Amsterdam is a busy city with loads to do. You’ll find art museums, walking tours, canal tours, plenty of history, and so much more. But sometimes you just need a break or something to change up your typical sightseeing. That’s where these day trips from Amsterdam come in. From charming small towns to bustling big cities to picturesque gardens, there’s a day trip for everyone in this list.
Day Trips from Amsterdam
This is not an exhaustive list of every possible day trip from Amsterdam. There are loads more day trips that you could come up with besides what is here. That said, I believe that these day trips are the best for most visitors to Amsterdam. It covers the gamut ranging from small towns to big cities to gardens and everything in between. So, every traveler is sure to find a day trip that piques their interest.
As always, this list is in no particular order.
Leiden
Leiden can be a day trip or a home base for exploring Amsterdam. Rather than visiting Leiden on a day trip, I chose to base myself in Leiden and day tripped to Amsterdam because the savings for a hotel room were just that high. But, let’s say you’re staying in Amsterdam, why should you visit Leiden on a day trip?
First, and most importantly, Leiden is a small town and therefore it has an entirely different feel than Amsterdam. Amsterdam felt busy and chaotic (especially with all of the other tourists), but in Leiden, it felt more peaceful. To be clear, Leiden is a university town so it’s still lively and full of energy, but it still felt so much more calm than Amsterdam.
Leiden is light on sights. You’ll find an overlook of the city, a windmill, and a few small museums. But again, I think the biggest reason to visit Leiden is to get out of the bustling Amsterdam. Stroll the canals of Leiden, find a good bite to eat, and enjoy your day.
Leiden is a short 25 minute train ride from Amsterdam and the trains depart frequently.
Haarlem
Haarlem is another city that often pops up when you’re looking for cheaper alternatives to Amsterdam. It’s where I first looked for hotels, but ultimately, I ended up in Leiden. Personally, I think it worked out best because I personally preferred Leiden to Haarlem. However, so many travelers really enjoy Haarlem so I have to include it on this list.
Like Leiden, Haarlem can feel a world away from Amsterdam, despite being such a short train ride away. The highlight here is the charm of the city, rather than a specific sight itself. Take your time and wander the pedestrian streets. Slow down and enjoy your time away from busy Amsterdam.
Haarlem is a short fifteen minute train ride from Amsterdam and the trains depart frequently.
Utrecht
Next is Utrecht, which I didn’t have a chance to visit on my trip to the Netherlands. However, it’s another smaller town that’s close to Amsterdam and it’s another place that you could consider staying instead of Amsterdam.
It’s no surprise that I’m going to tell you that the charm of visiting Utrecht will be getting away from busy Amsterdam. Once again, slow down, stroll the canals and enjoy the calm that comes from stepping away from Amsterdam.
Utrecht is a short twenty minute train ride from Amsterdam and the trains depart frequently.
Keukenhof
If you only have time for one day trip from Amsterdam, and you’re traveling during the correct season (spring), you should make your trip to Keukenhof. These gardens are famous for their tulips and flower displays and are only open for two months every year. So, if you happen to be in Amsterdam between mid March and mid May, you have to include a day trip here.
So what makes the Keukenhof Gardens so great? Keukenhof is meticulously maintained and new flowers are constantly blooming for the entire two month season. The flower displays are elaborate and you’ll see more tulips than you ever thought possible (unless of course you visit actual tulip fields). Without a doubt, Keukenhof was one of my highlights during my trip to the Netherlands and I’d highly recommend it for anyone visiting.
Delft
Delft is another small town, but there is a draw goes beyond just the charm of the town. Delft is famous for its pottery, known as Delftware. Yes, there are still churches, squares, markets, and canals to wander in Delft, but take some time to browse and learn about Delftware. Whether you visit the shops (every shop seems to sell at least some Delftware) or you tour the factory to learn how pottery is made, you’re sure to see some incredible pieces of art.
Delft is a bit further from all of the other day trips I’ve mentioned so far, coming in at one hour from Amsterdam’s Central Station. My personal recommendation would be to visit Delft but include another city on your day trip from Amsterdam (unless you plan to tour the museum and really learn about Delftware). Delft, Leiden, Haarlem, and Amsterdam all sit on the same train line, so it’s pretty easy to combine some of these cities.
Rotterdam
So far, I’ve focused on charming small towns in the Netherlands. Now, I’m going to switch things up and talk about another big city. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands. Despite being another large city, Rotterdam feels completely different from Amsterdam.
