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How to Spend 6 Days in Amsterdam: A Solo Female Traveler's Itinerary
Author:Â Jamie Milam
Date: April 25, 2026
I went to Amsterdam for the first time this past January and loved it. Despite some reservations around the weather and traveling to Amsterdam in the winter, I'm so glad I went for it. With the right clothes, what's a little cold and rain to stop me from some epic solo travels?
Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands and, like all major European cities, there's truly no end of amazing things to see and do. I only had six days for my trip, so I worked hard to fit the most into it. I love architecture, history, and lots of good food, so I planned my itinerary around that.
Here's a six-day itinerary for Amsterdam in January, including all my honest thoughts and opinions so you can make an informed decision.
The Best 6-Day Amsterdam Itinerary
I saw and did a lot in Amsterdam over six days, and found the tram system very helpful to navigate the city. In fact, I usually snag a hop-on, hop-off bus ticket when I visit a bigger city to assist with getting around easier, but I found the transit easy enough that I decided to skip the HOHO.
The system is super convenient, and the GVB app was also very helpful in determining the departure times and best routes. app helps you know when and where to catch transit options. There are also options like Uber and taxis or, of course, good ol' walking.
With that in mind, here's how I spent six days in Amsterdam (and think you should, too).
Day 1: Arrival and Orientation to the City
I arrived in Amsterdam on a Saturday morning, around 11:00 a.m. Tired from the flight, I checked into my accommodations to rest and freshen up before venturing out to explore the city. Here's how you can orient yourself in Amsterdam on Day 1:
- Stroll through Vondelpark: This huge park (120 acres!) is a central feature in Amsterdam. It's a beautiful place to walk and take in some fresh air.
- Lunch near the Museum Quarter: Just about a 5-10 minute walk from Vondelpark is the Museum Quarter, a cultural hub with shopping, restaurants, and, of course, museums. There are lots of great spots to eat, so grab a bite somewhere that strikes your fancy.
- Check out Rijksmuseum: For €25, you can check out Rijksmuseum, which features 800 years of Dutch history and all the great master artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. It's the perfect place to explore for the afternoon. Another option is Fabrique des Lumières, an immersive art center with impressive multimedia displays.
- Grab a drink at La Nostra Gigi: Before heading back for an earlier turn-in, I popped in here around 5:30, before the dinner crowds. Italian cuisine, craft cocktails, and a girly chic aesthetic are just too hard to pass up for me! I highly recommend trying their Lychee Martini or their off-menu espresso martini!
Pro tip: Popular museums like Rijksmuseum are often less busy in the mornings. I went later in the day and still enjoyed it since I was visiting during the off-season, but mornings offer a calmer experience.
Day 2: Zaanse Schans or Hop On Hop Off
Refreshed and ready to go for day two of your Amsterdam trip? It's time to actually leave the city and explore Zaanse Schans, a picturesque historic village near Amsterdam.
- Head to Zaanse Schans: Head out from your accommodations first thing in the morning; you can take a train from Amsterdam Central Train Station. Get on the train to Zaandijk - Zane Schans (€5). It's worth stopping in Zaandam first to see the Stacked Dutch Houses Hotel, which showcases a facade of nearly 70 stacked houses in the traditional Dutch style and in the region’s four traditional green colors, with a single blue one that stands out (a nod to Claude Monet’s Blauwe Huis). I spent a little more than an hour walking around and exploring the city.
- Explore the historic town: Once in Zaanse Schans, walk barely 15 minutes to get to the windmills and main shopping area. Here, explore the museum, windmills (€7.50) and Hoeve Cheese Farm. And if you're looking for something extremely traditional, be sure to check out the Het Jonge Schapp (The Young Sheep) windmill. It's a fully operational sawmill where you can watch the men use nothing but manual labor, physics, and the power of the windmill to cut logs into planks. It sounds boring, but I was fascinated and legit spent nearly 40 minutes in there just in awe. Like, live ASMR!
- Head back to Amsterdam for the "Gingerbread Houses": Also called "Dancing Houses," this is a picturesque row of canal houses that you've definitely seen pictures of before. It's quaint, it's Amsterdam, it's worth a hundred photos! It's also close to Amsterdam Central Station, so a great stop on your way back from Zaanse Schans. Fun fact: the forward-leaning houses you see throughout the city were actually designed that way intentionally. You may notice a hanging hook at the top of the front of the house... This was to be able to hoist furniture up—or any heavy loads—to the upper floors, and the forward tilt was to prevent anything from damaging the exterior during the hoisting process.
