A 3–5 day spring itinerary for two tiers of traveller, with the exact things I’d book, skip, and splurge on.

If you asked me to write an itinerary for Amsterdam, this is what I’d actually send you. Not a list of the most-visited attractions in the Netherlands with optimistic time estimates. The real version, the one where I tell you which day trip is worth rearranging your whole schedule for, where to be when the light does something extraordinary, and what to skip entirely so you’re not spending your tulip season in a crowd full of people.

I live in the Netherlands. I’ve watched a lot of people do this trip and I’ve watched the difference between the ones who leave saying ‘it was nice’ and the ones who leave saying they’re already planning to come back. The gap is almost always about knowing what to prioritise versus what to skip through.

This itinerary is built for 3–5 days during tulip season (mid-March to mid-May, peak bloom around April 15–25). It works whether you’re coming for a long weekend or a full week, it works solo, with a travel partner, or in a group. Most importantly, it’s structured around two budget tiers: mid-range and elevated. So you can make choices within your budget range, without pinching pennies.

New to Amsterdam entirely? Read the full tulip season guide first, it covers when to arrive, how to reach the bulb fields, and the Keukenhof logistics in detail. This post assumes you have that foundation and goes straight into the day-by-day.

 

How to Use This Amsterdam Itinerary for Tulip Season

The 5 days are designed as a complete trip. If you only have 3 days, take Days 1, 2, and 4: this combination gives you the city, the tulip fields, and the day trip that most people miss. If you have 4 days, add Day 3 for the Amsterdam-properly day. Day 5 is a slow exit morning that works for anyone with an afternoon or evening flight.

Each day has a mid-range and elevated version of accommodation and dining. The activities are largely the same, the only difference is in where you sleep and eat, not what you see. Because honestly, the free things in Amsterdam are some of the best things.

 

Before You Arrive: The Non-Negotiable Bookings

• Keukenhof tickets: book your tour as soon as your dates are confirmed. Time slots sell out or increase for popular timeslots.
• Anne Frank House:  annefrank.org, book weeks ahead as tickets open 6 weeks in advance.
• Museumstoomtram Hoorn–Medemblik: museumstoomtram.nl, especially for weekend dates in April.
• Rijksmuseum: Book tickets here. Less urgent than the above but worth booking for your preferred time.
• Accommodation: April is peak season. Book as early as possible, especially for Jordaan.

 

Day 1: Arrive, Settle In, Find Golden Hour on the Canals

Jordaan · Bloemenmarkt · First evening

Don’t try to do too much today. You’ve just arrived and Amsterdam rewards people who slow down enough to actually notice beyond the touristy things. This day is about orienting yourself, discovering the neighbourhood, and finding the less populated canals, and being there when the light does what it does in Spring.

 

Morning / Afternoon: Arrive and Check In

Drop your bags and walk. Head into the Jordaan neighborhood and just wander and explore it. The tiny streets, the canal bridges, the mostly empty canal benches, the flower boxes on the people’s window ledges, local bakeries where you’ll find sweet treats. This is Amsterdam at its most itself and you don’t need a plan for it, you just need time to and no agenda. My favourite area in Jordaan is by Egelantiersgracht. It is shaded by the canal side, and never crowded, so it is perfect for leisurely walks.

The Bloemenmarkt on the Singel is a natural next stop, a floating flower market that runs year-round but feels most alive in spring. It’s touristy and you should go anyway. Take pictures of the wooden tulips, and buy flower bulbs to take home if you want them (they’re sealed for travel and legal to bring into most countries, but please check your country’s specific entry rules).

 

Evening: Golden Hour, Then Dinner

In Spring, golden hour runs from about 7:30pm to 8:30pm. Best locations for this would be the Prinsengracht or Herengracht, but honestly any open area, canal or park with a clear view of the sun will be perfect for this. The light bounces off the canal water, and gives such beautiful reddish hues, and your pictures might look like AI, but it’s just April in Amsterdam. Take lots of pictures. I typically use the photopills app to find what time and direction the sun will rise or set from, and locationscout to find the best places to photograph.

Dinner in De Pijp or the Jordaan. Tonight is not the night for anything too fancy, live like a local, find somewhere that looks good, sit outside if the weather allows, and eat to your heart’s fill.

