24 hours in Amsterdam

8.30am: Breakfast in the Jordaan

Amsterdam is blessed with an extraordinary range of breakfast spots, ideal for starting the day off right. Tuck into classic brunch dishes, pancakes and excellent coffee at Piqniq in the Jordaan. After, have a wander in this most picturesque of districts, browsing its charming independent stores.

10am: Anne Frank's House

Visit the Anne Frank Huis as early as you can to avoid queues. This is the city’s most renowned sight, bar none. Seeing the compact annexe where Anne and her family hid during the war is a deeply moving experience.

11am: The Dam and Koninklijk Paleis 

Head to the heart of the city, and what better place to take in the confidence and pride of the Dutch Golden Age than on the Dam, with its grand buildings including the Koninklijk Paleis.

12pm: Shopping break

Hit De Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets) for some unique and stylish shopping. These little streets connecting the main canals are the epitome of what makes Amsterdam special – full of intriguing one-off shops and cafés – and it's far too easy to spend hours browsing all the finds here.

1pm: Lunch

Head to Pluk on Reestraat 19 for a casual light lunch and some cake in the upstairs café, after Instagramming all the delights in the takeaway shop downstairs.

2pm: Wander the canals

Take in the beauty of Amsterdam’s stately 17th-century canals by getting lost in the web of the Grachtengordel. Find yourself a café or a terrace bar – try De Pieper at Prinsengracht 424 – and watch Amsterdam life flowing past.

3.30pm: Museum immersion

Get yourself over to Museumplein and pick which staggering art collection you want to take in first. The mighty Rijksmuseum is one of Europe’s finest museums, with a magnificent collection of Rembrandts. But for many, the Van Gogh Museum and its great collection of the prolific 19th-century artist’s work is impossible to resist.

Evening: Amsterdam after dark

6pm: Red Light District

It's hard to come to Amsterdam and not have a wander around its most notorious neighbourhood. Dusk is the best time to stroll here and the early hour will make you feel less voyeuristic.

8pm: Dinner

For an authentic Dutch experience, head for dinner at Moeders. This Amsterdam stalwart, a large and lively restaurant on the edge of the Jordaan, is a must-visit for its atmosphere and quintessential Dutch fare. The pancakes are always worth sampling.

10pm: Hit the town

For an after-dinner drink in a ‘brown café’ (a traditional Dutch pub with dark, cosy decor), go to Hoppe at Spui 18–20. But you’re never far from a party in Amsterdam – whether you prefer a pub, rooftop cocktail bar or a coffeeshop, there’s nightlife for you.