- Explore De 9 Straatjes and grab dinner: Known as "Nine Little Streets," this area is a series of streets and canals with lots of shops, galleries, hotels, and more. Have a wander around and find somewhere to eat. I ate at a delicious Turkish restaurant this evening and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Another option for your second day in Amsterdam is to do the Hop On Hop Off bus tour. It'll take you all around the city so you can go shopping, see the canals, take photos, and get oriented to where you are.
The tickets are valid for 1-2 days (€29.50 for 24 hours, or €37 for 48 hours), so plan accordingly. I didn't end up doing this on my trip because transit was easy to get around, but I think it's a great option if you don't want to walk as much or want to hit the highlights without having to plan everything.
Pro Tip: Because I visited Amsterdam in January, only Het Jonge Schapp (The Young Sheep), De Kat (Catmill), and De Huisman (The Houseman) were open. So, note that the weather may impact what you can see. That said, don't forget to check out The Young Sheep—I would have stayed for even longer than the 45 minutes if my toes weren't already frozen.
Day 3: Food Tour + De Pijp
I think that we can all agree that eating is a huge part of traveling, so this was my main focus for day 3! Here's what I got up to:
- Try a food tour: I went on a three-hour food tour through Secret Food Tour. It's honestly one of my favorite things to do in new cities now. The bitterballen was my favorite new thing I tried, and I wish I could find it here in Charlotte. The poffertjes were quite tasty too!
- Visit the Museum Willet-Holthuysen: After all that eating, switch gears and visit this canal-house museum. It's a great culture stop without a ton of walking.
- Explore De Pijp: This is an awesome neighborhood to explore in Amsterdam. The Albert Cuyp market is super cool; it's a huge open-air market with great options for local eats, clothing, and other items. Look out for the guys in red to get your stroopwafels! (Another option for markets is Waterloopien Market, the largest flea market in the city.)
- Go for dinner in East Amsterdam: Explore another part of the city by going to the eastern section. I ate at MOZO, a Moroccan restaurant, and it was amazing.
Pro tip: The Albert Cuyp market is not open on Sundays, so make sure you don't plan to go on that day... It's definitely worth a visit!
Day 4: Yep, the Red Light District
Alright, you've been in Amsterdam a few days, so it's time to explore the most notorious part of the city: the red light district. But not before you check out some more museums and cultural stops! Here's what to do on day four of your six-day Amsterdam itinerary:
- Check out the Our Lord in the Attic Museum: It costs €17 to enter this museum and is one of the most historic buildings in the city with an interesting, unique history.
- Stroll down De Beurspassage: A passageway between the streets of Damrak and Nieuwendijk with a mosaic tile installation is seriously beautiful—check it out! If you're looking to do some shopping, this is the area to do it!
- Grab a drink at W Lounge: If you're looking for a classy rooftop spot for drinks and a view, I highly recommend this one! I weirdly became obsessed with an art piece they have that can be viewed on your way to the bathroom—it's a conversation starter for sure! Another, more casual option I tried was Cafe Hoppe, which is one of the city's oldest cafes!
- Explore the Red Light District: Have a wander and check out the area - just don't forget that you're not permitted to take photos of the window girls in the district. And if you're feeling up for it, try the Casa Rossa peep show, where they offer private cabin shows (€2 for 2 minutes). Totally not invasive or weird, but an easy way to see what the district really is all about, without dropping a lot of dollars on something you may end up hating.
- Go for dinner: There are lots of great restaurants throughout the whole city, but I recommend either Blue Amsterdam (view of the city) or Clos Winebar to close out the day.
Pro tip: If you're heading out for a drink, In’t Aepjen (Monkey Bar) is super popular AND super busy. It's one of the oldest in the city and attracts a ton of people every day. Just know you'll likely need to wait a while to get a seat.
History lesson! Let me nerd out on history for a moment here... Interestingly, in the late 1500s, the Dutch actually banned public worship of Catholicism, sending the Catholics to practice their worship without being seen. This is why there were so many hidden churches within canal houses—Our Lord in the Attic is one of the preserved churches you can tour to see how it used to be. I'd plan for about two hours in here if you don't want to rush (at least, in the off-season that is).
