How to Spend 72 Hours in Amsterdam: Your Curated Pocket Itinerary

AMSTERDAM

From its golden-age merchant houses to cobbled streets lined with cafés, Amsterdam combines history, artistry, and a wry sense of humour that seems stitched into the very bricks of the city. Over 72 hours, it is possible to taste, see, and drink your way through this storied metropolis while still leaving room for serendipitous discoveries. Here’s a curated guide for three days that balances museums, markets, cocktail bars, and hidden gems, with stays at Hotel De L’Europe and the historic Canal House, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World.

Day 1: Arrival, Appetite, and Dutch Masterpieces

Your Amsterdam adventure begins at Hotel De L’Europe, a Belle Époque masterpiece on the Amstel, where polished marble, gilt mirrors, and canal views immediately signal that you have arrived in a city that rewards attention to detail. After dropping your bags, step out into the streets and head straight to Foodhallen, a former tram depot-turned-gourmet playground. Here, the scent of freshly fried frites mingles with the aroma of Indonesian rijsttafel, Vietnamese bánh mì, and artisan tacos. For the adventurous, oysters shucked on the spot or an inventive fusion taco capture the city’s cosmopolitan spirit in a single bite.

Once nourished, stroll along the canal-lined streets to the Rijksmuseum, a repository of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces. Don’t just rush to The Night Watch — take time to explore the domestic scenes of Pieter de Hooch, where light spills into quiet 17th-century interiors, and Rembrandt’s portraits, alive with texture and humanity. The museum gardens, dotted with statues and reflecting pools, provide the perfect pause before you continue your cultural immersion.

As the afternoon light softens, slip into Café de Jaren, an airy, canal-side café with floor-to-ceiling windows. A single-origin espresso here, paired with the gentle hum of the canals, feels like an essential Amsterdam ritual. Dinner that evening is at Restaurant 212, where the Michelin-starred counter dining experience lets you watch chefs craft inventive dishes from local seafood and vegetables with effortless precision. The open kitchen is part theatre, part education, and all delight — make sure to book in advance.

After dinner, it’s time for cocktails at Door 74, a hidden speakeasy whose dimly lit, intimate space evokes a bygone era of secret guilds and whispered conspiracies. The drinks are as meticulous as the setting, and the experience is heightened by the bar’s almost magical, tucked-away entrance. If you have the energy for a late-night stroll, the canals sparkle under the city lights, and a freshly made stroopwafel from a street vendor provides the perfect nocturnal indulgence.

Day 2: Deep Culture and After-Hours Adventures

Begin the day with breakfast at De L'Europe. From here, museums beckon: the Van Gogh Museum showcases the vivid, sometimes tragic genius of the master, with paintings that seem to pulse with emotion. For modern art enthusiasts, the Stedelijk Museum offers an avant-garde counterpoint, with design and photography exhibitions that challenge perception and inspire conversation.

Lunch is at Bakers & Roasters, a Kiwi-Brazilian café in De Pijp, serving hearty breakfast bowls, eggs benedict, and strong coffee. For something sweeter, Café Winkel 43 is famous for its legendary apple pie — a comforting, quintessentially Dutch treat.

The afternoon is ideal for wandering the streets of the Jordaan district, a maze of boutique shops, antique stores, and quiet courtyards. Stop at Museum Van Loon, a canal house museum whose interiors and gardens offer a glimpse into Amsterdam’s aristocratic past. Pop into Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes), where artisanal goods, vintage fashion, and canalside cafés provide a photographer’s dream and a shopper’s paradise alike.

For dinner, elevate the evening at Restaurant CUE, where the menu reflects seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with inventive flair. The understated elegance of the dining room, combined with attentive service and beautifully balanced dishes, makes CUE a refined counterpoint to the city’s more theatrical culinary spots. Afterward, start the night at Freddy’s Bar, a retro-chic haunt inside Hotel De L'Europe beloved by locals for its convivial atmosphere and inventive cocktails, before slipping into Sins of Sal, a sultry speakeasy where velvet booths and dim lighting turn each drink into a cinematic experience. Late-night snacks of frites or bitterballen from a nearby street vendor complete a second day in Amsterdam’s sensory-rich rhythm.

Day 3: Canals, History, and Wine

Check out of Hotel De L’Europe and move to Canal House, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World, where historic interiors and an intimate atmosphere make it the perfect base for your final day. Brunch at Staring at Jacob is a leisurely affair: fresh croissants, avocado toast, and seasonal dishes paired with smooth coffee provide gentle fuel for a day of exploration.

No visit to Amsterdam is complete without the Anne Frank House. Pre-book tickets and allow time to fully absorb the poignancy of the museum; walking through the rooms where Anne and her family hid is a sobering and deeply reflective experience. Afterward, wander along the Prinsengracht canals, lined with 17th-century gabled houses, boutique galleries, and the occasional quiet café.

Pause at Café Twee Prinsen, an organic wine bar tucked nearby, for a crisp local varietal and the kind of canal-side views that feel effortlessly Dutch. For a final cultural flourish, consider the FOAM Photography Museum, showcasing contemporary photography that is as thought-provoking as it is visually striking.

Insider Tips

Walking is the best way to navigate the canals and museums, though bikes are available for a more local experience. Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Huis, and Restaurant 212 all require advance booking, and speakeasies like Door 74 and Sins of Sal are intimate enough to make reservations advisable. Amsterdam’s weather is famously changeable, so layers and comfortable walking shoes are essential, and a relaxed sense of curiosity will ensure every corner you turn is as rewarding as the last.