How to spend 4 Days in Amsterdam: The Best Itinerary + Where to Stay

You’re planning to spend 4 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 optimized 4-day itinerary in Amsterdam.

During your trip, you will discover all must-see attractions of the city as well as (if you wish to!) the surroundings of Amsterdam, such as the Waterland villages or Zaanse Schans windmills.

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 4 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

As Amsterdam welcomes tens of thousands of tourists every day, you can imagine that there is often very long waiting lines at the entrance of the city’s must-see attractions such as the Rijksmuseum or the Royal Palace.

And you don’t want to waste a big chunk of your 4-day itinerary in Amsterdam queuing, right?

Hopefully, I have a few tips that will allow you to easily avoid this inconvenience.

So, here are the 2 solutions to save a lot of time and money during your stay in Amsterdam!

1. The I Amsterdam City Card

Your first option to save time and get discounts on Amsterdam’s must-see attractions is to opt for the I Amsterdam City Card.

As the City Card is valid for a period of between 1 and 5 days (depending on what you choose when booking), you can use it throughout your 4 days in Amsterdam.

With the I Amsterdam City Card, you will get:

• Free entrance to the city’s museums (including the the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum of course!)
  
• A canal cruise
• Discounts on certain attractions such as the Amsterdam Dungeon and the Heineken Experience
• 25% off bike hire and in certain restaurants
• Unlimited use of public transport during your 4 days in Amsterdam.

To buy your I Amsterdam City Card and see the full list of attractions included, simply click on the button below:

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

The 2nd solution to save time during your 4-day stay in Amsterdam is to buy fast track tickets 1 by 1, for each attractions or activities.

In Amsterdam, you can get fast track tickets for the main museums as well as for many activities you might want to enjoy during your 4 days.

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

To book, simply click on the attractions names (in orange) or on the green buttons you will find in this guide.

4 Days in Amsterdam: Must-See Attractions:

• The Royal Palace of Amsterdam
• The Amsterdam Dungeon
• Amsterdam Museum
• Guided tour of the Red Light District
• Private tour of the Jordaan district
• Rijksmuseum
• Van Gogh Museum
• MOCO
• The Stedelijk Museum
• Canal cruise
• The Heineken Experience
• Guided tour of Amsterdam
• Guided bike tour
• THIS IS HOLLAND
• Anne Frank walking tour of Amsterdam
• Guided Segway tour
• One day including a visit to the windmills + 1 hour cruise + Volendam + Marken
• Visit Edam + Volendam + Marken + Zaanse Schans + cheese-tasting.
• Keukenhof
• Giethoorn

One Last Tip for a Perfect 4-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!

4 days in Amsterdam: recommended itinerary

It’s now time to plan your 4-day itinerary in Amsterdam!

For this itinerary, I assume you’ll be spending 4 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 after reading this article or need help planning your trip, don’t hesitate to send me your questions via the comments section located at the bottom of this guide.

So, what should you see during your 4 days in Amsterdam?

First day – 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

Let’s start this 4-day visit to Amsterdam at Dam Square, the city’s main square.

It’s a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal station via Damrak or Nieuwendijk streets. If you prefer, you can also take the tram that departs from of the railway station.

On Dam Square, you can see:

• The National Monument
• Nieuwe Kerk church
• The Royal Palace of Amsterdam, which you really should visit! The former City Hall that became a royal residence today houses a museum. There, you can admire period furniture as well as numerous paintings and sculptures.

Entrance to the palace isn’t included in the City Card, so you should buy your skip the line tickets in advance. It would be silly to waste time before visiting your very first attraction of the day!

The price is the same as at the ticket office and the audio guide is included.

You need to book it here:

B. The Amsterdam Dungeon or the Amsterdam Museum

After the Royal Palace, you have 2 options for your next visit: the Amsterdam Dungeon or the Amsterdam Museum.

They are both located less than 5 minutes from Dam Square on foot.

1) The Dungeon is a unique experience where you can discover one of the darkest part the Netherlands history in the form of staged productions with actors in period costume.

During this 1 h 15 show, you’ll of course be invited to join in and participate to the various scenes such as a witch burning at the stake or a trial during the Spanish inquisition.

