Amsterdam in 4 Days: everything you need to know

Amsterdam is known for its eccentric experiences that few other countries have to offer, such as the extensive marijuana scene and its legal prostitution in the Red Light District. All of Amsterdam's attractions are rich in history and culture. Since there is so much to see and do in Amsterdam, I have tried to include the best places to see in this 4-day Amsterdam itinerary.

On this first day the idea would be to visit Begijnhof, enjoy the views offered by the Blue Amsterdam, tour the important areas of *Munttroren, Pathé Tuschinski and Rembrandt Square and enjoy some artistic time at the Anne Frank House.

Begijnhof

Begijnhof is a religious community of women dating back to the 14th century. The women of the Catholic sisterhood (Beguine) had lived in this isolated and quiet community for hundreds of years. The area consists of dwellings, church and a large courtyard.

This private community is hidden from the busy streets of Amsterdam's city centre. You will never know where it is unless you look for it. Definitely a place you should visit, but 30 minutes is more than enough.

The good news is that some guided tours of Amsterdam include this visit, so keep an eye on it because you might want to take a tour with a guide to learn all about its history.

• Visiting hours: 9am-4pm (closed Saturday and Sunday).

Blue Amsterdam: lunch with a view

How about lunch with a view of Amsterdam? Directly opposite the Bloemenmarkt is Blue Amsterdam, which is somewhat hidden inside the shopping centre. This café/restaurant offers a beautiful view of the city centre and is open from 10am to 6:30pm every day.

It's a cosy place surrounded by full-length windows so nothing can interfere with your view. Each side of the window explains what you are looking at, which is useful for first-time visitors.

Munttroren - Pathé Tuschinski - Rembrandt Square

After lunch, enjoy a stroll through the neighbourhood. Munttoren is a bell tower built in 1620, which was part of the city wall. Known as the Mint Tower, it is a historical landmark with a small gift shop.

Then walk to the Pathé Tuschinski Theatre, a historic cinema carefully decorated in art deco style and very nice to look at for its exterior architecture.

If you keep walking you will reach Rembrandt Square, a great place to take a picture with the statues of the Night Watch, inspired by Rembrandt's eponymous masterpiece. All these places can also be visited when booking a guided tour of Amsterdam.

Anne Frank House

A visit to Amsterdam cannot be complete without a tour of the Anne Frank House, where the little girl and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II.

The actual building has now been converted into a house museum that is open daily from 9am to 5pm. If you've ever read the book, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, you'll know all too well how interesting it is to visit this museum. In any case, you are sure to visit one of the best museums in Amsterdam.

• For more information... Read the post All about the Anne Frank House.

Jordaan Canal District and the 9 streets

Jordaan Canal District is a trendy and exclusive neighbourhood on the west side of Central Amsterdam. This area is known for its beautiful houses, trendy cafes and elegant shops.

It is definitely a perfect area for an afternoon stroll or shopping. Popular streets include Prinsengracht, Westerstraat, Haarlemmerstraat and De 9 Straatjes (The 9 Streets).

While strolling through this area, you can also cross many of Amsterdam's most beautiful canals, decorated with flowers and parked bicycles. It is a great place to take pictures.

On this second day the itinerary starts at the Bloemenmarkt, then you will visit the Van Gogh Museum, and then finish with a tour of the Vondelpark. It will also be a day to sample various foods of Dutch culture.

Bloemenmarkt (Amsterdam Flower Market)

Start your second day in Amsterdam with colours and smells! While a trip to the Keukenhof tulip gardens is a spectacular plan, on a 4-day itinerary it is advisable not to stray too far from the city. So, for this first day, you'll have to content yourself with the Amsterdam Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt).

This flower market is striking as a row of flower shops are "floating" along the canal. The shops here do not only sell tulips and you can find all kinds of flowers and souvenirs from Holland. In case you are interested, you can also buy tulip bulbs to take home.

• Opening hours: 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Saturday, Sunday 11am to 5:30pm.

Van Gogh Museum

Vincent van Gogh is one of the world's most famous artists. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is dedicated to the beloved Dutch painter and houses his most extensive collection, including:

• The Sunflowers
• The Bedroom
• Almond Blossom
• Iris
• The Potato Eaters

The museum also has a vast collection of his letters exchanged with his brother Theo and other artists. In a way, the whole experience resembles reading a biography of Van Gogh with visual aids.

• To find out more... Visit the post More information about opening times, prices, etc. of the Van Gogh Museum

Dutch lunch

Have herring (Dutch Harings) at Frens Haringhandel, one of the most specialised places for this kind of fish, it's close by and open from 11am to 5:30pm. Remember that this is one of the most famous Dutch dishes.

But if herring doesn't agree with you, you can head to Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx and enjoy Belgian f ries with your choice of special sauce. It' s open from 11am to 7pm.

Vondelpark

Vondelpark is a public park near the museum area of Amsterdam. The urban park was designed and built in the 19th century and is a beautiful park for strolling, cycling or relaxing on the grass on a sunny day.

It normally takes about an hour to walk the entire loop. There is also a tea house in the centre of the park if you prefer to enjoy nature indoors.

