Bikes, canals, beautiful architecture, beer, and tulips… you can experience all of the classic tourist spots – and MORE! – in simply 2 days in Amsterdam! Here's the 48-hour itinerary.
Have you ever run away for a weekend getaway? Where did you go?
Usually, for quick trips when we get the urge to skip town (which is often – darn wanderlust!), the family and We will head an hour west to the Oregon coast. Sometimes we'll drive 3 hours north to Seattle, 3 hours east to Bend, or out to Washington wine country. All simple, drivable getaways.
We had never even considered the idea of running away to Europe for the weekend, especially from the West Coast. That's crazy talk, right? When we travel to Europe (see our family travels to Italy and Switzerland), it usually takes us anywhere from 20-28 hours of travel time between the flights and the 1-2 layover stops in between.
But Portland airport has a few nonstop flights from PDX to Europe, and one of them is the Delta direct flight to Amsterdam.
We've always wanted to go to Amsterdam. The canals, the bikes, the windmills, the beer… but can it be done in simply one long weekend?
We'm happy to say the answer is YES. It can be done, because We did it – and you can too! We went by myself, but We think this is the perfect long weekend getaway for a group of your closest girlfriends.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]In today's post, We'm sharing a quick look at the full itinerary for 2 Days in Amsterdam. In subsequent posts over the next month, We'll be sharing a more in-depth look at a few highlights of the trip.
Because, you know: We have a few thousand photos that We've edited down to a few dozen to share with you. And Amsterdam is simply too amazing to condense into one post!
Ready to travel with me on the #NextStopAMS whirlwind tour of Amsterdam? Let's go!
🇳🇱 2 days in Amsterdam
Thursday 1:30pm – Delta Flight from PDX to AMS
After seeing both kids off to school, We left the home, which is approximately 20 miles away from PDX Airport, around 10:30am. We'll share more about what We packed for this trip during the Amsterdam Travel Tips post coming up within the next month, but for now, you simply need to know that We only travel with carry-on bags when possible; We don't check luggage unless We am going to be gone for a couple of weeks or more, traveling to multiple cities/countries with different climates and itineraries. So We was already checked in for the flight when We arrived and sailed through PDX TSA Pre-Check quickly and easily.
Side travel note worth mentioning: We truly do find PDX to be one of the best airports in the world. We find the PDX TSA authorities to be, hands down, the friendliest and most entertaining around – especially for early morning flights. We love them! Plus: there's free WiFi throughout the airport, and some of the best local restaurants also have outposts at the airport.
The flight was a red eye, and while the flight attendants were fantastic, and handed out eye masks and ear plugs to help us sleep, We still only got about 25 minutes of sleep on the overnight flight.
That's okay. We was flying to Amsterdam, and that thought alone powered me through the first day on such little sleep! The 9-hour direct flight from PDX to Amsterdam went by so quickly, and everything went smoothly, including a fast and friendly welcome through customs at the Amsterdam airport.
✈️ Arrive in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We arrived at the Amsterdam airport and easily found the way to the arrivals meeting area, where We was met by Vincent, who works for Buro Six, an agency that works closely with Travel Portland. He was so kind enough to pick me up at the airport, and then take me to breakfast.
💐 First Impressions of Amsterdam
Driving through the streets of Amsterdam, We immediately noticed the difference in architecture. It's hard to miss, actually, in almost any destination, but Amsterdam in particular has such stunning architecture that it truly captivated me during the entire stay. Vincent was so kind as to answer all of the questions regarding Amsterdam: the climate, the economy, politics, food, drink, crime, differences between the older and newer parts of town… you may not have Vincent pick you up from the airport, but We highly suggest chatting up your cab driver or shuttle driver if you travel to Amsterdam. All of the ones We met throughout the 2 days in Amsterdam also had plenty to share during our short rides about town!
🍳 Morgan and Mees
We arrived at Morgan and Mees, a new hotel and restaurant that opened in the fall of 2015.
Morgan and Mees is a stunning modern space with beautifully prepared dishes and drinks. It was a welcome place to relax after the direct flight and learn more about Amsterdam from a local.
After breakfast, the owner of Morgan and Mees took us on a tour of the hotel. We truly loved this place, and if you're traveling to Amsterdam anytime soon, We think you will too.
