Amsterdam is steeped in Dutch history, with narrow houses topped with steep gables, and it’s the largest city and capital of the Netherlands. Its canal system is a draw, and many were constructed in the 17th century. Bikes rule the road in Amsterdam; however, it’s just as easy to walk. It’s a charming city to explore for a few days. For our two-day visit, my best friend and I strolled beside canals as we went from art museums to outdoor cafes to street markets. Here are the top things to do in Amsterdam for two days on a girlfriend getaway.
Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting
Amsterdam was added to our extended European itinerary due to its large international airport and large train station. It was easier to get inexpensive flights out of Amsterdam, and we arrived via the train from Belgium.
Amsterdam is a lovely mix of 17th-century facades and canals with bridges connecting them all. Bikes are everywhere. However, we choose to walk. In fact, during a three-week trip to Europe, I clocked about 13 miles a day in Amsterdam.
I usually only tour one art museum in a day. I have found that many art museums, even those with avid art lovers, often stop appreciating the art. In Amsterdam, I included one museum and one cultural site on each day. Amsterdam loves its beer, so we stopped for several during our trip.
Overall, it was one of my favorite destinations in Europe. Up there with London and Paris. I am actually planning to return as soon as possible.
Best Things to Do in Amsterdam in 2 Days
Anne Frank House
Pancake House
Rijksmuseum
Heineken Experience
Canal Evening Cruise
Outdoor Cafe for Bitterballen
Rembrandt House
Waterlooplein
Amsterdam Flower Market Bloemenmarkt
Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Noordermarkt
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Day 1 Anne Frank House
Read by students across the world, The Diary of Anne Frank is a poignant diary of a Jewish girl in Amsterdam whose family went into hiding during WWII. Unfortunately, the story did not have a happy ending for the student.
Located on the Prinsengracht canal, close to the Westerkerk in Central Amsterdam, It is high on my must-do list when visiting.. The exterior looks modern, and the first-floor lobby offers contemporary visitor services.
The tour is an audio guide in multiple languages. It starts with background information on the Frank family and Amsterdam at the beginning of the war.
It is not necessary to have read the book. However, I had and entering the Secret Annex where the Frank family lived was haunting. I saw the furniture and how they had concealed the entrance.
The Secret Annex was an addition to the main building, and few people knew it was there, even employees working in the front part of the building. I saw where she wrote the entire book and spent the final two years of her life during the occupation.
Anne Frank and her family went into hiding on July 6, 1942. Another couple and a single man later joined them. They were discovered on August 4, 1944, and arrested.
They were each sent to separate concentration camps in Germany. All perished before the liberation, except for Otto Frank, Anne’s father.
How to Get Sold Out Anne Frank House Tour
During my visit, I missed the original ticket availability for the days I would be in Amsterdam. I was visiting in late June, which is high season for Amsterdam.
I checked the calendar for cancellations and saw a few. However, they were never for my time. I did notice Anne Frank House released a new block of tickets two weeks in advance at 10 a.m. CET. I set my alarm for my local time, with tickets released and secured the first tour of the morning.
Tip: Book the Anne Frank House tour first, then arrange the rest of your itinerary around it.
Located at Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are a must and are only available on its website. Adult tickets + tour are €23, kids (10 to 17) are €14, and those 9 and younger enter for €8. Tickets sell out shortly after they are released during the busy season. A week’s worth of tickets is released six weeks before the tour date.
Time to Spend: 1 hour
What’s Closeby: Pancake House
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The Pancake Bakery
Dutch pancakes are a must for a trip to Amsterdam. They are flat like a crepe and cooked with fruit or savory ingredients.
We stopped by the Pancake Bakery overlooking the Prinsengracht canal, that’s been at the location for 40 years. I chose the ham, apple and cheese. My bestie had one with bacon and cheese. Both were delicious.
Located at Prinsengracht 1911015 DS Amsterdam. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).
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Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is one of the top art museums in the world. It is a top destination in Amsterdam and is dedicated to the art of the Netherlands.
It was founded in The Hague in 1798 and moved to Amsterdam in 1808. The building opened in 1885. The Rijksmuseum anchors the Museumplein, a museum district.
At any given time, the Rijksmuseum has 8,000 objects on display. Its entire collection features 1 million pieces of art and objects from 1200 to 2000.
Rijksmuseum 1-Hour Tour
During my visit, I took a guided one-hour tour. I was able to obtain an additional ticket upon arrival. However, I had made online reservations to enter the museum before I arrived.
The tour guide gave us an excellent overview, and I learned about the building as well as the highlights in it. We saw the 1642 The Nighwatch, by Rembrandt van Rijn, which is the size of one side of a gallery and protected by a glass wall.
