3 Day Amsterdam Itinerary: Where to Stay, Eat & What to Do
Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Join us for our 3-day Amsterdam itinerary as we share where we stayed, what we ate, our favorite things to do, and a few memorable experiences along the way.
Last year, my husband Steve and I went on an incredible trip to France. Since we were taking a longer vacation, we decided we wanted to experience at least two countries instead of just one. So, we added a few days in Amsterdam to our French vacation!
You may have seen some of the highlights from our time in Amsterdam on Instagram, but this is a more in-depth look at where we stayed, what we ate, and what we did while we were there.
If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, this 3-day itinerary is a great place to start.
Getting to Amsterdam from France
To get to Amsterdam, we flew from Marseille to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Once we landed, we headed straight to our hotel to get checked in and settled.
And speaking of our hotel…
Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Hotel Estherea
The hotel we chose was Hotel Estherea, and it was gorgeous. It has certainly earned its four-star rating!
This family-owned boutique hotel is located in a 17th-century building and has a fascinating history. The location is also fantastic – it sits right alongside the Singel, one of Amsterdam’s historic canals.
Since the hotel is centrally located, it was easy for us to get out and explore the city, which is one of our favorite things to do when we travel.
Hotel Estherea has 91 rooms and two suites, all of which are themed and uniquely decorated. Every detail of each room and suite has been carefully chosen, and you can tell. It has a very cozy, classic Amsterdam feel without feeling dated.
Our first room was actually a suite. It was gorgeous, but it didn’t have any windows. That made Steve a bit uncomfortable, so the staff graciously moved us to a regular room that did have windows!
Our second room was every bit as beautiful and comfortable as the first, and we would absolutely consider staying here again.
The hotel building is on the UNESCO world heritage list and besides history, you will find plenty of amenities too. There is a library filled with books where you can cozy up, a bar, coffee, hot chocolate and snacks, a gym, bicycle rentals, and a lounge where you can sit and watch the canal.
It was a beautiful and comfortable home base for exploring Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Weather: What to Expect
Amsterdam has a mild, somewhat unpredictable climate, so I recommend packing layers no matter what time of year you visit. The weather can change quickly, and even a beautiful sunny morning can turn into a cool or rainy afternoon.
Spring and summer tend to bring the most comfortable temperatures for walking around the city, with longer daylight hours making it especially nice for canal tours, biking, and exploring Amsterdam on foot. Summer is generally mild rather than extremely hot, although you can certainly get some warmer days.
Fall brings cooler temperatures and a good chance of rain, but Amsterdam is beautiful this time of year, especially when the leaves begin to change and the canals reflect the colors of the season. Winter is chilly, with shorter days and the possibility of rain, wind, and occasionally snow.
We visited Amsterdam as part of our fall trip to France, and the weather was comfortable enough for walking around the city and enjoying a canal tour. We did have layers with us!
What to Pack for Amsterdam
No matter when you visit, I’d recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket or sweater, and something that will keep you dry if a rain shower pops up. A small umbrella or packable rain jacket can be especially helpful. Which neither of us did – but the hotel had umbrellas that we could use…and we did every day!
The good news is that Amsterdam is a city where you can enjoy yourself even when the weather isn’t perfect. There are museums, cozy cafés, restaurants, pubs, shops, and beautiful historic buildings around practically every corner. And honestly, a little rain brings out an rainbow!
Dinner at Pesca: The Theater of Fish
For dinner our first night in Amsterdam, we went to Pesca, also known as the “theater of fish.”
The restaurant has an open kitchen, so you can watch as the food is prepared, and it has a fun marketplace-like vibe.
As you enter the restaurant, you choose the fish you’d like to eat, and the knowledgeable staff can guide you on how you might best enjoy having it prepared. They also had an excellent wine selection available, which is always a plus in my book!
It was a fun and different dining experience and a great way to kick off our time in Amsterdam.
Take an Amsterdam Canal Tour
On our second day in Amsterdam, we took a canal tour with Captain Storm, and I highly recommend it!
A canal tour is such a fun way to see Amsterdam. You get to experience the city from a completely different perspective, and there were wine and snacks on our tour, too….which made it even better 😉
If you’re visiting Amsterdam for the first time, I think a canal cruise is one of those experiences you shouldn’t skip. It’s a relaxing way to see some of the city’s architecture and historic canals without having to navigate the streets yourself.
Explore Amsterdam on a Walking Tour
After our canal tour, we took a free walking tour of the city called The Dark Side of Amsterdam.
As you might guess from the name, this isn’t your typical sightseeing tour. The tour focuses on the darker history of medieval Amsterdam, and some of what you learn can be shocking!
This tour is definitely a bit gruesome, but I would still recommend it for adults who are interested in the more unusual side of a city’s history.
The tour is free, although the recommended tip for the guide was around $20 per person when we visited.
