Let's Plan a Trip to Amsterdam

Day 1

Morning

Arrive in Amsterdam! Welcome! Welkom!

From Schiphol Airport, hop a train to Centraal Station, Amsterdam's nerve center. From here, you can catch buses, trams, ferries, trains and taxis to anywhere in Amsterdam and almost anywhere in Western Europe. Tempting, but we'll stay in Amsterdam today and focus on the old center, exploring on foot.  

Eat breakfast at Omelegg-Centrum, where hearty meat, cheese and veggie omelettes are a filling and scrumptious way to kick off your trip. Begin exploring via Amsterdam's canals — the city's aquatic arteries — on a one-hour canal boat tour. 

After canal cruising, tour the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest building. Originally intended as a Catholic place of worship, it converted, along with the rest of the country, to Dutch Protestantism. Nearby, another church reveals an entirely different story: Instead of converting to Protestantism, the clandestine Catholic church at Lord in the Attic survived by quietly hiding in a nondescript canal home.
 

Afternoon

That was a big first morning. You've earned another filling meal and celebratory beers with lunch at Brouwerij de Prael, just a few minutes' walk from Lord in the Attic. After lunch, make a "coffee" stop (should you be so inclined) at the Green House-Centrum.

It's now time for a stroll. Walk south to Dam Square and visit the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Take a self-guided tour using the provided audioguide. Finally, dive deep into the city's history at the thoroughly illuminating Amsterdam Museum, a few blocks south of Dam Square.
 

Evening

After all that walking and sightseeing and to celebrate your first night in Amsterdam, go for a fancy dinner and drinks at The Lobby, a trendy upscale restaurant that focuses on locally sourced ingredients. If you haven't dozed off yet, make a "coffee" stop (should you be so inclined) at The Original Dampkring. Want to party? You're a few minutes' walk from all the nightlife you can handle in the notorious Red Light District.

That was a big day. Get some rest.