13 cool things to do over a long weekend in Amsterdam
Lindsay Cohn
Special to USA TODAY
![You could easily spend a week or more exploring Amsterdam. That said, frequent direct flights from the U.S. and competitive fares, plus the ease of getting around once you land, make it the perfect place for a long-weekend escape. Scroll through to find out the top things to do and see if you’ve got 72 hours in Amsterdam.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/32c4b507-1a0f-4723-8dff-6852e6c6e05c-intro.jpg?width=660&height=451&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
You could easily spend a week or more exploring Amsterdam. That said, frequent direct flights from the U.S. and competitive fares, plus the ease of getting around once you land, make it the perfect place for a long-weekend escape. Scroll through to find out the top things to do and see if you’ve got 72 hours in Amsterdam.
Neirfy/Getty Images/iStockphoto![Canal cruise: You can ’ t beat the experience of floating through the city aboard the Pulitzer ' s classic salon boat, which dates back to 1909 and has hosted famous figures such as Winston Churchill.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/db9d0b03-4d5c-4462-a351-1dbc7f4201a3-Pulitzer_Amsterdam.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Canal cruise: You can’t beat the experience of floating through the city aboard the Pulitzer's classic salon boat, which dates back to 1909 and has hosted famous figures such as Winston Churchill.
Sander Baks/Pulitzer Amsterdam![Rijksmuseum: Browse an impressive collection of works by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/e96e09da-ceb1-4520-beb4-ea78bd19e377-Erik_Smits-sm.jpg?width=660&height=520&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Rijksmuseum: Browse an impressive collection of works by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer.
Erik Smits![Anne Frank House: You can step behind the bookcase that hid the annex where the famous Dutch teen and her family hid from the Nazis. Warning: Because it ’ s such an important and popular attraction, advanced booking is a must.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/95b65479-90f0-43b6-9743-e020adaca203-Anne_Frank_House___Cris_Toala_Olivares.jpg?width=660&height=439&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Anne Frank House:You can step behind the bookcase that hid the annex where the famous Dutch teen and her family hid from the Nazis. Warning: Because it’s such an important and popular attraction, advanced booking is a must.
Cris Toala Olivares/Anne Frank House![De Negen Straatjes: Better known as “ The Nine Streets, ” this photogenic canal-laced area houses many vintage stores, designer boutiques, and home goods shops, plus gezellig (meaning “ cozy ” ) cafes.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/b5f6e99a-1819-4710-9cd8-540f8af98251-Prinsengracht.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
De Negen Straatjes: Better known as “The Nine Streets,” this photogenic canal-laced area houses many vintage stores, designer boutiques, and home goods shops, plus gezellig (meaning “cozy”) cafes.
Sjo/Getty Images/iStockphoto![Vondelpark: Need a break from sightseeing? Venture out to Vondelpark, Amsterdam ' s largest public park.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/80dddd80-3396-4a4b-af49-1618bbadec57-vondelpark-bikes.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Vondelpark: Need a break from sightseeing? Venture out to Vondelpark, Amsterdam's largest public park.
Phaelnogueira/Getty Images/iStockphoto![Van Gogh Museum: Be sure to book tickets in advance or miss out admiring the world ’ s largest collection of works by the brilliant and tortured Dutch artist.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/695d7cf6-e23f-4e52-9920-e38309471b8a-van-gogh-museum-bedroom.jpg?width=660&height=511&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Van Gogh Museum: Be sure to book tickets in advance or miss out admiring the world’s largest collection of works by the brilliant and tortured Dutch artist.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam![The Hoxton, Amsterdam: With its prime perch on the Herengracht canal and character-rich rooms, The Hoxton, Amsterdam is a great spot to spend the night.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/043b5e9b-41ed-4573-b633-58a5a247fbe9-The_Hoxton_Amsterdam.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The Hoxton, Amsterdam: With its prime perch on the Herengracht canal and character-rich rooms, The Hoxton, Amsterdam is a great spot to spend the night.
The Hoxton, Amsterdam![De Kaaskamer: This shop, whose name translates to " the cheese room, " is piled high with more than 350 kinds of local and foreign types of fromage. Do they have Boerenkaas (a cheese made from raw milk)? You bet. Brie? Bien s û r!](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/4bbfe62d-42f1-45e3-8836-bfb395f76cea-De_Kaaskamer-sm.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
De Kaaskamer: This shop, whose name translates to "the cheese room," is piled high with more than 350 kinds of local and foreign types of fromage. Do they have Boerenkaas (a cheese made from raw milk)? You bet. Brie? Bien sûr!
De Kaaskamer![Wynand Fockink: Want to drink like the locals? Head to Wynand Fockink. Discover the history of genever (a Dutch spirit similar to gin), tour the 340-year-old distillery, and sip antique bottles in Amsterdam ’ s oldest tasting room.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/2d43d812-87d4-451c-9649-bcaf37bedc9c-Ming_Chao.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Wynand Fockink: Want to drink like the locals? Head to Wynand Fockink. Discover the history of genever (a Dutch spirit similar to gin), tour the 340-year-old distillery, and sip antique bottles in Amsterdam’s oldest tasting room.
Ming Chao![Foodhallen: A welcome addition to the burgeoning Oud-West neighborhood, Foodhallen is a former tram depot-turned-indoor market with a wide range of tasty offerings.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/86136b8a-d398-417c-bc4e-f0f1207d6f00-Jesaja_Hizkia.jpg?width=660&height=438&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Foodhallen: A welcome addition to the burgeoning Oud-West neighborhood, Foodhallen is a former tram depot-turned-indoor market with a wide range of tasty offerings.
Jesaja Hizkia![Pulitzer ' s Bar: This watering hole mixes up classic and signature tipples in a sophisticated, dimly lit space that ’ s reminiscent of an old-school drinking den.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/a6b79983-f199-49ed-acb7-030d121e2255-Pulitzer_Amsterdam-bar-sm.jpg?width=660&height=433&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Pulitzer's Bar: This watering hole mixes up classic and signature tipples in a sophisticated, dimly lit space that’s reminiscent of an old-school drinking den.
Pulitzer Amsterdam![Door 74: It ’ s easy to walk past Door 74 without even realizing it. In fact, most people do just that because this reservation-only, prohibition-style speakeasy is hidden behind what appears to be a vacant storefront. The insanely inventive cocktails and cool vibe are worth the extra effort to locate.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/19/USAT/e46ee05f-22a8-4c69-958b-5366aabb299d-Door_74.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Door 74: It’s easy to walk past Door 74 without even realizing it. In fact, most people do just that because this reservation-only, prohibition-style speakeasy is hidden behind what appears to be a vacant storefront. The insanely inventive cocktails and cool vibe are worth the extra effort to locate.
Door 74![Restaurant De Kas: Situated inside an airy greenhouse in Frankendael Park, Restaurant De Kas takes the farm-to-fork concept up a notch. The daily changing tasting menu spotlights organic, seasonal ingredients (herbs, vegetables, and fruit) sustainably grown on-site as well as locally sourced fish and meat.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2020/01/02/USAT/9b8d0f70-a209-4ec7-96fc-0c5e63e72e45-Restaurant_De_Kas-sm.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Restaurant De Kas: Situated inside an airy greenhouse in Frankendael Park, Restaurant De Kas takes the farm-to-fork concept up a notch. The daily changing tasting menu spotlights organic, seasonal ingredients (herbs, vegetables, and fruit) sustainably grown on-site as well as locally sourced fish and meat.
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