Amsterdam is a colorful city of the Netherlands, known for preserving the elegance of the Dutch Culture. The city is regarded as a destination offering a vibrant lifestyle and filled with historical things and places to visit. On the other hand, the city is a complete package for visiting some of the amazing spots and cover them all in a single day.
If you are wondering about what to do in Amsterdam in 1 Day, below is the perfect Amsterdam itinerary with all the unmissable places to visit. Irrespective of your choices and travel style, Amsterdam is a European city that is an absolute pleasure to visit. Yes, the city needs more than just a day but if you are short on time, this guide provides the best highlights of the city where you can get a taste of the local cuisine, explore beautiful streets, museums and do a tour or two. So, pack your bags and venture out the capital like a local.
CONTENTS
Top Amsterdam Activities In One Day
Honestly, one day is too little for a city like Amsterdam, which has some of the time-consuming spots all across the neighborhood. To get started head towards the area called as Museum Square, to get started. By the way if you are in Europe and want to combine Amsterdam with other cool cities nearby I have the perfect combined itinerary that include London, Amsterdam and Paris or Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels.
9 AM Rijkmuseum
If there is a landmark museum, known for safeguarding the ancient Dutch Culture intact, Rijkmuseum is the appropriate destination. The place holds masterpiece works from Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Rembrandt. Open to adults for 20 Euros, and the museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM on regular days. However, 3rd April to 28th August the museum is open till 9 PM on Fridays. As a visitor, you can skip the queue and purchase online tickets, costing 1 Euro lesser than the counter ticket. You can book the time blocks from 9h to 11h, 11h to 13h, 13h to 15h, and 15h to 17h. Museumkaart Holders and Amsterdam City Card users have exclusive booking benefits. The former cardholders have exclusive easy entry access, while the latter ones still require standing in queues.
Also Read: Best Museums To Visit In Amsterdam
11.30–12 PM Lunch
Exiting Rijkmuseum around this time may leave your stomach tickle for hunger. The museum square has some of the iconic eating hubs, and fine dines destinations, offering a classic Dutch platter for the taking. Try out classic restaurants such as Restaurant Floreyn for a traditional European Lunch or even the likes of Eetcafe Franz or even Le Restaurant Amsterdam. If you are up for dining with a little bit of history or guided tours then check out these food tours which also include private local chef to cook for you a lunch or dinner.
1 PM Van Gough Museum
Van Gough is a prominent name in Dutch history for some of his masterful and classic artworks. The museum in 2017 became amongst the most visited spots in the country. The demand and appreciation of Art in Amsterdam is high, where the museum has chosen all of his art collections and cool creative works. Currently, the only way to purchase a ticket to the museum is online, where adults will shell out 19 Euros and under 18 visitors are exempted. The operational hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM. However, the time surges during peak seasons, and advanced booking is the only way out. Using Museumkaart or even the city card will help to save a good booking time, but does not guarantee a slot.
3 PM Bloemenmarkt
A visit to the vibrant city of Amsterdam is incomplete without a visit to Bloemenmarkt. This is among the essential things to do in Amsterdam in 1 day. The market holds the distinction of being the only floating market in the world today. As far as the history of the market goes, flowers were bought via countryside canals. Today, however, things are stationary, and the florists prefer keeping things to stay in a single position.
There are about 15 florists, selling fresh flowers and bouquet collections. The market is known for selling seasonal flowers, and from time, they adapt to delivering flowers during non-winter months to selling Christmas trees in winters. Unique artifacts such as Wooden Tulips are sold throughout the year. If you want to take some away with you, do look out for Tulips, grown locally. Located over Singel River between Muntplein and Koningslplen, the spot holds a distinction of selling all but fresh flowers. Tourists would love to spend their time in the place, which is aesthetically pleasing by all senses.
3.45 PM Vondelpark
Amsterdam and Netherlands in general are known for their vast greenery, and there is no place as large as Vondelpark. This is a short tram ride away from Bloemenmarkt. It is the biggest park in the city. There is no shortage of footfall, as over 10 million visitors, right from locals to tourists, visit the place every year. The center of the park is the imposing and eye-catchy bronze monument of the famous Dutch Poet Vondel.
The park hosts some of the famous open-air concerts aside from being a regular joggers spot. You can spend your entire evening in a pleasant park and come across the locals. During the summer months of June to August, you can also experience some live music in the park. Thus, if you are a music and nature lover, be sure to include this spot when looking for what to do in Amsterdam in 1 day.
4.45 PM Canal Cruise
A tour to Amsterdam is filled with so many varieties. It becomes increasingly challenging to choose and segregate where to go and where not to. Already in the day, where you are likely to have visited multiple museums, it now makes sense to indulge more things based outdoors. It is among the unmissable things to do in Amsterdam in 1 day. The cruise ride is the best way to explore the beautiful and well-preserved canals in the city.
A first-timer in Amsterdam would be mesmerized on seeing the architecture, backing up with a breathtaking experience. With this said, the overall duration is about 75 minutes, and bookings can be done in advance online. During the seasons, this runs full, and the availability is subject to reservations. A simple canal cruise would cost about 13 Euros, which will just glide along with the popular spots without stopping. It is applicable for 75 minutes scheme and among the most popular choices available.
