travel diaries to Amsterdam

The Dutch capital may be small, but it’s packed with exciting things to see and do, making for no shortage of unmissable experiences when spending 48 hours in Amsterdam. From Dam Square to the colorful stalls of Albert Cuyp Market and the masterpieces inside the Van Gogh Museum, every corner of the city has something to offer. A weekend in Amsterdam is perfect for exploring by bike and on the iconic canals, wandering through Vondelpark, and sampling Dutch cuisine at cafés in charming neighborhoods. No matter what time of year you’re visiting, here’s what to do in Amsterdam in 2 days. Top tips for spending 2 days in Amsterdam Where to stay in Amsterdam: Stay near Museumplein for easy access to major museums, De Pijp for great food spots and a local feel, or Jordaan if you want a scenic base close to many of the city’s highlights. How to get around Amsterdam: Biking is the best way to explore, but trams and canal boats are also convenient. Most attractions are within a short ride or pleasant walk. What to see in Amsterdam: Visit Dam Square, the Red Light District, Museumplein, Vondelpark, and De Pijp. Don’t miss a canal cruise and the street art at the STRAAT Museum. What to eat in Amsterdam: Try Dutch pancakes, bitterballen, and stroopwafels. Stop for local beer or jenever at a traditional café and sample global dishes at Foodhallen. What museums to visit in Amsterdam: See the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum in Museumplein for classic art, and head to the Stedelijk Museum nearby for modern and contemporary works. Day 1: See the top sights in Amsterdam Morning Explore Amsterdam by bike A person in a yellow jacket rides a bicycle along a canal in Amsterdam. Make like a local and see Amsterdam while cycling through the city. Amsterdammers love getting around by bike — so much so that there are more bikes than people in this city. And with miles of dedicated cycle lanes, the best way to start your 2 days in Amsterdam is by exploring the city by bike. Join a guided bike tour or rent a bike to take in some of the best-known landmarks in Amsterdam. Explore bike tours in Amsterdam Amsterdam: Top Highlights Guided Bike Tour in EN/DE/ES/FR/IT Amsterdam: Top Highlights Guided Bike Tour in EN/DE/ES/FR/IT 1.5 hours • Skip the line 4.7 (855) £25 From £21 Amsterdam: Cheese Tasting, Windmill & Countryside Bike Tour Amsterdam: Cheese Tasting, Windmill & Countryside Bike Tour 3 hours • Skip the line 4.7 (365) £38 From £33 Amsterdam: Relaxed City Highlights Guided Bike Tour Amsterdam: Relaxed City Highlights Guided Bike Tour 2 hours Certified by GetYourGuide 4.7 (1,053) From £27 Afternoon Feast on Dutch bitterballen A plate of golden-brown Dutch bitterballen served with herbs in Amsterdam. Taste authentic Dutch bitterballen in Amsterdam. After a morning of pedaling around the city, it’s time to refuel and sample one of the must-try foods in Amsterdam: Dutch bitterballen. A deep-fried snack filled with a variety of meats and usually served with mustard for dipping, bitterballen can be found at any typical Dutch restaurant around the city. Sample the best food in Amsterdam on a tour Amsterdam: Traditional Dutch Syrup Waffle Making Workshop Amsterdam: Traditional Dutch Syrup Waffle Making Workshop 45 minutes • Skip the line 4.8 (3,676) £24 From £17 Amsterdam: Cheese & Wine Cruise Tasting Experience Amsterdam: Cheese & Wine Cruise Tasting Experience 75 minutes Certified by GetYourGuide 4.4 (1,140) £35 From £30 Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Cheese Tasting & Volendam Tour Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Cheese Tasting & Volendam Tour 5.5 hours 4.9 (166) £24 From £17 Experience NDSM, Amsterdam’s latest cultural hotspot Colourful street art murals displayed inside the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam. Discover bold street art at Amsterdam’s STRAAT Museum. From Central Station, take the free ferry across the IJ and discover a different side of Amsterdam at NDSM, a former shipping wharf that has been transformed into a cultural hotspot. Be sure to check out the STRAAT Museum — the world’s largest museum dedicated to street art — and if you are planning a weekend trip to Amsterdam, look out for dance parties, exhibitions, festivals, and live performances here. Check out the STRAAT Museum while in Amsterdam Streetart Museum STRAAT Entrance Ticket Streetart Museum STRAAT Entrance Ticket 1 day 4.8 (2,057) From £17 Amsterdam: City Card with Free Entrance & Public Transport Amsterdam: City Card with Free Entrance & Public Transport 1 - 5 days 4.4 (4,062) From £57 Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise & Straat Museum Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise & Straat Museum 3 hours • Optional audio guide 4.7 (31) £44 From £35 Get to the heart of Amsterdam at Dam Square Historic Royal Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam