Amsterdam, or sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. Is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Europe & must absolutely make the cut on your bucket list.
Boasting over 70 museums, picturesque canals, quaint cafes, nearby day trips & so much more. It can be difficult to put together the perfect itinerary without feeling as though you’re missing out on something. Lucky for you, we’ve done all the hard work for you. & in this guide, we are going to talk you through exactly how to spend 4 perfect days, in one of the most unique cities in the world.
During our stay in Amsterdam we had the pleasure of collaborating with the tourism board iamsterdam. Some activities & accommodation mentioned in this post were gifted to us. But the excitement & experience we had is all our own.
This blog contains affiliate links, by booking a stay or experience through our link we earn a small percentage, at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay?
There is a place for every budget in Amsterdam, which makes finding the ideal accommodation for you, fairly easy. If you are travelling during the summer months, we would advise that you book your accommodation well in advance. Not only to secure a better price but to also beat every one else to it!
When choosing a hotel or hostel it’s important to factor in location. For easy access to the city we would recommend that you choose to stay either within the city centre itself. Or Amsterdam Noord is another great option.
If you do stay in Amsterdam Noord, there is a FREE foot passenger ferry that shuttles people from Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Noord & vice versa. They leave regularly throughout the day, so you will never be waiting too long for one to arrive. The journey takes approx 2-5 minutes.
Below we will list the two places we stayed during our time in the city both of which were located in Amsterdam Noord. Just a stones throw away from the likes of Dam Square & the Damrak Canal. Both these options are more on the budget end of the spectrum.
Bunk – This hostel definitely feels more like a hotel, especially if you choose to stay in one of their ‘pod style’ private rooms. However, they do also offer pod dorm rooms if you are on a smaller budget. The hotel was once a church & you can still see remnants of that today in the architecture.
Inside it is equipped with a restaurant, bar & awesome co-working space for all you workaholics. We really loved the way that the rooms made the absolute most of the space, combining tiny living with good aesthetics. We particularly enjoyed the amazingly comfy beds with Netflix & mood lighting.
The drawbacks of this place are only minor, it is located a little further back from the water in Amsterdam Noord, about a 10 minute walk to the ferry. However, this didn’t bother us & wasn’t too much of a problem, but it could be an issue for others.
There is also no access to a guest kitchen, which is understandable as they do have an on-site restaurant. But if you like to travel on a budget like us, it can make stretching the budget a little harder when there is no where to prepare your own tasty meals. That’s okay though, there are plenty of amazing places to eat in Amsterdam too & a Dirk supermarket just down the road with an awesome bakery.
ClinkNoord – This is more like your traditional backpackers hostel. But they do still offer private rooms, which is what we ended up staying in. The location is again in Amsterdam Noord & it couldn’t be better located, sitting right on the water about a 2 minute walk to where the ferry leaves for Amsterdam Centraal.
The rooms are pretty basic, but do come with an en-suite & really it is all you need from a budget stay. Inside the hostel there is also access to a restaurant, bar, guest kitchen & common area. So it was a winner for us there as we could cook our own meals.
A lovely touch is that they also provide you with tokens on arrival for a free drink at the bar. & Harry definitely took advantage of the free mints at reception on more than one occasion.
How to get around the city?
The public transport system in Amsterdam is brilliant & the best way to utilise it whilst still saving yourself some money, is by purchasing an I Amsterdam City Card. They offer different options depending on your length of stay & whether you’ll just be travelling within the city or within the region too.
The great thing is though that with one of these cards you can hop on & off the ferries, trams, trains & buses as you please for the duration of your stay. They also give you free access to over 70 museums/attractions, as well as a free canal cruise & bike hire. We had the 72 hour I Amsterdam City Card & the Regional Travel Card, they really made our stay that little bit more enjoyable.
Day 1 – Arrival Day
We would advise that if you are flying into Amsterdam that you try your best to get an early morning flight. This way it still gives you time to make the most of your first day in the city & trust us you’ll want to head straight out to explore.
But because you may be a little tired from travelling, it’s best to save the heavy exploring for once you’ve had some rest. What we like to do when we arrive in a new city, is take a walk around. By getting our bearings it gives us the opportunity to start to feel comfortable & perhaps stumble across places we would like to visit whilst we are there.
So this is exactly what we would advise you to do. Spend the rest of your day getting lost in the many beautiful canals of Amsterdam. Perhaps stop in a café, or a coffee shop (if you are that way inclined you’ll know what we mean).
Some of our favourite streets are as follows: Lauriergracht, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Brouwersgracht, Damrak & Staalmeestersbrug. These are also great streets for photos & some of the best looking views in the city.
In the evening visit one of the many Dutch fries stands & grab yourself a cone of deliciously wholesome loaded fries. Before making your way back to your hotel for an early night, ready for the adventures of the next day.
Day 2
Time to grab breakfast. We can certainly recommend heading to the local supermarket bakery, they have the freshest pastries every day. Whilst you’re here why not get yourself some lunch too & snacks for throughout the day (we always eat out of supermarkets when we travel to keep the budget low).
Your second day in the city is a great opportunity to head a little further out of the city centre & explore a region close by. Famous for it’s traditional Dutch windmills. You can use your Regional Travel Card to jump on a train at Amsterdam Centraal, to Zaanse Schans.
