It’s September and for a lot of the world, the weather is amazing. It’s hot, the sun is out, and it’s peak travel time. It feels like everyone is on holiday.
Being a Sagittarius and a world-traveler, I naturally got a little FOMO and I felt the sudden impulse to go on a quick weekend trip myself. After all, that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to move abroad. After very little research, I decided to go to Amsterdam.
I’ll spare you the details but long story short, I messed up the events in my calendar and what was initially a 2 day itinerary quickly became 24 hours in Amsterdam.
Was this my brightest moment? Definitely not. But I went anyway and honestly, that short amount of time was enough to rank Amsterdam as one of my favourite cities I’ve visited.
So if you also have 24 hours in Amsterdam (either on purpose or on accident), here’s what you should absolutely do!
How to Spend 24 Hours in Amsterdam
Accommodation
Hostels are a great idea if you just need a place to sleep. However, I don’t like picking just any random hostel; it has to be nice and clean. I know I only had 24 hours in Amsterdam but I can only rough it up to a certain point. I’m not THAT much of a free-spirit.
Anyway, I stayed at Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark which I booked through Hostelworld and had an amazing experience!
First off, the hostel was right next to Vondelpark, the bus station that takes you to/from the airport, and all the canals. I’d say that’s prime real estate!
Secondly, the building was beautiful and full of greenery. It was a great first impression and left me feeling at ease the moment I walked in. The building is secured via key card given to all guests so I felt comfortable knowing random people won’t be going in and out at odd hours.
The 4 person room I stayed in was clean and tidy and the en-suite shower and toilets were kept very simple. It’s ideal for someone who is only staying for a short amount of time. Just note that if you’re tall, it may feel a bit cramped but it’s not a big deal if you’re not there for very long.
Overall, I was really happy with Stayokay! Everyone I met from the receptionist to my hostel-mates were lovely.
Anyway, onto the actual activities in Amsterdam!
Cycling Tour
I’ll get right to it: I may have only spent 24 hours in Amsterdam but going on a cycle tour of the city was the absolute best decision of that trip. It’s the best way to see a lot of Amsterdam in a short amount of time in a unique way.
I booked with Mike’s Bike Tours Amsterdam. They provided a bike for the whole tour and we stayed in a group of about 13 people of all ages. Our tour guide was so lovely, funny, and sprinkled fun facts as we cycled around town like the fact Amsterdam is built over a marsh. With an unstable surface, that’s why many of the buildings are a little bit crooked. It definitely added to the charm of the city.
The tour was about 2.5 hours and we cycled about 10km (6-7mi). Here are some of the highlights of the tour:
Biking along the canals
The roads in Amsterdam are designed with bikes in mind. It was so easy to cycle from point to point. I know how to cycle but I don’t do it often and I still found it so simple to get around.
Going through Vondelpark
This is a gorgeous 120 acre urban park complete with lakes, an open air theatre, and several food facilities. There were so many people jogging, cycling, and lounging around. You can genuinely sense how relaxed people are.
Stopping in front of Anne Frank’s house where she and her family hid in WWII
I wish I had the opportunity to go inside but apparently tickets sell out very quickly so if you want to visit the Anne Frank House, definitely plan ahead of time. However, we did stop in front of her house in Jordaan.
Cycling over the Skinny Bridge
Supposedly, this bridge was built to make it easier for two sisters who lived on opposite sides of the river to see each other. The original bridge is said to have been so skinny that only two people can cross. This was another fun fact mentioned by our guide. Regardless, there’s a stunning view of the river that’s worth getting a picture of.
Taking a short break in Nieuwmarkt
This was an important area of Amsterdam for commerce. When I was there, there were so many stalls selling various arts and crafts. It’s also close to a street called Bloedstraat which is apparently where executions happened and the streets would run red with blood, hence the name.
Once you’ve booked your tour, you’re probably going to want to eat something at some point. I’ve made a list of the spots I visited, which were all delicious, by the way!
Food and Drinks
Uncommon Amsterdam
I’m an avid oats consumer so when I say I had possibly the best overnight oats of my life, please believe me. Uncommon’s menu changes seasonally so you’ll either be lucky to try the oats or you’ll be lucky to try a new addition to the menu. Either way, it’s a win-win for you. Uncommon puts a lot of thought and care into their menu, coffee, and space to bring you a sense of calm and nourishment.
Address:
Eerste Constantijn
Huygensstraat 63H
1054 BT Amsterdam
Coffee District Willemsparkweg
Coffee District was my first stop after settling in and it was a great intro into the delicious food and coffee I had in my 24 hours in Amsterdam. The cappuccino was perfectly flavoured (no sugar necessary) and I finally had my first Dutch pastry: a kouign-amman. Shout out to the Great British Bake Off for introducing me to this pastry! It was so buttery, flaky, and thick. My tastebuds were dancing.
Address:
Willemsparkweg 8H
1071 HD Amsterdam, Netherlands
De Blauwe Hollander
I came across this restaurant randomly as I was wandering the streets and taking the sights all in. I knew I wanted to try Dutch cuisine and this restaurant caught my eye. I got a variety of dishes so I can try a little bit of everything. This place would be perfect for vegetarians as they have plenty of items that don’t have meat. I would recommend the vegetarian croquettes; tomato soup with leek strips; and fresh herring with marinated beet, onions, and pickles. It was light, fresh, and so delicious.
Address:
Leidsekruisstraat 28
1017 RJ Amsterdam
Sophie’s Kitchen
By the time my day was over, a lot of shops and restaurants closed for the night. I still hadn’t tried a fresh stroopwafel which is a layer of caramel between 2 thin waffle disks. I know I’m not describing it well but believe me when I say it’s out of this world. Anyway, Sophie’s Kitchen was still open which felt like a sign because a) it’s close to my name and b) it’s a bakery which is sort of up my alley. The stroopwafel was the size of my hand and I inhaled that in 5 minutes. Incredible!
Address:
Leidsestraat 18
1017 PA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Maoz Vegan
To be honest, a vegan falafel bar was never on my radar of places to try in Amsterdam but am I glad I went? YES. Upon further research, Maoz Vegan is an international falafel bar that originated in Amsterdam. You have the option of ordering falafel in a pita or a bowl and then adding as many toppings (fresh veggies, pickled veggies, sauces, etc.) as you want. Me being me, I loaded my bowl with ALL the veggies that could fit. I then enjoyed my bowl along the canals with a German guy I met in my hostel. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.
Address:
Leidsestraat 85
1017 NX Amsterdam
Mulligan’s Irish Music Bar
All roads lead to Ireland no matter where you are, apparently! One of my hostel-mates was from Cork and was playing his banjo and harmonica at Mulligan’s the night I was there. The German hostel-mate mentioned previously and I thought it would be fun to go watch him play. It was such a lively event! There were about 12 people playing traditional Irish music back-to-back. We had a pint and were in awe of how they all know the music and how they keep on playing without many breaks. And I think our Cork hostel-mate appreciated we came to watch him play especially since we all met that day.
24 Hours in Amsterdam Was Not Enough
I truly wish I planned my trip better so I can spend more time in Amsterdam. There’s so much I haven’t seen and I’d love to explore outside the city center.
However, I absolutely don’t regret my decision to go, even if it was a headache getting there and back.
I hope these tips are useful if you ever find yourself spending 24 hours in Amsterdam!
