Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful capital cities as it really doesn’t feel like the busiest city in the world. There are world-class museums, canals everywhere, famous neighbourhoods, markets, windmills nearby and a lot of very expensive tourist traps if you are not careful.
I have made this Amsterdam 3 day itinerary which is perfect for a first-time visit where you want to see the main sights without rushing from one paid attraction to another all day. You will cover the historic centre, Jordaan, the canal belt, Museumplein, De Pijp, Amsterdam Noord and a half-day trip to Zaanse Schans.
I did this itinerary before I hopped on a cruise to Norway, so it was a perfect inclusion before going and exploring the Norwegian fjords. If by chance you are also catching a cruise from Amsterdam or nearby Rotterdam I definitely recommend you spending a couple of days here in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam 3 Day Itinerary – Day 1
This will obviously depend on when you get into Amsterdam but if you have a full day this should focus on the neighbourhoods to get a feel of Amsterdam. If you will only have half a day, then I will skip the Anne Frank House and the canal cruise to the second day, where you will pick and choose the museums you go to.
1) Dam Square and the Royal Palace
Time needed: 30 minutes
Cost: Free outside / around €12.50 if visiting the Royal Palace
You should start your first day at Dam Square. It is one of the busiest and most central points in Amsterdam, and it is a great place to get your bearings and get familiar with the city. Around the square you have the Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, the National Monument and lots of shops leading off into the surrounding streets.
If you are travelling on a budget, you can just admire the Royal Palace from the outside and move on. The outside is impressive enough just to admire from the outside. If you enjoy royal interiors and historic buildings, then going inside can be worth it, but I would not put it above the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House which I mention in the second day in this itinerary.
2) The Nine Streets
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free, unless shopping or stopping for coffee
From Dam Square, walk towards the Nine Streets area. This is one of the prettiest parts of central Amsterdam and they are very famous. I just wandered around and got lost walking over the bridges and admiring this part of Amsterdam, where walking aimlessly and getting lost is part of the experience. I feel like this is the most Amsterdam thing you can do and its free.
3) Stroll the Jordaan Neighbourhood
Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours
Cost: Free
After the Nine Streets, continue into Jordaan. It is basically a continuation of the canals but it is more relaxed than the main tourist streets. Jordaan has narrow canals, small bridges, local cafes, galleries and quiet residential corners. It is also one of the best areas to simply walk with no strict plan.
If you are visiting on a Saturday, you can also check out the Noordermarkt area. There are market stalls, food options and a nice local feel. Even if you are not there on market day, the streets around this area are still worth walking.
This is also a good area to have lunch. You can keep it cheap with fries, a sandwich or a supermarket snack, or sit down somewhere if you want a proper meal.
4) Anne Frank House
Time needed: Around 1.5 hours
Cost: €16.50 adults
The Anne Frank House is one of the most important places to visit in Amsterdam, but it is also one of the hardest tickets to get. You cannot just turn up and buy a ticket at the door. Tickets are sold online for specific time slots, and they can sell out quickly.
If you want to visit, book this before your trip. Tickets are usually released every Tuesday at 10:00 CEST for visits six weeks later, so this is not something I would leave until the last minute. Check the Anne Frank website to monitor these tickets
The museum itself takes around 1 hour. It is not a light attraction, and I would not treat it like just another stop on a checklist. It is a heavy but very worthwhile experience, and it gives context to a part of Amsterdam’s history that still matters today.
The best way to fit it into this itinerary is to book a late afternoon slot after walking around Jordaan, since the Anne Frank House is right nearby. If you only find a morning or evening ticket, then adjust the order of Day 1 around it.
5) Canal Cruise
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Usually around €15–€25 depending on company and boat type
A canal cruise is the most touristy thing you can do, but honestly it is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam. The city looks different from the water, and after walking around all day it is also a nice way to rest without wasting time.
There are cheaper standard covered boats, smaller open boats, evening cruises and more premium cruises with drinks. For a first visit, a basic 1-hour canal cruise is enough.
I would try to book a cruise around sunset if the timing works. It gives you daylight, golden-hour views and then the city slowly lighting up. If you are visiting in winter, an evening cruise can also be nice because the bridges and canal houses look great at night.
6) Red Light District and Oude Kerk
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Cost: Free to walk / Oude Kerk around €14.50 if visiting inside
After your canal cruise, you can walk through the Red Light District area. This part of Amsterdam is famous for obvious reasons, but it is also one of the oldest parts of the city. The streets are narrow, busy and a little chaotic, especially at night.
The main thing I would say is be respectful. Do not take photos of workers in the windows, do not act like an idiot, and keep your belongings secure because it gets crowded.
Oude Kerk sits right in the middle of the area and is Amsterdam’s oldest building. If you are interested in churches, architecture or contemporary exhibitions, you can go inside, but if you are trying to keep costs low, seeing it from outside is fine.