with people walking in the plaza below a cloudy sky. Explore Dam Square in Amsterdam, home to the historic Royal Palace. Hop back on the ferry and head to Dam Square for some of the top things to see in Amsterdam in 2 days, including the National Monument and the 15th-century New Church. The square is also home to the majestic Royal Palace, where you can learn more about the Dutch Golden Age. Learn more about the history and culture in Amsterdam Royal Palace Entry Ticket + Audio guide Royal Palace Entry Ticket + Audio guide 1 day • Optional audio guide 4.6 (7,668) From £12 Amsterdam Anne Frank: Small-Group Walking Tour & Local Guide Amsterdam Anne Frank: Small-Group Walking Tour & Local Guide 2 hours 4.8 (12,260) £28 From £20 Amsterdam Small-Group Walking Tour Amsterdam Small-Group Walking Tour 2.5 hours • Small group 4.7 (937) £17 From £15 Evening Go to a Dutch café for a refreshment Friends raising gin glasses in a cozy Dutch café in Amsterdam with warm lighting. Enjoy gin and good company at a Dutch café in Amsterdam. After all your exertions on day 1 of your 48-hour Amsterdam itinerary, it’s time for a break and a drink. From Dam Square, you’re ideally placed to check out the authentic Dutch cafés along Oudezijds Voorburgwal or around Nieuwmarkt Square — perfect to enjoy some jenever, the Dutch-style gin the Netherlands is famous for, and a bite to eat. Delve into the history and nightlife of the Red Light District Night view of Amsterdam’s Red Light District with glowing canal lights and historic buildings. Discover the history and culture of Amsterdam’s Red Light District at night. An essential part of any Amsterdam weekend itinerary is a stop in the city’s Red Light District. As night falls, it’s lit up with endless neon lights, but there’s much more to this part of town than meets the eye. Check out the lively bars, quirky museums, and canal-side cafés, offering plenty to explore in the city’s most talked-about neighborhood. See more of the Red Light District at night Amsterdam: Red Light District Tour Amsterdam: Red Light District Tour 1.5 hours 4.9 (6,849) £25 From £19 Amsterdam: Light Festival Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks & Snack Amsterdam: Light Festival Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks & Snack 75 minutes • Skip the line Likely to sell out 4.6 (512) £26 From £20 Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise 1 hour - 70 minutes 4.7 (7,889) £21 From £20 Day 2: Explore culture and local life in Amsterdam Morning Have a cultural morning at Museumplein Visitors viewing Vincent van Gogh’s self-portrait at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam’s Museumplein. Visit the Van Gogh Museum in Museumplein to admire the artist’s iconic works. Kick off day 2 of your mini break to Amsterdam with a dose of culture at Museumplein, a square which boasts several of the city’s best art museums. Start at the Van Gogh Museum, then get up close to modern art and design at the Stedelijk and, finally, spot Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum. Get your entry tickets for the museums at Museumplein Rijksmuseum Entry Ticket Rijksmuseum Entry Ticket 1 day 4.7 (28,680) From £24 Amsterdam: Stedelijk Museum Guided Tour & Rijksmuseum Option Amsterdam: Stedelijk Museum Guided Tour & Rijksmuseum Option 2 - 5 hours • Skip the line • Pickup available 4 From £215 Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Entry Ticket & Guided Tour Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Entry Ticket & Guided Tour 1.5 hours 4.9 (25) From £105 See Amsterdam from its famous canals Traditional canal houses reflected in the water along an Amsterdam canal under soft daylight. Take an Amsterdam canal cruise to see the city’s historic landmarks from the water. If you are spending 48 hours in Amsterdam, no visit would be complete without a boat trip around its iconic canals. Just outside the Rijksmuseum, you can catch an Amsterdam canal cruise, which will transport you past landmarks, pretty houses, and bridges. You’ll be regaled by local tales by your skipper, as you enjoy a cocktail onboard this open-air cruise. Go on a canal cruise in Amsterdam Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks & Snack Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks & Snack 75 minutes Likely to sell out 4.5 (2,604) £26 From £20 Amsterdam: Light Festival Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks & Snack Amsterdam: Light Festival Cruise w/ Unlimited Drinks & Snack 75 minutes • Skip the line Likely to sell out 4.6 (512) £26 From £20 Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise 1 hour - 70 minutes 4.7 (7,889) £21 From £20 Afternoon Recharge with some delicious Dutch pancakes Traditional Dutch pancake served with smoked salmon, lemon, and cream sauce in an Amsterdam café. Try traditional Dutch pancakes at one of Amsterdam’s cafés. You are bound to feel peckish after