48h Travel itinerary for Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is a charming destination that offers visitors a unique blend of history, culture, and fun. Known for its picturesque canals, stunning architecture, and vibrant nightlife, Amsterdam is the perfect destination for every type of traveler.
To help you plan your Amsterdam trip, we created this Amsterdam travel guide! Whether you’re interested in exploring world-class museums, trying typical Dutch snacks, or simply strolling through the city’s many parks and neighborhoods, Amsterdam is the place to do that! We promise you will want to come back after this visit!
This 48h Amsterdam travel guide will provide you with an overview of the top things to see and to do in Amsterdam in 2 days, as well as tips on where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around the city. With this guide, you will experience the vibe of Amsterdam!
Table of Contents
DAY 1 in Amsterdam – Amsterdam Travel Guide:
9:00 AM – Start your day by visiting the Van Gogh Museum. This museum features the largest collection of paintings and drawings by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. It opens at 9:00 AM and it’s recommended to arrive early to avoid the crowds.
➡️ Read here more about the Van Gogh Museum and what kind of art you can see here
11:00 AM – Take a walk or bike ride through the beautiful Vondelpark. The park is a perfect place to enjoy a relaxing morning, and it’s located right next to the Van Gogh Museum. The Vondelpark is the largest public park located in the city of Amsterdam.
➡️ Read here more about what you can do at the Vondelpark and how to get there!
12:30 PM – Visit the Anne Frank House. This is a must-see attraction in Amsterdam and it tells the story of Anne Frank and her family’s experience during World War II. It’s important to book your tickets in advance, as the tickets sell out really quickly.
Without an online ticket you can not get in, as they also don’t sell tickets at the counter.
It is therefore recommended to claim your Anne Frank tickets now (free cancellation possible) if you want to visit the Anne Frank Museum during your visit. In busy periods, the tickets are already sold out 1.5 months in advance!
➡️ Read here more about the Anne Frank Museum, the Secret Annex (bookshelf) and Anne Franks’s diary!
2:00 PM – Explore the Jordaan area after lunch – The Jordaan is a charming neighborhood located in the west part of Amsterdam, the same district where the Anne Frank Museum is located.
The Jordaan is famous for its narrow streets, beautiful canals, and historic buildings, many of which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
➡️ Read here more about the Jordaan area in Amsterdam
4:00 PM – Explore the canals of Amsterdam on a boat tour –These canal tours typically last about an hour and offer a unique perspective of the city’s historic canals and landmarks.
Hopping on a smaller canal boat is very nice, as they go through the smaller (and more cozy) canals in the historical city center of Amsterdam.
Also, during the canal cruise there will also be a host on board, telling you stories about Amsterdam and making you drinks while you can sit back and relax!
6:00 PM – Head to De Pijp, a trendy neighborhood in Amsterdam, for dinner. This area is home to many great restaurants, cafes, and bars. You can walk there or take the subway/tram to get to the area.
9:00 PM – Visit the Red Light District – End your day by experiencing Amsterdam’s famous nightlife in the Red Light District. Known for its historic architecture, vibrant nightlife, and the presence of numerous sex shops, brothels, and window displays with sex workers.
The district is located in the oldest part of Amsterdam, close to the city’s main canals and historic landmarks. It’s a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world who come to experience the city’s liberal attitudes towards sex and drugs. You can also visit the world’s oldest prostitution museum and the cannabis Museum here.
DAY 2 in Amsterdam – Amsterdam Travel Guide:
9:00 AM – “Visit the Bloemenmarkt” – Start your day by visiting the famous flower market, known as Bloemenmarkt. This market offers a wide variety of flowers, tulip bulbs, and souvenirs.
➡️ Read here more about the Bloemenmarkt (floating flowermarket) in Amsterdam
11:00 AM – Visit the Rijksmuseum- This museum features over 8,000 objects of art and history, including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Dutch masters. A must-visit museum when you are in Amsterdam!
