Amsterdam’s historic streets and famous canals offer plenty to do. But, if you need a break from the bustling city, there are numerous towns and activities to explore nearby. The Netherlands’ railway system is reliable and pretty easy to navigate, so travelling by train is easy. You’ll have a bit more freedom with a hire car and some day trips from Amsterdam are more easily accessible by road.
Flowers and gardens: day trips from Amsterdam
The Netherlands is famous for its flowers. On these day trips, you can see the country’s famous tulips along with a host of other gorgeous blooms.
Keukenhof Gardens
Distance from Amsterdam: 35 minutes by express bus or 40 minutes by car.
What to bring: Walking shoes
Price: Around €19.50 (roughly £16.70) or €9.00 (around £7.70) for under 18s.
Expert Tip: If you’re visiting during the Tulip Festival, you can book a combined ticket that includes festival entry and a bus ticket.
The Keukenhof Gardens, in Lisse, open during spring each year, is probably the most popular place near Amsterdam to see the flowers the country is known for. You’ll find tulips in the indoor garden if you visit early in the season, and they’ll be blooming in the outdoor garden towards the end of the season, in May. The gardens have been open for more than 70 years. It’s a great spot for kids, with a scavenger hunt and a playground. Head to Funky Moose Restaurant for a delicious dinner before heading back to Amsterdam.
Tulip Farm De Tulperij, Voorhout
Distance from Amsterdam: 1h 30 min by train or 40 minutes by car.
What to bring: Walking shoes and comfortable clothes
Price: Around €6.95 (approximately £5.95) for a guided tour.
Expert Tip: Don’t miss this great opportunity to buy bulbs to plant in your own garden.
In the gardens of Keukenhof, you won’t be able to get super close to the flowers. For this, head to a tulip farm such as the Tulip Farm De Tulperij. You can combine it with a trip to Keukenhof, as it’s only about 10 minutes away by bike. You can take tours of the farm, and they offer educational excursions aimed at children, for visitors between four and 12.
Zundert Flower Parade
Distance from Amsterdam: 2 hours by train and bus or 1h 50 min by car.
What to bring: Comfortable clothes and snacks
Price: Around €15 (roughly £12.80).
Expert Tip: Try to purchase tickets early.
On the first Sunday in September, a magnificent flower parade takes place in Zundert. Massive floats constructed out of dahlias, steel wire, and paper mache are constructed by 100s of volunteers from 20 different hamlets. Each hamlet competes to produce the most beautiful float within the maximum dimensions of 9 x 19 metres. You’ll need to purchase tickets to watch the procession, and bookings usually open in May.
The perfect day trip to Rotterdam
Distance from Amsterdam: 40 minutes by train or 1h 10 min by car.
What to bring: It gets quite windy, so a light windbreaker can come in handy even in warmer weather
Expert Tip: You can often hire a bicycle to explore the city for around €10 for the day.
This port city is one of the most popular Amsterdam day trips, and it’s one of the top cities for mindful travellers. You could easily spend a whole day at Rotterdam Zoo with kids or wander around the Maritime Museum and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Markthal is a great place to grab lunch and tick off some sightseeing in one go. The horseshoe-shaped building that surrounds the market is one of the most iconic attractions in Rotterdam. It’s also within walking distance of the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, a beautiful church that’s also the oldest building in Amsterdam. Go the other way from the market and you can visit Rotterdam’s famous Cube Houses. Ekmekci is a great spot to grab lunch near Rotterdam’s Central Station.
Smaller cities that you can visit easily from Amsterdam
If you’re craving a small-town feel, these small cities are just perfect!
Utrecht
Distance from Amsterdam: 25 minutes by train or 50 minutes by car.
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes.
Expert Tip: Visit on a Saturday and you can buy flowers, bulbs, and seeds at the Bloemenmarkt.
For an incredible view over Utrecht, head up the DOM Tower, the Netherlands’ tallest belfry, built towards the end of the 14th century. As you walk towards the tower, you’ll encounter plenty of places to get lunch, such as Rabarber. On the other side of the canal, you can visit the Museum Speelklok, a fun museum full of self-playing musical instruments. It’s usually a hit with kids.
