Netherlands · On a budget · 2 days · 11 stops
Amsterdam on a budget: 2 days, mostly free
Amsterdam's canals, bridges and parks are free anyway – this plan adds the free ferries across the IJ and two viewpoints you don't pay for. Day one runs from the old town through the south to the Vondelpark; day two from the Jordaan by ferry to the old shipyard and back to the eastern docks.
In short
- Length
- 2 days, 11 stops
- Highlights
- Begijnhof, Westerkerk, Flower market, Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug), Rijksmuseum gardens
- Where to stay
- Canal ring and Jordaan, De Pijp
- Getting around
- You can get everywhere on foot and by tram.
- Best time to go
- April and May with the tulips, and September, are lovely but popular.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
Old town, the Amstel and Museumplein
Begijnhof
The courtyard is free to enter. Keep your voice down – people live here.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Begijnhofabout 5 min on foot
Flower market
Looking is free: flowers and bulbs on boats along the Singel. The Munttoren tower is just around the corner.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Flower marketabout 10 min on foot
Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug)
The white drawbridge over the Amstel. With luck you'll see it open for a boat.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug)about 15 min on foot
Albert Cuyp Market
Lunch from the market: herring in a bun, a warm stroopwafel or kibbeling from the fish stall. No market on Sundays.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Albert Cuyp Marketabout 15 min on foot
Rijksmuseum gardens
The gardens around the museum are free, with sculptures and old building fragments. Cyclists ride through the archway.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Rijksmuseum gardensabout 20 min on foot
Vondelpark
An afternoon in the park costs nothing. In summer the open-air theatre often has free performances.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Vondelpark
Day 2
Jordaan, ferry and the eastern docks
Westerkerk
It looks best from outside and from the canal in front. The interior opens only at set times, usually on weekdays from 11:00, and entry is then free – check first.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Westerkerkabout 10 min on foot
Winkel 43
A slice of apple pie on the Noordermarkt as a late breakfast. To save money, take it to a bench.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Winkel 43About 15 min on foot to Central Station, then the free ferry to NDSM, about 15 min.
NDSM wharf
The old shipyard is free to wander: graffiti on the sheds, cranes and a quay wall to sit on. Bring a picnic.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): NDSM wharfFerry back to Central Station, about 15 min, then about 10 min on foot.
OBA Oosterdok public library
Ride the escalators to the top: the top floor gives you a free view over the city. There are window seats on the way up.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): OBA Oosterdok public libraryabout 5 min on foot
NEMO roof
The outdoor steps on the museum lead up to the roof, and access is free. Up top there are benches and a view over the Oosterdok.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): NEMO roof
Good to know
Free ferries
All GVB ferries behind Central Station are free for foot passengers. The longer ride to NDSM is almost a harbour cruise.
Day ticket for trams
If you plan to ride a lot, a GVB day ticket beats single fares. For this plan, your feet are usually enough.
Eating cheaply
Supermarkets have good ready-made broodjes, and markets sell herring and fries. The Vondelpark and NDSM are great for a picnic.
What's worth paying for
If you pay for one museum, make it the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. Book both online in advance.
For the best time to go, public transport and where to stay, see the 3-day plan for Amsterdam.
Your plan
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Amsterdam on a budget: frequently asked questions
Can you do Amsterdam on a budget?
Yes. The canals, courtyards, parks and ferries are free, and markets and supermarkets keep food cheap. Hotels are the main expense.
Are there free viewpoints in Amsterdam?
Yes – the top floor of the OBA library and the roof of NEMO, for example. Both are a few minutes from Central Station.
More plans for Amsterdam
- One dayOne day in Amsterdam – walking routeFrom the Rijksmuseum through the old centre to the Jordaan – with the Anne Frank House in the afternoon and dinner by a canal.
- WeekendA weekend in Amsterdam: Friday to SundayFriday the canals in the evening light, Saturday the Jordaan and Rijksmuseum, Sunday the ferry across the IJ.
- 3 days3 days in Amsterdam – a ready-made itineraryThe canal ring and the Jordaan, the big museums and a day taking the ferries to Noord.
- 5 days5 days in Amsterdam with Haarlem and Zaanse SchansThree city days with the old town, museums and eastern docks – plus Haarlem and the Zaanse Schans windmills by train.
- With kidsAmsterdam with kids: 2 easy daysExperiments at NEMO, a tall ship to explore, animals at Artis – and on day two, playgrounds and ship models.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Kaz Alting, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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