A Solo Trip to Amsterdam: The Perfect Day Trip
On a recent work trip to Brussels, I was able to squeeze in a last-minute, solo trip to Amsterdam! Here is my itinerary for what to pack in for an impromptu day trip. Since it was last-minute, the most popular attractions, like the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum, were not available, but there was still plenty to do.
Arrival: One great thing about Europe is the train system. I took the Eurostar round-trip for $150, and it was a 2-hour train ride. Prices vary depending on the time of booking, the time of year, and other factors.
One unexpected positive from my train ride was my neighbor on the train was also a solo traveller from the DC area! We hit it off, chatted the whole ride, and even met back up for lunch. This is why I love solo travelling. You never know who you are going to meet!
Morning: Breakfast and Shopping
Once I arrived, my first order of business for my solo trip to Amsterdam was breakfast, and I made my way to Craft Coffee and Pastry, a highly rated gluten-free breakfast spot. From the train station, I jumped on the Metro to save my feet the 40-minute walk. (*Pro Tip: public transportion was super easy. Just put your destination into Google maps and follow the instructions. Pay for your fare with your credit card or phone.)
Albert Cuyp Market and Flower Market
After eating the best gluten-free pastries of my life, I walked over to the Albert Cuyp Market. They had everything from food to souvenirs to tons of vintage shops. I spent time browsing and even found some gluten-free cannoli!
Next, I walked to the famous Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt). While this was fun to see, it wasn’t as big as I was expecting, and mostly had tourist-focused souvenirs. I did get souvenirs here, which worked out. But if you are debating this with a packed schedule, it’s ok to skip it.
Afternoon: Rijk Museum and Canal Boat Tour
One thing I was not fully prepared for was the unpredictable weather. The whiplash I got from the changes from sun to rain and back again in mere minutes was insane. Come prepared for those drastic weather changes!
After grabbing a quick lunch, I headed to the Rijksmuseum, which tells the story of 800 years of Dutch history. This was a good indoor activity to avoid the crazy weather for a bit. Museums are also a good solo activity, since everyone is wandering around and not paying attention to anyone else. Tickets were 25 euros per person.
The most famous works on display were from Rembrandt and van Gogh, both Dutch painters. The museum also had a gorgeous library and beautiful architecture to admire. While I realized that Dutch art isn’t one of my personal favorites, I love visiting museums on my travels and I’m glad I was able to squeeze this one into my solo trip to Amsterdam.
Tulip Boat Canal Tour
The last thing I did during my Amsterdam solo trip was a canal tour, obviously! I researched this ahead of time, and decided to go with Get Your Guide’s Premium Tulip Boat Canal Tour. Depending on when you visit, you may or may not get real tulips on your boat. The flowers were fake on my boat, but honestly, I don’t think you can tell. There are many canal tours to choose from, so only choose this one if you want flowers on the boat.
The tour was an hour, and the weather finally cleared up, giving the perfect setting. The tour guide was informative and friendly, and the passengers were all super nice. As a solo traveller, activities like this can sometimes be awkward. But if you get a good group, they can be great to meet others, and also get some awesome photos of yourself!
After the tour, I headed back to the train station, for my 2-hour trip back to Brussels. I hope you got some inspiration from this Amsterdam solo day trip. And if you visit, let me know what you end up checking out!
