Amsterdam in 3 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

As I know that designing the route for each day can be a daunting task, I've put together an itinerary to make your three-day trip to Amsterdam worthwhile and allow you to see the must-see sights. The first day will focus on the most historic part of the city centre, but the following two days will allow time to take in more specific but equally essential sights.

On your first day, Amsterdam welcomes you with its cultural highlights. Make the most of the start of your trip to see the city's most typical sights and visit its museums, where you can get your first taste of its history. Don't worry, there will also be time to get your strength back after a day of walking.

Admire the art of its museums

How about starting the day at the Museumplein? We could say that this area, known as the Museum Quarter, is the cultural and artistic centre par excellence of Amsterdam. Obviously, not all the city's art galleries and exhibition halls are located here, but Amsterdam's most important museums are, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Museum of Modern Art.

Even if you have to buy each ticket separately, I recommend spending a morning visiting one or two of these museums; they are undoubtedly emblematic of Amsterdam. Of course, as they have such world-renowned collections, they receive many visitors throughout the year, so always buy your tickets in advance. What are my recommendations?

• Van Gogh Museum: if there is a Dutch artist who deserves his own museum, it is Vincent Van Gogh. There you can learn about the history of this painter through his paintings, letters and sketches.
• Rijksmuseum: more than two million people visit this museum every year to learn about the art of the Dutch Golden Age, where you can see works by Vermeer and Rembrandt, among others.
• Stedelijk: if you like modern art, you will love admiring the creations of Picasso, Renoir or Andy Warhol in this museum, believe me.

Relax and have lunch in the Vondelpark

I'm sure that all this art has made you a little hungry; after all, it's quite a walk from one museum to the next. Well, it's time for a bite to eat and I've got a plan for you: a picnic in the Vondelpark.

The good thing is that in this park, which is the biggest, most beautiful and most important in Amsterdam, you can buy a basket of food if you don't bring your own. To get there easily, you can book the Amsterdam sightseeing bus.

And when you've filled your stomach, you can walk the food down the 45 hectares of the Vondelpark for a while. There are a lot of them, I know, but I recommend you at least go to the open-air theatre, where there are usually some concerts, especially during the summer in Amsterdam. In any case, you will surely enjoy walking through this landscape designed by Jan David Zocher in the purest English style, with ponds, woods and gardens.

Visit Dam Square, the city's most famous square

Not another minute can go by without seeing Dam Square, the centre of Amsterdam. This is where important events take place in April in Amsterdam, such as the tulip market or the big King's Day celebration. Even if it is not a special day, it is a place you should always visit, as you will find important monuments and buildings here.

In fact, I recommend you to book tickets to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam (currently the venue for official events) or the National Monument to the Dutch fallen during World War II.

In addition, Dam Square is also home to the Amsterdam Wax Museum, which you can visit to see the wax figures of important personalities in Holland and around the world. If you fancy something more traditional, you can enter the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church ), which has a lot of historical value but a rather unremarkable interior.

Enter the Begijnhof Courtyard

Close to Dam Square is the Begijnhof, a beautiful inner courtyard with a lot of history behind it. You can also get there comfortably if you book the Amsterdam sightseeing bus.

To begin with, you should know that it has a religious character, so be quiet and respectful while you are there. It was founded in the Middle Ages as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, although its fame is due to the community of Christian and unmarried women who lived there and from where they helped the city's homeless.

Today, Begijnhof belongs to the English Reformed Church and the Protestant Church of the Netherlands, but its structure and, above all, its houses, built in a Gothic style and each one with a totally different appearance from the others, have been maintained. Among them is the oldest in Amsterdam, dating from 1528.

Lose yourself in the streets of Amsterdam's historic centre

Now that you've got into the historic centre of Amsterdam, the next step would be to get to know the rest of the buildings, streets and secrets hidden in this area. The best way to do this is to rent a bicycle.

You may have already seen something when you arrived in the city, as this is where the Central Station is located. Right next to it is St. Nicholas Church, a must-see if you want to learn about Amsterdam's Catholic history and tradition.

One of the best places to walk is Spui, a set of pedestrianised streets where hardly any cars pass through. If you start to get hungry or feel like taking a break, you're in a good area, as there are plenty of restaurants for snacks and also several coffee shops.

