Are you planning on going to Amsterdam for two days (or longer)? Awesome! It’s my favorite city in the world and you can spend weeks in this city. Even after two years of living there I discover new places all the time. Curious what to do during 2 days in Amsterdam? I’ve summed up the 15 best activities!
Wander through the Haarlemmer area
Very close to Central Station you’ll find one of the coolest neighborhoods: Haarlemmer. Especially the Haarlemmerstraat and the Haarlemmerdijk are very nice, with boutique shops and cozy restaurants. Do you like vintage? Amazing, because this area is all about vintage. Some cool shops are Marbles Vintage, Rumors Vintage & Design and We Love Vintage. But don’t skip the coffee and wine bars, like The Bike Bar and Vinnies.
2 days in Amsterdam: visit tropical Hortus Botanicus
Hortus Botanicus is the botanical garden of Amsterdam. This tropical environment is perfect for plant- and Instagram lovers, because you can make the most beautiful pictures in here. You can also find a Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, another lovely city in The Netherlands.
Have lunch or dinner at the Foodhallen
The Foodhallen is always a great idea if you’re a bit hungry. An old warehouse is transformed into a permanent food festival, with the best bites and drinks. Asian fusion, Spanish tapas, Italian pizza’s, Dutch bites and way more. It’s always a fun place to go to, especially during the evenings.
Visit the Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is one of the main attractions of Amsterdam, but I’ve never been here. I just don’t really love art and museums, but I know a lot of people love this museum. Make sure you have enough time to visit the Rijksmuseum during your two days in Amsterdam.
A must during your two days in Amsterdam: sail through the canals
A boat ride through the canals is definitely a must during your 2 days in Amsterdam. You can go on a standard cruise, but you can also rent a private boat (which I recommend). Make sure to hire a boat via Starboard Boats, where you can rent the Manke Monnik (Lame Monk in English). This boat is ideal for birthdays, parties or just for a lovely day on the water. It has wifi, a toilet, a retractable roof and heated pillows, so it’s perfect for winter days as well. The boat is big enough for 40 people and you have a private skipper, who brings you through the canals along the historical buildings. Check out this private boat tour Amsterdam for more information!
Stroll through the city to find the best street art
You can find some beautiful pieces of street art throughout the city, so make sure you stroll down the city. Besides the centre, you can find some amazing graffiti work at the Jordaan and around the NSDM-wharf in the north of the city.
Have a picnic in one of the parks
Did you know you can find a lot of green parks in Amsterdam? The most famous one is the Vondelpark in the centre of the city, but I love Westerpark the most, which is located in the western part of Amsterdam. It’s such a lovely spot and during summer days a lot of festivals take place in this park. Make sure you buy a bottle of wine at the supermarket and have a drink in the park or just go for a picnic!
Where to sleep in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is not a cheap city and the prices of the hotels can be a bit high, but I’ve found some amazing hotels with a perfect location which are not too expensive:
- Motel One Amsterdam-Waterlooplein
- Generator Amsterdam
- XO Hotels Park West
- Ecomama
- Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel
- Mercure Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station
Another must during your two days in Amsterdam: cycle through the centre
Cycling is one of my favorite things to do in Amsterdam. Nothing beats a cycle tour along the canals. Make sure you hire a bicycle, you can do this anywhere in Amsterdam, and go for a nice ride. BUT please be careful, because locals will definitely ride fast. Don’t go too slow, don’t ride in the middle of the streets and just be very careful.
Have a drink on one of the rooftops
Who doesn’t love a good cocktail on a rooftop? Amsterdam has some lovely rooftops, like the W-Hotel, Canvas and the Volkshotel. I recommend going here right before sunset, so you can enjoy the best view over the city.
Go for a high tea in the smallest house of Amsterdam
It used be the smallest house of Amsterdam, now it’s a tea shop at the Oude Hoogstraat. You can buy some lovely tea over here, but you can also do a high tea with some friends. Make sure you make a reservation in advance and enjoy a lovely high tea in this tiny building.
Do some shopping at the IJhallen
The IJhallen in the north of the city is transformed into a vintage market once or twice a month for the weekend. You can do some cheap shopping in here. Vintage clothes, furniture, accessories, tableware and more: it’s all cheap and secondhand! You have to pay a small fee at the entrance, but you can shop for hours.
What to do during your 2 days in Amsterdam? Relax at the beach!
A beach in Amsterdam? It’s possible! Go to places like Roest (locals favorite), Paasisland or Pllek for a day at the ‘beach’. Buy a cocktail, get yourself some nice sandwiches and you’re good to go!
Play some games at one of the game halls
In Amsterdam you can find three game halls: Puck (Jan Evertsenstraat 747) and the Tonton Club in the centre (Sint Annendwarsstraat 6) and in the western part of the city (Polonceaukade 27). It’s for adults and it’s so much fun! It’s perfect for a date as well.
Go for a cheese-, wine- or gin tasting
You can do several tastings in Amsterdam. Of course you have to try the Dutch cheese, so go for a cheese tasting for sure. But you can do more tastings, like gin, wine, beer and other yummy drinks and food.
Last tip for 2 days in Amsterdam: swing above the city
Close to Amsterdam Central you’ll find the Amsterdam Tower, where you can go for a swing ON TOP of that building. Say whaaaat? You’ll go over the edge of the building, so it’s definitely fun for adventurous people. The swing will cost you five euro, but you also have to pay a fee at the entrance for the building itself.
Do you still need to book a ticket to Amsterdam? Check out Skyscanner for the cheapest flights!
More things to do during your 2 days in Amsterdam
Curious what you can do more in Amsterdam? Check out all the possible activities over here:
4 comments
Hoi Maaike
Een spannende bijdrage die je daar hebt geschreven! Ik vind je foto’s ook geweldig! =) Ik blijf hier kijken 😉
Vriendelijke groeten
Maggie
Dank!
Heel leuke tips en adresjes! gaan we zeker gebruiken als we weer naar Europa reizen 🙂
Leuk!