Amsterdam in 5 days

Canals, bikes, brown cafés, and one of the best museum cities in Europe. Best time to visit: April-June (tulip season) and September. Average daily budget: $130 to $210 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Jordaan, The classic Amsterdam picture: narrow houses, hidden courtyards, brown cafés.

Morning: Rijksmuseum first thing on a weekday. Book 9am entry. Have Vermeer's Milkmaid almost to yourself.

Afternoon: Explore Jordaan, The classic Amsterdam picture: narrow houses, hidden courtyards, brown cafés.

Evening: Anne Frank House at 9pm. Late-night slots are easier to get and far less crowded.

Eat: Bitterballen and a beer at any brown café

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: De Pijp, Multicultural, foodie, the Albert Cuyp Market on weekday mornings.

Morning: Bike from Vondelpark to the Jordaan. Rent at MacBike. The city makes sense the moment you're on a bike.

Afternoon: Explore De Pijp, Multicultural, foodie, the Albert Cuyp Market on weekday mornings.

Evening: Sunset canal cruise from Westerdok. Skip the big boats. Take a small electric one with 8 people max.

Eat: Stroopwafel fresh off the iron at Albert Cuyp Market

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Oost, Up-and-coming, big parks, brewery scene.

Morning: Rent a bike and ride like a local. Amsterdam runs on two wheels. Rent a city bike, stick to the right, signal with your arm, and loop the canal ring out to Vondelpark, the single best way to feel the city's rhythm.

Afternoon: Explore Oost, Up-and-coming, big parks, brewery scene.

Evening: Canal-side picnic in the Jordaan. Grab cheese, bread and a stroopwafel from a market, then post up on a canal bench in the Jordaan. Quiet streets, houseboats and gabled houses, the prettiest, most local quarter.

Eat: Indonesian rijsttafel at Tempo Doeloe

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Noord, Cross the (free) ferry. Industrial-cool, EYE Film Museum, A'DAM Lookout.

Morning: Begijnhof - hidden 14th-century courtyard in the centre, almost zero tourists.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Noord, Cross the (free) ferry. Industrial-cool, EYE Film Museum, A'DAM Lookout.

Evening: NDSM Wharf in Noord - street art, sunset bars by the harbour.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Apple pie at Café Winkel 43 (Jordaan)

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Centrum (Negen Straatjes), Nine streets of canals, boutiques, brunch spots.

Morning: Foam photography museum - small, world-class.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Centrum (Negen Straatjes), Nine streets of canals, boutiques, brunch spots.

Evening: Café Hoppe - 350-year-old brown café on the Spui.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Bitterballen and a beer at any brown café

Hidden gems

Begijnhof - hidden 14th-century courtyard in the centre, almost zero tourists.
NDSM Wharf in Noord - street art, sunset bars by the harbour.
Foam photography museum - small, world-class.
Café Hoppe - 350-year-old brown café on the Spui.

Getting around

Bike. Always bike. Rent for $10-15/day. Trams cover the rest. The metro is mostly for the airport. Avoid driving - parking is brutal and the city is built for two wheels.

Safety

Very safe. The biggest risk is a tram or a bike hitting you - look both ways twice. Standard pickpocket awareness in Centraal Station and on tram lines 2 and 5.

Amsterdam in 3 days | Amsterdam in 7 days | Full Amsterdam guide