your canal cruise, so next it’s time for some traditional Dutch pancakes. Many spots along Ferdinand Bolstraat and around Museumplein serve freshly made pancakes topped with everything from fruit and syrup to cheese and smoked salmon — perfect for a relaxed meal before continuing your 2-day Amsterdam itinerary(Get your guide, 2025) Discover Amsterdam’s favorite markets Busy scene at Albert Cuyp Market in Amsterdam’s De Pijp district with shoppers and street stalls. Browse local goods and street food at Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp. One of the top things to do in Amsterdam in 2 days is check out the city’s local markets. Take a walk to the world’s only floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt, and delight in one of the Netherlands’ best-known exports. From there, keep walking south until you reach Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp. It is free to enter and has 260 stalls selling everything from shoes to antiques and delicious stroopwafels. Taste the best street food in Amsterdam Amsterdam: Light Festival Heated Cruise + Waffle & Hot choco Amsterdam: Light Festival Heated Cruise + Waffle & Hot choco 75 minutes 5 (55) £26 From £20 Amsterdam: Traditional Dutch Syrup Waffle Making Workshop Amsterdam: Traditional Dutch Syrup Waffle Making Workshop 45 minutes • Skip the line 4.8 (3,676) £24 From £17 Amsterdam: Canal Cruise with Free Dutch Stroopwafel Amsterdam: Canal Cruise with Free Dutch Stroopwafel 1 hour - 75 minutes • Optional audio guide 4.2 (2,643) £14 From £13 Grab a beer at the Heineken Experience Visitors enjoying a beer tasting at the Heineken Experience brewery in Amsterdam. Discover the brewing process and enjoy a tasting at the Heineken Experience. Your thirst levels might be rising again by this point, so it’s convenient that the Heineken Experience is just a few blocks away. Kinderdijk Wetlands Beyond The UNESCO Windmills Everyone photographs the nineteen windmills. Few spot wildlife in the polders a few minutes away. Rent a bike at the entrance and take the lower path where groups thin. Herons lift from the reeds at first light. At sunrise, the line of iconic windmills feels almost unreal. Beavers work these channels at dawn and dusk. The whisper boat runs from April to October. The motor is silent so you hear birds and wind. Book the sunrise cruise online and aim for 6:30 AM. Your Kinderdijk ticket can include a short boat tour on site, so you see the mills from the water without extra hassle. A sunrise ride on the boat is a unique experience. From Rotterdam Erasmusbrug, take the seasonal Waterbus line 21 direct to Kinderdijk. Or take line 20 and transfer to the Driehoeksveer at Ridderkerk. Services vary by season. It feels more alive than a direct tour bus from Amsterdam. The birthplace of one of the most famous beers in the world, the old brewery now features a museum with exclusive tastings and is one of the most popular activities for a weekend in Amsterdam. Try a beer tasting and brewery tour in Amsterdam Heineken Experience Ticket including 2 Drinks Heineken Experience Ticket including 2 Drinks 1.5 hours 4.6 (34,436) £22 From £19 Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket 3 hours • Skip the line • Optional audio guide Certified by GetYourGuide 4.5 (5,293) £44 From £35 Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Amsterdam: City Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience 3 hours • Skip the line • Optional audio guide 4.3 (3,020) £34 From £30 Relax in Vondelpark Friends relaxing on the grass and chatting in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark on a sunny day. Unwind with a stroll through the relaxing paths of Vondelpark. After a busy afternoon, take a moment to relax at Vondelpark, the largest and most loved park in Amsterdam. When the weather is good, you’ll see locals making the most of its green spaces with barbecues and games, and there are often performances in the park, especially during the summer. Evening Dine at the famous Foodhallen https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt06f605a34f1194ff/bltd99e2220b1aa59e4/624716b886e75001447625e1/Copy_of_BCC-2022-IT-AMSTERDAM-DAY2-STOP7.jpg A short walk (or bike ride) away from Vondelpark is Foodhallen, a hip food court bursting with street food stalls and bars, offering everything from hot dogs and burgers to tacos and dumplings. To really make the most of your 48 hours in Amsterdam, make your way to the Royal Concertgebouw after dinner for a concert by one of the best orchestras in the world. Reference -Get your guide (2025) A complete itinerary for spending 48 hours in Amsterdam. Available at: https://www.getyourguide.com/en-gb/explorer/amsterdam-ttd36/itinerary-48-hours-in-amsterdam/ Maartje van Dijk(2025) How To Plan Amsterdam Day Trips Like A Local Available at: https://www.cityunscripted.com/travel-magazine/day-trips-from-amsterdam

TRAVEL DIARIES