2 Days in Amsterdam: The Perfect First-Timer’s Itinerary

Two days in Amsterdam is the perfect amount of time for a first visit. You can cover the essential museums, both the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, visit the Anne Frank House, wander the Jordaan’s canal streets, browse the Nine Streets, and still have time left over to sit at a café and simply watch the city go by. The key is planning ahead: Anne Frank House tickets sell out almost immediately when they’re released, and the Van Gogh Museum requires advance booking too.

We’ve been to Amsterdam twice. Amsterdam was the very first European city Tim and I ever visited. We returned 10 years later, bringing our teenage kids, Tyler and Kara, and using the city as our base for exploring the Netherlands. That first trip was close to perfect: sunny skies, tulips in bloom everywhere, and the canals looking exactly like every photo we’d ever. We were hopelessly jet-lagged, dragging our suitcases up four flights of stairs to our hotel, and still managed to fall completely in love with the place.

By our second visit, we skipped most of the museums and spent our time doing what we’d wished we had more time for the first trip: wandering the Jordaan, eating our way through the city, and photographing the canals.

This itinerary combines the best of both visits. If it’s your first time in Amsterdam, it’ll take you straight to the highlights.

At a Glance: 2 Days in Amsterdam

DAY 1 | Rijksmuseum , Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, canal cruise, the Nine Streets

DAY 2 | Anne Frank House, Jordaan, De Wallen, Dam Square, optional A’DAM Lookout

BEST FOR FIRST TIMERS | One major museum, Anne Frank House, a canal cruise, Jordaan, and the Canal Ring

BOOK IN ADVANCE | Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum

GETTING AROUND | Tram + walking covers everything; bike rental is a great option if you’re comfortable in city traffic

AIRPORT | Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) — 15–20 minutes to city center by train

BEST TIME TO VISIT | April–May (tulips, long days) or September (fewer crowds)

WHERE TO STAY | Jordaan, Canal Ring, or Museum Quarter

June 2026 Update: All prices, hours, and links verified. Added new information about when to visit and if the Museumkaart is worth it.

Is 2 Days in Amsterdam Enough?

Yes, two days is enough for a first visit to Amsterdam. You won’t see everything, but you will see the best of it. In two days, you can visit two world-class museums, tour the Anne Frank House, walk through Jordaan, explore the Nine Streets, take a canal cruise, and still have time to sit at a café and do nothing in particular, which is honestly one of the better things to do in Amsterdam.

What you’ll miss with two days: the outer neighborhoods, most of the smaller museums, day trips to Keukenhof or Zaanse Schans unless you’re willing to swap one of the museums for a morning excursion, and the slower rhythm of the city that only reveals itself after a few days. If you can stretch to three or four days, Amsterdam rewards the extra time.

Best 2-Day Amsterdam Itinerary for First Timers

Day 1:

Morning: Rijksmuseum and/or Van Gogh Museum
Midday: Lunch near Museumplein and Vondelpark
Afternoon: Canal cruise + Nine Streets
Evening: Jordaan or Foodhallen

Day 2:

Morning: Anne Frank House
Midday: Jordaan + lunch
Afternoon: De Wallen, Dam Square, optional Our Lord in the Attic
Evening: A’DAM Lookout

What to Book Before You Go

Should You Visit the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum?

If you only have time or energy for one, we’d pick the Van Gogh Museum. What makes it work is that it’s not really just an art museum. It’s a biography told through paintings, taking you chronologically through Van Gogh’s life from his early dark Dutch period through the explosion of color in his French years. By the time you reach his most iconic works, you understand why they look the way they do. The museum itself is bright, airy, and well-paced, and we left feeling inspired rather than exhausted.

The Rijksmuseum is magnificent, but it’s a different experience. It’s larger, darker, and more austere. It’s a serious art museum in the traditional sense, with 8,000 objects spanning Dutch history and Golden Age masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer. If that’s your thing, it’s one of the best museums in Europe. If you’re on the fence, the Van Gogh Museum is the more immediately accessible of the two.

