What do you do when you only have 24 hours in Amsterdam? We’ve listed our favourite alternative things to do in the Dutch capital. Happy reading!
9am: Have a nice breakfast at the Noordermarkt
Amsterdam’s best breakfast spots? The ones that offer apple pie! Head to Noordermarkt in the Jordaan neighbourhood and enjoy a nice cup of coffee + the city’s best apple pie. You find it at Winkel 43! The Noordermarkt is a market open from 9-4 pm on Saturdays. You can buy vintage books, clothing, fresh fruit and veggies and more!
If you want to learn more about the Jordaan neighbourhood, play our Jordaan discovery game.
12pm (noon): Explore the city's hidden courtyards
From Noordermarkt enjoy a 19-minute stroll to reach the incredibly charming Begijnhof, which is one of Amsterdam’s best known hofjes (courtyards). It’ll feel as if you’ve travelled back in time. It’s right in the city’s centre, but there are moments when it’s completely quiet… Curious to know more about this place? Try our Amsterdam City Centre game.
1pm: Play a city discovery game before or after lunch at Droog
Take a short walk and you’ll arrive at one of the most curious, hippest places in Amsterdam, Droog! A place offering one (!) bedroom, tasty food, art and a designer store. If you’re hungry, head upstairs to the cosy cafe and enjoy their food, all made with local products – we love it! Play our City Centre games to enjoy a nice deal/offer at Droog!
3pm: Go antique shopping
Amsterdam’s best antique shops are found on Nieuwe Spiegelstraat. Join the locals for some door-to-door antique and art shopping. On the way there take in the vibes of the southern parts of Prinsengracht and Herengracht, the canals. If antiques and art aren’t your thing, you can also find one of the largest second-hand clothing stores in Amsterdam, named Episode, right on the same street! Walk a little further and you’ll also find small art galleries exhibiting artists such as Banksy.
5pm: Connect with monkeys and butterflies
Take Bus 14 in direction of the ARTIS Zoo and admire over 750 different animal species and 300 different species of trees! If you’re a nature lover, you’ll go bananas for this place! Don’t miss their butterfly garden and insane planetarium. This is hands down one of the best things to do in Amsterdam. Want to learn more about this neighbourhood? Check our Amsterdam East adventure!
7pm: Have a walk along the canals!
By now you’ve already explored a bunch, yay you! But let’s not call it a day just yet. You cannot leave Amsterdam without taking a sunset stroll along the iconic Amsterdam canals. Enjoy the views of the tall, crooked buildings and floating house boats. It can be romantic, friendly, or even therapeutic. Enjoy!
8pm: Join the foodies at MOMO!
It’s one of the city’s foodie hotspots, dinner at MOMO is a must! They serve fantastic Asian food. Want a pre-dinner drink? Head to the smallest pub in Amsterdam, ‘t Doktertje! After dinner, let’s call it a night – or day! Either way, slaap lekker! (good night!)
Written by travellers Tatiana Bernardes and Inês Lopes.
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