Amsterdam in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

Traveling in and around the city of Amsterdam is quite easy. Efficient public transportation can get you anywhere in the city in less than an hour. You can follow your instinct and get lost in the city, or follow this 5-day Amsterdam itinerary to make the most of your trip.

In this 5-day itinerary the idea would be to get to know the most important areas in the center of Amsterdam and then do a short tour in the south and north of the city. For each day there will be a short description of the itinerary, so I won't go any further.

For a first day it is always advisable to tour the city on foot, at least the most interesting places. Besides the flat nature of the city and its low temperatures will make you get tired very little. In this tour you will visit Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Begijnhof, and then finish the day with a canal cruise.

Dam Square

The evergreen Dam Square is the first place to visit. You can see streetcars crossing every second, hundreds of people on their bikes and travelers everywhere.

The National Monument is on one side and the Royal Palace on the other. I recommend you spend some time enjoying the first glimpses of Amsterdam and then head to the magnificent Royal Palace.

Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Marvel at the architecture, royal furnishings and artwork of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam for a couple of hours. Admission to the Royal Palace costs 10 euros and is available at the entrance desk.

Be sure to ask in advance if the Royal Palace is accepting visitors on that day because the palace is closed to visitors when it is in use by the royal family.

Begijnhof

This is an area characterized by a group of elegant houses built in the 14th century for unmarried women who lived as nuns and were not entitled to vote. The site encloses a beautiful well-kept green courtyard. Unmarried women live in these houses to this day. Men are not allowed access before 10 am and after 6 pm.

Canal Cruise

After a good walk I recommend you end the day on an evening canal cruise. They are more or less the same and start every half hour at Damrak Pier. I recommend this development post about the price of these cruises.

The one hour canal cruise will take you through the famous and significant canals, showing you the highlights of Amsterdam from the water. The canal cruise is very different from the conventional boat ride and is a must-do activity on your five-day Amsterdam itinerary.

On this day we will delve into Dutch history, culture and art. We will focus this day on visiting the best museums in Amsterdam: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is located on Museumplein in the center of Amsterdam. For your location, it is close to the city' s historic canals and stores.

Amsterdam's most popular museum, the Rijk Museum, will take you on a journey through the Dutch Middle Ages as it displays artifacts and paintings from centuries ago. The museum has an entire section dedicated to the life and paintings of Rembrandt, a notable artist of the Dutch Golden Age.

If you are a history buff you will appreciate the museum like no other. The museum's opening time is 9 am, and it is best to arrive early to avoid the rush and queues. Tickets for the Rijk Museum are priced at 17.50 euros and are also available at the counter. Here is more information about the Rijk Museum (tickets, guided tours, prices...).

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum is 300 meters away from the previous museum, which is about a 4 minute walk.

In this museum you can see the masterpieces created by the world famous Vincent van Gogh. In addition, this museum will teach you a lot about the life of Vincent van Gogh and his paintings.

I recommend you to buy tickets online, priced at 18 euros. This is due to the fact that only a specific number of people are allowed access, and to clarify doubts, I recommend this complete post about the Van Gogh Museum. Continuing with the itinerary, here you can spend a couple of hours perfectly.

Albert Cuyp market

At this hour it's time for some street food and street shopping. A must-try delicacy at the Albert Cuyp Market is the Stroopwafel, a kind of thin, caramel-filled waffle.

On the other hand, at the Albert Cuyp Market you have the opportunity to use your bargaining skills buying clothes, accessories and souvenirs. You can also take the opportunity to buy some dried fruits.

Vondelpark

Enjoy the trip from Westerkerk to Vondelpark by cycling or enjoying a nice walk through the well-known areas of the Nine Streets and Jordaan. You will find trendy boutiques and cozy cafes to spend some quality time.

Vondelpark is huge and exploring it is a blessing. Vondelpark's tranquil setting makes it a relaxing place for an afternoon nap. Enjoy the sunset in Vondelpark reading a book or watching the interesting street acts.

The third of the five-day Amsterdam itinerary will focus on the famous Anne Frank House and the Red Light District. The former is the star establishment for understanding Jewish culture and its development during World War II and the latter is the area that chronicles the culture of prostitution in the Dutch capital.

Anne Frank House

One of the most remembered figures of the dark times of German history is the daring young Anne Frank. She was barely a teenager when she began to write about the sufferings of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her family hid in an Amsterdam warehouse and remained there for two years before she was arrested by the Nazis in 1944.

This house is now converted into a museum dedicated to Anne Frank, and the museum tour will take you on a journey of her life. Tickets to the Anne Frank House are priced at €10, tickets sell out very easily. A handful of tickets are also usually available at the entrance; however, I don't recommend taking a gamble. For more information about tickets, opening times and prices I recommend this post about the Anne Frank Museum.

Westerkerk

Just a few steps from the Anne Frank House is the largest church in Amsterdam. Westerkerk is one of the oldest churches in the city, and the bell tower is quite an attraction. It usually rings every hour.

