After recently spending four days in Amsterdam, we are here to tell you why you only need three.

Amsterdam, though adorable AF, is not a large city. Because of this, there is just generally less to see. There are a couple of reasons a longer stay could be justified, but we really feel like the sweet spot is three days.

One of the main reasons we feel this way is due to how their transportation cards are set-up. They offer a one, two and three day inner-city or inner-region pass. This is an amazing option that we highly recommend! Just don’t try to purchase them online late at night when you are tired. You may end up with an inner-city pass when you meant to have the inner-region pass. Just a tip from a friend. Or one of us, you can decide. Pro tip: get them from the train station in central Amsterdam rather than the bookstore. That way if you make a mistake you can upgrade your tickets. If you do order them in advance to pickup at one of the bookstores, it is super easy! 

The inner-city pass works on a multitude of transportation forms within Amsterdam and the inner-region pass includes trains to different cities as well. The two main things to remember are that your three days does not start until you scan you card the first time. So if you arrive in the evening and have three full days, it might make sense to get individual tickets for the journey to your lodging, then activate the card the following morning. It does work to the airport as well! Pro tip: remember to check in and out each time you take the tram/train/etc. failure to do so may render your card invalid and they cannot fix that. You will see the card readers either on station platforms on free-standing poles, or just inside the doors of busses and trams. Make sure to wait until you hear the beep and see the green light. 

Now that transportation is sorted, here is our recommendation for how to spend your time in Amsterdam. 

Day 1: So we are going to recommend this only because you’re going to do it regardless, but take a canal tour. However, do some research here. We’ve done two and didn’t love them, even though seeing Amsterdam from the water is an absolute must. We know that sounds a bit confusing and not very helpful. But we have some tips on how to make this experience better for you than it was for us! Think about what you want to accomplish and go from there. We found a lot of tours were a trip around with free alcohol, but no actual tour. Call us nerds, but we like to learn (at least a little bit) when traveling. Or the tour was just sub-par and we didn’t feel like we got much out of it for the cost. Here’s what you should consider before booking:

• Do you want food, drinks, booze?
• How many people would you like on your boat?
• Is the tour portion important? Or are you happy just being on the water?
• What time do you want to do the tour?
• How long would you want to spend on the tour?

After you finish your boat tour, or even before, definitely go on a Red Light District Tour. We aren’t fools, we know that’s probably some of the reason you are visiting, if for nothing else than being super fascinated by all that is red light. We did a walking tour and it was awesome. It really gives you a unique perspective on the region, industry and profession. Pro Tip: Leave your phone/camera in your pocket or bag in the red light district. It is a strict no-photo zone. There are some sings around, but best practice is just to leave it tucked away. Trust us when we say you don’t want to tempt fate on this one!

While on the topic of being fascinated by Amsterdam, we would be irresponsible bloggers if we didn’t at least mention coffeeshops and coffeehouses. If you don’t know, coffeeshops are where you can go to get marijuana, space cakes, sandwiches, juices, etc. Sometimes actual coffee, but that’s not the main reason to stop in. They have a green and white sign at the front and you must be 18 to enter. A lot of times they check ID at the door. If you don’t know what to do, but really want to have a “when in Amsterdam” experience, the people at the shop can help you get the right thing. On the flip-side, if you really want a good cup of coffee, there are no shortage of places to enjoy in Amsterdam. Please do us all a favor and skip Starbucks. Pro Tip: if you are dairy free like one of us is, ask before ordering. There are plenty of non-dairy options in Amsterdam, including oat milk which is quite good!

Pro tip: For dinner, go to Il Pacioccone  it is an Italian restaurant that is essentially “underground” and it is AMAZING. We actually tried to go twice in two-days but they were booked. It’s super small so make a reservation. You will not be disappointed. 

Day 2: Anne Frank House-you have to get tickets online, but this is well worth a visit. Pro tip: once finished, head down to the Pancake Bakery for breakfast. Long lines, but trust us on this! The neighborhood around her house is beautiful as well, so it’s worth a wonder around. After you are stuffed with pancakes, check out the Heineken Experience- this has been one of the most fun beer tours we’ve ever encountered. It’s cheesy for sure, but they give you quite a few samples and it’s super interactive which is really a nice change from the typical tour. Be sure to take the free boat to the store house! It’s very fun.

In the evening find a fun place on the water for dinner! You must have an outdoor meal by a canal when in Amsterdam. 

Day 3: Museums – if you are a museum person, grab some tickets and guide and head over to check them out! We are not really museum people (we know) and can’t give specific details on them, but if you are curious, check this out for more information. After you get your history buff on, head over to the House of Bols. We did this the first time we were in Amsterdam and didn’t know what to expect. Bols is a liquor (that now we see everywhere) and they have created this completely immersive experience to teach you about what makes the product unique. We really enjoyed it and of course the samples at the end. If beer is more your speed, there are plenty of places to check out while in Amsterdam! 

Pro Tip: Anytime you see stroopwaffles for sale in Amsterdam get one. Especially if they are making them fresh. Trust us, you won’t regret it. Even if you’ve had one where you live, get one in Amsterdam. 

Substitutions: If you aren’t totally loving our thoughts, here are some ideas for substitutions: Take a day trip to explore some of the surrounding towns. We took the train to Zaanse Schanse and Haarlem and had a very nice day. Go to Zaanse early because it’s totally a tourist trap (really stinking cute though), but Haarlem is big enough we would even recommend possibly spending a night there. Amsterdam is extremely crowded and Haarlem is a really nice change from that. Plus the trains are so easy. You could also go on a regular walking/bike/Segway tour to learn more about the city of Amsterdam if you didn’t want to tackle the trains. And depending on the time of year, go to Keukenhoff. We highly recommend going in the evening if you can, it will be less crowded!

If you find that you have extra time, check out De Foodhallen. It’s a new food hall and they have tons of different options. It’s a great place to go for local grub and to try some new things. There are actual restaurants in addition to the food stalls.

Pro Tip: When leaving Amsterdam for an international flight, be sure to add at least 45 minutes to an hour to your timing. If it is going to take 30 minutes for you to get to the airport from where you are staying, leave at least 15/30 minutes earlier. We encountered crazy long lines to drop our bags and to get through security. Save yourself the unneeded stress and just leave early! 

What do you think? Three days seem like enough? Let us know what you think in the comments below!