 

Where to Stay

• Mid-range: Conscious Hotel Westerpark or similar boutique hotel around the centre. €130–190/night. Clean and well-located close to tram and bus stops all leading to the center.
• Elevated: Hotel NH Amsterdam Leidseplein or Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky (Dam Square). €280–480/night. Great locations, right next to restaurants, shopping streets and the best things to do.

 

Where to Eat Tonight

• Mid-range: Rijsel. Belgian-inspired cuisine in a relaxed canteen. Book ahead, it’s around €30–40/person.
• Elevated: Café-restaurant de Plantage. Modern Dutch, beautiful presentation, proper dinner energy. Around €60–80/person.

Save this for your next read: The complete guide to Amsterdam in Tulip season.

 

 

Day 2 – Keukenhof + The Fields + Haarlem

The tulip fields day. Most people get this wrong by staying at Keukenhof too long and missing the actual experience. Here’s how to do it properly.

Morning: Keukenhof (First Bus & Entry Slot)

Get the earliest available time slot. The garden before 10am is genuinely a different experience from midday and you will enjoy like this before it starts to feel like a theme park. Two to three hours is the right amount of time. It’s beautiful and well-designed, so you can see the most important parts within that time frame. Don’t feel like you need to stay longer.

From Amsterdam: Metro line 52 or Tram to Amsterdam RAI, then the KeukenhofBuzz bus 852. It’s about 35 minutes. Buying a tour ticket might be more straightforward than navigating this yourself. Buy the combo ticket when you book, as it’s cheaper than buying separate tickets.

 

Afternoon: The Tulip Fields, Then Haarlem.

Here’s the part that most guides skip.

Rent a bike from Keukenhof’s on-site rental and ride out into the Bollenstreek region. On the roads through Hillegom, Lisse, and the surrounding countryside, you’ll see rows of colour in every direction. This is where the endless tulip field images you’ve seen actually come from. It’s free, there are no queues, jujst beautiful nature around you as you cycle.

One thing worth knowing is that\ these are working farms and you can’t walk into the fields themselves. Foot traffic damages the bulbs and can spread disease, it’s a real issue for the growers, not just a rule for the sake of it. If you want to actually be inside a tulip field for photos, these are the farms that welcome it:

• The Tulip Barn (Hillegom, 3km from Keukenhof): a family owned farm with a proper visitor garden specifically so people can wander freely. There’s also a Greenhouse restaurant on site, and there are props for pictures. Book tickets here.
• De Tulperij (Voorhout): there are fields and a show garden where you can take pictures. You will need to buy tickets ahead for this (€10, 45 minutes). You also get guided tours led by the owners, and is more intimate than The Tulip Barn.
• Tulip Experience Amsterdam (Noordwijkerhout): good option especially later in the season when some of the roadside production fields have already been cut. Book and entry ticket to Tulip Experience here. They also have a combo with bus transport to & from Amsterdam, and is a great way to get back to Amsterdam, book their tours directly to understand how to combine this with your itinerary.

After the fields, take the bus toward Haarlem (bus 250 from the Lisse Meer en Duin stop) runs directly toward Haarlem, about an hour, or cycle part of the way if you have energy. Haarlem itself is worth the hour you have left. Walk the Grote Markt, do one canal stretch, get a coffee. It’s a genuinely beautiful city and a calm way to end what will have been a full day. Train back to Amsterdam Centraal from Haarlem takes about 20 minutes and runs frequently.

 

Honest note on Haarlem: after a morning at Keukenhof and an afternoon cycling through tulip fields, you might arrive in Haarlem and realise you’re done. That’s fine. A coffee and a walk before the train home is a perfectly good ending to this day. Keep in mind that the fields were the main event.

 

Practical notes

• Keukenhof entry: approximately €22, book online
• KeukenhofBuzz combo ticket (Haarlem): €33.50 adults, includes return bus and entry
• Bike rental at Keukenhof: book in advance online, sells out in peak season
• The Tulip Barn: ticketed entry, book at thetulipbarn.com

 

 

Day 3 – Amsterdam Properly

Rijksmuseum · Vondelpark · Noord · Today is no day trips, or going outside Amsterdam.

