Are you looking for something exciting and new to do while in Amsterdam? Day trips from Amsterdam are the perfect way to make the most of your time here. Whether a first-timer or a seasoned traveler, you’ll find plenty of activities and sights to explore!
From picturesque canals and quaint bridges to bustling markets and historic monuments, there’s something for everyone on day trips from Amsterdam. You could take an old-fashioned barge cruise along one of the city’s many canals, explore the Rijksmuseum and its priceless collection of artworks, visit Anne Frank’s house or sample some Dutch delicacies at one of the many restaurants. Or even go further afield and explore more remote parts of Holland, such as Zaanse Schans windmills, Volendam fishing village, or the stunning tulip fields near Haarlem – all within easy reach by bus or train.
And if that wasn’t enough to entice you, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s greenest cities with plenty of parks, woods, and waterways ideal for a leisurely stroll or picnic. For those looking for more active pursuits, great cycling tours are available through spectacular scenery, including forests, dunes, and lakes.
Take advantage of all this wonderful country has to offer by embarking on day trips from Amsterdam! With so much at your fingertips, it won’t be hard to fill up your days with fun activities that will leave you with lasting memories. From outdoor adventures in nature reserves to exploring centuries-old architecture in ancient towns – experience it all within hours of leaving the city center! Forget about stress: plan ahead, pick your destination and let yourself enjoy every moment during these incredible day trips from Amsterdam!
Make your trips smooth and easy by booking day trip tours from Amsterdam:
- POPULAR AND LIKELY TO SELL OUT: Volendam, Edam, & Zaanse Schans Day Trip from Amsterdam
- BUS DAY TRIP TOUR: Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Bus Tour
- VISIT ANOTHER COUNTRY: Day Trip to Bruges
- UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: Zaanse Schans with Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory
- BEST TOUR IN SPRING: Keukenhof Park Half-Day Trip with Transfers
- BOAT TOUR: Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans Day Tour with Boat
Do you need help planning your trips? Start here!
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How to get around Amsterdam by bicycle
To get the best experience of your trip to the Netherlands, you will never need to rent a car, and there are two reasons behind that. To go anywhere freely, renting a bike is the best option.
For the best day trips from Amsterdam and to catch the excellent views of the city, Dutch Railways is the best option. You can get the best of both worlds by combining these things. If you don’t like to pedal for miles, you can buy a ticket for the bike and then carry it on the train.
It is an excellent way to care for your environment, and you can also give others a message to leave their car at their home or garage and stay active. You will love day trips from Amsterdam by train. For cyclists, trains are the best way to travel as stations are not too far from the cycling routes. Travelers hop off their train, cycle to the closest city, and enjoy the panoramic, windmill-loaded countryside.
Remember that bicycles are allowed in the city only from 9 am to 4 pm and after 6:30 pm. There are no restrictions on national holidays, during weekends, or in July and August. For the bike, tickets will cost around 6 to 20 Euros, combined with a train ticket, despite the kilometers covered by train.
How to go on day trips from Amsterdam by train
If you plan day trips in Amsterdam by train, you can buy OV-chipkaart, a prepaid recharge, just like a SIM card on your phone. The fare starts at only 20 Euros, and you can check in when you hop on the train and check out when you reach the destination.
On the other side, you may want to look for a single-use card at service counters or NS ticket machines. You may buy tickets online. But it is also easier to use ticket machines or kiosks at train stations. Have a look at the weekend trips from Amsterdam that you should try:
Top Day Trips from Amsterdam, Netherlands
Brussels
Brussels is an ideal day trip destination from Amsterdam due to its close proximity – with only a short train ride away, it’s the perfect day trip for those looking to explore a new and exciting city.
Brussels is home to unique cultural experiences, historical attractions, delicious cuisine, and much more – all within walking distance of one another.
This city is a melting pot where Romance meets Germanic culture in an exciting way that synthesizes both histories into one unforgettable day trip.
From historical attractions like the Grand Place and Manneken Pis to popular day trips like Mini-Europe, there’s something for everyone when spending the day in this incredible city.
So why not take a day trip from Amsterdam and explore a new world of culture and history in Brussels? You won’t regret it!
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Brussels Full-Day Excursion from Amsterdam
Haarlem
Haarlem is a great day trip from Amsterdam for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This charming small town is just a short 15-minute train ride away, making it easy to visit in one day. You’ll find plenty of activities in Haarlem that will help you make the most of your day, including admiring the impressive architecture and checking out Jopen Brewery.
Jopen Brewery is a must-visit in Haarlem that showcases an unlikely combination of beer and culture. It’s located in what used to be a church called, Jopenkerk, and they offer some of the best beer you’ll find in the Netherlands. The brewery has a restaurant, cafe, and taproom where you can sample their delicious beer creations.
When it comes to food, Haarlem is known for its tasty chicken sates and kipsates. You can enjoy these dishes with a refreshing drink while taking in the typical Dutch lifestyle prevalent in this small town. So take a day trip to Haarlem and experience what the Netherlands offers!
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Read also: Top 11 Things to do in Amsterdam
Keukenhof Gardens
As the name suggests, it is the largest flower garden in the world. Your day trip from Amsterdam will never be complete without including Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse, a small town. Every year, it attracts over 800,000 visitors.
It houses 80 vast acres of pristine gardens designed in different themes, including the Japanese Garden, the English Garden, and the Historical Garden. It is planted with 7 million flower bulbs yearly; the flowers bloom every spring and add spectacular beauty to the garden.