That said, the two museums are right next to each other on Museum Square, and visiting both in one morning is entirely doable if you’re motivated. We did it on our first visit to Amsterdam, and we are glad we did. If we had skipped one of these museums, we would have regretted it, and we aren’t big museum people.

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Amsterdam Itinerary: Day 1

Museum Square, Vondelpark, Explore the Canals

Day 1 starts at Museum Square, and we’re going to recommend something that might sound ambitious: visit both the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum in the same morning. We know that two museums back-to-back isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. We aren’t big museum people either. But we would have felt like we’d shortchanged ourselves if we’d skipped either one on our first visit to Amsterdam, and with two days here, this is genuinely the best way to do it. Coming back tomorrow for a second museum means losing an afternoon in the canals and the Jordaan, which would be the wrong trade.

The key is approach. At the Rijksmuseum, don’t try to see everything. Focus on the highlights (Rembrandt’s Night Watch, a few Vermeers, the Delftware gallery) and you can be done in 90 minutes feeling satisfied rather than overwhelmed. The Van Gogh Museum is naturally compact and well-paced; most people finish in about an hour.

By early afternoon, you’ve done both, and the rest of the day is entirely outdoors: Vondelpark, the canals, the Nine Streets. It’s exactly how Tim and I spent our first full day in Amsterdam, and it worked perfectly.

That said, if museums genuinely aren’t your thing and one is your limit, pick the Van Gogh. It’s the more immediately accessible of the two and the one we’d be least willing to miss. See the section above for a full comparison of both.

Arrive at 9 am when the doors open. Both museums get crowded by midday and the early start makes a real difference.

9:00 am: Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is one of the great art museums of Europe, built around Dutch Golden Age masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals. With 8,000 objects spread across its galleries, it can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to go in with a plan rather than trying to see everything.

On our first trip, Tim and I cycled to Museum Square rather than taking the tram, which is a genuinely fun way to arrive. Amsterdam is flat, the bike lanes are excellent, and it shakes off any remaining jet lag before you step inside.

Rijksmuseum

11:00 am: Van Gogh Museum

It is a 5-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum to the Van Gogh Museum. If you need a quick coffee break or snack, you’ll walk past Kiosk Rembrandt Van Gogh, a small coffee shop on Museum Square.

The Van Gogh Museum is the most visited museum in the Netherlands and holds the largest collection of Van Gogh’s work in the world, but what makes it special isn’t the numbers, it’s the layout. The collection moves chronologically through Van Gogh’s life, so by the time you reach his most iconic paintings, you understand the journey that produced them.

The building itself is bright and airy, which makes it a very different experience from the Rijksmuseum. Plan on about an hour.

Tickets are only available online and sell out days to weeks in advance during peak season. You’ll book a specific time slot and can enter within 30 minutes of your reserved time.

12:30 pm: Lunch

Before moving on to Vondelpark, have lunch at Bistro Vincent inside the Van Gogh Museum, or at a restaurant near Museum Square or the park. The Burger Room is located across the street from the Van Gogh Museum. The Seafood Bar gets excellent reviews and is located next to Vondelpark. ’t Blauwe Theehuis is a beer garden in Vondelpark, with outdoor seating.

2:00 pm Vondelpark

After a morning of museums, Vondelpark is exactly what you need. Amsterdam’s largest park is where locals come to decompress, cycling the paths, sunbathing on the grass, or sitting at the open-air café with a coffee.

On our first trip, we cycled through on our way back from Museum Square, which is the ideal way to experience it. If you have bikes, keep them for this stretch. If not, it’s a short walk from the Van Gogh Museum and worth the 20–30 minutes before you head toward the canal belt.

Vondelpark

Once you are finished at Vondelpark, walk or take Tram 1 to Bloemenmarkt.