Morning: Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is world-class in the most literal sense: Vermeer, Rembrandt, and the Dutch Golden Age collection are worth going here for. Give it two hours minimum. The building itself is beautiful, and Museumplein (the square outside) is stunning on a clear April morning. If you go early in the day, it’s very quiet in the neighbourhood of Rijksmuseum, and you can grab a coffee from one of the nearby cafes and sit outside before heading in. Take note: this is a hotspot, so cafe prices tend to be on the higher side here.

 

Midday: Vondelpark and De Pijp

Vondelpark in Spring is peak Amsterdam: blossom on the trees, people lying on the grass the moment the sun appears, cycling paths through gardens. Walk or cycle through it, stop at an outdoor cafe, and take your time. There are a number of cafes to pause for a bit here, look for Groot Melkhuis, Vondelpark 2, it’s by the water side and very peaceful, especially with the ducks.

Then into De Pijp for lunch. The Albert Cuyp Market runs through the heart of it on Mondays – Saturdays. Get fresh stroopwafels made in front of you (the difference from a packet is significant), try the herring from a cart if you haven’t yet, and just explore different stalls.

 

Afternoon: Amsterdam Noord

Take the free IJ ferry from behind Centraal Station, it runs every 12 minutes and takes 5 minutes. Noord feels like a different Amsterdam: converted warehouses, street art, the EYE Film Museum with its waterfront terrace, and the NDSM Wharf with creative spaces and a Friday evening food market in season.

The A’DAM Tower is here too, the observation deck has a swing that hangs over the edge of the building. It’s practically like you’re swinging above Amsterdam, and of course the views of the city from here are excellent. Worth going up if heights don’t bother you.

 

Evening: Noordermarkt Area

Back in the Jordaan for the evening. On any evening, the bruine kroegen (traditional brown cafes) are where you want to be. Order jenever (Dutch gin), eat bitterballen (popular deep fried dutch snack), and stay longer than you planned.

 

Where to Eat

• Lunch in De Pijp: Albert Cuyp Market stalls: kibbeling, poffertjes, stroopwafels, herring, others. Budget €10–15 eating as you walk
• Mid-range lunch: Dignita Hoftuin (Nieuwe Keizersgracht): all day brunch restaurant with a garden terrace, excellent food, beautiful space (€20–30/person)
• Elevated dinner: Secret Garden (Reguliersdwarsstraat), or Vinkeles inside The Dylan Hotel for something genuinely special (€80–100/person)

 

 

Day 4 – Hoorn and the Steam Train in my Amsterdam Itinerary for Tulip Season

The day trip most people miss, and the best one.

 

Clear your schedule for this. Hoorn, Medemblik and the Museumstoomtram is the half day trip I recommend most consistently to people visiting the Netherlands, and the one that most consistently produces the response “I had no idea it was like this here”. I first found this by accident while visiting K’s parent’s Medemblik, we were waiting at the intersection, waiting for a train to pass by, and this majestic steam train rolled past. I was in so much awe that day that I didn’t even take a picture. I visited again, this time for a proper ride, and I’m impressed with how well maintained it is.

 

Morning: Hoorn

35 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal (trains run frequently, around €10–12 one way). Hoorn is a beautifully preserved 17th-century trading town on the IJsselmeer, here you’ll find the Rode Steen square, the old harbour, the Westfries Museum, the waterfront, a Saturday market, and lots of restaurants. Get a coffee at one of the harbour-side cafes, and enjoy a slow morning in this beautiful city.

In spring, Hoorn can be quiet enough that you can actually feel the age of the place (over 700 years old), so enjoy it. In summer, this region tends to get busy as lots of sailboats come to moor at the harbour.

 

Midday: The Steam Train to Medemblik

The Museumstoomtram runs original historic steam-powered carriages from Hoorn to Medemblik along the IJsselmeer coast. The journey takes about an hour one-way, the scenery is typical Dutch landscape – windmills, tulip fields, lakes, polders – and the whole experience feels like stepping back a century or two. Book ahead at museumstoomtram.nl, especially for April weekends. The train runs from April through October with most frequent service in peak season. One-way fare is approximately €20–25.