We learned about orphanages where children were reportedly drugged because of their increasingly unruly behavior and were thought to be possessed by demons. We also learned about areas where public executions took place and shelters for women where prostitutes were housed.
And that’s just the beginning!
If you want to know more, you’ll have to take the tour yourself.
Why I Love Walking Tours When We Travel
I always enjoy taking a walking tour when we travel to a new city.
It’s an excellent way to learn more about the city’s history, get the lay of the land, and find great places to eat, drink, and shop.
The Dark Side of Amsterdam might not be for everyone, but the same company offers several other free walking tours of the city. You can choose from historical tours, food tours, an Anne Frank-focused tour, and even a Red Light District tour.
Their guides were very knowledgeable, and I would highly recommend checking out their tours when planning your Amsterdam itinerary.
Breakfast at Chun Café
The next day, Steve wanted to check out a viral restaurant he had seen on TikTok for breakfast.
The name of the restaurant is Chun Café, and they specialize in toast, matcha, and coffee. They have six specialty sandwiches to choose from, and they’re only open for about five hours a day…which helps explain the line!
And let me tell you, the line to eat inside the restaurant was insane.
If you get takeout, though, the line moves along pretty quick. We decided to grab ours to go, and while it wasn’t exactly a life-changing meal, it was still pretty good.
We were glad we gave it a try. I mean, how often do you get the chance to experience a TikTok-viral restaurant in another country?
Sometimes it’s about the experience!
Spend an Afternoon Exploring Amsterdam
After breakfast, we walked around the city until the pub we wanted to visit opened. Actually, Captain Storm told us about it – he also told us the correct way to drink that liquor below….No hands! Of course we had to try it 🙂
We ended up sitting at the pub for hours, chatting with locals and fellow travelers. The drinks were good, the atmosphere was great, and we would definitely stop in again.
Honestly, some of my favorite travel memories come from days like this. No major sightseeing agenda, no rushing from one attraction to another…just walking around, finding a place that looks interesting, and enjoying the city.
Amsterdam is a great city for that kind of exploring.
Breakfast at Wolf Bakery
The next day, we started off with an incredible breakfast at Wolf Bakery.
They specialize in sourdough and croissants, and both are made in-house. I got apple stuffed pancakes – they were incredible! The food was delicious and it was a great way to end our time in Amsterdam.
After breakfast, we hopped on a train back to Paris because we thought we had an early morning flight.
We stopped for some wine and ordered room service to enjoy and had an early night.
As it turns out, our flight ended up being delayed by about 8 hours, so we actually had a little more time than we thought!
You can read more about our entire France trip here.
Would We Go Back to Amsterdam?
Absolutely!
Our time in Amsterdam was an excellent addition to our French vacation, and we would definitely go back again.
The people were friendly, the hotel was excellent, and there is still plenty more to see and do that we didn’t get to experience.
I think that’s one of the best things about travel, you don’t have to see everything in one trip. Sometimes leaving a city with a list of things you still want to experience is the perfect reason to return.
Our 3-Day Amsterdam Itinerary
If you’re planning your own Amsterdam trip, here’s a quick look at how we spent our time. Of course, you can easily customize this depending on your interests and how much time you have.
Day 1: Arrive & Explore
- Fly from Marseille to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
- Check into Hotel Estherea
- Explore the area around the Singel canal
- Enjoy the hotel’s library, lounge and other amenities
- Dinner at Pesca, the “Theatre of Fish”
Day 2: Canals & Amsterdam’s History
- Breakfast at the hotel or nearby
- Take a canal tour
- Explore Amsterdam on a free walking tour
- Spend the afternoon exploring the city on foot
- Stop for drinks, snacks or dinner wherever you find something that looks interesting
Day 3: Food, Drinks & Exploring
- Breakfast at Chun Café if you want to see what the hype is about – otherwise head to Wolf Bakery
- Walk around Amsterdam and explore the neighborhoods
- Stop at a local pub and enjoy drinks with locals and fellow travelers
- Continue exploring the city at your own pace
- Enjoy a relaxed evening in Amsterdam
Day 4: One Last Breakfast & Back to Paris
- Breakfast at Wolf Bakery
- Enjoy a little more time exploring Amsterdam
- Take the train back to Paris – if that’s where your next destination is too 🙂
More Amsterdam Travel Tips
If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, I’d recommend leaving yourself some unstructured time. There are plenty of famous attractions and museums to add to your itinerary, but some of our favorite moments came from simply walking around the city, sitting at a pub, taking a canal tour, and enjoying good food. Don’t forget comfortable walking shoes!
The architecture along the canals is beautiful, and sometimes wandering without a specific destination is the best way to experience Amsterdam.
Looking for more European Adventures? Check out some of our other trips:
- Athens and Crete: 3 Generations of Women Making Memories!
- 4 Days in Iceland: What to See and What to do
- Why You Should Stay at La Gemma Hotel in Florence Italy
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