It’s really very well done and you’ll soon be taken up by the atmosphere. Well, as long as you aren’t elected to try out the instruments of torture 🙃.

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

With the Amsterdam City Pass, you can enjoy a 10% discount for the Dungeon as long as you book your ticket online using the discount code you got when you bought the pass.

If you don’t have the pass, you can book your entrance ticket by clicking here.

2) In a more classic style but still in line with the history of the city, you can also visit the Amsterdam Museum. It’s a great way to learn about about 1,000 years of the Netherlands capital’s history!

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

C. The Béguinage (Begijnhof)

After spending the morning indoors, let’s continue with a walking tour of the city.

Not far from the Dungeon and the museum, you should take a look at the Béguinage, one of the oldest inner courtyards in the city.

These houses were once inhabited by a community of women called the Béguines, hence the name.

Here, you can also see Amsterdam’s last wooden house. This type of housing became strictly forbidden because of the high risk of fire.

D. The flower market

Another popular site you should see during your 4 days in Amsterdam is the flower market, or Bloemenmarkt.

The flower market is located on the banks of the canal, just 5 minutes on foot from the Béguinage. As the name suggests, you’ll find plenty of flowers here, and especially tulips, the iconic flower of the Netherlands.

Fresh flowers, bulbs, wooden flowers: they’re here in all formats and colours. There are also shops selling souvenirs such as postcards, magnets and, of course, the traditional wooden clogs.

You’re sure to find something here to take home from your 4-day stay in Amsterdam!

E. Zuiderkerk and Nieuwmarkt

Let’s now walk along Kloveniersburgwal canal for 10 minutes to reach Zuiderkerk church.

At certain times of the day (the times are completely random), you can climb to the top of the bell tower with a guide.

Continue your stroll and you will pass by Nieuwmarkt square.

You will immediately recognize it thanks to “The Waag“, a building that looks like a small castle located on the center of the square. It’s actually the old gateway to the city which has today been converted into a café and restaurant.

If you continue to the north of the square, you will stumble upon the small Chinatown district of Amsterdam.

F. The Red Light District

It’s now time to visit the hottest spot in town: the famous Red Light District!

You’ve probably already heard about this district, mainly famous for its prostitutes sitting behind red-fronted shop windows!

Yes, prostitution is completely legal in Amsterdam, they are workers who have to pay their taxes just like the rest of the population.

Important: please note that it’s not allowed to take photos of the prostitutes from the street.

To learn more about the history of the district and go deeper into the subject (no, it’s not what you’re thinking!), you can take a guided tour of the Red Light District.

You need to book your guided tour here:

G. Oude Kerk

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

Entry to the church costs 15€. If you ask me, that’s a bit expensive considering the interior isn’t very special. To give you an idea, it’s the same price as St John’s Cathedral in Malta, which is incredibly more interesting to visit!

In fact, you’re mostly paying to see one of the contemporary art exhibition they usually host inside, which in my opinion don’t really fit the place and are not really worth it.

On the other hand, it’s well worth admiring Oude Kerk exterior architecture, with its red bricks and large stained glass windows.

2nd day Itinerary

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

If you have the chance to spend 4 days in Amsterdam, you should take some time to visit the very typical Jordaan district.

This iconic part of the city (together with the historic centre and the Red Light District) is located to the west of Dam Square.

To get there, simply walk along the canal while admiring the houses’ red brick façades. You will pass in front of Westerkerk church, the largest protestant church in the Netherlands.

B. The Cheese Museum

While I’m talking about food, that’s exactly what the next visit is all about: the Cheese Museum, also located in Jordaan district.

Well, in all fairness, the word “museum” is a bit grand because it’s nothing more than a small exhibition in a shop’s basement with a few explanations about cheese-making.

The shop itself, located on the ground floor, will for sure grab your attention as it offers free Gouda tastings of every variety (pesto, truffle, chilli…).

C. Anne Frank House

Let’s continue your 4-day Amsterdam itinerary by staying in the Jordaan district to visit Anne Frank House (when I told you this was an optimized itinerary, I wasn’t joking! 😄)

During the Second World War, when the Jews were being hunted down, it’s here that the Fank family hid to escape deportation. Anne Frank’s diary, now famous throughout the world, tells of the conditions they lived in.