➡️ Read here more about the Rijksmuseum
12:00 PM -Take a bike ride around the city- Amsterdam is known for its bike-friendly culture and renting a bike is a great way to explore the canal belt area like a local. If you have not ridden a bike before, make sure do not start biking in crowed area, start in a more quiet neighborhood and when you are more confident in your biking skills, you can bike around in the city center.
If the weather is not that nice for a bike trip, then we would recommend visiting the Rembrandt house, Museum van Loon or visit The Heineken® Experience then!
- The Rembrandt house is where the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn had lived for many years.
- Museum van Loon is a very old canal house, owned by the rich van Loon family who were the co-founders of the United East India Company (a Dutch trading company, founded in 1602).
- The Heineken Experience offers visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process and the history of Heineken. The Heineken Experience is located in the former Heineken brewery, which was established in 1864! Their first brewery!
1:00 PM – Visit the A’DAM Lookout: This observation deck offers panoramic views of Amsterdam and its surroundings, and is located on top of the A’DAM Tower. You can take a free ferry from Amsterdam Central Station to get there.
➡️ Read here more about ADAM Lookout and the highest swing of Europe
2:30 PM – Visit Dam Square and the Royal Palace – Dam Square is one of the most famous squares in Amsterdam, and is home to the Royal Palace, which was built in the 17th century and is open to the public for tours.
➡️ Read here more about the Dam Square
4:00 PM – Walk through the Kalverstraat and the Nieuwendijk – These are the two major shopping streets in Amsterdam and here you can do some souvenir shopping! If you would like to visit a department store, the Bijenkorf is a nice one. De Bijenkorf is a famous department store in Amsterdam.
Founded in 1870, the Bijenkorf is one of the oldest and most famous department stores in the Netherlands. The building itself is a historic landmark, and is located on Dam Square, which is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Amsterdam.
6:00 PM – Dinner time! – Grab dinner at a typical Dutch old brown bar and enjoy the typical Dutch snack “Bitterballen” as starter while enjoying your meal with beer.
10:00 PM – Enjoy your evening at Leidseplein – If you have the energy, head over to Leidseplein to enjoy your evening in one of the many bars and clubs here. If you like live music, we would recommend you going to Bourbon Street and Jazz club Alto. At these two bars, there is live music every evening and the vibes are very nice there.
This was our 48h Amsterdam guide! Of course, this itinerary is just a suggestion and you can adjust it according to your interests and preferences. Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam!
More about Amsterdam:
Where should you stay in Amsterdam?
There are many great neighborhoods to stay in when visiting Amsterdam, depending on your preferences and budget. Some popular areas for tourists include the Canal Ring, Jordaan area, De Pijp, and Oud-West. The Canal Ring and the Jordaan are centrally located, surrounded with canal houses.
De Pijp area is known for its street market and many restaurants/pubs/bars, and Oud-West is a more laid-back residential area with a local feel. It is recommended to choose a hotel, hostel, Airbnb or house boat within walking distance of the city center as the popular attractions are located here.
What should you eat in Amsterdam?
In general, if you compare Dutch foods with other international dishes, we have to say that our cuisine is a bit disappointing. We do have good snacks though.
Such as the “bitterballen”. Bitterballen are small, deep-fried balls made from a mixture of beef or veal ragout, flour, butter, and herbs.
The filling is cooked until thick and then rolled into small balls, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until crispy on the outside. You should eat them with mustard (and beer!)!
Other nice snacks include “stroopwafels” (sweet caramel/honey cookies), “poffertjes” which are small, fluffy pancakes that are typically served with butter and powdered sugar, “frikandel” a deep-fried sausage that is often served with ketchup or mayonnaise and (if you dare:) haring! That is raw herring served with onions and pickles.
What should you wear in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is a relatively casual city, so you can dress comfortably for most activities. In the summer months, light layers, comfortable shoes and a summer jacket are recommended, as the weather can be unpredictable.
In the autumn and winter, warm and waterproof clothing is a must, as temperatures can drop around freezing point and rain is common.
It is also worth noting that the city can be quite windy, so it is a good idea to bring a scarf, gloves, and a hat to keep warm. Overall, dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes for walking or cycling around the city.
