Amsterdam

Discover the captivating charm of Amsterdam, where historic canals weave through a cityscape adorned with picturesque architecture. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of world-class museums, including the iconic Rijksmuseum and the poignant Anne Frank House. Wander through vibrant neighborhoods like the Jordaan district, where cozy cafes and eclectic boutiques line the cobblestone streets. Embrace the unique Dutch cycling culture as you pedal along the scenic paths, exploring hidden gems and local treasures. Indulge your taste buds with traditional delights in bustling markets, from stroopwafels to savory cheese.

3 Day Itinerary

The following itinerary was designed for a quick long weekend to Amsterdam at Christmas time. The itinerary gives you two full days and most of the first day after arriving from your home city. An easy extended weekend trip.

DAY 1: Arrival in Amsterdam

DAY 3: Day Trip to Maastricht

The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is relatively close to the city and there are a few ways to make the transfer into town. A taxi will run you around $70 and there is a fast moving taxi stand outside of arrivals. You can also elect to take the train which is much cheaper and takes only 20 minutes to the central station.

Since we were only in Amsterdam for a long weekend, we wanted to stay in the best location to be able to walk to the main parts of the city. Dam Square, located in the heart of Amsterdam, is a bustling and historic plaza surrounded by iconic landmarks, including the Royal Palace and the National Monument. We stayed right off the Dam Square at the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky and would definitely recommend for anyone, whether it be your first or a repeat time to the city. While it’s a five star hotel, the rates are affordable and it offers you the best access to all you will want to do while in town.

After checking in, we bundled up (it was much colder than we expected due to the humidity), and headed out to explore. The Dam Square is a great location, but also is a main tourist hub with your typical tourist attractions (Madame Tussauds) in the area. The best thing to do to get to the main canals is head west. After three short blocks, you arrive at the first of the main canals encircling the city center. Once here, you can start exploring away from the main tourists and really get a feel for the city.

We stopped in a few shops and had coffee, pastries, and even found a patatje oorlog shop (Fabel Friet). This is a traditional Dutch meal of French fries topped with a combination of sauces like mayonnaise, truffle sauce, or peanut sauce. It was a great snack to walk around with and even help warm you up in the cold. At Christmas, everything is decorated with lights and wreaths, and you really get the Europe at Christmas feel.

After a few hours exploring, we headed back to the hotel as the sun was setting (around 4pm in December), to change clothes for the night. We had reservations for the Light Festival Canal Cruise at 6:00pm, and after having a pint at a bar next to the hotel, we walked to the boat pickup point by the central train station. We had booked ahead of time using Get Your Guide and easily scanned the pass on our smart phones to board the boat. The cruise took just under 90 minutes and takes you down one of the main canals in a circle. There are various light installations from famous artists along the canal and the audio guide gives you information on these and history of the city.

There wasn’t much heat on the boat, and we were ready to warm up with a good cocktail after the tour was over. We found what I think is one of the best cocktail bars in the city in a small side alley off one of the main canals called Tales and Spirits. The cocktail bar has a great vibe inside and the staff are all very knowledgeable and will help you pick something out of their extensive list of signature drinks. We even tried a rum drink that was served in a ceramic head and was served flaming, with the bartended sprinkling cinnamon on top to make is spark as its sat down in front of you.

For dinner, we ate at a fantastic Italian restaurant called Casa di David. Dinner restaurants in Amsterdam fill up quickly, so you will likely need to make reservations in advance to ensure you eat at a good spot. We had several great pasta dishes and some wine to finish off the night.

 
 
 
 
 

Having felt like we saw much of the city over the past day and a half, we decided we wanted to take a train further inland and find a Christmas Market. There are several options, but we decided a hour and a half train to Maastricht would be something new and fun rather than going to a big city like Brussels. We booked our tickets on the Trainline app, and boarded a train from Central station. If you’ve never used trains in Europe, it’s one of the easiest processes and you just jump on and off without having to deal with security or anything like that.

Maastricht boasts a rich history that dates back to Roman times, and its historic center is dotted with well-preserved buildings, churches, and fortifications. It is a college town, home to the Maastricht University. There is a big Christmas market in the main square, which is about a 20 minute walk across the Meuse River and through the old cobblestone streets.

The market has all your traditional Christmas market features; multiple wooden popup shops selling goods, food like waffles, brats, and hot chocolate, a ferris wheel, skating rink, and of course mulled wine. They also had a fun indoor bar playing live music. We explored the market and had lunch at one of the restaurants bordering the main city square. Although it takes some time to get there, we were glad we got to see a smaller and traditional Dutch town and Christmas market.

By the time we arrived back in Amsterdam that evening, a big snow storm had come through and walking was pretty miserable. Luckily, the bar in our hotel was voted one of the best in the city so we spend the evening having small bites and drinks before heading to sleep to get ready for our flight home in the morning.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

DAY 2: Exploring Amsterdam

For the first full day, we started off eating at the huge buffet at our hotel. I’m not a buffet fan, but this one was actually worth it if you’re staying there. For a more local feel, we also walked to a typical Amsterdam Cafe called Lanscroon Bakery. They serve Stroopwafels and coffees and were some of the I’ve ever had. We spent the rest of the morning walking around the canals some more in the Jordaan neighborhood. We also walked by the Anne Frank house, although we didn’t buy tickets in advance so didn’t go up. As we began to get hungry again, we stopped at the Foodhallen in Amsterdam West. There were so many options to choose from so anyone can find something they like here.

To let the food digest, we stopped at a small pub nearby and had some glühwein (mulled wine). After warming up and digesting, we wandered around through Vondelpark. Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s famous city park and is full of lakes, and tree-lined pathways. It is very popular in the summer, but also on nice winter days like the one we had. On the other side of the park is the Museumplein, a park surrounded by three famous museums:

  • Rijksmuseum: The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands' national museum, housing an extensive collection of Dutch art and history, with masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.

  • Van Gogh Museum: Dedicated to the life and works of the renowned Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, this museum features an impressive collection of his paintings, drawings, and personal artifacts, providing an immersive experience into the artist's creative journey.

  • Stedelijk Museum: Focused on modern and contemporary art, the Stedelijk Museum showcases a diverse range of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, design, and multimedia installations, making it a dynamic hub for exploring cutting-edge artistic expressions in Amsterdam.

If you’re looking for something a bit more interactive, the Heineken Experience tour is just down the street back towards the City Center. It’s a 90 minute tour which you need to buy tickets for in advance to secure a time, but is a fun tour showing how the beer is made and its history. At the end, you also get to sample a pint and leave with a souvenir.

By now, the sun was starting to set and we had a great time walking the canals as the light started to fade and the sunset lit up the sky. As it started to get dark, we stopped in a typical Amsterdam “Brown Bar” called Café De Koningshut. These traditional Dutch pubs earned this nickname due to their cozy, dark interiors with wooden furnishings and a historical ambiance.

For dinner, we had made reservations at Seasons Restaurant, which was a farm-to-table restaurant with some amazing food options. Coincidentally, this is just across the canal from Tales and Spirits and we couldn’t resist going back for more cocktails after dinner.