Today, you can visit 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 made available by small batches from 9.00 am each day.

These tickets go very quickly and you should book as early as possible.

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

There are loads of museums in Amsterdam, and some are among the most famous in the world.

The major ones are located around the Museumplein, or Museum Square.

There are 2 ways for you get there from Anne Frank House:

• A 30-minute walk along the canal
• 20 minutes by tram.

You can choose which museum interests you the most between:

• The Rijksmuseum, the largest and most famous museum in Amsterdam. It houses an impressive 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.
• Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the famous Dutch artist, with 200 of his works on display. Free entry with the City Card. If you don’t have a card or pass, you can get a fast track ticket here.
• The MOCO, dedicated to contemporary art, includes an exhibition about Banksy. Free entrance with the Amsterdam City Card.
• The Stedelijk Museum, the museum of contemporary art and design. Free entrance with the Amsterdam City Card.

E. Vondelpark

For a bit of fresh air after these indoor attractions, you can head to Vondelpark.

The largest park in the city is only a 5-minute walk from the Museumplein.

In Vondelpark, you will find several lakes, well-maintained paths for walking or cycling and play areas for the kids.

F. Canal cruise

To bring this second day to a leisurely end, you should take a canal cruise.

Make yourself comfortable and discover the architecture and traditional houses from a different angle. It really is one of the best things you can do during your 4 days in Amsterdam!

There are different sorts of cruise depending on the type of boat and the duration. I’ve picked out 5 of the most popular for you.

Simply click on the links for more information and to book:

• 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: best places to visit

Day 3 visits:

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

A. Albert Cuyp Market

This is now the 3rd of your 4-day trip to Amsterdam.

Let’s start the morning at Albert Cuyp Market, one of the biggest open-air markets in Europe. In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can also buy cheese, flowers and souvenirs there.

The market, open from Monday to Saturday, is located in De Pijp neighbourhood.

B. Heineken Experience

Next, you can head to Heineken Experience 5 minutes away from the market.

Inside the former premises of the brewery, you’ll learn everything about the history of the famous Heineken company and the different stages of making their iconic drink: beer of course!

At the end of the visit, you indeed get to enjoy a good pint of beer.

You need to book your tickets in advance here!

C. Skinny Bridge

Next, you can go for a quick photo opportunity on the famous Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug in Dutch).

Film buffs and lovers of the James Bond series will recognize the bridge used as a set for “Diamonds are Forever” movie.

Dating back to the 17th century, this bridge was originally so narrow that it was hard for 2 people to pass each other, hence its nickname: the Skinny Bridge.

Since then, it’s been widened twice to allow a few more people to cross at the same time, and it can also opens to let the canal boats through.

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

For the afternoon, you have a few options:

1) Visit a museum.

There are a few museums close to the Skinny Bridge: the Hermitage Amsterdam, Rembrandt House Museum or the Tropenmuseum of ethnography.

If you prefer, you can also return to the Museumplein area to visit one of the museums there.

2) Explore the city by bike: do like locals and grab a bike to discover the hidden gems of the city! The whole city is perfect for this, as there are cycle lanes everywhere.

Actually, as a pedestrian you almost need to look out for the bikes more than for the cars.

You can hire a bike by clicking on the button below:

Or if you prefer, you can book a guided tour by bike to immerse yourself deeper in the local culture:

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

E. THIS IS HOLLAND/A’DAM Lookout

As the afternoon comes to an end, head to Amsterdam central station.

From there, you can take the free ferry shuttle across the river to Buiksloterweg quay.

You will then have to walk less than 5 minutes to THIS IS HOLLAND, an attraction that 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 can book your tickets online by clicking here.

Right next to THIS IS HOLLAND, a great way to end the day is on the panoramic terrace at the A’DAM Lookout.

From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view over the entire city and even, if you dare, try the highest swing in Europe.

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

4th day – The Best things to do near Amsterdam

On the last day of your 4-day itinerary in Amsterdam, you should go on a day trip to visit Amsterdam’s surroundings!

Here are the 3 best places to visit near Amsterdam:

Option 1: The windmills of Zaanse Schans + Haarlem

Zaanse Schans is for sure the most famous tourist attraction around Amsterdam!

