My category 24 hours in… is, obviously, designated to transform a stay like a layover into a short extra vacation. You’ll see that my itineraries are so attractive and fun that you might postpone your connecting flight just to enjoy 24 hours in Amsterdam.
Life takes place on the waters in Amsterdam – located about 40 centimeters below sea level.
And if you’re not on a layover at the capital of the Netherlands – well, you also can always come to visit on purpose. Preferably for longer than just 24 hours.
Amsterdam has over 850,000 inhabitants and is therefore Netherlands’ most populated city and according to the constitution the capital. Its Airport Schiphol is one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs. However, the parliament and the government are situated at The Hague. Mainly the former water transportation ways, the Grachten, together with the narrow row houses give this modern metropolis a romantic village charm. Also, a couple of parks and world-famous museums make it worth visiting at any time. The center’s proximity to the international airport allows a short visit on a day trip or for a couple of hours during a layover.
Local Currency
Euro (EUR) / 1 EUR = 1 US$ as of November 2022 / current rate
The easiest and cheapest way to get from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Centraal, the main station, is by train, obviously. It takes you downtown for € 5,50. Trains are going very often and take you downtown in less than 20 minutes. Once there, you can keep your big luggage at the lockers. The easiest way to get back from the Jupiter Hotel* to the main station is to walk to the streetcar stop Elandsgracht. From there, you reach Amsterdam Centraal by car No. 17. For details, check this schedule and the maps below.
Although the train from and to the airport is not included in the I Amsterdam City Card, I highly recommend you buy one as soon as you set foot on Dutch soil if you follow the rainy day itinerary – or you order it online before you go.
For € 65 for one day up to € 130 for five days, you can choose between five cards. As a matter of fact, all the attractions listed in the rainy-day version are included. However, for the sunny day-version, you could use it only for the canal tour and public transport, so that it probably doesn’t pay.
Morning Activities
Undoubtedly, you have to explore Amsterdam from the water on one of the numberless Grachten trips. The Grachten are excavated waterways to carry the goods from the harbor into town.
Amsterdam lies 2 m/7ft below sea level. Photo: Philipp Benedikt/iamsterdam.com
Hence, they used to be Amsterdam’s vital lines. Obviously, using those waters was not always hygienic. Consequently, the Dutch preferred drinking beer over water. By the way, one of the fun facts I’ve learned on a Grachten cruise.
Nowadays there are mainly tourists carried on these canals, but still, people do live in houseboats at some spots. Of course, a cruise on the Grachten is included in the I Amsterdam City Card. Albeit, normally it costs around € 15.
Idyllic Vondelpark, conveniently located next to the Museum Square. Photo: Koen Smilde/iamsterdam.com
The park is not just a meadow, it’s like an open-air culture center, especially during the Summer months when the Openluchttheater, the open-air theater, is taking place, a free spectacle for everyone.
Morning Activities
Rain in Amsterdam? No problem since this way you’ll have enough time to explore the rich cultural past of the Netherlands.
In the city of bikes, they have even a bike lane at an imperial museum. (Photo: Koen Smilde/iamsterdam.com)
For instance the freshly renovated ‘Rijksmuseum’, the imperial museum which hosts more than 8,000 works. The most famous will be Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch’, but not to be missed are the dollhouses that were by no means toys, but the bored, wealthy ladies’ leisure pursuit.
Rijksmuseum Museumstraat 1 1071 XX Amsterdam Phone: + 31 – 20 – 647 70 00 Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you” (from “Vincent” by Don McLean) Photo: iamsterdam.com
Lucky you, three of Amsterdam’s most important museums are located just a stone’s throw from each other.
A must is the Vincent Van Gogh museum, owning 200 paintings of this ingenious impressionist as well as art by Van Gogh’s contemporaries such as Caillebotte, Courbet, Gaugin, Millet, Pissaro, Seurat, Signac – do you really want to read the whole list?!
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Fridays till 10 p.m.) But maybe you prefer to skip one of the above-mentioned mandatory venues in favor of some wild, contemporary art? No problem, almost next door is the world-renowned Stedelijk Museum at Museumplein 10 waiting for your visit every day from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. (Fridays till 10 p.m.) Stedelijk Museum Museumplein 10 1071 DJ Amsterdam Phone: + 31 – 20 – 573 29 11 Email: info@stedelijk.nl
Lunch
Just around the corner from all those world-famous museums is the posh Brasserie Keyzer.
Here, you can sample some of the most iconic Dutch snacks and lunch staples in a beautiful setting.
Brasserie Keyzer Van Baerlestraat 96 1071 Amsterdam Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a. m., Fridays and Saturdays until 3 p. m.
