsterdam City Card. If you don’t have the pass, you need to purchase your tickets here.

C. The Béguinage (Begijnhof)

To end the morning, you will discover the Béguinage, one of the oldest inner courtyards in Amsterdam.

This place was for a long time home to a community of mainly women known as the Béguines. The homes remain occupied today, so be careful not to make too much noise or cross the fences.

At the Béguinage, you can also admire Amsterdam’s last wooden house – also one of the city’s oldest! This type of housing became strictly forbidden because of the high risk of fire.

D. The flower market

Continue your day by following the canal to reach the “Bloemenmarkt”, or flower market which is just a 5-minute walk from the Béguinage.

This is the perfect opportunity to pick up a few tulip bulbs as a souvenir of your 3 days in Amsterdam! You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to colours.

There, you can also buy a bouquet of freshly cut tulips or (easier to take home with you) some wooden decorative tulips.

There are also smalls shops selling souvenirs, including traditional clogs, magnets and postcards.

E. Zuiderkerk and Nieuwmarkt

Now, you can walk along Kloveniersburgwal canal for around 10 minutes to reach Zuiderkerk church.

From the top of the bell tower, accessible only with a guide and at certain times of the day, you can enjoy an unobstructed panoramic view over the entire city.

Then, continue to Nieuwmakt square. You will easily recognize it thanks to the small castle in the middle of the square. It’s actually the old gateway to the city which has today been converted into a café and restaurant.

To the north of the square, you’ll find the small Chinatown district of Amsterdam.

F. The Red Light District

It’s now time for you to explore another must-see of your 3-day Amsterdam itinerary: the famous Red Light District!

Even if the name means nothing to you, you’ve probably already heard about this place. It’s in this district that you’ll find the famous brothels’s red-fronted windows, behind which you can see the prostitutes.

Offering their services here is completely legal and these women pay their taxes just like everyone else. However, don’t take photos of them if you want to avoid any hassle: it’s strictly prohibited.

To go deeper into the subject (and no, it’s not what you’re thinking!), you can opt for a Red light district guided tour. You need to book it here:

G. Oude Kerk

The Red Light District is also home to Amsterdam’s oldest church: Oude Kerk, built in the 1300s.

With entry to the church costing 15€ and the church housing quite strange contemporary exhibitions, I don’t particularly recommend you to visit the inside.

On the other hand, its red brick exterior and large stain glass windows are worth a look!

Day 2: Best places to visit

Day 2 visits:

A. Jordaan district
B. The Cheese Museum
C. Anne Frank House
D. Visit a museum: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, MOCO or Stedelijk
E. Vondelpark
F. Canal cruise

A. Jordaan district

Three days in Amsterdam will give you enough time to visit the city’s iconic neighbourhoods. You’ve started by exploring the historic centre and the Red Light District.

For this second day, you should continue with the Jordaan, a traditional Amsterdam neighbourhood.

Walk along the canal while admiring the red brick houses and you will pass by Westerkerk church, the largest Protestant church in the Netherlands.

B. The Cheese Museum

Talking about local products, they’re very much the focus of the next stop of the day.

You will now go to the Cheese Museum! And it’s not far to walk because it’s right here in the Jordaan district.

Ok, even if it’s commonly called the Cheese museum, it’s maybe a bit of an exaggeration – You will just find a few explanations about cheese-making, in the basement of a cheese shop.

But cheese-lovers will make up for it with the free tasting of Gouda in every variety (pesto, truffle, chilli..) in the shop at ground level.

C. Anne Frank House

Let’s stay in the Jordaan district and head to Anne Frank House, located on the other side of the canal from the museum.

It’s here that the young Jewish girl and her family hid during the Second World War. Anne Frank’s diary recounts their life during this time.

You can explore the different rooms in the house and see photos and objects that belonged to the family, all alongside extracts from the diary.

Entrance tickets are available for sale online only from the official website (click here). 80% of the tickets are made available online 2 months in advance, and the rest are released in small batches from 9.00 am each day.

Since the house is one of Amsterdam’s most popular tourist attractions, tickets go very quickly and it’s best to book in advance.

D. Visit a museum: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, MOCO or Stedelijk

3 days in Amsterdam is enough time for you to explore at least 1 of the city’s most famous museums.

They can all be found around the Museumplein, or “Museum Square”.

It’s around a 30-minute walk along the canal to get there from Anne Frank House, or a 20 minutes tram ride.

