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Travelling around Europe and want to squeeze in a quick trip to Amsterdam? This 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary has you covered with the best things to do, see, and eat, from a frequent visitor.
One of my favorite things about Europe is just how close everything is; you could be spending a day in London and then suddenly decide to hop on a train to Amsterdam for the weekend—the possibilities are endless!
So, if you end up booking a train to Amsterdam on a whim, or have a layover here—this is how I end up in Amsterdam at least once a year—and have no idea what to do in Amsterdam in a day, this post is for you.
This one-day in Amsterdam itinerary will take you to some of the unmissable spots, like the Dancing Houses, the charming Nine Streets, and keep you fueled and caffeinated with my favorite brunch spot and cafes, plus some travel tips for first-time visitors.
So, let’s get started!
Travel tips for first-time visitors to Amsterdam:
First, some essential travel tips for first-time visitors to Amsterdam to make sure you make the most of your 24 hours here:
Wear layers and carry an umbrella
While the weather varies depending on when you are visiting Amsterdam, the Dutch capital is known for its gloomy and sometimes very indecisive weather.
You could be enjoying the most glorious sunny morning, and then get caught in a midday shower.
So the best way to prepare for a day in Amsterdam is to pack for any weather.
Layers work best for this; you can enjoy the sunny moments in a t-shirt and carry a sweater for a windy evening, and if you want to be extra prepared, I would highly advise bringing an umbrella or a light raincoat.
The last time we visited, the weather forecast expected perfect sunny weather for our whole stay, but we still ended up having to use an umbrella a couple of times.
And let me tell you, I was so happy I carried that thing everywhere. It’s not fun to be jumping from café to café trying to stay dry.
Watch out for bikes and the bike lane
The number one rule when walking around Amsterdam is: pay attention where you’re walking, and for your own good, STAY OUT OF THE BIKE LANE.
The Dutch are some of the nicest people I have ever met, but if you step on the bike lane as a pedestrian and you’re in the way of the cyclists, you will meet the not-so-friendly side of the Dutch.
Besides getting screamed at, not being aware of where you are walking could also be potentially dangerous for you and the cyclists around.
So, to keep everyone safe and happy, just pay extra attention to your surroundings when crossing the street, and make sure you are always walking on the pedestrian path.
Coffee shop vs. Cafe in Amsterdam
This is a very important distinction to make for any first-time visitor.
When walking around Amsterdam and looking for a nice place to sit down and enjoy a cappuccino and maybe a little baked good, you are looking for a cafe.
If what you want is a place to sit down and partake in Amsterdam’s famous smoking culture, then what you are looking for is a coffee shop.
That’s it, simple but very important to know in case you are asking around for a good coffee shop, but all you want is a caffeine fix.
1 Day in Amsterdam Itinerary: Best Things to Do, See, and Eat
I find it almost unnecessary to mention that Amsterdam is a beautiful city that cannot be simplified into a one-day experience—as with any other city—but when time is a luxury, we do the best we can with what we have.
So here is my ideal 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary, perfect for first-time visitors:
Start the day at Bakers & Roasters: Best brunch in Amsterdam
First things first: breakfast!
I live for breakfast food, so I always do meticulous research about breakfast/ brunch spots anywhere I go.
And every single blog I read recommended setting your alarms extra early to get a table at Omelegg. Now, I am not a morning person, but the hype of this place pushed me to be there by 9:30 am, only to be informed that the next table would be available in an hour and a half… Yikes!
If you’re anything like me, you need your breakfast for fuel, but also for not punching someone in the face early in the morning, so waiting more than one hour for food was not an option.
Thankfully, I had a plan B: Bakers & Roasters.
Bakers & Roasters is a bustling Kiwi-Brazilian-inspired brunch spot with a focus on organic and ethically sourced high-quality ingredients, which guarantees you’re getting the best of the best and prepared in the most delicious way!
Ever since my first visit, back in 2017, I’ve become a loyal customer, making it our go-to brunch spot whenever we’re in the city.
We love their “kinda classic” eggs benny with bacon, the Navajo eggs with BBQ pulled pork, avocado, mango salsa & chipotle cream, and their delicious coffee!
Definitely the best way to start your 1 day in Amsterdam!
Explore the trendy De Pijp neighborhood and its popular street market
I’ve always believed that the best way to get to know a new city is on foot, getting lost in its streets, allowing yourself to get a sense of the city and its vibe, even if all you have is one day.
So, after breakfast at the Bakers & Roasters location in De Pijp neighborhood, take your time exploring this beautiful area of Amsterdam, full of cute brunch spots, amazing cafes, and a local vibe.
While exploring the area, make sure to stop at Albert Cuypmarkt, the neighborhood street market and the biggest outdoor market in the Netherlands.
The street is lined with food stands where you can try freshly-made stroopwaffles—a must in a 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary—buy tasty wheels of local Gouda cheese, stunning ceramic souvenirs, and more.
Here you will get a real sense of the city and its local life, away from the tourist-trappy city center.
Stop by to admire the iconic Dancing Houses
After exploring the lengthy Albert Cuypmarkt, make your way into the city to stop by the iconic Dancing Houses.
Even though you can throw a rock in any direction in this city and find a stunning view, this picturesque line of houses has become an unofficial image of the city.
The name of Dancing Houses it’s an unofficial name that stuck due to the quirky and wiggly look of this line of buildings by the water.
