What to see in Amsterdam in 1 day

Dam Square, the heart of the city where the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk stand, is among the city's oldest buildings and the point from which to start your first steps.

From here a walk along the three main canals, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, shows the typical tall, narrow houses with stepped gable facades, built this way because taxes were calculated on the width of the street frontage.

Along the Prinsengracht stands Anne Frank's House, the hiding place where the Frank family lived for over two years during Nazi occupation, now a museum retracing their story through the original rooms.

For lunch, the Jordaan neighborhood, with its narrow streets and small cafés, offers a more intimate atmosphere compared to the touristy center.

Museumplein, the square facing the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, is the natural destination of the afternoon: given the limited time of one day, it's wise to choose just one.

The Rijksmuseum houses the great Dutch masters of the seventeenth century, including Rembrandt's The Night Watch, while the Van Gogh Museum holds the world's largest collection of his works, over two hundred paintings.

Those preferring to stay outdoors can instead devote the afternoon to Vondelpark, the great city park where Amsterdammers gather by bicycle, on skates or simply lying on the grass.

The De Pijp neighborhood, with its Albert Cuyp market by day and crowded venues in the evening, becomes a natural point for dinner, away from the more touristy center.

Dam Square, the canals and the Anne Frank House open a day that in Amsterdam puts together history and daily life, before the afternoon choice between the great museums and the Vondelpark.

The red light district with its historic churches and a true boat trip on the canals are left for a second trip. Biking or walking along the canals remains the most authentic way to discover the heart of the Dutch capital.