While Amsterdam has some old city charm, Rotterdam feels incredibly modern. Rotterdam was destroyed during World War II and when the city was rebuilt, it was decided to go with a more modern approach. Since many architecture firms are based in Rotterdam, it gives these firms a chance to show off what they can really do.
Many of the highlights of Rotterdam involve unique looking buildings. You’ll see the Market Hall which looks like a loaf of bread, a building shaped like a pencil, bright, yellow cube shaped houses, and more. Beyond the architecture of the city, take some time to stroll along the river, particularly if it’s a nice day.
From Amsterdam’s Central Station, you’ll need to take a train. Direct trains are about 1 hour and 20 minutes, though you’ll find several options with connections. Pay attention to which ticket you purchase.
The Hague
If you’ve heard of The Hague, it’s likely because this city is home to the United Nations International Court of Justice. But that’s not all you’ll find here. Explore museums, parks, and even get a glimpse of the North Sea.
Admittedly, I haven’t visited The Hague. It was on my itinerary for my trip to the Netherlands, but once I found out that Keukenhof was open, I scrapped The Hague and added Keukenhof instead. I plan to visit the next time I’m in the Netherlands.
From Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, trains take approximately 50 minutes to reach the city of The Hague.
Gouda
Do you have a fascination with Gouda cheese? If so, you might want to consider a day trip to Gouda, a small town that’s known as the birthplace of Gouda cheese. Try to time your visit for a Thursday to experience the Gouda Cheese Market. But if you’re not visiting on a Thursday, stop by the Gouda Cheese Experience to learn more and sample some cheese.
Beyond cheese, you’ll find another smaller Dutch town, complete with canals, picturesque streets, and more. This is one day trip that I haven’t done, but it’s on my list for my next visit to the Netherlands.
From Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, trains take approximately 50 minutes to reach the city of Gouda.
Which Is the Best Day Trip from Amsterdam?
This is subjective and depends on when you visit. If you’re traveling between mid March and mid May, the best day trip is Keukenhof Gardens. The tulips and flower displays are incredible and given that you can only visit in a small two month window, you have to visit if it’s open during your trip.
Beyond Keukenhof, I’d pick either Leiden or Delft. You could visit both of these small towns in one day, but I think that they both give such a different feel from Amsterdam.
That all said, I don’t think that you can go wrong with any of these Amsterdam day trips.
How Long Do You Need in Amsterdam?
At minimum, you’ll want to give yourself one full day in Amsterdam. I crammed as much as I could into one day in the city and while I saw a lot and was happy with everything I did, I wouldn’t have been opposed to a second day. It would have allowed me to explore just a little bit more without feeling so rushed.
So if you’re looking to add in one of these day trips from Amsterdam, you’ll want to give yourself at least two days. However, I think three days in Amsterdam is better. That gives you two days to explore the city and one day for a day trip to somewhere else in the Netherlands.
When to Visit Amsterdam
Amsterdam can be visited all year round. That said, I personally recommend spring. While spring is typically considered shoulder season travel, in the Netherlands, spring means tulips and tulips mean more visitors. Even though it’s busy, I’d still recommend spring for your chance to visit Keukenhof or the tulip fields.
My second choice would be fall when you’ll still have decent weather but it won’t be quite peak travel season. Still, Amsterdam is busy and there’s never really a low season in Amsterdam. Be prepared for lots of tourists no matter when you visit.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose to visit a small town or a big city on your day trip from Amsterdam, you’re sure to have a good visit. Amsterdam is great, but there’s so much more to Holland and the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam. Get out and explore!
Continue Your Adventure
More in the Netherlands: Spend one day in Amsterdam, Netherlands’ capital city. Consider visiting Delft, which has nice canals and a history of porcelain making. Leiden is a university town, but makes a cheaper alternative for a home base than Amsterdam. Rotterdam is the Netherlands’ second largest city but feels so much more modern thanks to its unique architecture. And if you’re here in spring, you have to visit the Keukenhof Gardens.
Netherlands Travel Guide: Start planning your trip with my Netherlands Travel Guide.
Itineraries: For those with limited time, try a long weekend in the Netherlands. For those with more time, try my itinerary 10 Days in Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam. With just one week, try my Paris and Amsterdam itinerary.
Paris, France: For a city that pairs nicely with Amsterdam, check out Paris. Whether you have a layover or are spending five days in Paris, there’s so much to see in this wonderful city.