Luxury things to do in Amsterdam
The White Room, RIJKS, Vinkeles, Flore, and a view from the Okura
Four of the city's most serious restaurants across three days, with De Bijenkorf, the Hollandsche Manege, and the Rijksmuseum filling the hours between. This is Amsterdam at full stretch, for a traveller who wants every meal to count and does not need to look at the bill. Come hungry.
Day 1: Old City, Grand Plates
Start in the medieval core with specialty coffee and the Oude Kerk, then a long lunch under the chandeliers at The Duchess, a lap of De Bijenkorf, and a tasting menu at Restaurant Flore followed by cocktails at LuminAir.
- 9:30 AM
Five Ways Coffee Roasters
Specialty roaster by Oosterpark; ask for a filter of whatever single lot they roasted this week.
Map - 10:30 AM
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a 13th-century church in the Wallen that now stages big contemporary art shows.
Map - 12:30 PM
THE DUCHESS
Lunch in a Belle Époque former bank hall of marble and chandeliers behind the Royal Palace.
Map - 2:30 PM
De Bijenkorf
De Bijenkorf, Amsterdam's grandest department store, the ultimate luxury flagship browse.
Map - 7:30 PM
Restaurant Flore
Tasting menu at De L'Europe on the Amstel, built around Dutch vegetables, fish and foraged produce.
Map - 9:30 PM
LuminAir
Cocktails on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Centraal, with the old city rooftops below.
Map
Day 2: Canals, Jordaan, and Vinkeles
A slow morning in the Negen Straatjes with coffee at Lotti's and photography at Huis Marseille gives way to an Italian lunch at Bussia, an afternoon in the Nine Streets boutiques, and a tasting menu at Vinkeles, nightcap wine by the Prinsensluis.
- 9:30 AM
Lotti's
Lotti's is the chicest morning spot in the Negen Straatjes, brunch-café energy, excellent coffee, right in the neighbourhood.
Map - 11:00 AM
Huis Marseille
Photography shows across two 17th-century canal houses on the Keizersgracht, with a quiet garden behind.
Map - 12:30 PM
Bussia
Long Italian lunch on the Reestraat: fresh pasta and a glass of Piedmont red by the canal.
Map - 2:30 PM
De 9 Straatjes
Nine short lanes between the canals packed with independent boutiques, vintage and design shops.
Map - 7:30 PM
Vinkeles
Tasting menu in the 18th-century bakery of The Dylan on the Keizersgracht, the old ovens still in the room.
Map - 10:00 PM
Kikkie van de Prinsensluis
Canal-side bar by the Prinsensluis bridge for a last glass of wine with the water at your feet.
Map
Day 3: Museum Quarter and Ciel Bleu
The day belongs to the Rijksmuseum, from a De Pijp matcha at LERA through the masterpiece collection to lunch at RIJKS®, a detour to the royal riding school at Hollandsche Manege, and dinner 23 floors above the city at Ciel Bleu.
- 9:30 AM
LERA
A calm De Pijp matcha bar: a ceremonial bowl or an iced matcha latte before the Rijksmuseum.
Map - 10:30 AM
Rijksmuseum
Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid in the Gallery of Honour; book a timed slot.
Map - 12:30 PM
RIJKS®
Lunch in the Rijksmuseum's Philips Wing, a menu of Dutch produce and old trade-route spices.
Map - 2:30 PM
Hollandsche Manege
Watch riders in the 1882 indoor ring from the café balcony, a short walk west of the museums.
Map - 7:30 PM
Ciel Bleu
Tasting menu on the 23rd floor of the Okura, with the whole south of the city lit up below.
Map - 10:00 PM
Kaasbar Amsterdam
Dutch farm cheeses ride past on a little conveyor train, each with a wine or beer to pair.
Map
Where to stay
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam sits in six 17th-century canal houses on the Herengracht: the grandest address in the city and the natural base for this itinerary.
Rosewood Amsterdam
Rosewood Amsterdam occupies a restored neoclassical bank steps from the Spui, with the kind of lobby bar that earns its own reservation.
Make Amsterdam your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Rijksmuseum: a few days ahead
- Van Gogh Museum: weeks ahead
- Anne Frank House: weeks ahead
- Eye Filmmuseum: a few days ahead
- A'DAM Lookout: a few days ahead
- STRAAT Museum: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Heineken Experience is an expensive marketing walk-through. Try Brouwerij 't IJ instead.
- Shop-front 'museums' on Damrak and in De Wallen are gift shops with a ticket desk. Spend that money at the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh.
- Avoid trap restaurants on Damrak, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. Eat in De Pijp, Jordaan, Oud-West, Oost or Noord.
- Skip Zaanse Schans at midday and the big recorded commentary canal boats when a small boat costs similar.
The full Amsterdam travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around