Here, you can visit windmills built next to the water. While in Amsterdam, you will probably have already seen them on a few postcards.

In addition to the windmills, there are shops selling cheese, souvenirs and clogs. It’s touristy, but in a good way because Zaanse Schans has been well developed to maintain tradition.

You can also visit 2 museums there: one dedicated to clock-making (a speciality of the village) and the other to windmills.

There are 3 ways you can get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam:

• Take bus no. 391 or 891 from the central station. There’s one approximately every 15 minutes. You need to purchase your ticket by clicking here!
• Take the train to Zaanse railway station (20-minute journey)+ a 15-minute walk to the windmills.
• Take a day trip that includes transport and a guide.

To make it easier for you, I have picked out 3 organized day trips that include a visit to Zaanse Schans windmills, but with slight variations:

• A visit to the windmills + 1 hour cruise + Volendam + Marken (2 Waterland villages I will tell you about below, in “option 2”). In my opinion, this is the best excursion to see the windmills!

You need to book it by clicking on the green button below:

And the other 2 options:

• A 3-hour organised trip in a small group with a guided tour/entry to the windmill/clog-making demonstration.
  
• An excursion to discover Edam + Volendam + Marken + Zaanse Schans + cheese-tasting.

Option 2: The Waterland villages

There are 7 traditional and authentic villages you can visit close to Amsterdam. They are known collectively as the “Waterland villages” because they are criss-crossed by canals or situated by the sea.

It’s easy to visit them all in one day thanks to the 10€ Waterland day ticket.

It gives you unlimited use of the buses to get from Amsterdam to the villages (and between all the villages).

You can get the bus routes and timetables from the information centre at the railway station. You can buy the day ticket at any of the automatic ticket machines located in the central station.

Here’s the list of villages you should see:

• Broek in Waterland and its small wooden houses
• Monninckendam, where you can visit the Waterlands Museum and Saint Nicolas church
• Marken: a very pretty small island featuring a harbour and waterside restaurants
• Volendam: a very charming village lots of small shops and restaurants around the harbour.
• Edam: a traditional village that’s perfect for a stroll to admire the very beautiful houses.
• Purmerend: not my favourite because it’s a bit less traditional. It’s more a common small town, you can skip it if you don’t have time.
• Beemster: designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its polder, a man-made stretch of land obtained by draining water. The Beemster lake was drained from the 17th century using 43 water mills – a true technical feat.

You want to visit several Waterland villages easily?

In that case, you can opt for an organized day trip!

Here are the 3 I recommend, simply click on the links below for more details and to book:

• Excursion visiting Edam + Volendam + Marken + Zaanse Schans + cheese-tasting.
• Visit to Volendam + Edam + windmills
• Volendam + Marken + Zaanse Schans + 1-hour cruise

Option 3: Keukenhof (between mid-March and mid-May only)

If you’re lucky enough to be spending 4 days in Amsterdam between mid-March and mid-May, don’t miss a visit to Keukenhof.

It’s simply the most famous park in the Netherlands, the only place where you can admire millions of tulips!

You really need to book your entrance tickets for Keukenhof in advance to avoid the crowd at the entrance. Simply click on the button below:

Where to stay in Amsterdam

So now you know exactly what to do and see in Amsterdam in 4 days!

Now it’s time for you to think about where to stay in Amsterdam.

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 4 days with kids

You plan to visit Amsterdam in 4 days with your children?

Well, the city is perfect for a family trip!

Everything can easily be visited on foot, and if your kids start to be tired, you can always hop on a tram.

Here are my recommended things to do for a 4-day trip to Amsterdam with kids:

• The flower market
• Jordaan district
• Vondelpark
• THIS IS HOLLAND
• Going to Amsterdam zoo
• The NEMO Science Museum
• Go see the typical windmills of Zaanse Schans.
  

More things to do during your 4 days in Amsterdam

If you want to modify this itinerary a bit and/or include additional guided tours or activities, you should read my detailed guide of Amsterdam, with all the best places to visit.

Simply click on the following link to learn everything about the Dutch capital: The ultimate 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 4-day itinerary in Amsterdam

To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 4 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.

 

4 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:

If you need help to plan your 4-day itinerary in Amsterdam, don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section below!

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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