For dinner, either eat around Nieuwmarkt, Jordaan or somewhere slightly away from the most touristy streets. The most central restaurants near Damrak and the Red Light District are not always the best value.
Day 2 – More Things to do in Amsterdam
Day 2 is museum day, but I would not recommend cramming every museum in Amsterdam into one day. The mistake many people make is trying to do Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Moco Museum and Heineken Experience all in a row. You can technically do it, but you will probably enjoy none of them properly.
Instead, choose one or two major museums as your main paid attraction, then add De Pijp, Albert Cuyp Market, Vondelpark and maybe one optional extra depending on your time.
7) Museumplein
Time needed: 30 minutes
Cost: Free
Start your second day at the Museumplein. This is the big square where there is the most famous museums all around this square. It is a nice place to hang out if not visiting museums. Museumplein is the large open square between the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum and Moco Museum. Even if you do not go into all the museums, it is worth walking around.
It is a good place to sit down for a bit, take photos and reset after being indoors. There are often people relaxing on the grass when the weather is good, and it gives you a bit of space after the busy canal streets.
8) Rijksmuseum
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
Cost: €25 adults
Rijksmuseum is the biggest and most famous museum in Amsterdam, and it is the one to choose if you want Dutch masters, historic art and a proper museum experience. You can easily spend half a day here, but for a 3 day Amsterdam itinerary, I would aim for around 2 to 3 hours. That gives you enough time to see the highlights without completely draining your day. You can buy tickets on the Rijksmuseum website
9) Van Gogh Museum
Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
Cost: €25 adults
The Van Gogh Museum is another major Amsterdam museum and one of the most popular museums in the city. If you love Van Gogh or want a more focused museum than the Rijksmuseum, this might be the better choice for you.
Personally, I would not recommend doing both the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum back-to-back unless you really enjoy museums. It is expensive and tiring. The Van Gogh Museum also requires online booking with a time slot, so plan ahead. Tickets can sell out, especially during weekends and peak travel months.
10) Vondelpark
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Cost: Free
From Museumplein, walk to Vondelpark. This is Amsterdam’s most famous park and a good way to break up the day without spending money.
Vondelpark is a nice place to wind down and wander around the park. You can walk, sit by the grass, people-watch or grab a snack. If you are visiting in good weather, it is a great place to rest before continuing towards De Pijp.
This is also where Amsterdam feels more local. You will see people cycling, jogging, walking dogs and hanging out with friends. There are also many more parks nearby in Amsterdam but I enjoyed Vondelpark the most.
11) Albert Cuyp Market
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free to walk / snacks usually around €3–€10
After Vondelpark, head towards De Pijp and Albert Cuyp Market. This is one of the best places in Amsterdam for a cheaper food stop because you can snack instead of sitting down for an expensive lunch.
You can find stroopwafels, fries, herring, sandwiches, sweets and plenty of casual food. Prices vary depending on what you get, but this is usually much better value than eating in the most touristy streets.
Albert Cuyp Market is also a good place to walk even if you are not hungry. It is busy, lively and gives you a different feel from the canal belt and museum area. For a first-time visitor, I think De Pijp is worth including because it shows you another side of Amsterdam. It is still popular, but it feels more like a neighbourhood than a sightseeing zone.
12) Heineken Experience
Time needed: 1.5 hours
Cost: €24.95 adults
The Heineken experience is not for everyone and in my opinion slightly expensive. If you like beer, branded experiences and interactive attractions, you will probably enjoy it. The ticket includes the self-guided experience and drinks, and it is one of the most popular paid activities in Amsterdam.
If you are not that bothered about beer, skip it. Amsterdam has too many good things to do to spend €25 just because everyone else goes. You can use that money for a canal cruise, museum ticket or even your Zaanse Schans day trip instead.
Please note that this is strictly 18+, so it is not an option for families with children.
Day 3
On the third day, spend a half-day trip to Zaanse Schans, then an afternoon and evening in Amsterdam Noord. It is the must attraction to visit the famous Dutch windmills and is easily doable in half a day, while giving you time to visit the Amsterdam Noord area in the evening.
14) Half-Day Trip to Zaanse Schans
Time needed: Around 4 to 5 hours including transport
Cost: Free to walk around / train around €8.40 return / Ticket Zaanse Schans €29.50 optional
Start early and take the train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans. The train takes around 17 minutes, and from the station it is around a 15-minute walk to the windmill area.
This is one of the easiest day trips from Amsterdam by public transport. You do not need a tour unless you really want one. The train is simple, cheap and gives you flexibility.
Zaanse Schans itself is free to walk around, which is why it works so well for budget travellers. You can see the windmills, wooden houses, small bridges and water views without buying the full ticket.
However, if you want to go inside museums and windmills, then the Ticket Zaanse Schans costs €29.50 for adults. This includes access to the Zaans Museum, several heritage locations and two mills of your choice, depending on what is open that day.