For the second day my proposal is a much more natural and luminous part of Amsterdam. I'm sure you can already imagine that the canals will be one of the scenes you'll be exploring, but I've got more surprises in store, like the flower market. Time to get going!

Cycle Amsterdam's canals

Don't worry, you don't need to be sporty to endure a bike ride along Amsterdam's canals. In fact, it's a very flat terrain, which has undoubtedly contributed to the fact that the locals prefer to get around Amsterdam on two wheels.

My advice is to get to know the whole canal area of Amsterdam:

• Rent a bike.
• Book a guided bike tour of Amsterdam if you don't dare to go on your own.

The good thing about doing this tour in the morning is that you have more energy to cycle along the three main canals: Prinsengracht, Keizersgratch and Herengracht. The ring formed by the three is called the Grachtengordel. As you and your bike pass by, you'll see luxurious mansions on the banks of the Herengracht and cross some of the more than 1,000 bridges.

Stop off for some of Amsterdam's best cheese

You'll probably need to replenish your energy with some food and what better way than to book a cheese tasting in Amsterdam. Cheese is as typical as bikes in Amsterdam.

You can also head to a specialised shop or to the Cheese Museum itself, which is located on the Prinsengracht canal and costs about €1 to enter. There you will not only learn about the history of this food, but you can also try different types (free and unlimited) and then buy the ones you like best.

Cheese has a long tradition in Holland and, being the capital, in Amsterdam you can find different flavours and also the most common varieties, those named after an important city (Gouda, Maasdam or Edam, for example). Let me know which one you like best after tasting them!

Soak up the good smells of the Flower Market

To continue our tour of Amsterdam's most colourful and typical sights, why not head to the Flower Market? I'm not going to kid you, the best time to go is when spring arrives in Amsterdam, but any time of year is a good time to stroll around the stalls, appreciate the large number of flowers (especially tulips) and maybe buy some seeds.

In the Dutch capital they love flowers and the Bloemenmarkt is their favourite place to buy them, so don't think it's just a place for tourists. As well as flowers and plants already grown, you can take advantage of the opportunity to buy bulbs or seeds, they make a great gift and souvenir of your trip! If not, you can also just walk around, because the smell of the plants is an experience in itself.

Get close to Rembrandt Square and its history

There are many squares in Amsterdam, but after the Dam, Rembrandtplein is one of the most famous. Why? Because it is home to the oldest statue in the city, which pays homage to the painter after whom the square is named, Rembrandt van Rijn.

In addition, you can also find the artist's former home, which has now been converted into his museum. You can visit it; something I recommend if you want to see his great works (admission costs approximately 15€).

And next to this, a building that is sure to attract your attention is the Pathé Tuschinski theatre. It dates from 1921 and, even if you don't go inside, the façade is enough to leave you open-mouthed. Why? Because it is designed according to Art Deco motifs.

Relax on an evening cruise along the canals

Even if you've already been on the canals in the morning, I recommend coming back in the early evening to embark on a canal cruise in Amsterdam. As the sunlight begins to fade, the scene it leaves on the water, bridges and banks is beautiful. Seeing it makes you understand why they are a World Heritage Site.

You can book them at any time, but I recommend taking an Amsterdam canal cruise at night. That's when the most important buildings and monuments start to light up, a beautiful sight. In addition, you will have a guide who will explain everything you see, such as the Golden Curve, the Narrow Bridge or the Anne Frank House. Here are several options so that you can choose the one that suits you best:

• Guided canal cruise in Amsterdam, from £18.
• Historic Amsterdam Canal Cruise, from £24.
• Amsterdam canalcruise with aperitif and drinks, from £51.
• Pizza cruise on the canals of Amsterdam, from £35.
• Open boat cruise on the canals of Amsterdam, from £18.
• Panoramic Amsterdam canal cruise, from £19.
• Amsterdam highlights cruise, from £15.

This is the last day, but not the least important. In fact, on this third day in Amsterdam you will have the opportunity to explore the famous Jordaan neighbourhood, but also Anne Frank's house, which is essential to understand one of the saddest and most painful periods of Dutch culture. However, there will also be time for more lively activities, promise!

