One Day in Amsterdam – The Perfect Itinerary
What to do if you only have one day in Amsterdam? See my best tips and spots for your perfect day.
Top 12 Main Attractions Of Amsterdam
To help you know what to expect when you visit Amsterdam for the first time, here is a little overview of some of the main sights.

1. Royal Palace of Amsterdam
King Willem-Alexander’s official reception palace.

2. Dam Square
Site of numerous structures of national importance.

3. Rijksmuseum
Dutch National Museum at Museumplein.

4. Anne Frank House
Museum dedicated to the Jewish Holocaust victim Anne Frank.

5. Van Gogh Museum
It houses the largest collection of works by Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.

6. Artis
Traditional zoo with aquarium
National monument.

7. Amsterdam Canals
The canals (Grachten) in Amsterdam characterize the historical image of the city.

8. Vondelpark
Best known and second largest park in the Dutch capital Amsterdam.

9. Oude Kerk
(English: Old Church) The oldest preserved building in Amsterdam.

10. Bloemenmarkt
Well-known market with a wide range of plants and flowers.

11. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Art museum in the city district of Amsterdam-Zuid.

12. The Begijnhof
Roman Catholic chapel with relaxing green area.
One Day Itinerary For Amsterdam
Morning
Breakfast
Start your day with a good breakfast. These are the spots I would recommend:
- Greenwoods Singel
greenwoods.eu - Pancakes Amsterdam
pancakes.amsterdam - Prins Heerlijk
prinsheerlijk.amsterdam - Omelegg – City Centre
omelegg.com
See Oude Kerk
The Oude Kerk is the oldest preserved building in the Dutch capital Amsterdam. In addition to church services, the church also hosts many exhibitions and concerts.
Walk through Grootste Amsterdamse Mozaïek 'Oersoep'
In the covered Beurspassage, you can see the largest mosaic artwork in Amsterdam, called “the Oersoep”. It’s a nice short stop on the way to the next sight.
Paleis op de Dam
The next stop is the Paleis op de Dam. The Paleis op de Dam (Koninklijk Paleis) is the Royal Palace, located in Amsterdam’s city center on the edge of de Dam square.
See Begijnhof
The Begijnhof is one of the oldest yards (Hofjes) in Amsterdam. On it there is a group of historical buildings, mostly private residences. Today there are also two churches located here.
The Floating Flower Market
Bloemenmarkt is the only floating flower market in the world.
The market offers flower bulbs, tulip paraphernalia, souvenir and gift stores. And of course fresh flowers.
Stroll along the canals
Don’t forget to admire the canals (Grachten) in Amsterdam. These are probably one of the main attractions for people who want to visit Amsterdam.

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Afternoon
Lunch
Enjoy different lunch options in the popular Foodhallen or explore one of the restaurant options.
- Foodhallen
foodhallen.nl - The Pantry
thepantry.nl - Bosco
cafebosco.nl
Relax in the Vondelpark
If you want to take a little break in a relaxing green space, Vondelpark is the perfect option to do so.
Visit a Museum
Choose from one of Amsterdam’s many museums. From historic to modern to quirky, Amsterdam has a lot to offer.
- Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
rijksmuseum.nl - Van Gogh Museum
vangoghmuseum.nl - Moco Museum
mocomuseum.com - KattenKabinet (Cat Cabinet)
kattenkabinet.nl - Anne Frank House
annefrank.org
Walk through Jordaan
Jordaan is one of the most beautiful parts of Amsterdam.
Canals and colorful houses from the 17th century invite you to stroll.
Also very popular is the quarter de 9 Straatjes, filled with vintage and designer boutiques and charm.

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Evening
Option 1: Stay near the city center for dinner and drinks
Here are some recommendations where you can enjoy good food and a nice atmosphere:
- Bleu
restaurantbleu.amsterdam - Scheltema
caferestaurantscheltema.nl
For some dutch (craft) beer visit a pub or a brewery. Here are two options:
- Het Papeneiland
papeneiland.nl - Brouwerij ‘t IJ
brouwerijhetij.nl
Option 2: Follow your inner hipster to Amsterdam Noord
The NDSM area has great (free) art exhibits and amazing restaurants with an alternative hipster vibe. It was really difficult to narrow down my recommendations to these four:
- IJver Amsterdam
ijveramsterdam.nl - Pllek
http://pllek.nl - Noorderlicht Café
noorderlichtcafe.nl - Cannibale Royale du Nord
cannibaleroyale.nl
For extra thrills, you can also visit the A’dam Tower in Amsterdam Noord if you have some time left. You can go for the swing over the edge the panoramic restaurant and rooftop bar or just for the amazing view.

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