Zaanse Schans is located around a 20 minute train ride north of Amsterdam & situated on the river Zaan. It is a residential area in which the 18th & 19th century Dutch way of life, has been brought to life. You can walk through the quaint village with it’s adorable wooden houses, taking in the beautiful scenery as you go.
The main attraction is of course the infamous windmills, that are great for some photos. But there are also a few museums here too, that you’ll get free entry too with an I Amsterdam City Card. As well as a bakery & cheese factory (with free tasters!) You could easily spend up to a whole day here.
On the way back to the city, as you get on the train you should make a stop at Zaandam. It’s here that you will be able to see the incredible ‘stacked house’. Which is actually the Hotel Inntel Zaandam.
The building features overlapping colourful wooden houses, designed by architect Wilfried van WindenIt. It’s a great photo opportunity & you’ll likely never see a building like this again. Just check it out below.
Time to head back to the city & you’ll likely be ready for something to eat & a rest. Good news is that you don’t need to walk far to find delicious food in Amsterdam.
As night falls, it’s the perfect opportunity to check out the Red Light District. This part of town is of course known for it’s erotically dressed sex workers, stood in red illuminated brothel windows, lively bars, sex shows/shops, risqué museums & haze filled coffee shops.
Now although the Red Light District may not appeal to everyone (it certainly wasn’t our scene). It is fascinating to witness a place like this, it’s hard to believe that it actually exists. We highly recommend that you take a stroll along the streets as they begin to come to life. It’s definitely a unique experience & kind of a must do in Amsterdam!
There are tours that operate out of the Red Light District, which you can find here. We didn’t jump on one of these, but we can imagine that they would be much more informative & perhaps offer a better insight into the goings on within this end of town.
Day 3
By now you’re getting to know the city a little better, but you may be getting tired of all the walking. so why not give your feet a break & hop on a scenic canal cruise through the city. We honestly believe that this is one of the BEST ways to experience Amsterdam & learn more about it’s history & canal system.
There are a few different operators that you will see all lined up around Damrak Canal. We took our cruise with Lovers Canal Cruises & they were excellent. Don’t forget that if you purchase an I Amsterdam City Card, this experience is included in the price.
On the canal cruise you’ll make your way through the beautiful canals of Amsterdam, with an audio guide. The guide will explain all about how Amsterdam came to be the city it is today, we found it really informative. It’s wonderful to get a different perspective on the city from the water, which is what makes Amsterdam so unique.
Whilst we’re in the mood for learning more about the city, why not jump on a walking tour? A budget friendly walking tour of the city, can be found here. We find that walking tours are an excellent way to learn more about the city you are in. They are often guided by a local & include many hidden gems & tips along the way.
Day 4
We mentioned before that Amsterdam has 70+ museums. So it would be rude not to visit at least one, maybe even a few, right?
We’ve all heard of the Anne Frank House, it is arguably the most well known museum in Amsterdam & for good reason. It’s a fascinating yet traumatic piece of history that should never be forgotten. If you have your heart set on visiting, then you absolutely must book at least a few months in advance.
We didn’t get the chance to visit due to our trip being rather last minute. But if you’re more organised than us, you’ll have a better chance of securing a ticket well in advance. You can book your tickets here at their website.
You really are spoilt for choice with museums. & again if you have the I Amsterdam City Card you will have entrance included for the majority of museums. So pick whichever you fancy, you’ll find museums on just about anything in Amsterdam.
We decided to visit the This is Holland museum as it was situated right next door to ClinkNoord, where we stayed. Without spoiling the experience too much, the museum is essentially a 5D flight simulation that flies you over the beautiful Netherlands. This turned out to be one of our favourite experiences in the city & it was such a laugh too.
If you are interested in visiting your entry is included in the I Amsterdam City Card & if you decide not to purchase one, you can book your ticket here instead.
Once you have spent your morning exploring the museums, a lovely neighbourhood to check out is Jordaan. Which is also home to the Anne Frank House, so rather convenient for those of you already in the area.
Originally built in the 17th century to house the many working class immigrants that decided to make home in Amsterdam. Today, it is more synonymous with being one of the most expensive & popular neighbourhoods of the city. A visit here will have you strolling it’s beautifully narrow streets, charming canals & historic buildings.
On a Saturday the neighbourhood also hosts the Noordermarkt. Which is heaven for those of you that enjoy a farmers market, with stalls selling delicious organic produce, such as: honey, cheese & homemade cakes.
If you’re more of a trinkets lover, then head to the same market on a Monday morning & you’ll find a flea market. Where antiques, books & vintage fashion are all sold. It’ll likely be much quieter than on the weekend too.
There you have it! A perfect 4 day guide to Amsterdam, we think that four days is definitely the optimum amount of time to allow you to soak the city in & still not feel too rushed.
We really fell in love with Amsterdam & all it’s charm. It feels like a safe & welcoming place to travel to, which always leaves you with a warm smile. We hope that this guide helps you plan your own epic adventure in Amsterdam & the region.
As always if you have any questions you can leave them below, or shoot us a message over on Instagram. Stay tuned on the blog as we have just returned from a 6 week interrailing trip around Europe. & have plenty of guides, tips & inspiration to share over the coming months.
Happy Exploring 🙂
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