It doesn’t take long for Amsterdam to display its charms to visitors. But with the help of this article by Jimmy McDonough, Real Food Traveler’s Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor, it’s easy to make the most of a brief visit when you only have two days in Amsterdam. Be sure to watch the video at the end to see Amsterdam in action.

Save this article and video to Pinterest to help you plan your time in Amsterdam. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Two Days in Amsterdam: Canals, Canvas and Coffee

Two days and two nights is not much time to explore a major European city; however, as we previously discovered on an overnight in Vienna, those few hours can be rewarding. When our Viking River Cruise down the Rhine ended in Amsterdam (the reverse itinerary has it starting there), we did our best to sample the city’s unique experiences and hope this article inspires your trip plans.

Amsterdam’s historic core is like a big village – very walkable and crisscrossed by frequent trams; we downloaded the GVB transit app in advance and purchased a 3-day unlimited ride pass to simplify getting from the Viking boat dock to the Centraal Station and the city center. Once in the city, we mostly walked, spending hours strolling the cobbled walkways, exploring nooks and crannies, enjoying the architecture built over the city’s 750 years of history.

Many of the views around Amsterdam are charming and unique but be prepared to see a lot of trash laying around which, we witnessed first-hand, is spread around by veracious and talented seagulls who know how to open public trash receptacles and bags!

We learned Amsterdam (like Venice) is a collection of manmade islands, built upon wood pilings driven into the swampy ground over the centuries with a web of canals to drain the excess water. These waterways facilitated the efficient distribution of goods from Dutch shipping vessels plying the oceans of the world; today, they are filled with pleasure-seeking locals and tourists alike. Reflecting sky, sun, and skyline, Amsterdam’s canals add energy and life to the city.

The streets form one bridge after another over the canals of Amsterdam.

We found the people of Amsterdam to be friendly, outgoing, and quick to speak perfect English (the expectation in Dutch schools is to be fluent in English). Yet something happens when the locals climb aboard their bicycles. Amsterdam’s cyclists ride aggressively and dominate (terrorize?) the city with no patience for starry-eyed tourists stepping into their path. Stay alert and, as we were advised on our Viking cruise, watch for the “killer bikes” at every intersection and on every street and path. Oh, and watch for the trams that share the streets and quietly appear out of nowhere. We had been warned of these perils before coming to Amsterdam and now you have been, too!

Bikes are everywhere in Amsterdam and riders are aggressive.

Hungry for more? See what it’s like to go on back-to-back Viking River Cruises.

The Food in Amsterdam

Food options abound in the central neighborhoods: walk-up Frites windows, bakeries, self-serve automat type vendors, convenience stores (great for tasty but inexpensive sandwiches and healthy salads on the fly), as well as many global cuisine options (Amsterdam is home to a diverse population). Indonesian food is especially popular here, harkening back to a colonial history when Amsterdam lorded over a globe-spanning imperialist empire that included southeast Asia. We attempted to dine at one such promising restaurant but found they closed early and reservations were required – keep that in mind when planning your visit.

Topping our food memories of Amsterdam were a freshly baked stroopwafel with coffee at Stro & Ko near the Rijks Museum and a delightful apple pancake (with coffee) at the faded yet charming De Carrousel, also near the Rijks. Lunch at Cobra Cafe in the gardens behind the Rijks was a delightfully artsy spot to recover (with a coffee) from the rigors of visiting the museums of the district.

Clockwise, a freshly-made stroopwafel from Stro & Ko; a hearty sandwich from Cobra Cafe and the popular apple pancake from De Carrousel.