Afternoon Activities
Big market – bis sizes…
After lunch, some more walking is indicated. Yet, to Amsterdam’s probably best market, the Albert Cuypmarkt, it’s only about 15 minutes.
It has been there for over a hundred years, and at the 260 stalls – which makes the Cuyp Europe’s largest day market – the craziest in accessories and fashion is offered next to fresh fruits and firm vegetables and of course a wide variety of Dutch cheese.
Albeit, the perfect place to take a rest and maybe sample some of the produce bought at the market is the idyllic Sarphatipark just one block South. It’s by far not as spacious as the Vondelpark, but the lush meadows around the statue honoring Samuel Serphati, who in the mid-1800 had the idea to add a park to a then-new housing project, are just as comfortable to relax on.
Afternoon Activities
Willet Holthuysen Museum
There are by far not only the big, famous museums worth a visit.
At the Eastern part of the Grachtengordel are a couple of ancient, originally furnished townhouses where you get a close look at how the wealthy merchants and their families used to live during the Dutch gilded age (of course often from their colonies).
Also, there is the Willet Holthuysen Museum, a magnificent double-fronted townhouse, built in 1687.
Unquestionably it was always a home to very wealthy families, the last one Abraham Willet and Louisa Holthuysen, who after her husband had died, donated the house including all furniture and decoration to the city of Amsterdam, modestly demanding to name the museum after the couple’s names. Museum Willet-Holthuysen Herengracht 605 1017 CE Amsterdam Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Weekends and Holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Dec 25, Jan 1, and April 27).
Tassenmuseum Hendrikje
About one block West on the Herengracht used to be the, undoubtedly, unbeknownst “Tassenmuseum Hendrikje”, a venue housing an incredible number of handbags from the first beaded pouch to nowadays clutch.
In 2020, this little gem fell victim to the Covid 19 crisis.
Museum Van Loon
Now you have to cross two canals down South to get to the other bank of the Keizersgracht where another ancient townhouse is to be admired, namely the Van Loon Museum. This fine mansion was built in 1602 by Willem van Loon. He co-founded the Dutch East-India Company. Hence, we all know how and by which means all these good people who did business in the former colonies got rich.
However, today, the van Loon family allows visitors to admire their wealth on a daily basis.
Make sure to stroll also through the exquisite garden in the back. Museum Van Loon Keizersgracht 672 1017 ET Amsterdam Phone: + 31 – 20 – 624 52 55 Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Dec 25, Jan 1, and April 27).
Finally, at the end of your day, don’t miss the wooden Amstelkerk from 1670, located on the Kerk Straat just one block South of the Van Loon Museum.
Dinner
A stone’s throw from the Jupiter Hotel* is the Bar DK Amsterdam, popular also with the local crowd for good food and a pleasant atmosphere. It’s located at Tweede Helmersstraat 26.
Nightcap
Actually, at The Waterhole, you’ll get much more than just a nightcap. Therefore, better make sure you’re connecting flight is not too early in the morning. Also, they have a generous happy hour and live music every night. And later, it’s only ten minute walk to the Jupiter Hotel*.
They are daily – weekdays from noon till 3 a.m., Friday and Saturday from noon till 4 a.m.
Accommodation
Hotels in Amsterdam are ridiculously expensive. indeed. In general, you have to do a lot of research and book well in advance to get a halfway acceptable price. Nonetheless, The Jupiter Hotel* is close to many points of interest and recommendable if you don’t expect ‘luxury’.
Map – sunny day itinerary
Map – rainy day itinerary
Pinnable Pictures
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Note: I’m completing, editing, and updating this post regularly – last in November 2022.
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Amsterdam would have to be one of my most favourite European cities for its design, layout and friendliness of the Dutch people. You have definitely selected some top choices for a 24 hour layover, with the canals being something that I love as an activity to relax and explore various areas of the city. The last time we were there my fiance was so disappointed because he really wanted to see Anne Frank’s house and didn’t realise you needed to book weeks in advance to get in.
I visited Amsterdam for two days and I'm sure I need to go back. An amazing city and I hope to have more time to explore more around Amsterdam also. The Holthuysen Museum looks wonderful.
I've visited Amsterdam several times and find there's always something new to explore. Vondelpark is a favourite of mine! I only got around to Rijksmuseum on my last visit but it was great.
I have been to Amsterdam several times but your guide covers many off the beaten path places I have never heard of before. I will make sure to visit the bakery Tart for a lunch with my daughters soon and to have a glimpse into the bags museum to reward the fashionista in me!
