One-Day Itinerary of Amsterdam

Museum Itinerary

If you are coming to Amsterdam and need a 1-day itinerary to see the Museums, I’ve got the itinerary for you. If there is a certain Dutch Museum or artist that you are dying to see, it can be done in a layover. Build your itinerary around that ticket entrance, get one of the first time slots of the day. The three most popular museums are the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. However, other fantastic museum options are the newly remodeled Rembrandt House or the Resistance Museum. The Resistance Museum is the next best thing if you can’t get Anne Frank tickets. I would suggest getting your ticket to any museum ahead of time, Amsterdam is very popular and the tickets go fast, especially skip-the-line tickets. Let’s gear up for this 1-day itinerary of Amsterdam’s Museums. 

Museums in the Jordaan

Once you arrive at Central Station, if you’re going to The Anne Frank House walk west down Haarlemmerstraat, then south on the Prinsengracht. Known as the Woonboot Museum in Dutch, the HouseBoat Museum is a traditionally furnished houseboat. This houseboat gives a look at life on the canals. There are displays and models to show how life on the canals has changed over the years. Houseboats were originally encouraged in Amsterdam as a way to solve the housing shortage, but eventually took over. New laws had to be enacted to manage the canals and are now some of the most expensive real estate in Amsterdam. This is a short museum and can easiely fit two museums into the day if this is one of them.  

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House is the one museum that you really need to plan to get tickets ahead of time. The tickets go on sale on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am local time, so if you want tickets, stay up late the Monday night before to get them. There is an option to buy the ticket with or without the intro video, but I highly encourage you to include it. It sets the tone of what Amsterdam was like in the years leading up to the Nazi occupation and Anne’s back story. Unless you are well studied in European WWII history, it’s worth it. 

The museum is described as a museum with a story. Visitors experience quotes, photos, videos and original items in the quiet environment that screams reverence. The experience takes visitors through the main house, Otto Frank’s business that he was forced to give up when the Nazi’s occupied Amsterdam. Then you walk through the bookshelf that pulls away to reveal stairs to the annex where 8 people were hidden with the help of Miep Gies until the Nazi’s raided the annex. After the war in 1945, Otto Frank was the only survivor! Miep had found and saved Anne’s Diary which eventually became a best seller. The museum opened in 1960, originally without access to the annex at Otto’s request. 

Today, visitors get to walk through the rooms of the annex and see photos and some original furniture. In this part of the tour it’s impressed on the visitors how small the space truly felt. There is a beautiful cafe in this area as well. A great place to enjoy a coffee and cake in sunny or rainy weather.        

Best Attractions in the Jordaan

Outside of the Anne Frank house is a bunch of canal cruise options, I suggest Flagship. You’ll see them by the signature orange flag and captain’s coat. This is a 1-hour canal cruise tour that you don’t need to secure reservations for ahead of time. If you are on a short 1-day itinerary for Amsterdam this is the most efficient option to see the canals. After the cruise, head south to the 9 streets shopping area. This is where boutiques, gift shops, and independently owned restaurants dot the streets and set the scene for the best vibes in Amsterdam. 

In the northern part of the Jordaan Noordermarket and Westerstraat Market are held on Saturday. Walking around Brouwersgracht, these canals are narrow and full of beautiful flowers. Many bridges have themed, colorful bikes covered in flowers that are perfect for pictures. This area of the Jordaan is quieter and filled with locals. Try one of the cafes for a Dutch snack or slice of apple pie. This is a wonderful spot to hang with friends and a drink, sitting on the side of the canal or on the boat docks.

Harlemerstraat is a great street for coffeeshops, but not the touristy ones found in the RLD. Enjoy breakfast at Green House, our favorite coffeeshop, with a knowledgeable staff of budtenders and a delicious brunch menu. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and desserts round out this full service coffeeshop. It is customary to purchase a drink per person when relaxing in a coffeeshop. If the cannabis culture doesn’t interest you, I’d suggest the bakery Petit Gateau about a block west. The small glass window shows a preview of the beautiful tarts and pastries. Once you open the door and the smell of baked croissants and baguettes take over, there is no going back! 

Best Restaurants in the Jordaan

In my opinion, the Jordaan is the best place to eat in all of Amsterdam! Between the family owned cafes are small businesses offering baked goods, freshly made stroopwafels and ice cream on every corner. Amsterdam is known for their brunch foods, particularly pancakes and egg dishes. Many dinner restaurants that are not touristy are in the Jordaan. The streets west of the Anne Frank House are filled with international cuisine and steakhouses that are fantastic choices. Cafes with both French and Dutch influence are open late for those wanting a late night bite with their drinks. Below I have shared a few of my favorite spots in the Jordaan that I try to get to on each trip:

• Ted’s Brunch
• Ms. B’s at La Grotte
• Papeneiland Cafe
• Cafe Tgijssen
• Pesca
• Salmaura
• La Olive
• Mr. Meat
• Black & Blue 
• La Perla Pizzeria 

There are many restaurants in this part of this neighborhood that are popular with tourists and visitors because they are routinely excellent. However, most are pricey due to the location and cost of fresh goods. Traveling a few more blocks north, between Brouwersgracht and Haarlemmerstraat, will land you in a much less crowded part of the Jordaan. This area has more small business restaurants, shops and boutiques. The value is better and you will be shopping and interacting with more locals. 

