An easy hop from Ireland
Amsterdam is one of the simplest city breaks from Ireland. Flights from Dublin and Cork take about an hour and a half, and the train from Schiphol to Centraal Station takes around 15 minutes. You could be eating apple cake by a canal by lunchtime.
The centre is compact and flat, and its rings of canals are best enjoyed slowly. Three days lets you see the big museums, spend an afternoon in a quieter neighbourhood and still have time to just sit and watch the boats.
Book these before you go
The big museums sell timed tickets, and on bank holiday weekends they sell out.
- The Anne Frank House: tickets are released online in advance and are rarely available on the day.
- The Rijksmuseum: Rembrandt’s Night Watch and Vermeer’s Milkmaid.
- The Van Gogh Museum: the largest collection of his work in the world.
- A canal cruise: choose a small open boat over a big glass one if you can.
Neighbourhoods to wander
The Jordaan is the most charming part of the city, with narrow streets, hidden courtyards and brown cafés where locals linger over a beer. The Nine Streets nearby are full of small independent shops. De Pijp, south of the centre, has the Albert Cuyp Market and a good mix of cafés and restaurants.
Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord, where old shipyards have become creative spaces and restaurants, and A’DAM Lookout offers a view over the whole city.
On two wheels, carefully
Hiring a bike is the local way to get around, but Amsterdam’s cyclists move fast and don’t wait. If you’re not confident, ride in the Vondelpark or along the Amstel rather than through the busy centre. Always look both ways before stepping onto a bike lane. They’re the red paths, and they are not for walking.
Day trip ideas
Haarlem is about 15 minutes away by train and feels like a smaller, calmer Amsterdam. In spring, the Keukenhof gardens near Lisse are covered in tulips. Zaanse Schans, with its working windmills, is busy but fun with children.
A relaxed three days
On your first afternoon, walk the Jordaan and the Nine Streets, where the canals are narrowest and the shops smallest. Stop in a brown café, the old wood-panelled bars that the city is known for, and order a beer with a plate of bitterballen. In the evening, a canal boat tour is touristy but genuinely lovely once the bridges light up.
Day two is for museums. The Rijksmuseum deserves a full morning for Rembrandt’s Night Watch and the Vermeers. Across Museumplein, the Van Gogh Museum is smaller and easier to finish in two hours. Both sell timed tickets, so book them before you fly. In the afternoon, walk off the culture in the Vondelpark.
On day three, take the free ferry behind Centraal Station across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord. The old shipyards are now full of studios, cafés and the A’DAM Lookout tower, with a swing over the edge if you’re brave. It’s a side of the city that most weekend visitors never see.
What to eat and drink
Try a warm stroopwafel from a market stall, raw herring with onions from a fish cart if you’re feeling adventurous, and Dutch apple cake with cream. For dinner, Indonesian rijsttafel is a local tradition dating back to colonial times, with a long table of small dishes to share. The Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp is good for grazing during the day.
Cash is less useful here than at home. Many places only take cards, so make sure yours works abroad before you go.
Where to stay
Hotels in the canal ring are beautiful but pricey. For better value, look at De Pijp, Oud-West or Amsterdam Noord, all well connected by tram or ferry. Book early for the May and June bank holidays, which can clash with busy Dutch holidays.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Schiphol to the centre?
Trains run to Amsterdam Centraal every few minutes and take about 15 minutes. You can tap in with a contactless card.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
April to June and September are ideal. Tulip season peaks in April, and King’s Day on 27 April (26 April when the 27th is a Sunday) is a huge street party.
Is Amsterdam good for a weekend with children?
Yes. The NEMO Science Museum, canal boats, the Vondelpark and day trips to the windmills all suit families.
Is King’s Day busy, and when is it?
Very. King’s Day is usually on 27 April, but when that date falls on a Sunday it moves to Saturday 26 April. The whole city turns orange, with street markets and parties everywhere, and hotel prices rise sharply. Book months ahead or avoid that weekend if you want a quiet trip.
