3 days in Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum

The national museum of the Netherlands, with Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid among 8,000 works on show. Most people follow the highlights route, which the museum says takes about an hour, and then stay longer.

3 h 30 visitOpen 9:00 am–5:00 pm

Book the first slot of the day to start before the main rooms fill.

A start time is required for everyone, including Museumkaart holders. Book online in advance; door sales depend on availability.

See tickets

Source: Rijksmuseum, checked October 4, 2026

Begijnhof

A quiet courtyard of old houses and a small chapel, a few steps from Kalverstraat. People still live here, so keep your voice low and stay on the paths.

30 min visitHours not confirmed. Check the official site.

Go early, before tour groups pass through.

The courtyard gate is open during the day only. Check the tourism board page before you go.

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Nine Streets

Nine small cross streets between the main canals, lined with vintage shops, independent boutiques and coffee bars. A good break between museums.

1 h visitAlways open

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Oude Kerk

Amsterdam's oldest building, a medieval church in the Red Light District that now hosts art exhibitions. The floor is made of gravestones.

1 h visitOpen 1:00 pm–5:30 pm

Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00 and Sunday 13:00 to 17:30.

Source: Oude Kerk, checked October 4, 2026

A'DAM Lookout

A rooftop deck on the A'DAM tower in Amsterdam Noord with 360 degree views of the city and the IJ. The free ferry from behind Central Station takes a few minutes.

1 h 30 visitOpen 10:00 am–10:00 pm · last entry 9:00 pm

Go near sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark in one visit.

Open daily 10:00 to 22:00, with last admission at 21:00.

Source: A'DAM Lookout, checked October 4, 2026

Vondelpark

Amsterdam's biggest city park, ten minutes on foot from the Rijksmuseum. It has ponds, a rose garden, playgrounds and cafes.

1 h 30 visitAlways open

Fits well after the Museum Quarter, with a picnic from a nearby shop.

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Heineken Experience

A self-guided walk through the old Heineken brewery with tasting rooms and interactive displays. The brewery says the tour takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

2 h visit (official site suggests 1 h 30)Open 10:30 am–7:30 pm · last entry 5:15 pm

Choose an early slot to avoid a queue at the start.

Tickets are timed. Slots fill quickly at weekends and from April to October, so book online in advance. Walk-up tickets are limited.

Monday to Thursday and Sunday 10:30 to 19:30, Friday and Saturday 10:30 to 21:00. Last entry is 2 hours 15 minutes before closing. Hours can vary on public holidays.

See tickets

Source: Heineken Experience, checked October 4, 2026

Albert Cuyp Market

A long street market in De Pijp with fresh fish, cheese, stroopwafels and clothes. Eat as you walk and look at the stalls on both sides.

1 h visitHours not confirmed. Check the official site.

Check the tourism board page for the days and hours before you go. The market does not run on every day of the week.

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Rembrandt House Museum

The house where Rembrandt lived and worked for almost twenty years, now a museum. The rooms are small, so the visit is short.

1 h 15 visitOpen 10:00 am–6:00 pm

The museum asks you to book a timed ticket online. You can buy at the desk (debit card only) but a slot guarantees entry.

Open daily 10:00 to 18:00 from May to October, then 10:00 to 17:00 from November to mid-December. Closed on King's Day and 25 December.

Source: Museum Het Rembrandthuis, checked October 4, 2026

Dam Square

The central square, with the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Monument. Most visitors pass through it, so you only need a short stop.

30 min visitAlways open

Often crowded. A quick look on the way to somewhere else is enough.

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Canal Ring

The three main canals, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, form a UNESCO-listed arc of 17th-century houses. Walking a stretch with side trips over the bridges is the simplest way to see Amsterdam.

2 h visitAlways open

Walk it at dusk, when the bridges are lit and the day crowds thin.

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Van Gogh Museum

The largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and letters, arranged in the order of his life. Expect a one-way route with plenty of reading.

2 h 30 visitOpen 9:00 am–6:00 pm

Take the first slot of the day or a Friday evening slot, when the museum stays open until 21:00.

Tickets are timed and mandatory, and each slot has limited places. Book online before you go.

Hours change by period. Early October is 9:00 to 18:00 with Fridays until 21:00, but on 15 October it closes at 17:00, and from November it closes at 17:00 on most days. Check the official page for your date.

See tickets

Source: Van Gogh Museum, checked October 4, 2026

Royal Palace Amsterdam

A 17th-century town hall that is now the King's reception palace on Dam Square. You walk through the marble Citizens' Hall and the council rooms with a free audio guide.

1 h 15 visitHours not confirmed. Check the official site.

Check the calendar before you plan the day, since closures are announced weeks ahead.

Opening days and times change through the year, and the palace closes for state events. Check the calendar on the official page for your date.

Source: Royal Palace Amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Jordaan

A former working-class district west of the canal ring, with narrow streets, small galleries and brown cafes. It is best on foot, without a plan.

2 h visitAlways open

Go on Saturday morning, when the Noordermarkt farmers' market runs.

Source: I amsterdam, checked October 4, 2026

Anne Frank House

The canal house where Anne Frank and seven others hid during the war. The route is a narrow one-way path through the rooms, and the museum says a visit takes about an hour.

1 h 30 visit (official site suggests 1 h)Open 9:00 am–10:00 pm

Book as soon as your dates are fixed, because tickets are released in six-week batches.

Tickets are sold online only, for a fixed time slot, and not at the door. Every Tuesday at 10:00 CEST all tickets for a visit six weeks later go on sale. Plan your Amsterdam dates around this.

Open daily 9:00 to 22:00. A few dates have shorter hours, for example 7 November closes at 18:30.

Source: Anne Frank House, checked October 4, 2026