We will have a full review with plenty of photos in an upcoming separate post about Morgan and Mees.
🚲 Bike tour around Amsterdam
After breakfast, Vincent was kind enough to take me to the next stop: Mike's Bike Tours.
We was grateful for the opportunity to refuel at Morgan & Mees, because We needed that energy for this bike tour! Our tour guide, Maria Teresa, was phenomenal, and We can't wait to share more photos and a full recap of this 3-hour bike tour throughout Amsterdam in an upcoming, separate post.
In short, this bike tour allows you to see SO much of the city, while also feeling a bit more like a local. Bikes outnumber people in Amsterdam, and it's 100% crystal clear who owns the road: bicyclists do. They are focused, they are aggressive, and they do not wear helmets. Living in Portland, Oregon, where bike culture is seen as being hardcore, We have to say: we have NOTHING on Amsterdam, the PDX friends. They own bike culture and we could learn a lot from them. But that's for a separate post :)
We rode through Vondelpark, the Red Light District, past the zoo, past the Anne Frank house and all of the major museums, and We learned SO much about Amsterdam during this tour. During our tour, the skies opened up and POURED on us. We'm talking, sideways rain that even this Portlander was not accustomed to. But, it was still so much fun, and even though We was soaked at the end, We would do it all over again. We truly can't wait to show you more and explain in more detail in an upcoming post!
🏨 Check into hotel
After a long, soggy, but absolutely exhilarating bike tour throughout the city, We made the way to the hotel – the home away from home for the weekend: NH Carlton Amsterdam. It's right next to the Floating Flower market, across from the edge of the Red Light District – which, if you've never been, is most likely NOT what you would imagine it being… it's totally safe, organized, quiet, and discreet…except for the occasional too-rowdy group of drunken men, who are quickly dealt with by the watchful police.
More on the hotel later… We had simply enough time to check into the hotel room, unpack a little, check in with some clients, do some social media work, and also take a quick – but oh so needed – 15-minute cat nap, before heading off to the next adventure… a chocolate company!
🍫 Tony Chocolonely HQ
The next stop on the 2 days in Amsterdam was Tony Chocolonely. It's a chocolate company based in Amsterdam that recently opened up its US headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Their mission is to make truly good chocolate that is also 100% slave free. We had no idea about the massive slave issue behind the world's chocolate industry, and it was truly amazing to learn about the company's history, mission, and growth strategy.
Plus: their chocolates are tasty. You can find them in Whole Foods Market and New Seasons Market stores right now.
🥂 Mercat
After We bid adieu to the kind folks at Tony Chocolonely, We took a cab and arrived about 30 minutes early to the next destination, so We wandered across the street to Mercat, a beautiful Spanish restaurant and wine bar. We wish We had more time here, because all of the food coming out of the kitchen smelled and looked fantastic, and the beverage selections did as well.
We settled in for a quick glass of bubbly at the bar.
🌹 Like a Local: Dinner with a Local Artist
Petra is a mixed media artist whose current inspiration draws from nature. She's one of many locals who graciously open up their homes and share not only their talents and work, but also their knowledge of and experience living in Amsterdam with tourists such as myself – as well as locals who are looking for a unique night out, such as the couple of also dined with me this evening. You can find her, and other local experiences, through the Like a Local app.
For dinner, she served a lovely fresh tomato soup, crostini with fresh local cheeses and herbs, and seafood stuffed chicken and vegetables for the main course. Everything was tasty. Perhaps the greatest gift from this dinner was the ability to dine with other locals who were so warm and friendly, and happy to share insight into what it's like to live in Amsterdam (one was originally from Italy, and another originally from France).
After a lovely evening chatting with more locals, it was time to call it a night, and We headed back to the hotel around 9:30pm, where We was able to get a full 5 hours of sleep before waking and tackling Day 2 of the #NextStopAMS trip!
🧇 Explore the city, find Dutch food!
We started at the Albert Cuyp market, which is reportedly where the food tour group was supposed to meet anyway, so We figured it was a great food destination. There, We picked up some stroopwafels, watched pastries being made fresh to order, and eyed all of the gorgeous local cheeses, meats, and seafood.