Volendam
Distance from Amsterdam: 40 minutes by train or 25 minutes by car.
What to bring: Clothes that are easy to change out of if you plan on hiring traditional clothes.
Expert Tip: Consider combining Volendam with a trip to the nearby town of Marken.
A traditional fishing town, Volendam is a picturesque, charming day trip with plenty of unique things to do. It’s one of many towns in the Netherlands where you can learn about cheese making. At Cheese Factory Volendam, you’ll be walked through the modern-day process and the history of cheese-making in the region. For lunch, seafood is definitely the way to go, Smit Bokkum is a great place to try eel and kibbeling. You can learn more about the town’s history at the Volendam Museum. Volendam is also known for its traditional clothes; you can hire outfits and get pictures taken at places like Fotograaf Volendam. Spend any time you have left exploring the historic De Dijk part of the town.
Marken
Distance from Amsterdam: 1 hour by train or 25 minutes by car.
What to bring: A windbreaker might come in handy.
Expert Tip: Consider taking a guided tour of Marken with Rondmarken. You’ll get extra insight into the history with unique stories.
A short ferry ride from Volendam, Marken makes a great half-day trip from Amsterdam. Like many other towns, it has its own museum exploring the town’s history and fishing traditions. The Paard van Marken Lighthouse is roughly a 35-minute walk outside the main town and offers beautiful views of the Markermeer Lake. De Verkeerde Wereld is a great spot to grab lunch or dinner.
Walibi Holland: an activity that will trigger your adrenaline
Distance from Amsterdam: 2 hours by train or 1 hour by car.
Price: Around €42.50 (about £36.40) for an adult ticket.
What to bring: Comfortable clothes.
Expert Tip: You can book fast-lane tickets for one or more rides, either online or at the park.
With all-out thrills like the Condor and the Goliath, as well as less heartstopping (but still exciting) rides like the Crazy River and the Spinning Vibe, Walibi Holland brings the action. Tamer rides are also great for young kids, like the Squad’s Stunt Flight and the Cooldown water park.
The best seaside day trip from Amsterdam
These beaches are the best spots to cool off in summer.
Zandvoort
Distance from Amsterdam: 35 minutes by train or 40 minutes by car.
What to bring: Swimwear and beach gear.
Expert Tip: Head a little further north to Bloemendaal Beach if you’re after somewhere a little calmer.
Zandvoort is one of the most popular coastal day trips from Amsterdam. You can easily spend the whole day just swimming in the water or relaxing on the beach (with quick trips off the beach to grab lunch at the Het Plein Fast Food). You can also take surfing lessons, head off the beach to visit Circuit Park Zandvoort Formula 1 track or learn more about the town at the Zandvoorts Museum. If you’re visiting on a sunny day, there are plenty of parlours like IJssalon Ci Vediamo Zandvoort, where you can grab some ice cream to cool off.
Wijk aan Zee
Distance from Amsterdam: 1 hour by train or 45 minutes by car.
What to bring: Swimwear and beach gear.
Expert Tip: Eat lunch on the beach at the Het Srandhuis Restaurant.
North of Zandvoort, Wijk aan Zee is one of the best beaches for anyone looking to surf while staying in Amsterdam. Ozlines offers surf lessons and rentals for day trippers. Non-surfers can brave the waves or simply go for a stroll along the soft sand.
Day trips to Belgium from Amsterdam
The Netherlands’ neighbour, Belgium, can be visited as a day trip from Amsterdam.
Bruges
Distance from Amsterdam: 3 hours by train.
What to bring: Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Expert Tip: The Musea Brugge Card will get you access to Bruges’ top attractions.
Bruges’ mediaeval history is very well-preserved and the entire city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. On an Amsterdam to Bruges day trip, you’ll just be able to pack the top sights into one day. Be sure to visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a beautiful 12th-century Gothic church, and the Groeningemuseum, where you’ll find centuries of Belgian art. If you need more tips on what to do and where to eat, check out our guide to Bruges.
Brussels
Distance from Amsterdam: 2 hours by train.
