One of the first solo trips I ever took, was to Amsterdam. I had heard many interesting things about this place, so I wanted to explore it with my own eyes. I visited Amsterdam in the month of June, during the onset of summer, and therefore got to experience some amazing weather. You will find the details of my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary in this post.
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. Also, it hosts some of the most interesting museums in the world. In addition, it has one of the most efficient canal systems in the world. For instance, you could hardly see any cars or buses in the city. Instead, there is a riot of bicycles on the streets and innumerable boats in the canals. Amsterdam is known for its Art, Culture, laid-back scenes, fun Bars, and the famous ‘Coffee Shops’.
Best time to visit Amsterdam
Amsterdam is busy and popular throughout the year. However, the most popular months are July and August, during peak summer. But the best time to visit Amsterdam would be the shoulder months, that is from May, June or September because the weather is particularly pleasant. As a result, there are lots of activities to do.
Getting to Amsterdam
There are 3 ways to reach the city center from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. Of course, a Cab will be the fastest option but could cost you around 50 Euros.
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My 3 DayAmsterdam Itinerary
I found the Hotels and Airbnbs way above my budget during my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary. Also, I was not comfortable living in a hostel, so I booked an Airbnb at a tiny village called Amersfoort, which was about 40 minutes away from Amsterdam Central. Surprisingly, this was a decision that I still cherish because I had the most precious moments in this cute village.
I reached late in the evening, so after having some takeaway dinner, I went straight to bed to start fresh the next day.
Day 1 - Museum Walk
Anne Frank Museum
The first place I wanted to visit was the Anne Frank Museum because I was inspired by Anne Frank’s Diaries since my childhood days. So, I had already booked a slot at 11 am in the morning. This is an extraordinary piece of history that is very well preserved. I could almost feel Anne Frank in the letters and walls of this house. In conclusion, it was a very emotional journey that I will never forget.
Tip: I bought the IAMSTERDAM pass for my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary which included entries to most of the museums, a canal ride, and free public transport. However, I never used public transport because the whole city is very walkable. But the other attractions were worth it.
Photography is not allowed inside the museum to preserve the original contents of the house so I just took a couple of photos from outside.
Tip: Book your tickets in advance for the Anne Frank Museum since it is an old wooden house with limited capacity. The queue for buying tickets on the spot could be extremely long so it might take you hours before entering. Please note, Anne Frank Museum is not included in the IAMSTERDAM pass.
Buy your tickets here.
After a long and emotional visit, it was time to have some lunch. So I grabbed some lunch from one of the many restaurants by the canals.
Van Gogh Museum
After that, it was time to visit my second stop for the day which was the Van Gogh Museum. It is right in the center of the city. It was a very interesting and inspiring Museum. For instance, I liked the way there was a telephone attached to all the paintings. So, when you picked it up someone will tell you the story behind that painting.
In addition, there was also an installation of “Sunflowers” by Vincent Van Gogh at the exit of the museum where you could experience the real feeling of the painting with all of your five senses.
Fun Fact: “Sunflowers”, by Van Gogh was one of the very first paintings I ever attempted to paint during my Design course. Of course, I made a mess out of it. Although, it seemed like an easy painting, it was not. For instance, the techniques used are very meticulous which makes it look so unique. You must check out this painting at the Van Gogh Museum.
You could get the tickets here to avoid the queues. Please note, it is included in the IAMSTERDAM pass.
Museum Square
After the long and tiring Museum walks, I decided to take some time and relax. Thereafter, I picked up some snacks and sat at the Museum Square in the center of town. This is my favourite place in Amsterdam. Eventually, the IAMSTERDAM sign used to be here. However, was removed some time ago.
There are also some fountains where you can just dip your legs and chill, no one will bother you. Most importantly, Artists, Musicians, Jugglers are all over the place showing their talent. Also, there were kids playing while their parents were having a pleasant chat with their coffees. To sum up, this was a very happy place for me. In fact, I came back here everyday during my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary.