Museums in Museumplein

This one-day Itinerary of Amsterdam will navigate you to three different areas of Amsterdam. Museums tickets from sites like Get Your Guide or Viator to stay organized. You can often book a “skip the line” or guided tour that will cost a little more, but is worth the value. 

• Rijksmuseum– Is one of the most famous museums in the world. It takes visitors through 800 years of Dutch art and history with over 7000 works on display. Some highlights include The Night Watch, the Gallery of Honour, Cuypers Library and the Asian Pavilion.  
• Van Gogh Museum– is a Dutch art museum dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries in the arts. Highlights of the collection include Sunflowers, self- portrait, Tulip Fields near the Hague and many others. 
• Stedelijk Museum– The Stedelijk Museum (just called Stedelijk to locals) is the museum of modern and contemporary art. 
• Moco Museum– is an independent museum with sister museums in Barcelona and London. This museum is dedicated to exhibiting modern and contemporary art with the goal of making art accessible to the public. 

If you are going to any of the museums in Museumplein, you will need to head south. Grab some breakfast at the restaurant Eggs Benaddicted or a local cafe for a coffee before your entrance time. After your 2-3 hours in the museum, I suggest  taking a canal cruise to get the best views and layout of Amsterdam. Captain Jack boat tour is our favorite that goes out of Central Station and the Rijks areas and will be just steps from the museum. 

Best Attractions in Museumplein

If it is a nice day, grab some lunch from a shop or bakery and head to Vondelpark, just west of Museumplein. Vondelpark is a large park that gives the Dutch green space inside the city of Amsterdam. There are 6 play areas and 1 large playground and five sculptures throughout the park. The park is located just south of Leidseplein, a big shopping area during the day and night life spot after dark. Amsterdam is known for their open-air markets around the city and the Albert Cuyp Market is the closest to Museumplein and the most well known, open every day of the week.  

Best Restaurants in Museumplein

This area of Amsterdam is suited for tourists since it is closest to 4 big museums and Vondelpark. But there are still some great spots for breakfast or dinner. Try some of these suggestions, especially for some traditional Dutch dishes. The Foodhallen is found in Oud West, just west of Museumplein and a great spot to eat if you are traveling solo or meeting a group. The Foodhallen has 47 different stalls of high end concepts and household names in Amsterdam. Visitors can sample lots of different types of foods from these famous Dutch eateries all under one roof. Tables and chairs as well as the bar are all located in the center of the stalls, allowing ample seating for small and large groups. Try some great, authentic Dutch foods in this part of Amsterdam. Try one of these spots and you definitely won’t be disappointed:

• Cafe de Jarden 
• Bakers & Roasters 
• The Pantry 
• Kop van Jut
• Seafood Bar
• Pasta e Basta 2.0 
• Cannibale Royale Handboogstraat
• The Foodhallen (Oud West) 

In addition to the Foodhallen, there are a lot of small, trendy restaurants that draw locals to Oud West. The neighborhood has introduced the younger residents to vegan and vegetarian options as well as numerous ethnic cuisines. Indian, Indonesian and Serinamese have always been popular because of the Dutch colonial connections. In recent years, more Turkish, Middle Eastern and Northern African immigrants have brought additional cuisines to the restaurant landscape in Amsterdam and other popular Dutch cities. 

Museums Located in The IJ Waterfront

If you decide to take the more infamous route to the Red Light District you’ll be headed east out of Central Station. During the day, the Red Light District is just a typical Dutch neighborhood, with cafes, churches and even a nursery school. This neighborhood also has a lot of the best museums too. In the IJ river, just North of the Red Light District, two of the best museums for children, but also interesting for adults, are NEMO and the Maritime Museum.  

• NEMO Science Museum- is the most popular attraction for children and an educational experience for all who visit. There are Science exhibits that take you through the ages, using water power, technology, life in the universe, a laboratory and humankind exhibits. The roof of the building is seen through the city and is considered the highest city square in the Netherlands. The roof is being refurbished currently and will reopen in Spring of 2025. 
• Het Scheepvaartmuseum- Is also known as the Maritime Museum, which displays 500 years of Maritime history. The museum building is full of exhibits throughout the ages and the ships on the jetty can be toured and explored. There are three ships, the East Indiaman replica, SS Christian Bruning and the Royal Barge from 1818.  

Museums Located in Oost

Further south, located in De Wallen, better known as the popular Red Light District. are the additional museums located in Oost.

