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As a former art student, let me first say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the classical Dutch masters. BUT if your idea of a perfect trip to Amsterdam doesn’t involve queuing for hours just to squint at a 19th-century sunflower, then you are in the right place. Amsterdam is famous for its history and classic art, but its modern, quirky and slightly rebellious soul is where the real magic happens. And no, I’m not talking about the coffeeshops or ladies of the night. If you’d rather swap the traditional museum crowds for the vibrant contemporary halls of the Moco Museum, hang out with rescue cats on a canal boat, and end your nights dining in pitch-black darkness, this alternative 3 days in Amsterdam itinerary may be just what you need.
Day 1: Modern Art, Anne Frank House and Pancakes
Amsterdam is known for its art, history and culture, so our first day in the city was the perfect blend. We arrived in the afternoon so managed to visit both Moco Museum and Anne Frank House. However, if you have more time then I suggest also exploring the city on foot, grabbing a coffee and spotting the flower bikes.
Moco Museum
Of course, Amsterdam is famous for its Dutch masters of painting but every other Amsterdam itinerary is going to tell you about the Rijksmuseum. For the modern traveller with an eye for the quirky side of travel, may I suggest the Moco Museum. Moco stands for MOdern and COntemporary. This is where you can find modern art like Banksy and Basquiat, as well as digital and immersive experiences. My favourite exhibition was the immersive art by Studio Irma which was like stepping into a kaleidoscope.
Flower Bikes
Amsterdam is full of bikes but none will catch your eye quite like the creations of Warren Gregory aka Flower Bike Man. What began as a way of helping his epileptic wife find her bike (by decorating it with flowers), has now become a street art phenomenon across the city. While we didn’t set out specifically to find these beloved colourful bikes, we did enjoy photographing them while we explored Amsterdam’s streets. Spotting the flower bikes is a fun way to explore the city on foot, but if you want to hop on a bike yourself then you can actually tour Amsterdam on a flower bike creation!
Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House will be on every Amsterdam itinerary you find. But with good reason. The house is the exact preserved building where Anne, her family and others hid for over two years in a secret annex during the Holocaust. This is where she wrote her famous diary and you can see pages from the diary, as well as family photographs on the wall, preserved in the house and adjacent museum.
Important to note: advance booking is essential. We were in the Netherlands for 4 days. We booked a month in advance but the only time slots available were for 8.30pm the evening we arrived. Book your Anne Frank House tickets on the official website.
Pancakes
Pancakes and desserts in general are a big deal in Amsterdam so you simply cannot leave without eating some. The Dutch Poffertjes are small and fluffy and dusted with sugar. If like us you had late night cravings for pancakes, stop by Original Pancake for something sweet. I went for a traditional large pancake topped with Kinder Bueno. Sickly? Yes. But did I regret it? Absolutely not!
Day 2: Cookies, Cats and Cocktails
Our second day in the Dam was actually my birthday so we spent it enjoying all the things that I love… cookies, cats and cocktails!
Van Stapele Koekmakerij
An incredibly touristy, but oh-so-worth-it thing to do would be to pay a visit to the Van Stapele Koekmakerij. This cookie shop produces just one type of cookie – a dark chocolate dough with a white chocolate filling served straight from the oven. There will be a queue but don’t let that put you off as it’s fairly fast moving.
Amsterdam is a sweet tooth paradise and what began as a small and cosy cookie shop has now become something of a viral sensation!
De Poezenboot Cat Boat
De Poezenboot aka the Cat Boat is a small cat rescue situated right on the canal. Like all rescues, the aim of De Poezenboot first and foremost is to provide sanctuary to unwanted cats with the hopes of finding them their forever homes. The uniqueness of this rescue is that it is on a boat, making it quite popular with tourists.
Due to the size of the boat, numbers are limited. At present, they are open from 1pm until 3pm Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and operate on a first come, first served basis with only 6 visitors allowed in at a time. When we visited we were restricted to just 15 minutes with the cats but that was plenty. The rescue is free to visit but donations are greatly appreciated.
The KattenKabinet Cat Museum
If the cat boat wasn’t enough feline fun, then there is more in Amsterdam for cat lovers. To continue on our cat themed day, we booked a visit to The KattenKabinet – a cat themed museum. The museum is small but a must for any crazy cat person, with all types of cat themed art. There’s even work by the likes of Rembrandt and Picasso in there so despite its whimsy, it is still cultured. Oh and best of all, there are actually real cats in the museum.
