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Amsterdam
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7 Days · in Amsterdam

Seven Days in Amsterdam: The Complete City Itinerary

A full week lets you experience Amsterdam the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower neighbourhood days. The first five days cover the historic canal belt, the Museum Quarter, the leafy Jordaan, the Jewish Cultural Quarter and Plantage, and the creative waterfront of Amsterdam-Noord. Days six and seven then reach the buzzing street market of De Pijp, the science and maritime history of the Eastern Docklands, and green spaces along the Amstel. You'll eat across the city's signature traditions, stroopwafels, herring, bitterballen, and Indonesian rijsttafel, and see its art, architecture, and canals. Each day stays geographically tight, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.

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Day 01

The Canal Belt, Dam & Old Centre

Historic squares, hidden courtyards, a canal cruise, and the Nine Streets.

  1. Morning

    Dam Square & Royal Palace

    Start at Dam Square with the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk before crowds gather, the perfect orientation to central Amsterdam.

  2. Late Morning

    Begijnhof

    Slip into the tranquil Begijnhof courtyard with its medieval houses and the city's oldest surviving wooden house.

  3. Lunch

    Canal-side lunch

    Lunch beside a canal near the Nine Streets, with bridges and houseboats moments from the afternoon cruise dock.

  4. Afternoon

    Canal Cruise

    Take a cruise through the UNESCO-listed Grachtengordel for the city's best introduction, narrated by the skipper.

  5. Late Afternoon

    The Nine Streets

    Browse boutiques, vintage shops, and cafes across De Negen Straatjes, the lanes linking the main canals.

  6. Evening

    Pancake dinner

    Close with a classic Dutch pannenkoek dinner and toast your first day in the city.

Day 02

Museum Quarter & Vondelpark

The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and the city's favourite park.

  1. Morning

    Rijksmuseum

    Meet Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid; arrive early to beat the groups.

  2. Late Morning

    Van Gogh Museum

    Nearby, see the Sunflowers and the world's largest Van Gogh collection; a timed ticket minimizes the wait.

  3. Lunch

    Museumplein lawns

    Picnic or grab a casual lunch on the greens behind the Rijksmuseum, ringed by the major museums.

  4. Afternoon

    Stedelijk Museum

    Walk to the Stedelijk for modern and contemporary art, from Mondrian and Malevich to Warhol.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Vondelpark

    Stroll the city's most beloved park, with ponds, cyclists, terraces, and an open-air theatre in summer.

  6. Evening

    Museum Quarter dinner

    Dine near the Museumplein or along Cornelis Schuytstraat, from bistros to modern Dutch tables.

Day 03

The Jordaan & Anne Frank House

Canals, courtyards, markets, and acclaimed neighbourhood dining.

  1. Morning

    Anne Frank House

    Tour the hidden annexe where Anne Frank wrote her diary; book timed tickets well ahead.

  2. Late Morning

    Westerkerk & Homomonument

    Admire the Westerkerk with its landmark tower and visit the nearby Homomonument on the Westermarkt.

  3. Lunch

    Noordermarkt

    Grab lunch around the Noordermarkt, lively with its Saturday farmers market and Monday flea market.

  4. Afternoon

    Jordaan browsing

    Wander the Jordaan's narrow lanes, hidden hofjes, and independent galleries at an unhurried pace.

  5. Evening

    Jordaan dinner

    Dine along the Jordaan's canals among some of the city's best neighbourhood restaurants.

  6. Evening

    Brown cafe nightcap

    End with a drink at a traditional bruin cafe and the area's cosy, timeless atmosphere.

Day 04

The Jewish Quarter & Plantage

Moving history museums, a botanical garden, and a historic zoo.

  1. Morning

    Jewish Historical Museum

    Explore the Jewish Historical Museum and the National Holocaust Museum in the historic Jewish Cultural Quarter.

  2. Lunch

    Plantage cafes

    Lunch in the leafy Plantage among relaxed cafes and terraces along Plantage Middenlaan.

  3. Afternoon

    Hortus Botanicus

    Wander one of the world's oldest botanical gardens, with its monumental palm house and butterfly greenhouse.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Artis Royal Zoo

    Tour Artis, the country's oldest zoo, with its aquarium, planetarium, and nineteenth-century park.

  5. Evening

    Brouwerij 't IJ

    Enjoy a craft beer beneath the De Gooyer windmill, the city's tallest, at this beloved brewery tap.

  6. Evening

    Jewish Quarter dinner

    Dine near Waterlooplein and the Rembrandt House before heading back into the centre.

Day 05

Amsterdam-Noord & the IJ Waterfront

A free ferry, film and skyline views, and creative dockland culture.

  1. Morning

    Free IJ ferry

    Hop the free ferry behind Centraal Station across the IJ to the reinvented Amsterdam-Noord.

  2. Late Morning

    EYE Filmmuseum

    Visit the striking EYE Filmmuseum for its exhibitions, screenings, and waterfront views back to the centre.

  3. Lunch

    Noord waterfront lunch

    Lunch along the IJ with ferries and ships passing by, moments from the observation tower.

  4. Afternoon

    A'DAM Lookout

    Ride to the A'DAM Lookout deck and step onto Over the Edge, a swing offering the city's finest panorama.

  5. Late Afternoon

    NDSM Wharf

    Take the ferry to the NDSM shipyard, a former wharf now covered in street art and artist studios.

  6. Evening

    Noord waterfront dinner

    Dine at a repurposed-warehouse restaurant such as Pllek on the industrial NDSM waterfront.

Day 06

De Pijp & the Street Market

A famous daily market, a brewery experience, and diverse dining.

  1. Morning

    Albert Cuyp Market

    Start in De Pijp at the Albert Cuyp Market, the largest daily street market in the country.

  2. Late Morning

    De Pijp streets

    Walk the neighbourhood's lively squares like Gerard Douplein, a vivid mix of cafes, shops, and terraces.

  3. Lunch

    Stroopwafel & street food

    Try a fresh stroopwafel, raw herring, or Surinamese roti from the market stalls and casual spots.

  4. Afternoon

    Heineken Experience

    Tour the former Heineken brewery for its interactive history, brewing halls, and rooftop tasting.

  5. Evening

    Sarphatipark stroll

    Relax in leafy Sarphatipark, the neighbourhood's tranquil green heart, before dinner.

  6. Evening

    De Pijp dinner

    Book dinner in De Pijp, home to some of Amsterdam's most exciting and internationally diverse restaurants.

Day 07

Eastern Docklands & Farewell

Science and maritime history, plus flexible time for favourites.

  1. Morning

    NEMO Science Museum

    Explore the hands-on NEMO Science Museum and its stepped rooftop terrace overlooking the harbour.

  2. Late Morning

    National Maritime Museum

    Visit Het Scheepvaartmuseum and board the full-scale replica of the VOC ship Amsterdam.

  3. Lunch

    Indonesian rijsttafel

    Feast on a traditional Indonesian rijsttafel, a spread of small dishes rooted in the Dutch East Indies.

  4. Afternoon

    OBA Central Library

    Return to the striking OBA Central Library at the Oosterdok for its top-floor cafe and sweeping city views.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Amstel river stroll

    Walk along the Amstel past the Magere Brug, the beloved wooden Skinny Bridge, for a final canal view.

  6. Evening

    Farewell dinner

    End the week with a favourite Amsterdam meal, bitterballen, fresh herring, or Dutch cheese, before departing.