For a full detailed guide read my How to Visit Zaanse Schans – Day Trip to Amsterdam Windmills Guide.
15) Walk Along the Windmills
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free
The main reason to visit Zaanse Schans is to see the windmills, and honestly the best part is just walking along the water and taking in the views.
You will see the classic green wooden windmills lined up along the river, with small houses and workshops around them. It is very photogenic and very Dutch in the way most people imagine before visiting the Netherlands.
Try to arrive in the morning if possible. Zaanse Schans gets busy with tour groups, and the experience is much better before the main wave of visitors arrives.
16) Return to Amsterdam and Take the Free Ferry to Noord
Time needed: 15 minutes ferry time, more with walking
Cost: Free
After Zaanse Schans, take the train back to Amsterdam Centraal. Instead of heading straight back into the old centre, exit towards the IJ river side of the station and take the free ferry to Amsterdam Noord.
The ferry itself is a small experience and completely free. It only takes a few minutes, but it gives you a different view of Amsterdam and takes you to one of the more modern, creative parts of the city.
17) A’DAM Lookout
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: €16.50 online adult ticket / swing add-on around €7.50
A’DAM Lookout is one of the best viewpoints in Amsterdam. You get panoramic views over the city, the river, Centraal Station and the canals in the distance.
The basic ticket is not cheap, but if you like viewpoints, it is worth considering. The famous swing over the edge costs extra, so do not assume it is included in the normal entrance ticket.
18) NDSM Wharf
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
Cost: Free
If you still have time and energy, continue to NDSM Wharf. This is a creative, industrial area in Amsterdam Noord with street art, old shipyard buildings, cafes and a very different atmosphere from the historic centre.
It is not the prettiest part of Amsterdam in the classic postcard sense, but that is why it’s interesting. This area offers something different rather than the picturesque canals. This is also a good area for a relaxed drink or casual dinner before heading back.
19) Optional Day Trip: Giethoorn
Time needed: Full day
Cost: Public transport can be around €50–€60 return; boat rental/cruise extra
Giethoorn is another popular day trip from Amsterdam, but I would not include it inside a normal 3 day Amsterdam itinerary unless you are willing to sacrifice a full day.
It is beautiful, with canals, thatched houses and small boats, but it takes much longer to reach than Zaanse Schans. By car it usually takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, while public transport can take around 2 to 2.5 hours each way.
I will recommend reading my complete post on how to visit Geithoorn from Amsterdam to find out how to get there and how much does it cost you.
Any other tips
Book the main attractions early
The biggest planning mistake in Amsterdam is leaving tickets too late. Anne Frank House is the main one because tickets are limited and sold online only. Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum should also be booked ahead, especially if visiting on weekends or during busy months.
Do not build your itinerary assuming you can just walk up and enter everything. Amsterdam is popular, and the top attractions run on timed slots.
Do not overpay for transport if you mostly walk
Amsterdam is very walkable, especially if you stay somewhere central. For this itinerary, you will walk a lot, use the train to Zaanse Schans and maybe take a tram here and there.
GVB public transport inside Amsterdam has daily caps when using OVpay, and day tickets can be useful if you plan to use trams and metros a lot. But if you are mostly walking, do not buy passes just because they sound convenient.
The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket can make sense if you are doing regional trips like Zaanse Schans and using public transport around the city on the same day. But if you are only doing a simple return train to Zaanse Schans, normal train tickets are usually cheaper.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
Accommodation in Amsterdam is expensive, but location matters. If you only have three days, staying too far out can waste time and money on transport.
You do not need to stay directly on Dam Square, but being within easy reach of Centraal, Jordaan, De Pijp or a good tram/metro line makes the trip much easier.
I will recommend staying near the Sloterdijk train station. It will offer you easy access to Zaanse Schans as a direct train journey and also, only a cheap train ride away to Amsterdam Central Station. It is also certainly a cheaper area than staying in actual central Amsterdam.
Watch out for bikes
Amsterdam bikes are not a joke. The cycling lanes are busy, and locals move fast. Do not stand in bike lanes, do not walk into them without looking, and do not assume cyclists will slowly stop for you like tourists on rental bikes.
If you rent a bike, only do it if you are confident. Cycling in Amsterdam can be fun, but the centre can feel intense if you are not used to it. For many first-time visitors, walking and trams are less stressful.
Conclusion
I think that I covered all the main points and things to do in Amsterdam in 3 days. This Amsterdam 3 day itinerary will take you to the city highlights, museums and day trips. You can also extend this itnerary by a day by visiting Giethoorn. You can also spend an extra day if you are planning to tour the museums thoroughly.
All in all. three days is enough to see the main highlights of Amsterdam. Remember to book the big-ticket attractions early, do not overload each day and leave time to just walk around the canals. Amsterdam can be expensive, but it does not need to destroy your budget. Most of the attractions are free, and by choosing your paid attractions as highlighted above then you should be spending 3 days in Amsterdam on a budget!
