Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Amsterdam?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Amsterdam?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Amsterdam, Netherlands? Most people spend two to seven days in Amsterdam during their visit. After all, the historic city will let you soak up the big city atmosphere, grab some drinks at a bar, admire the wonderful scenery, and enjoy the live music scene.
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands and it is filled with canals and narrow row houses. The city is famous for its party-hard atmosphere, but it's also rich in history and culture. There are many famous museums, including the world renowned Rijksmuseum. Cycling is a huge part of the Dutch culture and you'll see bikers commuting everywhere in the city.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Amsterdam? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Amsterdam?
One week is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Amsterdam. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Amsterdam as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
How to spend a week in Amsterdam
When visiting Amsterdam, you can't miss the Rijksmuseum as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city has some of the best nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of bars, dance clubs, and other activities that you can enjoy throughout the night.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 1, 2 or 3-7 Days Nightclubs & Best Nightlife in Amsterdam Ticket ($14)
- Amsterdam Private Self Guided Pub Crawl ($22)
- Experience Amsterdam Nightlife on Canal Cruise with Cheese & Wine ($43)
Amsterdam is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The historic parts of the city are very walkable and much of the city is best explored on foot.
Given that Amsterdam is a large and popular city, give yourself a full day to uncover the diverse neighborhoods, captivating attractions, and engaging activities scattered throughout the area. Be sure to include visits to some of the city's premier landmarks and quintessential neighborhoods, too. The city is filled with historic architecture, canals, and lovely houseboats.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Amsterdam Festival of Lights Cruise by Captain Dave ($44)
- Amsterdam Canal Cruise on a small open boat (max 12 guests) ($32)
- Dutch Cheese and Drinks Guided Amsterdam Boat Tour ($32)
Amsterdam is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. With its beautiful canals, historic churches, and relaxing parks, this is a beautiful city.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Amsterdam Canal Cruise on a small open boat (max 12 guests) ($32)
- Dutch Cheese and Drinks Guided Amsterdam Boat Tour ($32)
- 2 Hour Exclusive Canal Boat Cruise w/ Dutch snacks & Onboard Bar ($42)
Public transit in Amsterdam is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The city has metros, trams, buses, and ferries that help you get around. Since this is the Netherlands, getting around by bike is very popular.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Amsterdam a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The city has a number of sights and museums including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Royal Palace. The world renowned Rijksmuseum is a must see for any art enthusiast. There are also many smaller, lesser known museums that are well worth a visit.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Van Gogh Museum Tour With Reserved Entry - Semi-Private 8ppl Max ($145)
- Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam Guided Tour ($71)
- Rijksmuseum Exclusive Guided Tour With Reserved Entry ($145)
Live music is very popular in Amsterdam, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. The city attracts its share of world renowned DJs and musicians. Popular music venues include Paradiso, De Melkweg, and Chicago Social Club.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The old city center is one of the best preserved in Europe. It's enclosed by canals and has many historic churches, plazas, and buildings.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Walking Tour in Amsterdam with Enthusiastic and Fun Guide ($37)
- Anne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour ($32)
- Anne Frank Walking Tour Amsterdam Including Jewish Cultural Quarter ($68)
As the live music scene is so popular in Amsterdam, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Shopping in Amsterdam is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. For the best shopping in town, head to the Nine Streets area in the historic district and the two main shopping streets of The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet Shopping Day Trip from Amsterdam ($0)
- Private Shopping Tour from Amsterdam hotels to Batavia Outlet ($172)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
After you've explored most of Amsterdam, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Giethoorn Day Trip from Amsterdam With Cruise and Cheesetasting ($43)
- Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans Windmills Day Trip from Amsterdam ($125)
- Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam ($43)
As the live music scene is so popular in Amsterdam, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Amsterdam is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Amsterdam?
Two weeks provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Amsterdam at your own pace to soak up the big city atmosphere, grab some drinks at a bar, admire the wonderful scenery, and enjoy the live music scene. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.
Amsterdam
How to spend 2 weeks in Amsterdam
With 2 weeks in Amsterdam, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time experiencing the city's neighborhoods, hopping around the bars and clubs, and hanging at the music venues. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Giethoorn Day Trip from Amsterdam With Cruise and Cheesetasting ($43)
- Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans Windmills Day Trip from Amsterdam ($125)
- Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam ($43)
- Giethoorn Day Trip from Amsterdam with Boatride ($104)
- Day Trip to Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam with Tour Guide ($53)
More Info
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