From Medemblik, you can take a historic steamboat to Enkhuizen and then train back to Amsterdam, making it a full scenic loop. This version takes a full day and is worth every minute of it. Otherwise, return with the steam train to Hoorn, and head to Amsterdam.

 

Evening: Back in Amsterdam

You’ll be back in the city by early evening depending on your route. This is a good night for something low-key , a neighbourhood restaurant, a canal walk, and a relaxing evening especially if you’ve been getting a lot of steps in. If you want to decompress and have the most relaxing evening, head to Fabrique des Lumieres with a blanket, find a space on the floor, lie down, and lose yourself in the immersive art all around you.

 

Where to Eat

• 

  Delicious Roasted Lamb at De Plantage

   

• Early Lunch in Hoorn: Brasserie/Restaurant De Tuynkamer has a cozy garden and green space, offers high tea (you typically have to reserve for this ahead), Dutch lunch menu, outdoor tables when the weather allows (€15–25/person)
• Mid-range dinner back in Amsterdam: Foodhallen (Amsterdam West) is indoor food market in a converted tram depot with multiple cuisines. It’s a fave of mine, and I love it cause of the options, is great for groups who can’t agree on one thing (€20–30/person).
• Elevated dinner: Café-Restaurant de Plantage (Artis): one of the best venues for dinner in the city. It has spacious indoor and outdoor seating, has vegan options and the food is really delicious. (€40–55/person)

 

 

Day 5 – Slow Morning, Then Home 

For afternoon or evening flights

 

Don’t try to squeeze in a major attraction on a travel day. You’ll feel rushed and regretful. This morning is for the things you couldn’t get up to yet in your Amsterdam Itinerary, and maybe one of the following.

 

Options for your final Amsterdam Day

Start with Hortus Botanicus, the 17th-century botanical garden a short walk from the centre. It’s calm, beautiful in spring, and rarely crowded. Entry is around €10. This is the place for a quiet hour before you have to start thinking about the airport.

If you have enough time, do an early morning trip to Zaanse Schans to see Windmills and a typical dutch countryside. It opens at 9am, so you could easily be done here in less than 2 hours, and back to Amsterdam in time to head to the airport.

Or simply: a final neighborhood canal walk, a good coffee, brunch at either Ted’s or Omelegg. If you’re in the city center, then find this American style cafe for an airport snack: De Drie Graefjes. Pick up any edible souvenirs you need from the Albert Heijn supermarket at Dam Square. The full address is Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 226. They have more products than their regular supermarkets, because this branch is geared towards visitors.

 

Practical: Getting to Schiphol

Train from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol Airport is about 20 minutes, and runs every 10 minutes or less. If you’re running late, or there is a train disruption, you can also take an Uber to the airport. Leave at least 2.5 hours before your flight during peak season, April security queues at Schiphol can be significant.

 

What to Pack for Amsterdam in Spring

Keeping this section short because packing guides are usually too long. The things that actually matter are:

• A compact rain jacket: non-negotiable. It will rain at some point. You want something packable, not a full waterproof.
• Layers: April ranges from 8°C to 20°C in the same week. A light jacket, a mid-layer, and something warm for evenings.
• Comfortable walking shoes that can also cycle in: you will cover significant ground on foot and on a bike.
• A small crossbody bag: practical for cycling and markets, harder to pickpocket than a backpack.
• Your camera or phone camera settings sorted before you leave: the light in Amsterdam in April is genuinely extraordinary and you want to be ready for it when it happens, not fiddling with settings.

 

The Version I’d Want For You

The best Amsterdam trips are the ones where you’re not rushing. Where you let yourself sit at a canal-side bench and watch the ducks. Where you take the day trip that is not on the itinerary everyone else is following. Where you cycle through a field of tulips and just stop for a minute because it’s actually THAT beautiful.

 

Everything in this Amsterdam Itinerary for Tulip Season is designed to give you that, the structure: so you’re not wasting days figuring it out, and the space: to actually enjoy what you find.

 

If you have questions about any of it, specific booking tips, whether a particular hotel is worth the price, the best entry time for Keukenhof in a specific week, anything at all, drop them in the comments. I’m here and I know this city well.

 

See you this Spring. 🌷

— Nma