Cocktails at Rosalia’s Menagerie
The best way to end a day of sightseeing is by sipping on a cocktail or two. I recommend Rosalia’s Menagerie – a cosy, canal-side bar with an eclectic interior. Indulge in a seasonal beverage surrounded by interesting looking curios and mismatched chairs. They even have their own laidback music playlist on Spotify. The vibes here are 10/10, perfect date night.
Red Light District
If you have the time and the curiosity, take a wander down the Red Light District. The district is known locally as De Wallen and is one of the oldest parts of the city. Yes you will see the ladies in the red windows but please don’t photograph them. We didn’t spend too long here as it was quite busy but as we were in the area we took a little canal side stroll.
Day 3: Canal Cruise, Immersive Art and Unique Dining
Our last of 3 days in Amsterdam was about seeing more sights, soaking up more culture and experiencing more of Amsterdam’s foodie scene.
Stroopwafel
Start your day by picking up a traditional Dutch treat. Stroopwafels are two thin round cookies held together with a syrup filling. You can pick them up anywhere in the city. You can even do a stroopwafel making class if you have enough time! We stopped by Melly’s Stroopwafel and grabbed a little something to go for our next activity of the day.
Those Dam Boat Guys Canal Cruise
You can’t really visit a city of 165 canals without taking a little boat ride along them. There are many companies offering canal tours but we chose to go with Those Dam Boat Guys because they don’t take themselves too seriously. In fact they don’t take themselves seriously at all haha. Boat capacity is a maximum of 10 people unless otherwise stated, ideal numbers really, although private tours are also possible. As everyone on our boat had already been to Amsterdam before, our guide took us to a few areas that we may not have otherwise seen.
Fabrique des Lumieres
Time for some more culture. If you like your art galleries immersive, then don’t skip Fabrique des Lumieres. The art is displayed as animations on every surface of the room, so it is like you are in the painting. When we visited the artists were Salvador Dali and Antoni Gaudi, however the exhibitions change so check the website in advance of your visit if you’re hoping for something in particular. Another thing I would recommend doing here is to not stop as soon as you enter the room, head a bit further to the back as it is less busy and much more enjoyable.
Dining in the dark at C Taste
Dining in the dark isn’t exclusive to Amsterdam but it is a lot of fun. The dining room is pitch black, I’m talking can’t see your hand in front of your face darkness but it allows you to really use your other senses. You tell them your dietary requirements in advance and beyond that, you don’t find out what you are eating until you leave. It’s fun trying to guess what’s on your plate and really savouring the tastes and textures of the food.
You can read a little more about my meal at C Taste in my quirky things to do in Amsterdam blog post or book your table on Viator.
More than 3 days in Amsterdam?
If you’re spending a little longer in the area, I recommend a day trip out of the city. If you’re hankering for a little more typical Dutch culture then a day trip to Zaanse Schans to see the windmills, watch the clog makers and sample some cheese makes for the perfect day out. Zaanse Schans is only around 20-30 minutes from central Amsterdam so it’s not an arduous journey. And if you’re lucky enough to be visiting during spring, I recommend including a trip to see the tulips at Keukenhof Gardens. You can read a little more about my tulips and windmills day trip from Amsterdam here.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Budget: Hans Brinker Hostel – Amsterdam and tight budget don’t really go hand in hand. But that said, if you are visiting the city on a shoestring, then the Hans Brinker is a well-located hostel with a sense of humour.
Mid-Range: Ibis Amsterdam Centre Stopera – This was our choice for our most recent visit and perfect for 3 days in Amsterdam. Located close to the centre on a relatively quiet street with excellent transport options. The breakfast was good too.
Treat yourself: Rosalia’s Menagerie Cocktail bar & InnUpstairs – Boutique hotel in the heart of the city. The cocktail bar I went to on my birthday is just downstairs so you don’t have far to stagger back home after a few drinks hehe.
Special mention: Hotel La Boheme – If I get back to Amsterdam then this will be my choice of stay. A small eco-minded hotel with a resident cat. What’s not to love?!
Check out my other Amsterdam guides
- Amsterdam beyond the obvious: Quirky things to do in Amsterdam
- For those with a sweet tooth: Best Desserts in Amsterdam – My Top 3 Recommendations
- For the crazy cat ladies: Amsterdam for cat lovers
- Amsterdam in spring: Tulips and Windmills: A Day Tour from Amsterdam