Depending on your interests, you can visit:

• The Rijksmuseum, the largest and the most famous museum in Amsterdam. It houses the largest collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Entry is included with the I Amsterdam City Card. Otherwise you should buy your fast track tickets for the Rijksmuseum in advance by clicking here.
• The Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the famous Dutch artist, with 200 of his works on display. Free entrance with the City Card and the Amsterdam City Pass. If you don’t have a card or pass, you can get a fast track ticket here.
• The MOCO, dedicated to contemporary works of art, plus an exhibition on Banksy. Free entrance with the Amsterdam City Card.
• The Stedelijk Museum, a museum of contemporary art and design. Free entrance with the Amsterdam City Card.

E. Vondelpark

After an afternoon spent indoors, you should go get some fresh air in Vondelpark, the biggest public park in the city.

It’s located just a 5-minute walk away from the Museumplein.

The park features several lakes, well-maintained paths for walking or cycling and play areas for the kids.

F. Canal cruise

Let’s end your second day with an experience you can’t possibly miss during your 3 days in Amsterdam: a canal cruise!

It’s a great way to discover the city’s architecture and traditional houses from a different angle.

There are several cruises to choose from depending on the duration and the boat. I’ve picked out 5 of them for you (simply click on the orange links for details):

• 75 minute cruise exploring the historic centre + audio guide
• 1 hour cruise with audio guide to admire the façades of the Dutch Golden Age houses
• 1 hour cruise in a semi-open electric canal boat
• 90 minute evening cruise to enjoy the city lights
• Luxury cruise with drinks and snacks included.

Don’t forget: if you’ve bought the I Amsterdam City Card, you’re entitled to a free cruise.

3rd day in Amsterdam: where to go?

Day 3 visits:

A. Albert Cuyp Market
B. Heineken Experience
C. Skinny Bridge
D. Visit a museum or guided tour of Amsterdam by bike
E. A’DAM Lookout

A. The Albert Cuyp Market

On the final day of your 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam, you should start the morning at Albert Cuyp Market.

This open-air market is one of the biggest in Europe. You can buy fruits, vegetables, fish and cheeses there, as well as flowers and souvenirs.

The market is open from Monday to Saturday. It’s located in the De Pijp neighbourhood.

B. Heineken Experience

After spending as much time as you want at the market, you should head for the Heineken Experience, only a 5-minute walk away.

You will be welcomed into the old brewery premises dating back to 1867. During the tour, you’ll learn everything about the history of the company as well as the different stages of beer production.

The tour ends at the bar where you can have a pint!

You need to book your tickets in advance here.

C. Skinny Bridge

Next, head to the Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug in Dutch) for a photo opportunity.

Fans of James Bond might recognize the bridge – it’s used as a filming location in “Diamonds are Forever”.

Build in 1670, it was originally so narrow that only 2 people could pass each other. It has since been widened twice, in 1871 and in 1969, so a few more people can now pass on it.

Another particular feature of the Skinny Bridge is that it opens to allow canal boats through.

D. Visit a museum or take a guided tour of Amsterdam by bike

For the afternoon, you have several options:

1) Visit a museum.

Close to the Skinny Bridge, you can for example visit the Hermitage Amsterdam, the Rembrandt House Museum and the Tropenmuseum of ethnography.

Or you can return to the Museumplein and visit one of the museums you didn’t have the time to see on the day before.

2) If you’re visiting Amsterdam with kids, you should take them to the zoo of Amsterdam or to NEMO Science Museum, which is great fun.

3) Explore the city by bike: you can hire one or book a guided tour by bike to immerse yourself deeper in the local culture.

To rent bicycles in Amsterdam, click on the button below:

Or for a guided tour, click there:

E. This Holland/A’DAM Lookout

At the end of the afternoon, head to Amsterdam central station.

From there, you can take the ferry (free of charge) to cross the river and arrive at Buiksloterweg quay. Then it’s just a 5-minute walk to reach THIS IS HOLLAND.

This attraction takes you on a 10-minute virtual flight over the Netherlands. To add to the experience, the seats move and you can even smell the scent of the tulips as you fly over the fields.

The City Card entitles you to a discount.

If you don’t have a pass, you need to book your tickets online by clicking here.

To end the day, you should head to the A’DAM Lookout, Amsterdam’s panoramic observation deck. From the terrace, you can behold the city one last time and try out the highest swing in Europe!

Entry to A’DAM Lookout is included in the City Card Amsterdam.

Where to stay in Amsterdam

So now you know exactly what to do and see in Amsterdam in 3 days!

There’s just one small detail to take care of: where to stay?

