Amsterdam began as a humble fishing village on the Amstel and rose to world prominence during the Dutch Golden Age. Today the city is a living museum of gabled canal houses, 1,500 bridges, and 165 waterways—yet also a hub for design, cycling culture, and cutting-edge food.

Beyond the postcard canals are intimate neighborhoods: the artisan-filled Jordaan, bohemian De Pijp, creative Noord, and the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) for boutique browsing. From Rembrandt’s chiaroscuro to Van Gogh’s color storms, the city’s museums hold centuries of art that still feel fresh.

Practical notes: reserve major museums in advance and tap your contactless card on GVB trams, buses, and metro. “Café” means coffee; “coffeeshop” means cannabis. Dutch cuisine shines in seasonal produce, seafood, and comforting classics—don’t leave without bitterballen and a slice of appeltaart.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is compact, navigable, and endlessly photogenic. It’s a city where locals commute by bike past 17th-century facades, where warehouse districts reinvent as creative hubs, and where markets still anchor daily life.

• Top sights: Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, canal belt, Vondelpark, A’DAM Lookout, Jordaan, De Pijp, Nine Streets.
• Signature experiences: canal cruise at golden hour, apple pie at a brown café, a ride on the free IJ ferry to Noord, and a day among windmills and cheese farms.
• Good to know: bikes have right of way, many restaurants require bookings, and tap water is excellent.

Getting there & around

• Flights within Europe and trains: compare on Omio and Omio (trains). Paris–Amsterdam by high-speed train ~3h20 (€35–120), Brussels–Amsterdam ~1h50 (€25–70), London–Amsterdam ~4–4.5h (check current schedules; from ~£60).
• Intercontinental flights: compare on Trip.com (New York–Amsterdam ~7–8h nonstop, typical round-trip $450–900 depending on season).
• Airport to city: train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal in 14–18 minutes (~€6). Trams and metro use contactless tap-in/out; 1-day GVB passes are handy for visitors.

Where to stay (Amsterdam)

• Luxury classic on the canal: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam (heritage townhouses, tranquil inner garden, riverside dining).
• Boutique romance: Hotel Estherea (Baroque décor, chocolates and coffee in the lobby, on Singel canal).
• Reliable full-service near Vondelpark: Amsterdam Marriott Hotel (steps from Leidseplein, walkable to Museumplein).
• Design-forward and social: The Student Hotel Amsterdam City (stylish rooms, co-working, easy metro access).
• Budget with a view: ClinkNOORD Hostel (two minutes by free ferry from Centraal, creative communal spaces).
• Browse apartments and canal houses: VRBO Amsterdam or more hotels on Hotels.com Amsterdam.

Day 1: Arrival, Jordaan wander, and your first canal cruise

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Stretch your legs in the Jordaan, a former working-class quarter turned gallery-and-boutique warren. Stop for coffee at Back to Black (roastery vibes) or Espressofabriek Westerpark if you crave a park stroll.

Evening: Settle into Dutch comfort food at Moeders (framed mothers on the walls; order stamppot or draadjesvlees). Alternatively, Café Sonneveld does hearty classics near the canals. Cap the night with a glass at Café ’t Smalle (a quintessential brown café) before a scenic canal float.

Night: Drift along UNESCO-listed waterways on an elegant saloon boat—small group, stories, and Dutch bites. Book the Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese (about 1 hour).

Aim for sunset for golden reflections off the canal houses.

Day 2: Museumplein masterworks and Vondelpark

Morning: Fuel up at Scandinavian Embassy (precision coffee, cardamom buns) or The Breakfast Club at Wibautstraat. Then dive into color at the Van Gogh Museum—reserve ahead with the Van Gogh Museum Tour With Reserved Admission for richer context on his letters, self-portraits, and the Sunflowers.

Afternoon: Continue to the Rijksmuseum to meet Rembrandt’s Night Watch and Vermeer’s tranquil interiors. Lunch nearby at The Seafood Bar (sparkling-fresh platters, crisp fries) or grab a broodje haring (pickled herring) from a traditional stand for a true Dutch bite. Stroll or cycle through Vondelpark afterwards.

Evening: De Pijp awaits: browse Albert Cuyp’s late stalls if open, then dinner at De Kas (a greenhouse restaurant serving hyper-seasonal menus) or Rijsel (rotisserie chicken, modern Flemish notes). Nightcap at Hiding in Plain Sight (HPS) for elegant cocktails or Brouwerij ’t IJ for local ales beneath a windmill.