To end the day, I picked up some dinner and went back to my Airbnb.
Day 2 - Rijksmuseum and Red Light District
Rijksmuseum
The second day started with the last and largest Museum of Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum. This Museum hosts rare and exotic pieces of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to Modern times. For example, it houses works by some of the most famous painters in the world including “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt van Rijn, “The Milkmaid” by Johannes Vermeer, and “Self Portrait” by Vincent Van Gogh.
However, the most interesting part about this museum was that it was so interactive. For example, there were moving installations, dollhouses, beautiful mirrors, and a fantastic library inside the museum. It took about 4 hours to go around the museum and I still missed a lot of things.
That ended the Museum part of my Amsterdam trip followed by the fun part. Next, I took a long walk across the town to encounter some of the prettiest walks I ever took.
Red Light District
After that, I visited the Red-Light district and got myself some Shawarma Wrap. This was a mouth-watering Shawarma that I will never forget. However, it is a pity I cannot remember the name of the restaurant.
Exploring the Red-Light district was a very interesting venture for me. However, I do not want to go into details. Instead, let’s just say it was one of the most fun and memorable walks of my travel life.
This was followed by a trip to a Coffee Shop. Similarly, I do not want to go into the details of this experience too. However, all I can say is that it was interesting and fun. After an eventful evening, I got back to my Airbnb.
Day 3 - Exploring Amersfoort, Canal ride in Amsterdam
Amersfoort
I woke up a bit early on the last day of my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary because I wanted to explore Amersfoort a little.
As a matter of fact, I could write a whole post about living in Amersfoort. My Airbnb host gave me her bicycle for the day and wanted me to visit the village’s Farmer’s market. So I took the bike through a beautiful bridge and one of the most scenic routes to the location she gave me.
The Farmer’s market was completely covered in pink. Surprisingly, everyone knew everyone at the market, and I was a stranger. Thereafter, everyone was surprised by my presence and offered me all kinds of things.
I told them I did not have much money, but they insisted me to try their local food. As a result, I ended up having a full brunch with bread, different kinds of cheese, and fruits. To sum up, this was another happy memory that I treasure from this trip.
Amsterdam Canal Ride
After this, I took the train and went back to Amsterdam Central. Next, I had a Canal Ride planned as part of the IAMSTERDAM card. Therefore, this day was just about relaxing and enjoying the scenes. The Canal Ride was extremely informative and took us through all the important parts of Amsterdam. For instance, there was an Audio guide which told us which building was what and in which direction to look. So, it was a peaceful yet fun ride.
After the ride, I took another stroll inside the Red-Light district and grabbed a Shawarma from the same place where I eventually ended up going in all of my 3 day Amsterdam itinerary. Later, I went to the Museum square and bought some souvenirs before heading back to Amersfoort. I enjoyed one of the most beautiful sunsets at a bridge near the Amsterdam Central Station before leaving. To sum up, this was a magical ending to a magical trip.
What to eat
There are restaurants and takeaway counters of every cuisine in the world in the streets of Amsterdam. During 3 day Amsterdam itinerary, I ate mostly at the Red-Light district. They are extremely tasty and cheaper than the rest of the town.
Where to stay
Finding good accommodation in Amsterdam could be a little tricky. Hotels and Airbnb in the city center are very expensive and hard to come by. Instead, try to find accommodation in one of the many villages nearby. The train service is good from all the nearby towns and villages. In addition, it is an amazing experience living in the outskirts and knowing the people up close.
If you are comfortable staying in Hostels, there are plenty of options in the city center, but they need to be booked well in advance.
You can look for Hostels here.
More Info
Must Do
- Visit all 3 museums mentioned in the blog.
- Take a rest stop at the Museum square.
- Try the canal ride.
- Visit the Red Light district.
Unique Experience
- Visit a coffee shop.
- Stay in one of the villages on the outskirt of the city.
- Enjoy a sunset at the bridge near the station.
Budget
400-500 Euros for a 3 day itinerary excluding souvenirs.