Another Rembrandt is the 1663 The Sampling Officials, followed by a self-portrait. If you aren’t familiar with Rembrandt’s work, he created nearly 80 self-portraits. Another Dutch artist, the 1660 The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer is at the Rijksmuseum.
After the tour, I finished browsing the museum. For art museum lovers, it is a must for a visit to Amsterdam. Its gift shop is top-notch, and it features a lovely cafe and fine dining restaurant. Be sure and walk through its garden.
Located at Museumstraat 1, Amsterdam. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is €25 and free for kids 18 and younger.
Time to Spend: 2 to 4 hours, depending on interest
What’ Closeby: The Heineken Experience
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Heineken Experience
After starting the day with a somber tour followed by four-plus hours of enjoying Amsterdam’s largest art museum, it’s time for a gear change. I recommend taking the Heineken Beer tour, followed by a drink on the rooftop (seasonal).
The Heineken Experience starts with a history of the venerable beer brand that some don’t realize is brewed in Amsterdam. I particularly enjoyed seeing the copper kettles used for brewing.
Part history, part interactive, visitors learn about how beer is made. Then, the Heineken Experience shared its advertising history as we covered several floors.
It wouldn’t be a beer tour without samples, so I added to the experience by selecting the Rooftop Bar experience. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed an additional beer overlooking Amsterdam and its canals. We found seating, and it includes an indoor and outdoor area.
I enjoyed this experience without my kids. Those under 18 are not allowed inside the Heineken Experience.
Located at Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE Amsterdam. 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tour + Rooftop is € 29.95 and includes The tour is offered separately €24.94 and includes two small beers. Reservations are recommended, and late afternoon tours fill up the fastest.
Time to Spend: 2 hours.
What’s nearby: Blue Boat Canal Evening Cruise
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Blue Boat Canal 90-minute Evening Cruise
Cruising the Canal Ring is one of the top things to do in Amsterdam. I chose an evening cruise since it stays light until after 9 p.m. during the summer. Most museums close around 5 p.m., so schedule those earlier in the day.
It was a great way to cap off a day of exploring in Amsterdam. The Blue Boat cruise explored several canals, and we floated by several destinations in Amsterdam, like the Amsterdam Central Station and Nemo Science Museum.
Located at Stadhouderskade 501. Evening adult cruise prices start at €22 and kids are €16.40. Reservations recommended.
Time to Spend: 2 hours.
What’s nearby: Museum Plein
Snack on Fries
Served in a paper cone straight out of the fryer, the fries in Amsterdam are the ultimate street food. In the evening, there’s a line for this popular snack food.
I tried Manneken Pis Damrak and enjoyed every last fry. It even offers a selection of condiments, like mayonnaise and mustard.
Located at Damrak 41, 1012 LK Amsterdam. Open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Day 2
One of my favorite things to do in Amsterdam was walking by the canals and enjoying the scenery. I recommend taking different routes as you walk around central Amsterdam.
During our visit, we’d duck into boutiques. Each morning, we grab a cup of coffee and a croissant for a quick breakfast.
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Museum Het Rembrandthuis or Rembrandt House
Amsterdam boasts two rockstar artists: Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent Van Gogh. From 1639 to 1658, Rembrandt lived and worked in a house in Jodenbreestraat and it has been turned into a museum.
For 19 years, he operated a small gallery downstairs where he sold his work. Upstairs, he taught his students. Throughout the house, I found personal objects like furnishings in the living areas, the kitchen and Rembrandt’s personal collections.
The Rembrandt House offers an intimate look at the life of Rembrandt and his complicated personal life. An artist extraordinaire, his life was clouded by both the deaths of family members and an eventual bankruptcy.
Located at Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is €21.50, young adults (18 to 25) are €15 and kids ( 6 to 17) are €8.00. Reservations are recommended.
Time to Spend: 2 hours
What’s nearby: Waterlooplein
Waterlooplein
Named after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the open-air square is on the Amstel River. It is the home to the Waterlooplein Flea Market, the oldest in the city.
During my visit, I walked through and saw many tantalizing finds. Best of all, this market is open most days.
Located at 1011 PG Amsterdam. Open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is free to enter.
Time to Spend: less than 1 hour
What’s nearby: Amstel River
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Bloemenmarkt or Amsterdam Flower Market
Holland is legendary for its bulb production, which is shipped worldwide. Unfortunately, U.S. citizens can’t bring bulbs through U.S. Customs from their Amsterdam trip.
I recommend you walk through the Bloememarkt. I did with my flower-loving best friend. We both love gardening and flowers, so I found the Amsterdam Flower Market inspiring.
Located at Singel 630, 600 Amsterdam. Open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free to enter.
Time to Spend: Less than 1 hour
What’s nearby: Torture Museum Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum
Along with Rembrandt, Van Gogh is one of the most recognizable artists in the world. The Van Gogh Museum offers the largest collection of his artwork in the world.