Afternoon: Optional Canal Cruise & the Nine Streets

Canal Cruise

If you want to take a canal cruise of Amsterdam, this afternoon or evening is a great time to do it. 

Leidesplein is one of the more popular meeting points to start a canal cruise (although they can also start near Centraal Station, the Anne Frank House, or other locations in Amsterdam). You will walk through Leidesplein as you go from Vondelpark to the Nine Streets.

I am including the canal cruise at this point in the itinerary since it is a great way to relax after a morning at the museums. However, if you choose to do an evening tour or night cruise, you will have to tweak this itinerary a little bit. And of course you can completely skip the canal cruise, opting to explore the canals and Jordaan on foot, which is also very nice. 

There are numerous options: glass-enclosed boats filled with large groups of tourists, smaller open boat tours with smaller groups of people, and private tours. You will pay more for a smaller group or private experience but if you don’t want to be sandwiched in a boat with a bunch of strangers, this could be worth the extra price.

You can take a tour during the day, at sunset, or in the evening. Some smaller group and private tours serve wine and cheese while you cruise the canals. Most canal tours last one hour to an hour and a half. 

Reserve your canal cruise before you get to Amsterdam. The small group and private tours sell out in advance. Plus, you then know your start time and meeting place and can adjust this Amsterdam itinerary. Here are a few options of highly rated canal cruises in Amsterdam.

The Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes)

The Nine Streets are a grid of narrow lanes between Prinsengracht and Singel, just south of the Anne Frank House, lined with independent boutiques, vintage shops, art galleries, and cafés.

Even if shopping isn’t your thing, this is one of the most beautiful and walkable parts of Amsterdam. Canal houses tilt at odd angles and bikes are everywhere. Plan to spend a couple of hours here and let yourself get a little lost.

Where Exactly are The Nine Streets? The Nine Streets are located just to the south of the Anne Frank House. This area is bordered by Prinsengracht and Singel. The Nine Streets are Reestraat, Hartenstraat, Gasthuismolensteeg, Oude Spiegelstraat, Wolvenstraat, Berenstraat, Runstraat, Huidenstraat, and Wijde Hiesteeg.

Amsterdam canal

Evening: Dinner

End the day in Jordaan or nearby. Here are a few recommendations:

Café de Reiger is where we had our very first dinner in Europe, so it is a very special place for us. It’s a small, cozy restaurant on a canal in the heart of the Jordaan: unpretentious, warm, and genuinely good. Popular with locals and visitors alike.

Vinkeles is the splurge option. This Michelin-starred restaurant serves modern French cuisine inside The Dylan Hotel on Keizersgracht. Book well in advance.

Foodhallen is Amsterdam’s best food hall, with a rotating cast of small kitchens serving everything from Dutch bitterballen to ramen to natural wine. About 10 minutes from the Nine Streets and a great option if your group can’t agree on a cuisine.

End the evening with a drink at Proeflokaal Arendsnest, a canal-side bar in the Jordaan specializing entirely in Dutch craft beer. We spent part of an afternoon here on our second trip and the beer selection is excellent. Or simply walk the canals after dark. Amsterdam at night, with the canal houses lit up and reflected in the water, is one of those things you won’t forget.

Proeflokaal Arendsnest

Amsterdam Itinerary: Day 2

Anne Frank House, Jordaan, Dam Square

9:00 am: Breakfast at the Pancake Bakery

For an over-the-top breakfast experience, visit the Pancake Bakery. This popular breakfast spot serves giant pancakes topped with almost anything you can imagine. If you have a sweet tooth, you can get pancakes topped with ice cream, hot sauce, and caramel. Or, if you like something savory, there are lots of options too. If you are traveling with kids, they’ll love this place.

If you really want to try something sweet, we loved the Dutch pancake, a pancake topped with stroopwafel chunks, cinnamon ice cream, and whipped cream.