To make life easier for you, here’s my selection of the best places to stay in Amsterdam depending on your budget:

• Hans Brinker Hostel Amsterdam: Youth hostel 400 metres from the Rijksmuseum and 10 minutes from the Vondelpark. Bed in a dormitory from 26€, including breakfast. Strong points: the location, the warm welcome, the atmosphere. An excellent choice if you’re looking for a cheap accommodation in Amsterdam!
• Motel One Amsterdam: Located 2 km from the Rikjsuseum and the Albert Cuyp Market. Clean and well-decorated double room from 110€ per night, breakfast 11.50€. Strong points: helpful staff, location 2 minutes from the metro, the good breakfast.
• Jaz Amsterdam: Situated a 15-minute metro ride from the centre. Spacious and stylish room from 110€, breakfast 16.95€. Strong points: very friendly staff, good facilities, the fabulous breakfast.
• Motel One Amsterdam-Waterlooplein: Situated close to the Zuiderkerk and a 15-minute walk from Dam Square. Warm room with very comfortable bed linen from 154€, breakfast 11.50€. Strong points: close to the centre, delightful staff, good and varied breakfast. It’s my favourite for its excellent value for money in Amsterdam!
• Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre: Situated just a 10-minute walk from the railways station and the centre of Amsterdam. Spacious, modern and comfortable room, some with a river view, from 190€, breakfast 25€. Strong points: location, comfort, friendly staff, access to the sauna included. The best hotel for a high end stay in Amsterdam!
• NH Collection Amsterdam Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky: Located right on Dam Square, this luxury hotel offers rooms with a sleek and modern décor from 310€, breakfast included. Strong points: central location for exploring Amsterdam on foot, exceptional bed linen, the excellent breakfast. Perfect for a romantic break in the heart of the city!
• Hyatt Regency Amsterdam: 5* hotel situated 800 metres from the zoo. Bright and elegantly decorated rooms from 360€, breakfast 28€. Strong points: the staff are concerned to ensure the well-being of their guests, the decoration, the location, the excellent restaurant. The best hotel in Amsterdam for a luxury stay!

And if you prefer to rent a luxury apartment for your stay in Amsterdam, the Keizersgracht Suite 471 is the best address in the city!

Amsterdam in 3 days with kids

You plan to visit Amsterdam in 3 days with your kids?

That’s totally doable!

The city center isn’t too big, which means you can get everywhere on foot or by tram. Unlike other cities, you can even take a pushchair (just remember to look out for the bikes before crossing the street).

Here are the best activities to enjoy with kids during your 72 hours in Amsterdam:

• The flower market
• The Jordaan district
• The Vondelpark
• THIS IS HOLLAND
• The zoo
• NEMO Science Museum.

More things to do in 3 days in Amsterdam

If you want to organize your own 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam or simply add a few activities or guided tours, you should definitely read my article dedicated to the city.

In this guide, you will learn everything about the 30 top things to do and see in the capital of the Netherlands.

Simply click on the following link to read it: The definitive guide to visiting Amsterdam!

Renting a boat in Amsterdam

If you want to rent a boat for a nice day on Amsterdam’s canals, you should book it with Samboat.

Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental!

So, what are you waiting for to book your boat trip on Amsterdam’s canals? 😊

Map of your 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam

To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 3 days in Amsterdam, I have created this map with all the places to visit day by day. You can view the legend of the map by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow.

You can thus see the suggested itineraries for each day.

 

3 Days in Amsterdam: Flight prices and tips

As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.

To check the rates and schedules for flights to Amsterdam, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:

Once you will arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, you will have 2 options to reach the city center:

• Take the train to the central train station
• Take the #397 bus to go to the Museumplein.

You should choose according to your hotel location.

For the “Schiphol airport – Amsterdam city center train”, you should really book your tickets in advance. You will save a lot of time when you will arrive!

You will get the ticket directly on your mobile (no need to print it), so you won’t need to queue at the ticket counter or vending machines.

To book your round trip “airport – city center” train ticket, simply click the button below:

If you don’t want to take a flight, you can also get to Amsterdam by train from many European cities.

To check the schedules, the rates and to book your tickets, it’s right there:

Need help planning your 3-day itinerary in Amsterdam? You can ask me your questions in the comment section located at the end of this article. I’d be happy to help you organize your stay in Amsterdam!

You’re traveling to the Netherlands? These articles will help you !

Discover all my articles about Amsterdam: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Amsterdam are listed there.

• Amsterdam: Top 30 best things to do

• 2 days in Amsterdam – The perfect itinerary for 48h!
• 3 Days in Amsterdam – The best 72h itinerary
• 4 Days in Amsterdam – The defitinive guide to plan your trip
• 5 Days in Amsterdam – The best itinerary discover the city and the surroundings

• Where to stay in Amsterdam? My guide to the best areas and hotels of the city

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