To capture and explore the stunning pictures of flower gardens, you can efficiently plan a trip during the open season, which starts from the mid of March to the end of May. Keukenhof Castle is located near the gardens, is open all year round, and hosts music concerts, festivals, and medieval fairs.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Full-Day Keukenhof Entry Ticket with Transfers from Amsterdam
Read also: Top 15 of the Most Visited Tourist Attractions in Europe
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Den Haag – The Hauge
While Amsterdam is the official capital of the Netherlands, Den Haag is well known for the Dutch parliament building named “Binnenhof.” Den Haag houses the International Criminal Court, an eclectic blend of old-world architecture and modern skyscrapers blended well with ancient Dutch buildings and canals.
The American Embassy is in Amsterdam, but Den Haag has several embassies, such as Australia and Canada. You can explore the history and stroll at Scheveningen Beach, located only 15 minutes from the heart of Den Haag by tram.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague Full-Day Tour from Amsterdam
Read also: Top 15 Summer Music Festivals in Europe
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a great day trip from Amsterdam, as it is only 45 minutes away by train and offers an array of activities to enjoy during the day.
With its rich history dating back to 1254, Alkmaar provides visitors with a unique cultural experience that can’t be found elsewhere. It has many attractions, such as the famous cheese market that takes place every Friday from April to the first week of September.
But if cheese isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other exciting places to visit in Alkmaar, like the National Beer Museum, The Beatles Museum, and the Cheese Museum.
So don’t hesitate and take a day trip to Alkmaar. It’s worth it!
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Alkmaar 2-Hour Tour and Cheese Market Visit
Read also: Top 12 Museums in Europe (For Arts, History, and Culture)
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a great day trip destination from Amsterdam due to its unique combination of old-world charm and modern architecture. The city was completely destroyed during World War II, but it was rebuilt from the ground up with an eye for futuristic structures and modern amenities. This makes Rotterdam stand out from typical day trips, which only offer traditional attractions.
The area around the Old Harbour, Oude Haven, is particularly worth a visit for day trippers from Amsterdam. The mix of old and new here offers great opportunities to explore the past and present-day city.
Take a stroll through the cobbled streets to admire centuries-old buildings while also admiring modern structures such as the Erasmus Bridge or the Markthal.
Whether looking for a day out or just a quick escape from Amsterdam, a day trip to Rotterdam is the perfect way to experience a truly different atmosphere.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague Full-Day Tour from Amsterdam
Read also: Top 8 Best City Breaks in Europe (That are Worth Visiting)
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is a great day trip from Amsterdam for those looking to explore the rich history of Dutch culture and industry.
Located in Zaanstad, it is just 20 minutes away from Amsterdam and offers a unique opportunity to step back in time. The outdoor museum features a range of historic buildings and windmills that demonstrate how the Dutch used to live and work.
From clog making to cheese processing, there’s something for everyone here. So grab a map, put on your comfy shoes, and head to Zaanse Schans – it’ll be an experience you won’t forget!
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken Day Trip from Amsterdam
Read also: Top 15 Best Experiences in Europe
Utrecht
It is the best place for visitors to get into the rich history of the Netherlands. This ancient city has been the nation’s religious center since the 8th century. It was once the prominent city of Holland until it was outshined in the Dutch Golden Age by Amsterdam. Most visitors don’t venture the 31 miles off the beaten path, but many travelers must find time to visit this historic city. It has been known as the most stunning canal town in Europe.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Read also: Europe Holidays: Top 10 Awesome Destinations for Holidays in Europe
Giethoorn
If you can’t visit Italy but don’t want to leave behind the experience of a canal ride, don’t forget to visit Giethoorn, a calm and serene Dutch village known as the Venice of the Netherlands or Little Venice. You can get around this Old Dutch village by walking along or taking boat trips in Amsterdam from one island to another.
It has 180 bridges and is very well-known among Chinese tourists. It is a picture-perfect town with red-thatched houses located around the canals. It is a peaceful village without any loudness. So, it is an ideal getaway around 120km away from Amsterdam.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Read also: Top 9 Must-See Castles in the Netherlands
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Gouda
The best part of Gouda is that the town is named after cheese. The cheese market takes place every Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm from April to the end of August. You may not have visited the cheese market if you haven’t lived in the Netherlands, but you should unquestionably get there. It has one of the most beautiful town halls in the Netherlands, and it will leave you spellbound when you spend a couple of hours here.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Read also: Top 9 Best Wine Countries in Europe
Lisse
If you are visiting the Netherlands from the mid of March to May, you shouldn’t miss the tulip fields around Lisse. Just take a bike to ride along the tulip fields to have enough time to capture the perfect picture of the stunning terrains when getting insights into typical Dutch living.
You may find a cycling map on the bulb field online and rent a bike. Lose yourself all day long in the charm and colors of tulip fields. In high-tulip season, don’t forget to book a bike in advance.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Read also: Spring in Europe: Top 15 Spring Destinations in Europe
Hoorn
It is a town in the Dutch province of Kop van Noord-Holland. It is among the largest harbors and the unofficial capital of West Friesland. It has a picture-perfect city center with many historical complexes dating back to the 17th century.
Where to stay in Amsterdam? You can book your hotel here and find great deals!
Read also: Top 25 Best Cities in Europe to Visit
Planning to visit the Netherlands? Check out these posts!
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Booking.comTours to do in Amsterdam
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