What to bring: Layers will come in handy as you’ll likely split your time between indoor and outdoor attractions
Expert Tip: The Brussels Card Pass gets you access to multiple museums and free travel on public transport.
You can get one of the best views of Brussels at the Atomium, originally built for the World Fair in 1958. Spend some time at the Grand-Place market square admiring the gorgeous architecture of the guild halls before grabbing a bite to eat at the cosy L’Ana Thème nearby. If you’re trying to pack lots of sightseeing into one day, you won’t get much more bang for your buck than Brussel’s open-air museum, Mini Europe. Here you can see some of the most iconic attractions from different countries in the European Union reproduced at a 1:25 scale.
The most kid-friendly day trips from Amsterdam
Kids will love exploring the cities and towns around Amsterdam, but these destinations have special tours and activities just for young tourists.
Muiden & Muiderslot Castle
Distance from Amsterdam: 1 hour by train and bus or 25 minutes by car.
Price: From €17.50 (around £15) or €10.00 (roughly £8.60) for children 11 and under.
What to bring: Comfortable shoes and a hat for the time spent in the castle gardens.
Expert Tip: If you have time or if you visit twice, you can also see the island of Pampus, home to a 19th-century fortress.
Muiden is a mediaeval town with a mediaeval castle. Castle Muiderslot dates back to the 13th century, and with a restoration completed at the turn of the 20th century, it has been incredibly well preserved. Kids between five and 11 can take part in a scavenger hunt. There are also children’s tours held each Wednesday.
Zaanse Schans and Verkade Experience
Distance from Amsterdam: 30 minutes by train or 20 minutes by car.
What to bring: Pack some snacks to keep younger travellers’ energy up
Price: Around €14.50 (approximately £12.40) or €7.50 (about £6.50) for under 18s.
Expert Tip: Get the Zaanse Schans Card for free admission to some museums and discounts at the De Kraai restaurant.
Zaansse Schans is one of the most popular day trips from Amsterdam, and it’s a great option for kids. The Zaans Museum is one of the main highlights. It gives visitors insight into the history of daily life in the region, from its industrial roots to the modern day. In the centre of the museum, kids will love the Verkade Experience, which transports you back to a 20th-century chocolate and biscuit factory. Kids can take part in interactive activities, donning old-school work clothes and creating their own custom chocolate wrapper. The café in the museum is a lovely place to have lunch.
The perfect day trip from Amsterdam, by Katherine
■ Take the train from Amsterdam at 08:30.
■ Arrive at Volendam.
■ Visit the Cheese Factory and Volendam Museum.
■ Enjoy a delicious lunch at Smit Bokkum.
- Take the ferry, 30 minutes to Marken.
■ Visit the Paard van Marken Lighthouse.
■ Have dinner at De Verkeerde Wereld.
- Take the hour-long train back to Amsterdam.
■ Arrive at 20:00 in Amsterdam.
Conclusion
These day trips will add plenty of variety to your trip to the Netherlands. If you need more inspiration on what to do while you’re in the city, check out our guide to the best things to do in Amsterdam, plus how to explore its thriving gay scene. If you’re planning a shorter trip, you can check out our guide to the best summer weekend in the city.
Frequently asked questions
Before you start your adventures on your day trips from Amsterdam, find the answers to the most frequently asked questions:
Where can I go in a day from Amsterdam?
There are several possible day trips to take from Amsterdam. You can easily head down to the coast to Zandvoort or to nearby small towns like Utrecht and Volendam. Large cities like Rotterdam can also be reached within a few hours, and during spring and summer, Keukenhof and nearby farms are the best places to see tulips.
Which cities can I visit from Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is within a few hours of multiple major cities. Within the Netherlands, Haarlem is just outside Amsterdam, and Rotterdam is under an hour away by train. You can also make your way into Belgium to visit Brussels or Bruges.
Can you do a day trip to The Hague from Amsterdam?
The Hague is just under 50 minutes by train and just under 1h 30 min by car from Amsterdam. You should have plenty of time to see top attractions like the Mauritshuis Art Museum and the Binnenhof Parliament buildings.