Apple Cinnamon pancake

It helps to also order a savory pancake, because the sweet ones can be overwhelmingly sweet. We ordered the Hungarian, which was pretty good, but I’d love to try the French pancake on our next visit to Amsterdam!

PRO TRAVEL TIP: This place is one of the most popular breakfast spots in the city. Arrive a few minutes before opening time, which is at 9 am, to avoid waiting in line.

10:00 am: Anne Frank House

Without a doubt, a visit to Amsterdam would not be complete without a visit to the Anne Frank House. And it’s just a short walk from the Pancake Bakery.

For two years and one month, Anne Frank and her family lived in a secret annex, hidden away from the Nazi’s. During this time, she wrote in her diary, which became a memoir and an important piece of history.

Tour the hidden rooms and see the movable bookcase that covered the entrance into the rooms.

Anne Frank House

12:00 pm: The Jordaan Area and Lunch

Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam. Spend the middle part of the day strolling through the Jordaan area of Amsterdam. Places to visit include Westerkerk and the Homomonument.

On this 3.5 hour walking tour of Jordaan, sample different Dutch foods. Along the walk, you will also learn about Dutch traditions and see sites that most tourists never get to see. You also have the option to add on a canal cruise.

Westerkerk

For lunch, we loved Piqniq. This small restaurant serves tiny gourmet sandwiches and soups, sort of like tapas for lunch. The food is delicious and the prices are very reasonable. This is a great restaurant to visit if you want quality food in Amsterdam without spending a fortune.

Lunch at Piqniq

To get to our next stop (Our Lord in the Attic), walk across Amsterdam, past Central Station, in the direction of the De Wallen. To get from Piqniq to Our Lord in the Attic, it is a 17-minute walk.

3:00 pm: Museum Ons’Lieve Heer Op Solder

Say what? This museum, also called Our Lord in the Attic, is one of the best history lessons in Amsterdam.

This canal house, built in 1630, looks normal on the outside. But inside, on the top level, sits a secret Catholic Church. Catholicism was banned in Amsterdam during the 17th century, so people built small churches in their houses, hidden away from public view. This church is one of the largest and the best preserved of these schuilkerks.

Our Lord in the Attic

During the audio tour, you will get a fascinating history lesson about Amsterdam and the Netherlands, as you walk through the rooms of this 400 year old house. The tour ends with a visit to the spectacular church on the top floor.

I loved this museum. It’s educational, thought provoking, and one of the most interesting history lessons in the city.

Cost: €18; included with the Museumkaart and I Amsterdam Card (reserve a time slot in advance if you have one of these cards)
Hours: Hours vary by day of the week
Website: www.opsolder.nl

4:30 pm: De Wallen

De Wallen is the home of Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District.

This area also has some very picturesque canals and canal houses, so this is another spot in Amsterdam that is a delight to stroll on foot.

Very close to Our Lord in the Attic is Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest building, consecrated in 1306. From here, make your way over to Dam Square.

5:00 pm Dam Square

Dam Square is crowded and touristy, but it is the main square of Amsterdam, so I think it is still worth a very quick visit. Just expect large crowds and beware of pickpockets.

Dam Square

Two notable buildings sit on Dam Square. Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), dates back to 1409 and sits right on Dam Square. The Royal Palace is also located on Dam Square. It was built to be a town hall but was later converted to a palace for King Louis I. 

Just down the street from Dam Square is the Buerspassage. The walls, the ceiling, and the floors of this passageway are a piece of artwork titled Amsterdam Oersoep by artists Arno and Iris.

Buerspassage

Here are tours to Keukenhof from Amsterdam. These make good options if you want to take the hassle out of arranging your transportation and/or if you like the idea of taking a guided tour of Keukenhof.

Should You Purchase the Museumcard or I Amsterdam Card?

The Museumcard (Museumkaart)

The Museumkaart gives you free entry to over 400 museums across the Netherlands and costs €75 for adults. For tourists, the card is valid for 31 days, but with a catch that isn’t widely advertised: it covers a maximum of five museum visits total. The museum where you purchase it counts as visit one, so in practice you get four additional visits after that.