Day 3: Anne Frank’s Amsterdam, Nine Streets, and canal-life cafés

Morning: Breakfast at Pancakes Amsterdam (try a fluffy poffertjes sampler) or Bakers & Roasters (Kiwi/Brazilian brunch favorites). Join the Anne Frank's Story - Guided Walking Tour to walk from the Jewish Quarter to Westerkerk and learn wartime history through streets and memorials.

Afternoon: Browse De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) for vintage, design, and indie boutiques. Lunch at Broodje Bert (overstuffed sandwiches on Turkish bread) or pick up a warm slice of appeltaart with a dollop of slagroom at Winkel 43.

Evening: Dine canal-side at Jansz (modern Dutch-European in 17th-century merchant houses) or Moeders if you missed it. For dessert, queue at Van Stapele Koekmakerij for a still-warm chocolate cookie with white chocolate center. Late drink at Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, a temple to classic recipes.

Day 4: Creative Noord and De Hallen night

Morning: Hop the free ferry from behind Centraal to Amsterdam-Noord (every few minutes; 3–5 minutes). Coffee at Public Space (Nordic-style, minimalist) and ride the A’DAM Lookout swing if you’re game for sky-high views over the IJ.

Afternoon: Wander NDSM Wharf’s street art and repurposed shipyards; have a relaxed lunch at Pllek (beachy urban vibe, seasonal dishes) or Café De Ceuvel (sustainable set-up, house-smoked specialties). Ferry back and pause at Haarlemmerstraat for indie shops and cheese tasting.

Evening: Explore De Hallen, a restored tram depot with the Foodhallen. Snack-hopping is encouraged: order bitterballen at De BallenBar, then fish & chips at a seafood stall, and finish with a waffle. Catch an indie film at the on-site cinema or sip a Dutch gin (jenever) at a nearby bar.

Day 5: Windmills, cheese, and fishing villages (full-day tour)

Swap canals for green polders and wooden houses on a guided countryside escape: Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken (typically 6–8 hours; from ~€65–80 per adult).

Expect working windmills, a cheese farm tasting in Edam, Volendam’s harbors, and a stroll among wooden houses in Marken. Back in the city, celebrate with ribs at Café de Klos (casual, convivial) or seafood towers at The Seafood Bar.

Day 6: Markets, beers, and a glow of history after dark

Morning: Return to Albert Cuyp Market for on-the-go breakfast: try fresh stroopwafels from Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels and a paper cone of frites with satay sauce from Vleminckx Sausmeesters (nearby in the center if you’re roaming).

Afternoon: Beer fans can tour the Heineken Experience (interactive and lighthearted) or head to Brouwerij ’t IJ by the De Gooyer windmill for a tasting flight. Hungry? Grab a late lunch at Foodware (comforting prepared dishes) or Little Collins (Aussie-inspired small plates).

Evening: Explore the medieval core around Oude Kerk and the Red Light District respectfully—focus on architecture, hidden courtyards, and history. Dinner at Restaurant Greetje (thoughtful Dutch cuisine, Zeeland oysters, slow-cooked meats). Nightcap at Super Lyan (playful cocktails) near Centraal.

Day 7: Canal house life and last indulgences

Morning: Brunch at Dignita Hoftuin (set in a garden behind the Hermitage) or Bakers & Roasters if you’re craving pancakes again. Visit a canal house museum (like Museum Van Loon or Willet-Holthuysen) to peek behind those elegant facades, or wander the serene Hortus Botanicus.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping in the Nine Streets or at Haarlemmerdijk’s indie boutiques. Pick up picnic supplies at Marqt or a cheese shop for the plane. If time allows, stroll through Begijnhof for a quiet goodbye to the city. Depart for the airport; the train from Centraal gets you to Schiphol in under 20 minutes (~€6).

Evening: If you have a late flight, grab a final slice of appeltaart or a canal-side aperitif and watch bikes gliding past—the most Amsterdam farewell there is.

Optional swaps and add-ons

• Rijksmuseum deep dive: art lovers can replace an afternoon with a guided visit—browse options like small-group tours on another day.
• Game day out: football fans can tour the Johan Cruijff ArenA on a self-guided route with staff along the way.
• Giethoorn: if you want a longer countryside day with canals and thatched cottages, consider a guided Giethoorn extension on a different trip.

Suggested booking hubs

• In–Europe trains and flights: Omio Trains, Omio Flights; buses and ferries if needed: Omio Buses, Omio Ferries.
• Intercontinental flights: compare on Trip.com.
• Hotels and apartments: Hotels.com Amsterdam and VRBO Amsterdam.

In seven days, you’ll trace Amsterdam from Golden Age canals to modern creative spaces, taste through markets and brown cafés, and breathe the fresh polder air among windmills. This itinerary balances must-see art with local rituals—coffee, bikes, and waterside sunsets—so the city feels both iconic and personal.