If you visit Amsterdam in June or visit Amsterdam in September, I recommend joining one of the group tours organized by the church and focused on its observation deck. These are organized every half hour and will give you the opportunity to get a spectacular 360-degree view of the city center. For more information visit the website.

Red Light District

Get ready to discover the history of prostitution in Amsterdam in the Red Light District. It is natural to be a little afraid to walk through the Red Light District, but you might be surprised how safe the location is.

The neighborhood is a magical place that stands out for its light, its atmosphere and all the stories and legends that revolve around it. In addition, the neighborhood has several food outlets and even restaurants. Undoubtedly, an excellent way and an iconic place to end the day.

After spending the first three days in the center of Amsterdam, it would be nice to take advantage of this fourth day to explore the serene countryside of the Amsterdam region. A trip to the windmills of Zaanse Schans.

Getting to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam

• By bus: Take the bus (# 391) from Amsterdam Central Station every two hours from stop E to Zandaam / Zaanse Schans. The whole trip takes less than an hour and tickets can be purchased for 7€ and include round trip.

• By train: From Amsterdam Central Station, take a train to Koog-Zaandijk, which takes only 17 minutes. Then follow the direction board and walk for about 15 minutes to Zaanse Schans. It's a straight path, so you won't get lost.

I highly recommend taking the bus to Zaanse Schans, as it's the most cost-effective option and you won't have to walk.

Visit the historic windmills

The real attraction of Zaanse Schans are the historic windmills.As soon as you enter the village, you will be greeted by beautiful greenery, including greenhouses and vintage windmills along the river. There used to be many more along the river, but now only 13 windmills remain and they are scattered throughout the resort.

All of these windmills provide a great insight into what life was like in the 17-18th century. Some have been converted into stores, others now have platforms to climb up and view the town from above.

Each windmill has its own admission ticket and usually costs 3€ each. However, if you are interested in visiting them all, I recommend buying a Zaanse Schans card for 10€.

Visit the great clog store of the whole country

Right at the entrance of the Zaanse Schans, there is a gift store with multiple pairs of brightly painted wooden clogs on display on the outside wall.

This store is part of the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop, a sort of shoe museum where you can see clog skates and many other unique clogs. It is simply the largest selection of clogs in all colors and sizes in the Netherlands.

In the past, clogs were made by hand and could produce up to seven pairs each day, today machines are used for this; however, clog makers still make them by hand in the workshop.The Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and with free admission.

Free clog making demonstrations are held continuously throughout the day. You'll be able to watch the making of a shoe from start to finish. Presentations of this type last about 15 minutes.

Visit Catharina Hoeve's Farm

In addition to the shoe factory, there is a cheese store with seemingly endless samples that you can sample as you walk through the store above.

The variety of gouda at this cheese farm is admirable. There's regular gouda, herbed smoked gouda, chili gouda and even a neon green gouda with pesto. If gouda is not your thing, there are also many other types of Dutch cheese. Catharina Hoeve 's Farm is open daily from 08:00 am to 06:00 pm.

Enjoy the scenery back in Amsterdam

In addition to the above and to finish the visit you can also stroll through the village and admire the Dutch landscape. From the east bank of the river Zaan you can see the typical green wooden houses lined up. There is a farm in front of the windmills, where you can see cows grazing freely in the area. In addition, there is also a distillery museum and a soap factory.

On the last day of the five-day Amsterdam itinerary we won't stray too far from the center of Amsterdam and visit the city museum, the famous Bloemenmarkt market and the lively Leidseplein district.

Amsterdam Museum

Amsterdam's history museum tells the story of the city over the last millennium through multimedia exhibits, religious artifacts, porcelains and paintings. Exhibits also include why the use of bicycles has increased.

Its Gallery includes group portraits with medieval guards and citizens, and photographs of Anne Frank and Alfred Heineken. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00, and admission is completely free.

Bloemenmarkt

Located in the city of Amsterdam, Bloemenmarkt is a flower market famous for its scents and pleasant appearance. Historically, flowers were brought here by boat from the countryside. Bloemenmarkt sells everything from cut flowers of all kinds, to seeds, plants and other gardening essentials. However, it's not just a must-visit for those who love greenery, as this is an establishment with a lot of history and a lot of atmosphere. The Bloemenmarkt is open from 9:00 to 5:30 in winter and autumn; and from 8:30 to 7:30 in spring and summer.

There are many reasons to visit Amsterdam's Bloemenmarkt, not least because it illustrates how Amsterdam used to work. There are 15 market stalls to visit, each offering something slightly different from the last. Bloemenmarkt is the perfect place to buy flowers and other trinkets, and is open all year round. I recommend stopping by the Bloemenmarkt especially if you visit Amsterdam in the spring.

Leidseplein district

When it comes to festive atmosphere, there is no other neighborhood in Amsterdam that can sum up this concept better than the Leidseplein district. This has become a haven for lovers of bars and pubs. Watching a street performance here will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere. From the moment the sun sets Leidseplein becomes the perfect stage to say goodbye to Amsterdam with music and joy.