An exciting day in Amsterdam: What to expect!

Amsterdam is like a painting framed by water: narrow gabled houses reflected in the canals, bridges galore, and a light that captivated even Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The best bit is: you don’t need to stay overnight in the capital to experience it. From the a&o Rotterdam City, you’ll be right in the thick of it in around 40 minutes by train, and back in time in the evening for a drink in the hotel bar.

Your starting point: the a&o Rotterdam City

The journey begins in Rotterdam, and for good reason. The a&o Rotterdam City is located just around 500 metres from Rotterdam Centraal station. You can reach the train in just under ten minutes’ walk, without any detours or rushing. Rotterdam itself is well worth a visit, with its Markthalle, Euromast and the famous Cube Houses.

• Great value: Depending on your travel dates, you can stay from as little as €12 in a shared room or from €49 in a double room.
• Breakfast on request: You can optionally book the breakfast buffet. It’s well worth it for a long day of sightseeing.
• Hotel bar in the evening: After you return, round off the day with a drink and swap stories with other guests.
• Convenient access: The reception is staffed round the clock, even if your train returns late. Wi-Fi is free.

Getting there: By train from Rotterdam to Amsterdam

Journey time: The fastest trains, the Intercity Direct services operated by the Dutch railways (NS), take around 40 minutes to cover the approximately 60-kilometre route. They run several times an hour. Some of these trains terminate at Amsterdam Zuid. From there, a connecting train will take you to Amsterdam Centraal station in about ten minutes, or you can take the tram from there. The standard Intercity trains run directly to Amsterdam Centraal at no extra cost and take about one hour to one hour and ten minutes.

Practical tip: In the Netherlands, you can pay contactless using a bank card or mobile phone (OVpay). When boarding and alighting, simply hold your card against the reader on the platform and you’ll automatically pay the correct fare. You pay the supplement for the Intercity Direct at the red pay stations on the platform. Single paper tickets cost around one euro more. Journey times and fares change from time to time, so it’s worth checking the Nederlandse Spoorwegen website in advance.

Your route: From the Van Gogh Museum across the water to the Anne Frank House

Two museums and a canal cruise in one day? It’s possible if you plan your route wisely in advance. Our suggestion takes you from south to north and ends not far from the main station, so that all you have to do at the end is hop on the train.

Museumplein and the Van Gogh Museum

On Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum are situated close together. Today you’ll admire the Rijksmuseum from the outside, as the Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of the painter’s works, including ‘Sunflowers’, ‘Almond Blossom’ and ‘The Potato Eaters’.

Tickets are only available online and with a fixed time slot. Adults pay €25, entry is free for under-18s, and students pay €16. Please purchase tickets exclusively via the museum’s official website or from its authorised sales partners, as there are explicit warnings about counterfeit tickets.

Lunch break: De Hallen Market Hall

For your lunch break, we recommend the food halls at De Hallen Market Hall, a former tram depot in the Oud West district. Under one roof, you’ll find stalls serving Dutch bitterballen, pancakes, Asian dishes and much more. Everyone in the group can have whatever takes their fancy, and if it rains, you’ll stay dry. If you fancy something classically Dutch, try a roll with matjes herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) at the fish stall as you walk along.

Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht

From there, the route takes you into the Jordaan district to the Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House. The Secret Annex, where Anne Frank lived in hiding with her family from 1942 to 1944, has been preserved with deliberate restraint. A visit here is one of the most moving experiences the city has to offer.

Important for planning: Tickets are not sold at the ticket office. Every Tuesday at 10.00 am, new tickets for the following six weeks go on sale, and they sell out quickly. An adult ticket costs €16.50. Make sure you arrive on time for your booked time slot, as if you miss it, you won’t be allowed in. The I amsterdam City Card is not valid here.

Canal cruise: a must-do

No visit to Amsterdam is complete without a trip on the water. Boats set off very close to the Anne Frank House, taking you on a journey of about an hour past the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), the Dancing Houses, the Golden Arch and the Nine Streets. A one-hour trip costs around €15 to €25, depending on the operator. The open-top electric boats offer particularly pleasant seating, and blankets are often provided in cool weather. Alternatively, you can take a boat from Damrak, right next to the main railway station.

Finishing off on foot: the Nine Streets, the Begijnhof and Dam

After the boat trip, take a stroll through the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes), nine narrow lanes between Prinsengracht and Singel lined with shops, cafés and galleries. Continue on to the Spui and the Begijnhof, a quiet medieval courtyard featuring one of the city’s oldest timber-framed houses. People live here, so please keep quiet and check the visiting hours in advance. Finally, you’ll reach the Dam, home to the Royal Palace, the National Monument and the Nieuwe Kerk. It’s only about ten to 15 minutes’ walk along Damrak to Amsterdam Central Station.

Shopping tip: On the way from Spui to Dam Square lies Kalverstraat, the bustling shopping street in the city centre with well-known chains and large department stores. It’s best to give it a miss if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, and instead have a browse in the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes). There you’ll find small shops selling fashion, jewellery, home accessories and records. If you’d rather soak up the market atmosphere, take a stroll through the Albert Cuyp Market in the De Pijp neighbourhood. It’s near the Museumplein and is a great place for a detour before or after visiting the Van Gogh Museum. Be sure to check the opening times in advance, as market days and times are subject to change.

