When you only have 36 hours to visit a city it is important to know that you can’t see everything and you must decide what you want to get out of your stay. Our goal was to enjoy the city in a very leisurely way which included a stay at a five-star hotel, treatments at the Spa, Micheline-starred restaurants and of course taking in a little culture. If this sounds like your perfect getaway, then keep reading how to spend 36 Hours In Amsterdam!
How to Spend 36 Hours in Amsterdam
Stay at a 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Amsterdam City Center
We stayed at Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam, a fabulous hotel located in the heart of the city that offers the ultimate luxury experience. The location is perfect, the rooms are spacious, comfortable and very quiet. Great beginning to a relaxing weekend! The hubby was very happy with my selection. Which means a lot since he can be very difficult to please when it comes to hotels.
Friday 21h00 - Dinner at Envy Restaurant
Of all the Amsterdam things to do, a good meal should definitely be on the agenda. After a nice stroll around the city admiring the canals, lovely neighbourhoods and trying our best not to get run over by cyclists, it was time for dinner. I am a major foodie and absolutely love tasting several different dishes during a meal. Envy offers just that - small dishes and lots of them. From charcuterie, cold and warm dishes to a wide selection of cheese, there is something for everyone, even for the most discerning palates. You can opt for the a la carte menu or the Envy Tasting menu composed of 4, 6 or 8-courses with the wine pairing option. Fantastic meal!
Saturday 11h00 - So Spa at Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam
A couple of hours of pampering is necessary during your 36 hours in Amsterdam. Afterall, the key to a relaxing getaway usually includes some time at the Spa and sleeping in. So, we made sure to book a massage at the So Spa at Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam before starting our day on Saturday. It is voted top 3 Best Spas in Amsterdam by Elite Traveler and it just so happened that it was conveniently located in our hotel.
Restless old me opted for the 60 minutes ‘So Exhilarating Massage’ and the hubby indulged in a 90-minute ‘Deep Relaxing Massage’. My massage therapist, Nursen, was amazing! This is one of the better massages I’ve had in a very long time. Just the right amount of pressure and in all the right spots. Perfect start to our day! List of spa treatments here.
Saturday 14h00 - Brunch at The Little Collins and Albert Cuypmarkt Street Market
You cannot make reservations for brunch at The Little Collins so expect to wait at least 30 minutes for a table during peak times. While we waited for our table, we decided to explore De Pijp and stumbled upon Albert Cuypmarkt street market, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from Vietnamese spring rolls to freshly made stroopwafels. If you don’t know what stroopwafels are you are missing out big time! These Dutch cookies are made with a batter that is pressed on a waffle iron and slathered with a butter-and-brown-sugar-based syrup then heated to gluey consistency. So good! Dessert before your meal is always okay.
From Australia to Amsterdam, The Little Collins restaurant located in De Pijp neighbourhood offers some delicious brunch options. The ambiance is very relaxed and seating is communal in most of the restaurant. The sausage and waffles are delicious. I made a lesser choice and ordered the Funghi Toast which was still ok but not as good as the hubby's excellent choice. The service is a little slow so if you are in a rush this may not be the best option.
Saturday Afternoon in Amsterdam
Since we only had 36 hours in Amsterdam, we didn't want to over commit to anything. For this reason, we spent the rest of the afternoon strolling the streets and discovering the city.
There are a few things to do in Amsterdam that I recommend you make time for. The Van Gogh Museum is one of them. This Amsterdam museum is home to the largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh's work which you can enjoy in many different ways. You can book a private tour, a family guided tour or take it all in on your own.
Looking for something a little less grown-up or serious? If you have kids or in my case, a husband who's interested in oddities, there's a museum for that. Ripley's Believe It or Not is packed with weird stuff, bizarre stories, optical illusions and interactive games. It's interesting, to say the least. Maybe makes more sense if you're stoned...
Saturday 19h00 - Anne Frank House
If you wish to visit the Anne Frank House museum between 9 am and 3:30 pm you can only do so by purchasing tickets online, as of 3:30 pm until closing you can visit the Anne Frank House without an online ticket and can make the purchase at the museum entrance. The queue was a little long but worth the wait, the tour lasts about 30 minutes.
Saturday 21h00 - Restaurant &samhoud places Moshik
The perfect follow up to a visit to the museum is a great meal at Moshik, a two Michelin Star restaurant. Moshik Roth delivers on every front with his gastronomical creations, the inspiration menu took us through a culinary journey. The service is excellent and the ambiance is unpretentious compared to many other two Micheline star restaurants we have frequented. You’ll find scallops, truffles, caviar, wagyu beef and many more delicious items on this fabulous tasting menu that are worth a reservation at &samhoud.
Sunday Morning Churros
If you love churros, you must add this to your list of what to do in Amsterdam. Our first Amsterdam churros experience took place on Saturday evening. They were so good good that we woke up a little earlier to have more before catching our flight. Be sure to stop at Renee's Croissants for this delicious Spanish dessert. Oh and get extra Nutella!
Other Amsterdam Things to do: Coffee Shops
Amsterdam is known for its coffee shops and we all know that people don’t go there to have a cup of coffee. Instead, you will find various strains of marijuana, space cakes and hash. Most would put this on the top of the list of Amsterdam things to do and would probably visit one every day during their 36 hours in Amsterdam. To each their own! For those that are interested, there is a coffee house right next door to the Sofitel called The Greenhouse. So if you are a first-time smoker and things go wrong you can make it back to your room relatively easy! Did we eat a space cake or smoke during our stay? That will remain a mystery! 😉
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Amsterdam is an incredibly charming city filled with culture and fun things to do, 36 hours is simply not enough to see it all which only means we will need to plan another trip very soon!
What are your favourite things to do when visiting Amsterdam? Share your comments below! Would love to hear about your experiences.
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