Get to know the old Jordaan

Start the day in the Jordaan, which went from being one of the city's poorest neighbourhoods to one of the busiest and most avant-garde. The reason for this is that during the Golden Age, the city had to expand and so the Jordaan emerged, which housed poor workers living in cramped, small houses.

You will be able to see all this during your visit, as the citizens fought to ensure that, in 1970, all the buildings were not demolished and the history of the place was respected. Although it is now a modern area, it still has monuments that have gained a lot of significance over the years, one of the most recent being the Homomonument, which commemorates people prosecuted for their sexual identity.

If you want to have a drink before continuing, you can stop off at the Brouwersgracht, a canal that borders the Jordaan and is home to the city's oldest breweries.

Explore Anne Frank's house and the Jewish Quarter

At 263 Prinsengracht you will find one of the most important and solemn places in Amsterdam: the Anne Frank House. Anne and her family stayed there for almost three years, until someone betrayed them to the Nazis and they were sent to concentration camps. Only her father survived, who decided to publish the famous diaries. Today their former home is now a museum that tells their story.

It's no secret that the visit is tough but I definitely recommend booking an Anne Frank tour of the Jewish Quarter. It is an essential visit.

On your way out, I invite you to take a tour of Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter. Before the Second World War it was an important centre for Jews in Europe and, although the population has naturally decreased a lot, it still maintains the influence of its culture. There is also the National Holocaust Memorial, the Museum of Jewish History and the Porguesa Synagogue (there was a large community of Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam).

Admire the view of Amsterdam from the Westerkerk church

Next to Anne Frank's house is the Westerkerk Church, which she mentions several times in her diary. It is also famous for being the largest Protestant church in Amsterdam, so you can't miss it. Above all, I recommend climbing its tower, which is 85 metres high and offers impressive views over the city.

The tower and its bell tower are clearly the most attractive elements of the Westerkerk, as the interior of the church is not so striking. However, access is free, so you don't lose anything by going inside and having a look around.

Refresh yourself with a bite to eat in Chinatown

Feeling peckish? Just a few minutes' walk from the Jewish quarter is Chinatown, where, as you can imagine, you'll find Amsterdam's best restaurants. Take a break and pop into one of them for a tasty menu. If you fancy other types of Asian food, you'll find them too, as this area has opened up to cultures such as Korean and Thai.

Apart from the shops in Chinatown, which is by the way the oldest in Europe (it was started around 1910), you must go to the Fo Guang Shan He Hua Buddhist Temple. Its construction is recent (2000), but its importance has been growing ever since. It is the first Buddhist temple in Europe and also the largest on the continent. Access is free, but remember that it is a religious building and must be respected with silence and consideration.

See the market and Nieuwmarkt Square

Three days may not seem like much time considering all there is to see in Amsterdam, but you'll find that if you organise your trip well, you'll have a chance to see the highlights. Besides, if you book the Amsterdam sightseeing bus, you can save time on your trips.

To almost finish your trip, I suggest you go to Nieuwmarkt, one of Amsterdam's main squares where a market is organised every day, from 9 am to 5 pm. Its energetic and welcoming atmosphere is contagious. Whatever time you go, you'll be able to go to one of the many cafés and restaurants there.

The square was built around one of the city's medieval gates, making it a historical landmark. I recommend a stroll around it, although the De Waag building (the House of Weights) will immediately catch your eye. It is now a restaurant, but it used to be part of the city wall and, somewhat later, the place where the scales were placed to weigh the food on the market.

End the day with a tour of the famous Red Light District

Did you think your trip to Amsterdam would come to an end without visiting the Red Light District? Of course, it's one of the places that arouses the most curiosity, but to understand everything that goes on there and what the atmosphere is really like, it's best to go at night and, if you have the chance, visit it with a Red Light District tour.

Don't be afraid, it's a safe area, although to learn more about its history I recommend booking a guided tour of the Red Light District. Controversy, alcohol, prostitution and gambling are the main protagonists of Amsterdam's Red Light District. However, its streets also hide buildings with beautiful architecture and many legends to discover.