Souvenir tip: The Flower Market on the Singel (Bloemenmarkt) tempts visitors with tulip bulbs in colourful bags – a fragrant souvenir. You can take bulbs home from the EU without any problems.

Sweet treat tip: If you’ve got time, treat yourself to a slice of the famous apple cake at Café Winkel 43 on the Noordermarkt.

Your itinerary at a glance

• 07:30 am: A hearty breakfast at a&o Rotterdam City
• 08:30 am: Walk to Rotterdam Centraal station (around ten minutes)
• 08:50 am: Departure on the Intercity Direct (trains run several times an hour; the time is a guide only)
• 09:35 am: Arrival in Amsterdam; continue by train or tram to Museumplein
• 10:00 am: Coffee break and a view of the Rijksmuseum; a stroll across Museumplein
• 11:00 am: Van Gogh Museum (around 1.5 hours)
• 12.30 pm: Head to De Hallen market hall, either on foot or by tram
• 01.00 pm: Lunch break at the Foodhallen
• 02.00 pm: Walk to the Westermarkt with a view of the Westerkerk
• 02.30 pm: Anne Frank House (one to one-and-a-half hours; book a time slot in advance)
• 04.15 pm: Canal cruise (around one hour)
• 05.15 pm: Nine Streets, Spui, Begijnhof and Dam; if you fancy it, a slice of apple cake at the Noordermarkt
• 06.30 pm: Walk along the Damrak to Amsterdam Centraal station
• 07.00 pm: Return journey to Rotterdam, arriving around 7.45 pm
• 08.00 pm: Dinner, followed by a relaxing end to the day in the a&o hotel bar

If one museum is enough for you: skip the Van Gogh Museum, start straight in the city centre and save time for Dam Square, the Nine Streets and a second break by the water.

Cost overview

• Return train ticket (with surcharge) around €36 to €42
• Van Gogh Museum €25 (students €16, free for under-18s)
• Anne Frank House €16.50
• Canal cruise (one hour) approx. €15 to €25

On top of this, there’s food and short tram journeys. In total, excluding meals, you should expect to spend around €95 to €110.

Amsterdam in a day?

With good planning and two pre-booked time slots, it’s possible. You’ll see art, history, waterways and bustling alleyways, whilst still enjoying affordable and relaxing accommodation in Rotterdam, just ten minutes from the station. If you have more time to spare, simply extend your stay by one night and take your time exploring Rotterdam or Amsterdam. Book your next city break now with the a&o Hostel in Rotterdam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the train journey from Rotterdam to Amsterdam take?
The journey takes around 40 minutes on the fast Intercity Direct service. On the standard Intercity service without a supplement, it takes around one hour to one hour and ten minutes.

How much does a return journey cost?
Expect to pay around €36 to €42 in second class, including the surcharge for the Intercity Direct. The surcharge is €3.20 during peak hours and €1.92 outside peak hours. The exact price can be found online in the timetable information.

Do I need to book tickets for the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum in advance?
Yes, both museums only sell tickets online and with a fixed time slot. For the Anne Frank House, tickets go on sale at 10.00 am on Tuesdays for the following six weeks. So make sure you plan ahead.

Is a day trip worth it, or should I stay overnight in Amsterdam?
You can see the main sights in a single day. If you want to enjoy the cafés, markets and evening atmosphere at a leisurely pace, it’s better to stay longer. Rotterdam is a handy base, as accommodation there is often cheaper than in the centre of Amsterdam.

How do I get from A to B in Amsterdam?
The city centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. For longer journeys, take the tram and pay contactless with a bank card or mobile phone, just like on the train. According to current information, the city’s transport operator, GVB, caps the daily fare at €10.50.

Is the day trip suitable for children?
Yes. Children up to the age of 17 get free entry to the Van Gogh Museum; at the Anne Frank House, children aged 10 to 17 pay €7 and children under ten pay €1. Children aged four to eleven can travel on the Railrunner train all day for €2.50. Make sure to plan in breaks for families and, if necessary, skip a museum.

What should I do if it rains?
The food halls, the museums and the canal boat trips on covered boats are weatherproof. Some of the open-top boats may not run in bad weather.

Where are good places to stroll and shop in Amsterdam?
Within easy walking distance are Kalverstraat for large shops, the Nine Streets for small shops and boutiques, and the Jordaan district for arts and crafts and cafés. At the Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp, you can buy cheese, pastries and little treats straight from the stalls.

What are some typical souvenirs from Amsterdam?
Popular choices include stroopwafels – a caramel filling sandwiched between two thin waffles – as well as Gouda or Edam cheese, which is often sold vacuum-packed. Other options include tulip bulbs, Delft Blue tiles or porcelain, clogs and sweet or savoury liquorice (Drop). If you’re looking for something a bit special, try genever, the Dutch juniper spirit, or art prints from the gift shops at the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.

Got hooked?

Then book your trip with a&o to Rotterdam!