Day 5: We're Going to Belgium!
Yes, one of the best things to do during a six-day Amsterdam trip is to head over to Belgium! Bruges is a short day trip from the city, and very cool to see. Here's what you need to know:
- Travel to Bruges by train: You'll depart from the Grand Station, transferring over in Antwerpen Centraal. The cost is about €140 round-trip, and there was no English on the train to Bruges, so make sure you are paying attention.
- Take in the main square: This area is surrounded by cafes, brightly-colored buildings, and lots of people. All the main sites are here, including the iconic Belfry of Bruges, a historic tower with some seriously epic views—well worth the climb up a narrow staircase to check it out.
- Wander over to Burg Square (Burgplein) and grab some photos at the canal outside ‘t Klein Venetie Cafe. As you're walking around through the area, also stop off at Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, the city's oldest parish dating back to the 12th century.
- Marvel at the architecture of Church of Our Lady Bruges: To truly appreciate the splendid exterior, walk around back and approach it from the rear alleys on the canal side. I didn't get to go in here, though I wasn't sure if it was because it was off-season or not.
Pro tip: Please, please go check out The Old Chocolate House, a family-run chocolate shop, but they were closed for renovations. I ate at House of Waffles instead, which offered a fantastic variety of sweet and savory options. The owners' mom was born in Bruges, and it's an homage to her!
Another tip —Make time to just wander and take photos. This is the area where I took the most photos in a day because I couldn't get enough of the architecture. Be still my heart, for all the European, Romanesque architecture!
Day 6: Your Last Bit of History and Culture
On your last full day of a six-day Amsterdam trip, there's a little more history and culture to experience. But first...
- Grab some pancakes:Â The Pancake Bakery is an awesome spot to get some traditional Dutch breakfast items. You'll love it, I know it!
- Visit the Anne Frank House: Popular for good reason, this historic home is a powerful part of history and very much worth a visit. Time entry is non-negotiable, so book your tickets (€16.50) in advance. It's a small venue, so it's quite busy, even in the off-season like January when I was there.
- Marvel at AMAZE. For €25, you can check out this super neat interactive audio-visual experience. It's like interactive art all around you—very unique!
- Go for dinner at Cannibale Royale: This is for meat-lovers only. I love steakhouses, and this one did not disappoint! I'm not even ashamed to say that it was so good that I had to seriously hold myself back from licking the plate -err, the cutting board my steak was served on! They're open until 1:00 a.m., so a good late-night option, too.
Pro tip: Another option for some dazzling lights is the Amsterdam Light Festival Boat Tour, which is magical and requires no walking. Grab tickets for €40; it departs from Prins Hendrikkade 33.
Amsterdam does not disappoint. There are tons of things to see and do and, if you're there for a short time like I was, you'll want to make the most of it. I hope this six-day Amsterdam itinerary helps you plan an epic trip! If you really crave that Romanesque architecture, then I highly recommend you consider spending more than one day in Bruges!
If you are planning a solo trip to Amsterdam or elsewhere abroad, you might be interested in checking out my guide on how to travel for free. Trust me, you don't have to pay the big bucks to have an awesome experience. Cheers to your next trip!
To an amazing trip to Amsterdam,
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About Me
I'm Jamie Milam, a determined AF woman who's embraced life after divorce by finding peace through self-awareness, intentional decision-making, and thrilling new travel adventures.
As a Realtor® in Charlotte, NC (and your connection to top agents nationwide), I’m passionate about guiding you through your homeownership and design goals—while also helping you create space for the things you love. My mission is to empower you to create a life of alignment too - at home, abroad, and within.
Whether it’s through real estate tips, home design inspiration, or solo travel experiences, I hope this space encourages you to discover deeper self-awareness and build a life that aligns with your passions and needs.
Have you scoped the podcast series that empowers women to make aligned decisions in a divorce?
Your Free Charlotte City Guide
Jamie Milam is a Realtor® in the Charlotte, NC area, licensed in both NC & SC, and has the ability to refer you to a number of agent partners across the nation, regardless of where you may live. She is an enthusiast for the power of awareness and believes it can be used in all facets of life to support aligned living.
**Disclosure** This post may contain affiliate links and they are at no additional cost to you, though I may earn a small commission. Don't worry, I only recommend products or services that I have tried or believe would be of great value to you! All opinions expressed are those of my own!
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