In this ultimate guide for one day in Amsterdam, you will find all the information you need for a wonderful day in the capital of the Netherlands. The city convinces with its countless old timbered houses and the many canals that run through the city.

Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village around the thirteenth century. It developed around a dam of the river Amstel at the end of the twelfth century. An interesting aspect of Amsterdam is that although the city is below sea level, it is above water thanks to its famous canal system and supporting wooden piles.

Unfortunately, the marshes below are a poor foundation and have led to several cracks in staircases and leaning buildings over the years.

Morning – Starting with the Anne-Frank Haus and a Canal Cruise

Anne-Frank-Haus

Tickets:

Admission for adults: 14€

Children between 10 and 17 years: 7€

Children between 0 and 9 years: 1€

On the 1st Tuesday of the month, all tickets for the following month are posted online and sold (starting around 9am). Unfortunately, the tickets are often sold out within a few hours. You can only buy the tickets directly on the website of the Anne Frank House, and there will be no on-site sales.

Opening hours:

09:00 am – 10:00 pm

Address: Prinsengracht 263-267, 1016 GV Amsterdam

The house on Prinsengracht where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis and wrote her famous diary is one of the most interesting sights in Amsterdam. The museum is a real magnet for visitors. Every year up to 1.3 million people make a pilgrimage to the beautiful Anne Frank House in the canal district of Amsterdam.

Much of the furniture in the house was destroyed or stolen at the time. However, some of the furnishings could be reconstructed, and many personal items of the hiders are on display. Videos with impressive stories from contemporary witnesses round off the exhibition.

Canal Cruise

For everyone who visits Amsterdam for the first time, at least the 1-hour day cruise is a must. Here you have the best opportunity to get to know the “Venice of the North” and its sights. Relax on a canal cruise through Amsterdam’s Golden Age canals, a UNESCO heritage site.

Discover the city’s highlights, such as the Skinny Bridge, the Red Light District, and the Old Port. You can choose a standard tour or a tour with unlimited delicious Dutch cheese, wine, and other beverages.

Meet your boat tour crew at the dock directly across from the Anne Frank House. Look for the Flagship Amsterdam boat with orange and gray upholstery on deck. I promise you will have a great time.

Noon – Lunch and Van Gogh

Jordaan and lunch

We continue to the trendy Jordaan neighborhood. It is located west of the Prinsengracht. In addition to trendy stores, galleries, and antique stores, there are also numerous cozy cafes and restaurants.

From bitterballen to matjes rolls. You can get it all in the eateries here. Jordaan was once a purely working-class neighborhood – today, it has become a popular residential and artists’ quarter. Young families especially like to settle here.

Of course, you will also find beautiful canal houses and fancy houseboats here. It makes you want to rent a houseboat right away. And a look at the leafy courtyards is always worthwhile. Everything seems to be a bit quieter than in other Amsterdam districts. Jordaan is one of the most charming neighborhoods in the city.

Van Gogh Museum

Tickets:

Admission adults: 19€

Admission youth up to 18 years: Free

Student entrance: 10€

Opening hours: Daily 09:00 am to 06:00 pm

Address: Museumplein 6, 1071DJ Amsterdam

When visiting Amsterdam, a visit to the famous van Gogh Museum is not to be missed! No other museum in the world exhibits as many works by Vincent van Gogh as the museum in the Dutch capital. Here you can admire 500 drawings and more than 200 paintings of the famous Dutch painter.

The absolute masterpieces of the Van Gogh Museum are Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits, The Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, and Vincent’s Bedroom. In addition to the work of Vincent van Gogh, the museum also has a collection on the history of van Gogh and the creation of other artists with whom he was friends or whom he influenced.

The museum is one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam and is visited daily by thousands of tourists. Annually there are about 1.6 million! This makes it one of the 25 most popular museums in the world.

Bloemenmarkt

Tickets: Free

Opening hours: 09:00 am – 05:30 pm

Address: Singel, 1012 DH Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s flower market is a famous sight on the Singel-Gracht, right in the heart of the canal belt, which is even on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This market has existed since 1862 when flower growers brought their goods to the city by boat across the Amstel River.

Come rain or shine, tourists and locals alike can revel in the gorgeous colors and scents of fresh flowers every Monday through Saturday on this stretch of the Singel-Gracht in the city center. Pick up tulip bulbs for your garden or plants for your home, or browse through the colorful selection of typical Dutch souvenirs.

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Evening – Exploring De wallen

De Wallen – Red Light District

From brothels to sex stores to museums, Amsterdam’s red light district has a lot to offer. The Rossebuurt, as the locals call it, is guaranteed to be unlike any other place! The red-lined shop windows in which the women are advertised are well known here. Many of the women offer not only a peep show but also classic sex work.

In addition, the red light district is also one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the city. Especially striking are the long, winding, very narrow streets with their small old cobblestones.

The buildings impress with their eye-catching 14th-century architecture, such as the Gothic Oude Kerk (old church). Without any doubt, the red light district in Amsterdam exudes an incredible amount of charm, and you should come to admire these old buildings and the many nooks and side streets when visiting the city.

Here, everyone is simply accepted as they are. You can find gay and lesbian bars every few meters along the streets, but you can also enjoy small art studios or small alternative restaurants. A quick visit to a free exhibition and a chance to get to know a new artist in a café – where else is that possible?

Especially at dusk, when the lantern lighting is switched on, De Wallen exudes an extraordinary charm.

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