48 hours in Amsterdam: the perfect weekend itinerary
Two days, one canal boat, the Rijksmuseum and an obligatory stroopwafel. Here's exactly how to do it.
5 min read
Amsterdam is a city that rewards walking and punishes rushing. A 48-hour visit is enough to get the shape of it, if you resist the temptation to see everything and instead do a handful of things well.
Day one: Museums and canals. Start at the Rijksmuseum when it opens at 9am — the Vermeer rooms are worth the trip alone and the crowds are manageable before 11. Walk north through the Jordaan, Amsterdam's most beautiful neighbourhood, stopping for coffee at one of the bruine kroegen (brown cafés) that line Prinsengracht. Spend the afternoon on a canal boat; the 75-minute circuit gives the city a completely different dimension. In the evening, eat in De Pijp — specifically along Ferdinand Bolstraat or in the streets around the Albert Cuyp market, where the restaurant density is high and the tourist overlay low.
Day two: Markets and the east. The Albert Cuyp Market on Saturday morning is the best market in the Netherlands and one of the best in Europe — take cash and arrive hungry. From there, walk or cycle east to the NDSM wharf, a former shipyard that has become Amsterdam's creative district, with studios, galleries and a very good outdoor bar. Return in the evening through the Plantage neighbourhood, past Artis Zoo and along the Entrepotdok, one of the prettiest canal-side streets in the city.
What to skip. The Anne Frank House is historically important and emotionally necessary for many visitors, but the queues are now very long and advance booking is essential. The Red Light District is less interesting than its reputation suggests and overwhelmingly tourist-facing. Both are worth knowing about; neither is essential for a good 48 hours.
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