Then We simply meandered about the city, stopping in a few different local spots that offered classic Dutch dishes, such as bitterballen.
🚤 Amsterdam Canal Cruise
After indulging in tasty classic Dutch food for a few hours throughout the city, We headed out to enjoy one of the Amsterdam Canal Cruises. The meeting point dock was directly across from the Heineken Brewery, which was impossible to miss.
Simply as We highly recommend the bike tour because it gives you a unique perspective on the city, We also recommend taking one of the many canal cruises available. We'm going to have a full photo tour with details outlining the particular cruise We took with Amsterdam Canal Cruises, but here's a look at what the particular cruise boat (and a sample of the view) looked like:
Simply wait until you see some of the photos from the canal cruise, the friends. You will want to hop on that direct flight from Portland to Amsterdam ASAP! We couldn't stop gawking and snapping away; everywhere We looked during the entire canal cruise there was something gorgeous, interesting, fun, quirky, and/or absolutely breathtaking to photograph.
🌷 Explore Amsterdam
After the canal cruise, We had time to walk around and explore the city more.
This is one of the favorite things to do in a new city, and We am so grateful to have this time to do so in Amsterdam. Walking around is one of the best ways to stumble upon fabulous, unexpected travel treasures!
During this time, We discovered the love locks bridge, not too far from the hotel, as well as the tulip market.
🍷 Ter Marsch & Co.
We also took the opportunity to try out what was reportedly awarded the Best Burger in The Netherlands at Ter Marsch & Co. We'll share more photos and the review of this restaurant in the upcoming Where to Eat & Drink in Amsterdam post.
Afterward, We went up to the hotel room to change and freshen up a bit before dinner.
🍽 Dinner at D'Vijff Vlieghan
The restaurant name, D'Vijff Vlieghan, which We completely butchered upon attempting to pronounce it, translates into The Five Flies in English.
Don't let the name fool you: this is one of Amsterdam's longest standing gourmet restaurants, located in five adjoining canal houses. The food was exquisite, and such an indulgent treat at the near end of a long and nonstop journey. We can't wait to share more photos and the experience here in Where to Eat & Drink in Amsterdam post.
We walked home from the restaurant, which was simply shy of one mile from the hotel, and collapsed in an exhausted heap of happy traveler bliss. It was the end of two glorious, packed days in a new city, and We was overcome with gratitude for all of the wonderful people We had met and the amazing experiences We enjoyed.
Sunday 8:30 am Flight from Amsterdam to Portland, Oregon
The next morning, Sunday morning, We enjoyed the hotel breakfast buffet and double checked that We had packed up everything before calling a cab and heading back to the airport. We could hardly believe the weekend was already finished. We had done SO much in simply two full days in the absolutely beautiful city of Amsterdam.
But there was one more stop We had to make…
There are three of the famous, large "We AMsterdam" signs throughout the city: one in the main downtown square, one at the airport, and reportedly another one in a different part of the city. But We HAD to take a photo in front of the main sign in the center of town. It had been overrun with tourists when we stopped across the commons from it during the 3-hour bike tour, but at 8:30 am on a Sunday morning, it was simply me and three other tourists… and a patient cab driver who was gracious enough to make a pit stop on the way to the airport.
NextStopAMS
We can't even begin to tell you how quite much We enjoyed the time in Amsterdam. So many have commented to me when We tell them about the weekend, "Oh, We'm sorry it's for such a short time" and "That's too bad that you didn't have more time there."
But We simply smile and try to tell them that it's truly A-OKAY: We was able to pack in so much more than many people even think to do in a full week in one location! And, We fully believe that this is an awesome way to travel. If this 42-year-old mother of two could do it, YOU can too!
One major bonus of the direct flight and weekend getaway to Amsterdam: NO JETLAG. None. We didn't feel an ounce of sluggishness or difference traveling back to the States. We think it's partially because We didn't have to spend 20+ hours making the way across the country with layovers wasting time, and that We hit the ground running as soon as We landed and made full use of every minute in this vibrant, bustling, gorgeous new city.
How about you? What would you have done in simply 48 hours in Amsterdam?
More Amsterdam travel ideas
Where to Stay in AmsterdamIf you visit, please be sure to let them know that you read about it on Felnu! And if you snap some pics, tag us @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
