In December 2018, Tyler and I didn’t go home for the holidays; instead, after snagging a good deal on flights in and out of Brussels, we booked train tickets to additional cities from there. We wanted to see a lot of different places in the short time we were in Europe. Of course, adding stops meant we had less time to explore each place.
Based on our scheduling, we only had 48 hours to spend in Amsterdam before we headed to Paris, France, for two days. This is absolutely not enough time to take in either city, but after getting a taste of all that Amsterdam has to offer, it inspired us to make a future return trip. If you only have a short time to spend in the capital of the Netherlands, these are my recommendations to make the most of your stay.
- Explore the shops. You probably want to check out the coffeeshops 😉 (not to be confused with coffeehouses), but don’t stop there! We found some great shops just by popping into interesting-looking places while we walked along the canals, like Knuffels Toyshop, the Otherist and the Condomerie. I also made a stop at Primark for tights; if you find yourself in need of some cheap accessories, they have you covered.
Dignita Hoftuin 
PANCAKES 
Bakers & Roasters
- Eat local. While we initially had a bit of trouble finding a place open for lunch on Boxing Day (better than having our train disappear), we managed to eat at some really delicious local spots while we were in Amsterdam. All our meals were good, but breakfast and brunch are what really took the pancake; for that, I would definitely recommend Dignita Hoftuin, Bakers & Roasters, and PANCAKES.
Heineken Experience 
NEMO
- Visit the exhibits. There are dozens of museums in Amsterdam, and they provide a great way to spend the day and take in the culture. The NEMO Science Museum was a surprise win, with great views of the city. I would also recommend visiting the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House (book tickets in advance), and the less traditional Heineken Experience; it was this tour that made me a fan of Heineken!
Note: We also had fun visiting the Red Light District when we went to Amsterdam, but it’s currently being relocated to a new “erotic center,” as shared on The Points Guy last week. If this is a must-do for you, then be sure to research any changes and the new location; we will share here as we find out more.
I also have to call out our wonderful Airbnb host, Bas! We stayed in his first-floor private studio, and he had some great recommendations for our trip – many of which I’ve included here. If you need a place to stay in Amsterdam, I would absolutely recommend staying with him!
Amsterdam is gorgeous, lively and easily accessible by train (especially from Brussels); even if you can’t spend long here, it is worth the trip.