This brings back many great memories for me, as my brother used to live there, in the museum district in fact! That said, I was a regular at the Van Gogh Museum as it was across the road! The canals are always a must too.
This brings back many great memories for me, as my brother used to live there, in the museum district in fact! That said, I was a regular at the Van Gogh Museum as it was across the road! The canals are always a must too.
Awesome so many activities in 24 hours. I'm loving your lunch idea with prettiest and tastiest cakes of Amsterdam 🙂 I think without a Grachten trip Amsterdam trip is incomplete. Cool experiences!!
These activities sound fun and right down my alley. I'm particularly interested in the Van Gogh Museum. I'm a fan of his work. And of course, the Grachten trips too. I think it is something one have to experience when in Amsterdam, even though it's a little touristy for my liking.
I went Amsterdam last year and it's cool how many blog posts on Amsterdam I read and the travel experience is always unique with different activities done compared to my trip. This is another I've found really unique and it's a testament to how much there is to do in Amsterdam. I really want to see what the Van Gogh museum is like!
Johnny | Johnny's Traventures httpss://johnnystraventures.com
I have been to Amsterdam several times already, but I can definitely pick up suggestions from here if I am there again! I love it how you organized the suggestions according to the time of day, it makes life so much easier!
One of the hardest itineraries to make are those 24-hour trips! And I love your blog because of that. I believe Amsterdam is one of the common layovers when visiting Europe. This post will come in handy in my Euro-trip!
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Amsterdam would have to be one of my most favourite European cities for its design, layout and friendliness of the Dutch people. You have definitely selected some top choices for a 24 hour layover, with the canals being something that I love as an activity to relax and explore various areas of the city. The last time we were there my fiance was so disappointed because he really wanted to see Anne Frank’s house and didn’t realise you needed to book weeks in advance to get in.
I also love the canals – and find it fascinating that the city is below sea level 😉
Not a bad way to spend 24 hours in Amsterdam. The city isn't huge, but there is so much to do.
I visited Amsterdam for two days and I'm sure I need to go back. An amazing city and I hope to have more time to explore more around Amsterdam also.
The Holthuysen Museum looks wonderful.
Great post, to much things to explore in one day but yes thanks to your tips will help me to explore Amsterdam very wwell.
I've visited Amsterdam several times and find there's always something new to explore. Vondelpark is a favourite of mine! I only got around to Rijksmuseum on my last visit but it was great.
I have been to Amsterdam several times but your guide covers many off the beaten path places I have never heard of before. I will make sure to visit the bakery Tart for a lunch with my daughters soon and to have a glimpse into the bags museum to reward the fashionista in me!
This brings back many great memories for me, as my brother used to live there, in the museum district in fact! That said, I was a regular at the Van Gogh Museum as it was across the road! The canals are always a must too.
This brings back many great memories for me, as my brother used to live there, in the museum district in fact! That said, I was a regular at the Van Gogh Museum as it was across the road! The canals are always a must too.
Awesome so many activities in 24 hours. I'm loving your lunch idea with prettiest and tastiest cakes of Amsterdam 🙂 I think without a Grachten trip Amsterdam trip is incomplete. Cool experiences!!
Great post, although after reading it I have to admit I want more than 24 hours to explore Amsterdam 🙂
These activities sound fun and right down my alley. I'm particularly interested in the Van Gogh Museum. I'm a fan of his work. And of course, the Grachten trips too. I think it is something one have to experience when in Amsterdam, even though it's a little touristy for my liking.
Love the idea of having a layover in AMS and will definitely be using this as my guide when I get over there. Definitely eating cake for lunch too 😉
Thank you for this 24 hours in Amsterdam guide! I can't wait to check out the bakeries and apple tart :D. It sounds like they have amazing ones!
I went Amsterdam last year and it's cool how many blog posts on Amsterdam I read and the travel experience is always unique with different activities done compared to my trip. This is another I've found really unique and it's a testament to how much there is to do in Amsterdam. I really want to see what the Van Gogh museum is like!
Johnny | Johnny's Traventures
httpss://johnnystraventures.com
I have been to Amsterdam several times already, but I can definitely pick up suggestions from here if I am there again! I love it how you organized the suggestions according to the time of day, it makes life so much easier!
One of the hardest itineraries to make are those 24-hour trips! And I love your blog because of that. I believe Amsterdam is one of the common layovers when visiting Europe. This post will come in handy in my Euro-trip!
I love your post. So informative. I am planning to go to Amsterdam and I would definatly look at the recommendations.
It's absolutely wonderful – very long lines, though
When I get to visit Amsterdam, I will not miss the Van Gogh museum. My eldest daughter would love it there, too.