Visitors will see Van Gogh’s florals, like Sunflowers, Irises and Almond Blossom. The Van Gogh landscapes are another draw, and you’ll see Wheatfield with a Reaper, Field with Poppies and Field with Irises near Arles. There are also Van Gogh self-portraits.
Located at Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to September, with seasonal hours during the rest of the year. Adult admission is €24 and kids 18 and under are free.
Time to Spend: 2 hours
What’s nearby: Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam Travel Alert
More than in any other city I visited, scam websites flourish in Amsterdam. They sponsor their websites so they appear higher in search engines. The sites are very hard to distinguish.
Worth noting, most museums use a .org, not a .com extension. To prevent getting scammed, avoid purchasing tickets via your phone, as it is harder to ensure that you are, in fact, buying tickets for the actual museum.
Make reservations in advance for all museums and attractions. Amsterdam is a top European destination.
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Along the Prinsengracht canal in a canal house, this petite museum offers a history of the tulip. In front, there is a well-stocked gift shop that’s free to enter.
Located at Prinsengracht 116, 1015 EA Amsterdam. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission €7, €4 for those under 25. Reservations not required.
Time to Spend: less than 1 hour
What’s nearby: Amsterdam Cheese Museum
Noordermarkt
This vintage market offers a selection of vintage clothes, food, housewares, jewelry and more. I visited and saw a collection of unique treasures.
Located at 1015 NA Amsterdam. Open Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is free to enter.
Time to Spend: less than 1 hour
What’s nearby: Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Enjoy an Outdoor Cafe
During the summer, the weather is warm and the evenings are long. On my visit, we stopped at several outdoor cafes. I totally recommend doing it for the ambiance and the people-watching.
At an outdoor table, we sipped local beer and ordered some Bitterballen, fried balls of melty cheese. They are the ultimate pub snack in Amsterdam.
The Red Light District and Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
OK, my best friend from grade school and I were on an extended girlfriend getaway in Europe, spending two days in Amsterdam. We agreed we wanted to walk through the infamous Red Light District to see it.
Here is what we saw. As dusk falls in the city, there are, in fact, red lights illuminating storefronts on the side streets in Central Amsterdam. Each offered a large picture window, and the tenant.
We wanted to be respectful, so we googled the rules. We weren’t rude, and we didn’t stare. During our visit, we saw only open and closed windows.
Down one street, we saw a group of young dudes with different goals for the night, other than saying they had walked through the Red Light District.
My take way, if it bothers you, it is easy to avoid. Central Amsterdam is full of families and kids, so there is no reason to fret; just avoid the area. It is well-marked on maps, and the red lights are obvious.
Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
If you want to see and enjoy a cup of coffee and a croissant, you visit a cafe. In Amsterdam, coffee shops sell marijuana. We don’t smoke, but it became very obvious where the Koffie Huis were located if you took a deep breath.
Again, if you want to stay clear, just distract your kids when you smell the obvious.
Dam Square at the Amsterdam Centraal
This lively spot is hard to miss when traveling on the train. It is filled with travelers and locals, all coming and going.
The Amsterdam Centraal Train Station is the backdrop of the square and was built in 1889 in a Gothic and Renaissance Revival style. During my stay, I used the train to travel from Brussels to Amsterdam International Airport.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
A collection of three 300-year-old facades overlooking the Herengracht Canal and the Brouwersgracht Canal near the Amsterdam Central Train Station. The Max Brown Hotel Canal District is within walking distance of many top things to do in Amsterdam.
Located in the Jordaan District, the Max Brown Hotel Canal District features 34 rooms across four floors; local Gina Bud Hoitling designed the interiors with a literary aesthetic. The first floor features a 24-hour reception desk with a coffee bar and cocktails, wine and beer.
A European-style breakfast is available in the morning, and the Max Brown Hotel Canal District features free Wi-Fi. I reserved a lower-level room and only had to navigate a small set of stairs.
Outside my room, I enjoyed the book wall with hardback books adorning it. Inside, I found an efficient room with two twin beds for me and my best friend. The beds were touching and dressed in white linens, and each side offered a light.
The room offers a hot water kettle and tea service, an in-room safe, and a small fan with an occasional chair. Storage was limited to a small hanging rod with a handful of hangers and a luggage rack. The bathroom was efficient, with a tub plus a hand-held shower wand, including a black subway tile surround. There was a smaller pedestal sink with a storage mirror above it. The Max Brown Hotel Canal District offers wall-mounted eco-conscious toiletries.
It is worth noting that the hotel doesn’t offer an elevator and features steep stairs. However, someone can help you with your bags if needed. The hotel isn’t air-conditioned and can be quite stuffy in the summer. This property is dog-friendly but not accessible.
It is located at Herengracht 13-19, Amsterdam.
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