Apart from this, visitors can also opt to combine a canal cruise ride with active sightseeing spots. In this case, visitors can use these boats and travel to places that by hopping in and off cruises. It is a convenient and a pocket-friendly way to explore attractions in Amsterdam. A list of spots, including Rijksmuseum and other spots are covered on the stops. Some customized package starts as low as for 23 Euros. However, it will take more time than the conventional touring of the city.
6.15 PM Visit The Nine Little Streets
After enjoying 75 minutes on a beautiful cruise ride, hop down near the Nine Little Streets, a locality located across two famous canals, Keizersgracht and Herengracht. It is an ordinary commercial street, having almost all types of options, right from chilling out in cool cafes or a bar to visiting famous shopping streets. Experience more of the shopping culture of the Dutch locality and buy some token of your choice. If you are thinking of places to visit in Amsterdam on 1 Day and satisfy your shopping urge, you are indeed looking at the right destination.
8 PM Dutch Dinner Delicacies
Finally, to finish of the day tour in the Dutch capital you can check out classic European, Dutch, and Mediterranean cuisine hubs. For some recommendations check out the authentic Dutch Cuisine that is Haesjes Claes. A popular dining destination with plenty of options. For French Cuisine lovers, trying out the popular Hotel De Goudfazant near the Waterfront is an authentic experience in the city. Other prime spots in the city, such as Restaurant Blauw, bring the fusion of Indonesian food in the Dutch Capital, which is worth your experience. In the end, if you are willing to splurge more, try out Jansz, one of the classiest Dutch restaurants, with mind-boggling ambiance and food experience. For something unique check out our experience of High Wine at The Dylan.
City Tour Card Varieties Available
If you are a traveler hoping to explore the most out of the must-see in Amsterdam in 1 day’s destinations, you might as well look forward to issuing city tour cards. Amsterdam is known for being a tourist-friendly city, is home to countless spots that can be toured. However, there are places such as museums, which requires entry pass and in some case, advanced online reservations. This, for a tourist, is a hassle, and unlike every time it takes to complete an online transaction, there are multiple city cards available with a slight difference. Here are the two different tickets available with the prices upfront.
- Amsterdam City Card: If you intend to visit various locations across the city, this is one of the tailor-made options to ease traveling for you. The card opens access to over 44 top museums and attractions across the city. Available from a time of 24 hours to 120 hours, you can make a pick by paying 60 Euros minimum to a maximum of 115 Euros. It also covers unlimited rides on trams, metros, and even the GVB buss for the phase of usage. Another utility of the card is the number of discounts at some cafe’ and restaurants with a free canal cruise ride to the taking.
- Amsterdam Pass: This is much like the previous all-inclusive city card, with a different price tag and advantages. More than 30 spots across the city are covered in the card policy, and a hop-on-hop-off tour is included as well. In terms of validity, the pass is valid for 12 months from initial purchase, and users have the option to use it whenever they prefer. Each of these comes with a digital guidebook, helping with time, itinerary, and the valuation of pass value. In terms of costs, this card comes for a little more pricing with a 1-day pass available for 66 Euros minimum, and 5 days card comes for 145 Euros.
Getting Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a tourist-friendly city having some of the best European public transportation. It will connect you to all your must-see in Amsterdam in 1 day. Irrespective of the places you visit, the city has options that have efficient connectivity to all the top travel spots in the city.
For bus travel, try out the GVB Bus and tram services, which operates from 6 AM and cover spots, right from Airport to the central districts at an affordable price. Separate metro services are working in 3 different lines and terminating at Centraal station. For taxi travelers, TCA operates these services and starts from 2.80 Euros minimum. It is a relatively expensive form of travel. If you love cycling, Amsterdam is the city to be, having dedicated cycling lanes and comes for a daily rent of 10 Euros pr day.
Staying In Amsterdam Overnight
Amsterdam city offers a wide range of accommodation options all across the city. The city boasts over 400 registered hotels, with a variable price range, right from hostel to splurge options. As a backpacker, you are likely to get Amsterdam hostels for a very affordable price. A simple hostel starts from 15 Euros a bed. If you are looking out for budget lodging, hotels such as Motel One Amsterdam, H 58, and B&B Petit Prince are worth checking out. For splurging, try out hotels such as Bilderberg Garden Hotel, Grand Hotel Amrath are among the famous ones.
Also Read: Best Areas To Stay In Amsterdam | The Best Airbnb In Amsterdam On Houseboat
Best Time to Visit Amsterdam
For covering some of the iconic places to visit in Amsterdam in 1 day, we feel the best time would be somewhere from June to September. During this time, the crowd is far lesser, and the spots are open at regular timings. Despite this, if you are in love with cold weather, visiting in January is one good option, and exploring the city amidst snowfall is a different experience altogether.
Need More Tips On Europe? Also Read:
- Top Things To Do In Amsterdam In Winter
- Essential Things To Pack For A Trip To Europe
- How To Dress In Europe
- Romantic Things To Do In Amsterdam
- Top Tips When Travelling To Europe
Pin For Later
Leave a Reply