For a two-day Amsterdam-only trip, the math works out like this: the Rijksmuseum (€25), Van Gogh Museum (€25), and Anne Frank House (€16.50) add up to €66.50 individually. The card at €75 saves you only a few euros on those three, and you’ve used up most of your five visits. Add a fourth museum, such as the Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, the Amsterdam Museum, or the Stedelijk, and the card starts to pay off more meaningfully.

Where the Museumkaart really earns its value is if you’re extending your trip beyond Amsterdam. The card covers museums in Utrecht, The Hague, Haarlem, and throughout the Netherlands, which adds up quickly if you’re doing day trips or a longer itinerary. It also lets you skip the ticket line at the Rijksmuseum, which alone can save 20–30 minutes during busy periods.

You can purchase the card at the Rijksmuseum when you arrive on Day 1. Note that even with the Museumkaart, you still need to reserve timed entry slots in advance for both the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House.

I Amsterdam Card

The I Amsterdam Card covers your entrance fees into most museums in Amsterdam, a free canal cruise, and unlimited transportation on public transportation (but not to Schiphol Airport). It comes with a hefty price tag of €94 for 48 hours (€67 for 24 hours) and does not include the Anne Frank House. On this itinerary, the I Amsterdam Card is overpriced for what you will do.

Getting Around Amsterdam

One of the best ways to get around Amsterdam is on your own two feet. However, you can also take advantage of the trams and the metro to save some steps.

A GVB ticket covers unlimited transportation on buses, trams, and the metro during its period of validity. Single tickets, valid for one hour, cost €3.40. You can also purchase multi-day tickets, which are more economical and save you the hassle of visiting the ticket machines whenever you want to take the tram, bus, or metro. Once you activate the ticket (use it for the first time) the period of validity begins.

• 24 hours: €10
• 48 hours: €16
• 72 hours: €21.50

You can purchase the single and multi-day tickets at GVB service points, in metro stations and at tram stops. You can also purchase it in advance through GetYourGuide. Once in Amsterdam, you will take your voucher to a service point in the city to pick up your chip card.

Amsterdam tram

For this Amsterdam itinerary, we recommend purchasing the 48-hour ticket. If you also need to use public transportation to get to your hotel when you arrive or depart Amsterdam, consider purchasing the 72-hour ticket or simply purchasing additional single tickets as you need them.

You can also get around Amsterdam by bicycle. Hotels and small shops throughout the city rent bikes by the hour or by the day. MacBike is one of the top shops in Amsterdam that rents bicycles. It’s a great to do if you just want to have fun for an hour, or you can use the bike as your mode of transportation during your entire visit to Amsterdam.

Netherlands Travel Guide

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Best Time to Go to Amsterdam

We’ve been to Amsterdam twice, both times in April, and both times it delivered something different.

Our first visit was late April, and we had sunny skies, and tulips were in bloom everywhere. It was exactly what you picture when you imagine Amsterdam in spring.

Our second trip was early April, and the city was cooler, cloudier, and more crowded than our first visit. An unusually long winter had kept the bulbs shut, but we loved it just as much. What Amsterdam in April taught us both times is that the city itself is the draw, not just the weather.

That said, timing does matter here more than in most European cities, mostly because of tulip season and the crowds it brings.

April and May are peak season for good reason. Keukenhof is open, the tulip fields around the city are in bloom, and the days are long. But this is also when Amsterdam is at its most crowded. King’s Day on April 27th turns the entire city into one enormous street party, which is either a highlight or a reason to visit a different week depending on your personality. Book everything well in advance if you’re coming in spring.

September is our top recommendation if you want the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds. The summer tourists have mostly gone home, temperatures are still comfortable, and the city feels more like itself. It’s also easier to get Anne Frank House tickets in September than in April or May.

