First Time Visiting Amsterdam | What to See in 2 Days
One of Western Europe’s most interesting countries is the Netherlands. Amsterdam is one of the easiest accessible cities if you are flying in from outside of the EU. Because of its popular tourism, it is easy to travel to and generally very safe to visit Amsterdam (and the Netherlands in general).
The Netherlands is part of the European low-lands, and most Dutch citizens have their homes below sea level. This leads to tons of bridges that are connecting different parts of the cities and countries together. In Amsterdam alone, there are 1200 bridges.
On your travels throughout the Netherlands, you will notice the 1000+ windmills and hundreds of tulip fields (if you visit in the right season). The canals in Amsterdam are famous all around the world and can’t be missed on your trip.
If you happen to only speak English, don’t be feared. Some of the best non-native English speakers live in the Netherlands.
If you have never visited Amsterdam, I would recommend at least 48 hours to explore the city. These are some of my favorite places to visit and things to do when you have 48 hours in Amsterdam.
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Where to go?
DAY 1
If you are arriving in the morning, or got in late the night before, a coffee is always a great idea. Amsterdam has tons of cute cafes where you can grab a to-go coffee or sit and enjoy the view. If you opt for the coffee to go, you can already head to one of the biggest parks in the city called Rembrandt park. This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice morning walk.
If you are ready for some lunch head to a supermarket and get some food for a picnic in the biggest park called Vondelpark. This is very similar to the Rembrandt park, and if you rather enjoy the view of the canals, you can head towards the city center and enjoy your picnic near the water.
In the afternoon, you can visit one of Amsterdam’s museums to get a taste of the culture of the city. Some of my favorite museums are:
After your visit to the museum, you can head to one of my favorite bakeries in town called “De Drie Graefjes”. They have the best cakes, and some good coffee as well.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and early evening by (window) shopping in the city’s “9 streets”. You can find some of the best vintage shops in all of Europe and score some good deals on beautiful pieces.
Grab some dinner at a local pub or small restaurant depending on where your afternoon took you. If you don’t mind going a bit out of the city center, I recommend going to “Edel by Dennis” a restaurant right on the water.
After that you can enjoy a nice evening walk near the water and enjoy the sunset.
Did you have a few drinks, and want a safe ride home? Use Uber & get your first ride for free.
DAY 2
When you say Amsterdam, you immediately think of bikes. If you are up for a challenge you can rent a bike and explore a bit of the city.
(route 1 - Amsterdam North / route 2 - Amsterdam South)
If you think biking is too much for you, you can take a smaller loop and explore downtown.
After your active morning biking or walking near the city you must be starving! I recommend heading to a cafe with some of the best views in the city called Blue Amsterdam.
In the afternoon, you can enjoy the views from the water. Book onto a canal tour, sit back and relax. There are many different tours that you can take, one with a history lesson, a party boat and so much more, depending on your preference.
To end your last day in Amsterdam, head to the Foodhallen and eat some dinner before either heading to bed, your next flight or catch a bus to the next city.
