Amsterdam-1 Day Trip

So here is the first post on my first ever travel to a country outside Germany. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Amsterdam

Getting around In Amsterdam:

First, my #1 tip: Be sure to wear good walking shoes.

The reason is that instead of renting a bicycle, we decided to walk or use public transportation to reach our destinations. There are lot of options like buses, trams and the metro. I would suggest to get a 24-hour pass. This gives you full access to the city’s public transport network.

One day in Amsterdam: the itinerary

Here's the 1-day itinerary I created for our first trip. I would suggest you all to install Visit a City App from Playstore. I used this app to see the best of Amsterdam.

Overview of my itinerary for one day in Amsterdam:

• Breakfast
• Rijksmuseum
• Bloemenmarkt
• Manneken Pis
• Canal Cruise
• Anne Frank House
• Dam Square
• Museumplein
• Vondelpark
• Red Light District

1. Breakfast

We reached Amsterdam around 6:30am, so the first thing to energise ourselves was to have a good healthy breakfast. We decided to go to Omelegg. It has been incredibly popular and successful breakfast restaurant for a while now. It was really nice and tasty. We had a good cup of coffee with it.  

Service and food were quick. They have 2 branches, one in De Pijp and where we went was close to Central Station. The price is very reasonable for the quality and quantity they offer.

2. Rijksmuseum

The first place we headed to was the Rijksmuseum. The national museum is open after a 10-year reform and it certainly doesn’t disappoint you. It is an amazing museum that has the largest collection of Dutch Egyptian, and Asian art in the world. Here we also saw painting Night Watch by famous artist Rembrandt.

We planned 1 hour for the museum as we wanted to see many attractions in 1 day as possible. 

Thankfully, we got ticket in short time because we had come early, Later on it was quite bit of a rush. We managed to see all the important highlights.

Rijksmuseum Museum Ticket Price is 17.50 euros.

Tip: To avoid long lines at the Rijksmuseum, arrive early to avoid the crowds; the museum gets busy after 11 am.

3. Bloemenmarkt

The next stop was the flower market also known as Bloemenmarkt. It is the only floating flower market in the world, with so many flower stalls set up on houseboats. The interesting thing I found out was that this market has been here since 1862. Wow!

You can buy flower seeds, bulbs, all kinds of souvenirs, or just walk around and take colorful pictures. 

4. Manneken Pis

After walking through the flower market, we were a bit hungry. So we decided to try the best fries in Amsterdam. There are definitely over 100 stores of fries in Amsterdam. However, no fries come close to the Manneken-Pis fries. I can say that so confidently because I've already eaten so many types of fries in my life. Nothing comes close to these fries. And it's not just the fries either, it is the whole system.

5. Amsterdam canal cruise

After our small snack, we went to take our canal tour. Amsterdam is full of canals, and there are lots of different companies offering canal cruise trips to see the city. 

Distinctive houseboats and narrow, side-by-side homes line the picturesque canals wherever you look. The stairs in these buildings are so narrow they need to use hooks on the house buildings to hoist furniture from the waterways to upper floors.

You will get a completely different perspective of the city from a boat which you wont get by just walking in the city. 

The boat that we got on was surprisingly free. It was 1 hour trip and along the tour you can get headphones and listen to history of famous areas and buildings.

6. Anne Frank House

We could not miss out to visit and experience the place where a young writer once lived. During World War II, Anne Frank & her family hid from Nazi persecution in secret rooms at the rear of the 17th-century canal house. Anne Frank did not survive the war but she became famous in 1947, when her diary got published.

The front of this building housed Otto Frank’s two businesses during the war. The bottom floor was the warehouse, the second floor – the offices, the third floor – the storeroom, and at the back of this floor was where the entrance to the secret annex was located.

Do yourself a favor and purchase your admission tickets online. Online ticket holders can bypass the line and enter through a separate entrance to the museum. 

7. Dam Square

Our next destination was Dam Square, Amsterdam’s central square, where the Royal Palace is also located. This is one of the most well-known locations in Amsterdam.

8. Walk through Amsterdam's Red Light District

Amsterdam’s Red Light District is one of the most famous tourist attractions. Here women display themselves by standing in windows which are illuminated by the fluorescent red lights overhead. Whatever adult pleasure you might desire, it’s available here.

You can also visit the place during the day, but if you want to see the true side of the Red Light District, you’ll need to visit after dark, when it really comes alive. 

As intriguing as it might be, the Red Light District has more to offer than that. Look around while you’re strolling around. This is a beautiful area in its own right, full of 300-year-old historical buildings and other expensive, photo-worthy real estate.

9. End our trip with Walk at night

Amsterdam city’s houses and bridges are beautifully lit after dark. We used our remaining energy to enjoy a canal cruise trip and later a stroll across Amsterdam’s bridges on the way back to the hostel. I think it is a magical way to end your day in Amsterdam.

Morning: Breakfast at a Pancake House

Start your day with a hearty Dutch breakfast at a pancake house. Amsterdam is known for its delicious pancakes, and you can try sweet or savory varieties, such as apple or bacon and cheese.

Mid-Morning: Explore the Jordaan Neighborhood and Bloemenmarkt

The Jordaan neighborhood is one of the most charming and picturesque areas of Amsterdam, with narrow streets, quirky shops, and cozy cafes. Take a walk through the neighborhood and soak up the atmosphere. Visit the Bloemenmarkt, a floating flower market, to admire the colorful flowers and plants.

Late Morning: Visit the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum

The Van Gogh Museum is a must-visit attraction for art lovers, as it houses the largest collection of Van Gogh's works in the world. Spend a few hours admiring the vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes of his famous paintings. Visit the nearby Rijksmuseum, which is one of the most famous museums in Amsterdam and home to an impressive collection of Dutch art and history.

Lunch: Try Some Indonesian Cuisine

Indonesian cuisine is a popular and delicious option for lunch in Amsterdam. Try some rijsttafel, which is a selection of small dishes that showcase the variety and richness of Indonesian flavors.

Afternoon: Visit the Anne Frank House and Take a Canal Cruise

The Anne Frank House is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in learning about the history of the Holocaust and World War II. The museum is located in the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during the war, and it's a powerful and moving experience to walk through the rooms where they lived in hiding. Take a canal cruise to get a unique perspective of the city from the water and see Amsterdam's iconic canals and bridges.

Evening: Visit Dam Square, Museumplein, Vondelpark, Red Light District and Manneken Pis

End your day in Amsterdam by visiting some of the city's most famous attractions. Start with Dam Square, the heart of the city and a bustling hub of activity. Walk to Museumplein, which is home to several museums, including the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum. Take a stroll in Vondelpark, the city's largest park. Explore the Red Light District, known for its famous red-lit windows and unique atmosphere. And don't forget to visit the famous Manneken Pis, a bronze sculpture of a urinating boy.