If you arrived by train, then chances are you already saw them, but even if, they are always fun to admire and photograph, and since at this point of the day we’re in the area, why not?
Visit the famous Bloemenmarkt: Amsterdam’s floating flower market
After stopping by the picturesque Dancing Houses, make your way to the iconic Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam’s floating flower market.
While the highlight of the flower market is to see the stalls packed with colorful tulips in the spring, you can still visit throughout the year.
But instead of the fresh tulips, you will find bulbs, seeds, and tulip souvenir-related items.
No matter the time of year you visit, if it’s your first time in Amsterdam might as well check this iconic spot off the list.
Explore the charming Nine Streets
A spot you cannot miss on your 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary is the charming De 9 Straatjes area, known as the Nine Streets—my favorite corner of Amsterdam.
As the name suggests, this cute pocket consists of nine small streets, three streets crossed by three others, that form a picturesque district surrounded by canals.
This area is to me the quintessential Amsterdam neighborhood.
It’s exactly what I picture when I think of this city: incredibly cute buildings by the canal, small streets lined with boutique and vintage shops, cozy cafés, small bakeries, and more.
So take some time to wander this cute and compact area of Amsterdam before heading off for lunch.
Some of my favorite spots in the Nine Streets:
- Banketbakkerij Het Koekemannetje: Heavenly gooey cookies
- Screaming beans: A cozy little cafe serving the perfect flat white
- Pancakes Amsterdam Negen Straatjes: Wide variety of Dutch pancakes
Snacky lunch at Fabel Friet or Heertje Friet
I’ve been to Amsterdam more times than I can remember, and for some reason, my lunches here always consist of snacky food.
So, for a snacky lunch, I have two of my favorite spots for you: Fabel Friet and Heertje Friet.
I first tried Fabel Friet years and years ago, apparently before someone made a TikTok about them. Last time I visited, the line was simply ridiculous.
But if you can catch this spot without the crazy lines, I would highly recommend ordering their fries with truffle mayo and parmesan cheese—they are just *chefs kiss*
If you don’t want to wait in line, then head over to Heertje Friet, a few blocks away, a locally loved Dutch fast food restaurant, serving hearty croquettes, biterballen, and simple homemade fries.
Try their beef bitterballen with mustard—so good!
Stop by to see Anne Frank’s House
If one day in Amsterdam is all you have, depending on your priorities, but I wouldn’t recommend spending the day waiting in line for museums or attractions.
While the Anne Frank house is a hugely important spot in the city, it can take a lot of your day to wait in line to visit it, but seeing the house from the outside is free and available to anyone.
If you read the book, it’s still worth seeing the house to paint a picture of Anne’s descriptions in her diary.
Boat cruise through Amsterdam’s canals with cheese and wine
I recently had the trip of a lifetime, taking my mom on her first Eurotrip, where we stopped by Amsterdam for two nights.
While I’ve visited Amsterdam multiple times before, I mostly just slow-travel the city, visiting cafes and shops, and snacking on poffertjes.
However, I obviously wanted to make it more special than that for my mom’s visit, so I booked us this Amsterdam canal cruise, and it was the perfect activity to fit into a one-day Amsterdam itinerary.
This boat cruise takes you through the picturesque canals while a guide explains more of the city and its rich history.
To make the activity extra special, you can add an all-you-can-eat and drink option with unlimited wine and cheese, which is just so fun while cruising through the city’s beautiful canals.
We had such a memorable day thanks to this Amsterdam boat cruise, and it quickly became one of our favorite activities on our busy Euro trip.
They offer so many schedules for the boat tour, so you can easily book it for any point of the day, just make sure to book it in advance to play it safe.
You can check availability for your dates here:
Indonesian food for dinner: Koeah or Dèsa
For dinner, we want something hearty to soak up all that wine and finish off your one day in Amsterdam on a high note.
A cuisine that maybe you wouldn’t necessarily think of having in Amsterdam, but you definitely need to try, is Indonesian food.
I know, I didn’t know about it either.
Basically, because of the Netherlands’ history and its colonies abroad, such as in Indonesia, there’s a big Indonesian population in the country, which means there are lots of tasty Indonesian restaurants in the city.
The way to eat Indonesian food in Amsterdam is by having rijsttafel, a collection of tapas-sized dishes, which is perfect if you are new to this cuisine, as you get to try so many unique dishes.
If you want to go for dinner straight after the boat tour, Koeah is an Indonesian restaurant close by and has great reviews.
We were staying in de Pjip neighborhood, so we made our way back there and had dinner at Dèsa, and loved it! Both the food and the service were incredible.
Final thoughts on a 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary
While there are so many incredible things to do and see in Amsterdam—I didn’t even add a museum to this itinerary—there’s only so much you can do with 24 hours in the city, and this is my ideal way to spend it.
After visiting beautiful Amsterdam countless times, I think this itinerary is a good combination between seeing the classics, getting to know the city through its local neighborhoods, and learning about the city’s history through its canal tour.
All while having a great time, without rushing.
This is how I love to travel, taking the time to explore a city and its streets, while mixing in some touristy bits for the perfect balance.
I hope you found this guide on how to spend one day in Amsterdam helpful, and I hope you have more time in the future to explore this incredible city—it sure deserves it!
Are there any tweaks you would make to this 1-day Amsterdam itinerary? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about it!
Save this Amsterdam itinerary for later!
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