7 Day Trips From Amsterdam: My Favorites as a Solo Traveler
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From the second I arrived in Amsterdam as a solo traveler; I knew immediately that I was absolutely in love with this city. I found myself getting lost in the canals, exploring the city, and just enjoying the magic of the city. What I also have realized on my trips to Amsterdam, that from the city, there are so many amazing day trips that you can take from Amsterdam, with most of these being only less than an hour away. From castles to windmills, to the North Sea, and everything in between, in this guide I will be diving into some of the best day trips from Amsterdam that you can take, based on my own personal experiences.
Introduction: Day Trips From Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a perfect home base for being able to explore other areas within the Netherlands. The country is small, public transportation is easy to navigate and runs efficiency, and most of the cities outside of Amsterdam have such a unique charm to them. Amsterdam is an amazing city with lots to see and do, but adding some days from Amsterdam to your itinerary is also a must. Whether you are into history, cultural, food, or just wanting to escape the busy city of Amsterdam, there is a day trip for you. Now, let’s get into some of my favorite day trips from Amsterdam so that you can maybe add a few of these to your next itinerary.
1. Haarlem
From Amsterdam Central, you can take a very short 15 min train ride and be in Haarlem, making it the perfect and one of the easiest day trips ever! It is much calmer than the city of Amsterdam, but has that same tulip-lined, cobblestone street, pastel-colored houses charm that we all love about Amsterdam. The streets were a lot less busy than the main city, and you can actually embrace the slower pace, smell the flowers (literally), and enjoy a lovely cup of espresso on one of the many corner cafes and just enjoy the city.
One of my favorite stops in Haarlem was visiting the Windmill De Adrian, which you can climb inside of, stand on the deck, and just enjoy the ocean breeze as it hits your face. There is honestly something about the ocean breeze and the smell of the salty water that literally wipes your stress away.
Pro Tip: If you make this day trip on a Saturday, visit the Haarlem’s Grote Markt for a fun people-watching experience and you can pick up some amazing cheeses. This is also a great area to rent a bike and visit the iconic Keukenhof Gardens for all of the amazing tulips in the spring.
2. Zaanse Schans
When I say Zaanse Schans is the postcard version of the Netherlands, I mean it! Here you will find wooden houses painted green, the iconic Dutch clogs hanging outside of doorways, little shops handing out free samples of cheese, and of course the windmills spinning away in the water. Here you can also climb into the windmills and see and smell them working away, I climbed into a spice-grinding windmill, and it literally felt like I was in a Dutch history book.
I also stopped in the most amazing stroopwafel here and tried some amazing Gouda cheese on the cheese farm. There cheese wheels would honestly put Italy to shame in opinion.
Pro Tip: Try and visit either in the early morning or later afternoon to avoid the bus tours. Try to also wander off the main street and get lost in some of the side streets. You’ll find less tourists but the most windwheels working away in the fields.
3. Utrecht
If any city in the Netherlands that won my heart like Amsterdam did, that city was Utrecht. You may have noticed as you wandered around Amsterdam that the canals are at street level, but in Utrecht, you’ll notice that they are below, lined with adorable cafes and restaurants that used to be wharf cellars centuries ago.
I did stop at one of these cafes and had the best cup of espresso right at the water’s edge, and you can literally see the boats going by, what felt like inches away. This little caffeine boost was exactly what I needed in order to climb nearly 500 steps to the Dom Tower, which is something you must do if you visit. This laid-back city was a great day trip from Amsterdam, and you will feel welcomed and right at home here.
4. Keukenhof
If you are planning a trip to Amsterdam in the Springtime, then you absolutely without a doubt have to make sure you visit Keukenhof. This is where you will find all of the beautiful tulips (over 7 million to be exact) in every color possible. I could’ve spent all day wandering the gardens, enjoying the fountains and sculptures sprinkled throughout the property. I have honestly never seen or experienced anything like it. Visiting Keukenhof was the highlight of my trip, and I know it will be for you too!
5. Zandvoort aan Zee
My day trip to Zandvoort aan Zee was completely unplanned and unexpected, but quite an amazing surprise. I never dreamed in a million year that just 30 mins from Amsterdam, I could find an amazing beach to read and enjoy some sun. There is something about the ocean breeze and the salt in the air that really makes you feel at ease and like you are really on vacation. The beach clubs here are much more relaxed compared to others in Europe, and you can enjoy a lounge chair, food, and ocean views, and have the most relaxing day!
6. Alkmaar
So, if you are anything like me and love lots of various cheeses, then you need to make sure you add a day trip to Alkmaar to your itinerary. Basically, I consider Alkmaar a cheese lovers paradise! There is literally cheese markets everywhere and you see men everywhere with their massive cheese wheels all over town.
After visiting the cheese markets, head over to the canals, and talk a walk along them. You will see lots of gorgeous flowers in flower boxes, cute little cafes with locals enjoying their cup of espresso, and lovely little bakery’s that all smell amazing. I stopped and had a hot and absolutely delicious stroopwafels, that liberally tasted it came right out of the oven. Between that, my cheese, and coffee, I was literally in a Dutch paradise!
7. Muiderslot Castle
IF you are looking to travel back in time to the medieval era, then I would highly recommend a day trip to Muiderslot Castle. This incredible fairytale castle will make you feel like you time traveled back to the 13th century. Between the incredible stones, moat, and drawbridge, this fortress in something to be seen. The gardens are immaculate, and the entire grounds are magical. Visiting this castle will make you feel like you aren’t just visiting but living in one.
Conclusion: Day Trips From Amsterdam
While Amsterdam is incredible, and one of my favorite cities in Europe, there is something to be said about escaping the busy city life and exploring some of the smaller cities outside of Amsterdam. Between cheeses, canals, flowers, and castles, there is no shortage of things to do outside of Amsterdam. I hope this guide has inspired you to add some day trips from Amsterdam to your itinerary. You won’t regret it. Need travel planning assistance with your next trip? Reach out to me anytime! I am more than happy to help!