Amsterdam’s Museums

The Rijks Museum is the Louvre of The Netherlands, housing its most coveted cultural treasures. Among much else, it’s here that you’ll find works by the Master of all Old Dutch Masters – Rembrandt. Occupying a massive historic structure, the Rijks sprawls upward and outward. We found the layout difficult to navigate, including the newer lobby atrium; be sure to grab a map! The collection is vast. Perhaps most fascinating to this traveler was the section devoted to the history of The Netherlands as a global colonial power. I was shocked at my ignorance of this history and the widespread impact on cultures from the Caribbean to Africa to the islands of southeast Asia. The exhibit exposes the wrongdoing of the past and prompts contemplation of the responsibilities of today’s prosperous nations (in Europe and elsewhere) to atone for their past exploits. Overwhelmed, we left the Rijks after two hours to revive ourselves at a nearby café. (See above).

The Rijks Museum is impressive inside and out. And there’s even an arched pathway through which Amsterdam’s ever-present cyclists can pass through.

Whereas the Rijks conveys the history of an entire nation, the Van Gogh Museum tells the story of a single man. And it does so beautifully. Never has a museum moved me so powerfully with its portrayal of an artist’s life journey. The museum’s facilities are large, but well-laid out and easy to navigate. From the atrium entrance (across the reflecting pool from the Rijks), visitors descend to a welcome plaza. The atrium café is a nice spot to perch for a rest (physically and emotionally) with a coffee and sunflower cookie during a visit of the collection; there is another café and Bistro Vincent with more food items in the main wing (Rietveld Building).

Up an escalator from the lobby, Van Gogh’s art is on display across four floors, stacked from his earliest period to his last days painting Provence. Many of his most famous works are not here; however, the collection rewards with some recognizable works as well as lesser-known gems (such as works inspired by Japanese art). Arriving at his last work on the top floor, a smallish canvas depicting simple tree roots as an abstract gnarl of colors, tears filled my eyes. Before me, this humble work of art was the last expression of his pain and genius in a life marked by struggles with mental health.

If you love Van Gogh’s art, do not miss this museum. Due to high demand, book tickets months in advance to secure your opportunity to spend time with Vincent, his loving brother Theo, and Jo, Theo’s wife who carried on the effort to educate the world about this man and preserve his life’s work.

The Van Gogh Museum is a must during even a brief two days in Amsterdam, immersing visitors into the life and works of the artist.

More ways to get the most out of two days in Amsterdam…

The Canals of Amsterdam

A fun and relaxing way to explore Amsterdam is by canal cruise – no killer bikes here! There are numerous options, from cheap, large group boats, to pricey intimate boats for two. Cruises start early and go into the night; typically lasting 1-2 hours. We took a daytime and an evening cruise, hoping to enjoy lights reflecting off the waters after dark; what we failed to account for just how bright it is in the summer when the sky is sunny until 10pm! Alas, no harm, both cruises were terrific, exploring different canals and the guides offered different stories about Amsterdam’s past and present. Some boats offer wine and charcuterie/cheese platters, as well as other beverages; others charge a la carte. Again, we chose one of each and enjoyed them equally. Some boats are open air while others are fully or semi-enclosed; we chose fully open to enable uninterrupted viewing. This was great, although a bit chilly when the wind picked up and brought rain with it (umbrellas were provided by the crew).  Even mid-summer Amsterdam is susceptible to quick cooling when the North Sea winds blow south!

Take more than one canal boat ride for different food and drink offerings, different guide’s perspectives and tales, and even different views down other canal routes.

Our two days in Amsterdam gave us fond memories, even if it only scratched the surface of this vibrant, fascinating city. Ideally, spend several days here to explore its rich heritage- but if you can’t, even a few hours can be rewarding. Just watch out for those killer bikes! See it all in our video below.

Hungry for more? Read Jimmy’s article about an almost perfect lunch in a famous Parisian restaurant.

A “P.S.” for Visiting Amsterdam

One more unglamorous tip – public restrooms are few, so take advantage of them in restaurants and museums. There are clean, paid public restrooms at the Cobra Café in the Museum area. And always, always carry a pack of tissues with you because toilet paper might not be in plentiful (or any) supply!

-Story and photos by Jimmy McDonough, Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor