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Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

Itinerary · Amsterdam · Netherlands

7 days in Amsterdam

A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Amsterdam, not crossing it.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: 14:43, 17 October 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0

Quick answer

7 days is enough to see Amsterdam's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. Day 1: Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Day 2: Vondelpark and Stedelijk Museum. Day 3: Anne Frank House and Canal Ring walk. Base yourself in Canal Ring (Grachtengordel).

Key facts

Days
7
Sights covered
11
Day trips
2
Best base
Canal Ring (Grachtengordel)
Book ahead
Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum

Day by day

  1. Day 1: Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum

    Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, then A'DAM Lookout in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Rijksmuseum

      Museum Quarter · 3 hours · mid-priced. Timed tickets are sold online; book a day or more ahead in high season.

    2. Late morning

      Van Gogh Museum

      Museum Quarter · 2 hours · mid-priced. Tickets are sold online for timed slots and sell out in high season.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: Stroopwafel

      Market stalls at the Albert Cuyp and Lindengracht markets make them to order.

    4. Evening

      A'DAM Lookout

      Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg, a five-minute crossing, and go up for sunset.

  2. Day 2: Vondelpark and Stedelijk Museum

    Vondelpark and Stedelijk Museum, then Leidseplein in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Vondelpark

      Museum Quarter · 1–2 hours · free.

    2. Late morning

      Stedelijk Museum

      Museum Quarter · 2 hours · mid-priced.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: Raw herring

      Herring carts and fish stalls across the city.

    4. Evening

      Leidseplein

      Bars, the live-music venues Paradiso and Melkweg, and late-night cafés around the square.

  3. Day 3: Anne Frank House and Canal Ring walk

    Anne Frank House and Canal Ring walk, then Rembrandtplein in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Anne Frank House

      Canal Ring · 1–1.5 hours · low cost. Entry is only by online ticket for a set time slot, and tickets sell out quickly.

    2. Late morning

      Canal Ring walk

      Canal Ring · 2 hours · free.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bitterballen

      Brown cafés and pubs everywhere.

    4. Evening

      Rembrandtplein

      Busy bars and clubs, with LGBTQ+ venues on nearby Reguliersdwarsstraat.

  4. Day 4: Day trip to Haarlem

    About 15 minutes by train each way. Getting there: NS train from Centraal Station.

    1. Morning

      Travel to Haarlem

      About 15 minutes by train (NS train from Centraal Station); about 20 km.

    2. Day

      Haarlem

      The Frans Hals Museum and the Teylers Museum, the oldest museum in the Netherlands, are the highlights.

    3. Evening

      Back in Amsterdam

      Dinner: try Kroket.

  5. Day 5: Canal cruise and The Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes)

    Canal cruise and The Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes), then Jordaan in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Canal cruise

      Canal Ring · 1–1.5 hours · low cost.

    2. Late morning

      The Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes)

      Canal Ring · 1–2 hours · free.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kroket

      Snack bars and bakeries; FEBO's automats are a late-night institution.

    4. Evening

      Jordaan

      Brown cafés and wine bars with a local crowd.

  6. Day 6: Day trip to Zaanse Schans

    About 20 minutes by train plus a short walk each way. Getting there: NS train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans.

    1. Morning

      Travel to Zaanse Schans

      About 20 minutes by train plus a short walk (NS train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans); about 20 km.

    2. Day

      Zaanse Schans

      It is touristy, but an early-morning visit catches the windmills turning before the coach groups arrive.

    3. Evening

      Back in Amsterdam

      Dinner: try Fries with mayonnaise.

  7. Day 7: The Jordaan and Albert Cuyp Market

    The Jordaan and Albert Cuyp Market, then De Pijp in the evening.

    1. Morning

      The Jordaan

      Jordaan · Half a day · free.

    2. Late morning

      Albert Cuyp Market

      De Pijp · 1 hour · free.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fries with mayonnaise

      Specialist fries shops in the centre, especially around Spui and Leidseplein.

    4. Evening

      De Pijp

      Cocktail bars and terraces that fill with locals from early evening.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 7 nights, Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Jordaan ($$$) suits couples, food lovers, quiet stays and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–23 hours of visiting over 7 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.7 hours in December to 16.8 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

Questions travellers ask

+Is 7 days enough in Amsterdam?

7 days is enough to see Amsterdam's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. How many days Amsterdam needs.

+What should I book before visiting Amsterdam?

Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House.