July and August are warm and lively but genuinely busy. Canal cruise lines are long, museums are packed, and the Jordaan loses some of its charm when every café table is taken. Still a great visit, just plan accordingly.

Winter (November through February) is quiet, affordable, and atmospheric in its own way. The canals are moody, the Christmas markets are charming, and you’ll have the Rijksmuseum nearly to yourself on a weekday morning. The tradeoff is cold, grey weather and short daylight hours, which limits how much comfortable wandering you can do.

• Spring (March–May): Peak tulip season; Keukenhof open; long days; biggest crowds and highest prices
• Summer (June–August): Warm and busy; plan ahead for everything
• Fall (September–October): Our top pick; fewer crowds, pleasant weather, easier bookings
• Winter (November–February): Quiet and affordable; cold and grey with short days

Where to Stay in Amsterdam

The best area to stay is in Jordaan and along the canal ring. This is our favorite area of Amsterdam and being on the canals at night is magical.

For recommendations on where to stay, read our Amsterdam Hotel Guide. Get recommendations whether you are looking for a budget hotel, luxury hotel, or if you are traveling as a family.

Hotel Guide

Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Best Hotels & Neighborhoods

Best places to stay in Amsterdam, organized by location and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Amsterdam

Is 2 days enough time in Amsterdam?

Two days is enough time to see Amsterdam’s highlights on a first visit. You can fit in the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House, plus time to walk the Jordaan canals, browse the Nine Streets, and eat well. You won’t see everything, but you’ll leave with a real sense of the city rather than a checklist of rushed stops.

How far in advance do you need to book Anne Frank House tickets?

Book as early as possible, ideally six weeks in advance, which is when tickets are released. They sell out within minutes of going live, especially for peak season dates (March through August). If you can’t get tickets, a guided walking tour focused on Anne Frank’s life and WWII Amsterdam is a worthwhile alternative.

Is the Museumkaart worth it for a 2-day Amsterdam visit?

Yes, if you plan to visit four or more museums. The Museumkaart costs €75 and covers the Rijksmuseum (€25), Van Gogh Museum (€25), and Anne Frank House (€16.50), among many others. Those three alone bring your total to €66.50, so adding even one more museum makes the card worthwhile. It also lets you skip the ticket line at the Rijksmuseum, which saves 20–30 minutes during busy periods.

Do you need to rent a bike in Amsterdam?

You don’t need to, but it’s a great option if you’re comfortable cycling in busy city traffic. Amsterdam’s bike lanes are extensive and flat, and locals move fast; this isn’t a leisurely bike path situation. If you’re confident on a bike, renting one for a half day is a genuinely fun way to see the canal belt and Jordaan. If you’re not, the tram system is excellent and walking between most attractions on this itinerary is very manageable.

Can you visit Keukenhof on a 2-day Amsterdam itinerary?

Yes, but it requires some planning. Keukenhof is only open from mid-March through mid-May, and the visit takes roughly half a day, including travel time (about 30–40 minutes each way by bus from Amsterdam). We’d suggest building it into Day 2 as a morning excursion and returning to Amsterdam in the afternoon. If Keukenhof is a priority for your trip, book tickets in advance. They do sell out, especially on weekends.

Planning Your Trip to Amsterdam

If you’re still in the early stages of planning, our Netherlands Travel Guide covers everything you need to know before you go, including the best destinations beyond Amsterdam.

For a deeper look at what to see and do in the city, our guide to the top things to do in Amsterdam covers each attraction in more detail, including the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, and Keukenhof, with full practical information and firsthand notes from our two visits.

Choosing where to sleep makes a big difference in a city as neighborhood-driven as Amsterdam. Our Amsterdam hotel guide breaks down the best areas to stay and our top picks at every budget.

If you’re combining Amsterdam with a broader European trip, our 10-day Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris itinerary and 10-day London, Amsterdam, and Paris itinerary are natural fits.

If you have any questions about how to spend 2 days in Amsterdam, let us know in the comment section below.

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