• Rembrandt House– Has recently been refurbished and updated and has taken Amsterdam visitors by storm. Step back into the 17th century and discover his home, his studio and his time period. This museum houses the world’s most complete collection and standing in his studio where he both painted and taught was an amazing experience. 
• Dutch Resistance Museum– Called the Verzetsmeseum is found in Artis park, surrounded by other Holocaust monuments. This museum is a great option if you were not able to get tickets to the Anne Frank House. The Dutch proudly resisted Nazi occupation and bravely protected their Jewish citizens. This museum also sheds light on changes the Dutch made after the war in their colonies of Indonesia, Suriname and Dutch Caribbean Islands. 130 personal stories are shared, to share the value of tolerance and freedom. 
• Our Lord in the Attic– this hidden church, now turned museum is in a well-preserved 17th century canal house. Visitors walk through the wealthy home and see it historically decorated, then open into two floors of a beautiful church. During this time, Protestantism was the religion of choice and many of the Catholic churches were confiscated and turned Protestant. Catholics took to creating hidden churches in private homes, which was tolerated by the government.  

Best Attractions in Oost

Oost, Dutch for East, heads aways from a lot of the tourist congestion to a green space in the Plantage district. Because of the Dutch explorations and trades, the Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. There are more than 4,000 plant species in the garden and greenhouses. The 300-year old gates open to the Artis park, which includes the zoo, aquarium and planetarium. Ironically, the best attractions for children are all just a few streets away from the Red Light District. Shopping at the Waterlooplein market or for diamonds at the House of Gassen are also popular activities on the east side of Amsterdam. 

Best Restaurants in Oost 

There are lots of great brunch restaurants in this area to start off your morning with a coffee and hearty meal before your museum entrance. Oost has great restaurants for the afternoon and evening with the oldest cafe in Amsterdam. De Sluyswacht is a tradition and frequently photographed with beautiful flowers or bikes.  

• Box Social 
• Bakers & Roasters
• MOAK Pancakes
• Waterloo cafe
• Nam Kee
• Oriental City
• De Sluyswacht
• Eddy Spaghetti 
• De Plantage
• Rijsel (Michelin*)

The streets just to the east of the Red Light District is considered Chinatown, with the best Asian restaurants in a concentrated area. From Dim Sum to Five Star, a few of Amsterdam’s finest dining and Michelin star restaurants are located in the East part of Amsterdam. 

Back to Central Station

Dam Square to see the Koninklijk Palace, Nieiwe Kerk (church) and de Bijenkorf (the Dutch version of Harrods). There is a secret rooftop cafe that many don’t know about, so if you need a bathroom and a great coffee with a view, it’s worth the 6 or more escalators to get there. 

Then walk up Damrak, but be sure to stop for fries at either Vlaamse Frites or Manneken Pis for the Dutch fries. They are amazing and deserve fancy sauces and options like cheese, truffle parmesan, mayo, fry sauce or curry ketchup for the true European experience. If you are looking for a fast food snack, try FEBO down the street, you pay and then get it warm from a small window. The Dutch love their FEBO! 

If you are still in Amsterdam after dark, go up to the rooftop bar at the Hampton Inn by Hilton, just east of the train station. It’s a very romantic spot, with one of the best night views of the city. At least this close to the train station to still get back to the airport all in the same night.   

Museums Worth Skipping in Amsterdam

Even with Amsterdam having so many world famous museums, there are a few that you should skip too. Tulips are big in Amsterdam and both the Bloemenmarket and Tulip Museum are very popular. However, both really are tourist traps and the latter should be skipped. The Bloemenmarket is fine to visit and take photos, it is in a very central location. But a tip is not to buy souvenirs, bulbs or flowers here. First, the flowers are painfully over priced and much more reasonably priced at the open air markets around the city. Remember that tulips follow a specific seasonal pattern to be planted and flowered, they can’t just be planted any time, any where.  

The Cheese Museum is actually not a museum at all, instead it is really just a store. They give you a bit of a back story on making cheese, but it’s really just a cheese store for touristy souvenir gifts. The Torture Museum is a small, silly museum that many European cities have with tourism in mind. Amsterdam’s Torture Museum isn’t worth the price, especially since there is no real connection to a prison or dungeon. Madame Tussauds is an exceptionally popular museum and I am always shocked to see how many people include it on their itineraries. There are many of these museums around the world and not especially or specific to Amsterdam. There are so many amazing Dutch history and art museums and Science centers to explore, I wouldn’t waste time in line at Madame Tussauds. 

Next Up in One-day Itinerary of Amsterdam

Now you have a major advantage with one of these one-day itineraries of Amsterdam. If you only have a short time in this amazing city, you’ll certainly be able to make the best of it. After my dozen trips, I think you need 3-days to get the feel for Amsterdam and a week to really see the city and take some Dutch day trips. Every time I think we’ve seen all Amsterdam has to offer, it surprises me with something else amazing. I could travel to Amsterdam each season, to enjoy the best it has to offer at that time of year. Next week, we’ll be discussing the best places to have on your one-day itinerary of Amsterdam with children; both young and teens. 

Check out my website at LauraMarieMyers.com/wanderlust to join my email list. Newsletters are coming this year to get inspiration for your own travels and adventures. Additionally, check out and follow my Travel Agency Facebook Business Page to book travel, excursions and tours. Travel consultants have access to the best rates and upgrades, without additional cost to you. Let’s book your next trip today!