If you visit Amsterdam in summer, it is possible to enjoy some free concerts and dance performances. Vondelpark is also ideal for families, as it has many playgrounds for children.

Dine at Foodhallen

Head to Amsterdam Oud-West for a relaxed meal at Foodhallen, a covered street food market where locals relax after work and enjoy a moment of bliss.

The food and drink vendors here feature a variety of international flavours. But the most curious thing is that Foodhallen used to be a tram area before it was renovated into a refined food court. The original red brick walls and a railway track recall the original architecture.

Chicken Masala, Fritto Misto, Fish & Chips are just some of the street foods you could order.

• Opening hours: 12am-11pm (Fridays and Saturdays until midnight).

On this third day you will visit the huge Rijksmuseum, the famous De Pijp quarter and the city's most famous street market, the Albert Cuyp Market.

Rijksmuseum

A visit to the Rijksmuseum is one of the must-see museums in Amsterdam. It is dedicated to Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to the present day and features masterpieces by Dutch artists of the Golden Age such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and many others.

• Location: on Museumplein (Museum Square).
• Hours: 9am to 5pm.
• Recommendation: visit early in the day to be more comfortable.
• To find out more... Visit this post about the Rijkmuseum.

De Pijp

A 10-minute walk from the Rijksmuseum will take you to Amsterdam's De Pijp neighbourhood. De Pijp used to be a working class area, hence its historical importance, but now many Amsterdammers claim it as their favourite neighbourhood in the city.

This neighbourhood attracts young professionals, artists, students and families. Like Jordaan, De Pijp is abundant with trendy cafés, breakfast and brunch hotspots and chic shops.

Albert Cuyp Market

This cute street market in De Pijp is home to many stalls selling local food, clothes, shoes, souvenirs, flowers and more. The highlight of the market, however, is the local snacks they sell.

If you are a fan of Dutch snacks or street food in general, this is the place for you. The market is open from 9am to 5pm and is closed every Sunday.

Dinner: Classic dishes with a modern twist at De Wijnkaart

For a good dinner I recommend De Wijnkaart, which is located just south of the Vondelpark. This local restaurant serves Dutch classics such as stamppot (pot of mashed vegetables) or hachee (meat and onion stew), etc.

The atmosphere is upbeat and lively, and the staff very friendly, making you feel at home.

• Opening hours: 5pm to 11pm (open until midnight on Saturdays and Sundays).
• Recommendation: book early, as it tends to be busy.

On this last day you will start the morning with energy tasting Dutch pancakes and visit the Church of Our Lord in the Attic, the Amsterdam Prostitution Museum and the nightlife of the Red Light District.

Breakfast: Dutch pancakes

If you have the opportunity to have breakfast outside your hotel, try the Dutch pancakes at Pancakes Amsterdam Centraal. It's a busy café, so it can be difficult to get a seat without a reservation.

Also, the restaurant is conveniently located to start our day 4 itinerary, as its opening hours are from 8am to 3:30pm.

Our Lord of the Attic Church

This is a former 17th century church that was converted into a religious museum. It is one of the hidden churches in Amsterdam where Catholics secretly attended services during the Dutch religious reformation.

I highly recommend visiting this church museum. Not only can you take a look at the historic 17th century bourgeois house, but you can also learn a lot about its history. The museum exhibits Dutch house furniture, kitchens, servants' quarters, as well as the beautiful pipe organ, church silver collection, paintings and religious artefacts.

Remember that it can be interesting to buy the I Amsterdam City Card because with it you can enter more than 60 museums in the city for free, as well as hop on public transport, rent bikes or go on a cruise saving you a lot of money along the way.

• Museum price: €15.5.
• Card price: €60.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday (10am to 5pm) and Saturday and Sunday (1pm to 6pm).

Amsterdam Prostitution Museum

Just a few metres from the last stop you can go to the famous Red Light Museum, also known as the Amsterdam Prostitution Museum.

This is the world's first prostitution museum and you can see inside the rooms of prostitutes, hear their stories and learn all about the secrets of the world's oldest profession.

The museum is located in a famous brothel in Amsterdam that is still in its original state. You'll even have the chance to sit behind one of the windows to feel what it's really like to be watched from the streets.

Red Light District (De Wallen)

The Red Light District, also known as De Wallen, is unique to Amsterdam and, as you may already know, prostitution is legal in this Amsterdam neighbourhood. But if you go to the area before the lights come on at night, it's nothing like you might imagine it to be.

You will see a few sex toy shops and cafes in the shops. Going at night is quite an experience, as the red lights and the atmosphere in this area of Amsterdam is totally unique. But I recommend you to take a tour of the red light district so you can get to know all the history and enjoy the walk more.

• Pro tip: don't take pictures in the Red Light District. Sex workers here do not appreciate being photographed, and their privacy is protected.

Dinner at Amsterdam Bellezza

To end this 4th day I recommend you to have dinner at the Amsterdam Bellezza Restaurant, located in the red light district itself. It is a restaurant that has a touch very much in keeping with its location, with neon lights, a quiet and comfortable atmosphere and a very varied menu.

• Opening hours: 6pm to 12am
• Recommendation: book well in advance, as it tends to be in high demand.
• For more information... Visit the restaurant's website.