From stunning canal houses (pictured above), to art, coffee shops, historical sites, and of course, bikes, Amsterdam is lovely, lively, and just plain cool.
With just a day to explore this city, here's how we spent our time to get a glimpse of all that Amsterdam has to offer.
Stroll the canals. Literally, just wander. Some of the best experiences come from discovering photo-ready scenery along back streets, stumbling upon quiet cafes for an afternoon treat, and people watching from sitting on one of Amsterdam's iconic green benches.
Experience the Anne Frank House. Scale the steep stairways, wander through the abandoned rooms, and crawl behind the bookcase that hid the entrance into the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family lived during World War II.
As someone who loves WWII history, this is a must-do experience. Reserve your tickets ahead of time here because as you can see, the lines are long, and you may not be granted access if spots fill up for the day without a reserved ticket.
Enjoy a canal boat tour. There really is no better way to see the unique architecture of Amsterdam's row houses than from the water. Sit back, relax, and try to count the number of bridges you pass under! Plus, you get a cheesy picture taken before boarding the boat :)
Towards late afternoon, we made our way to the Van Gogh Museum to marvel at some art, then ended up in Rembrandtplein Square, one of Amsterdam's busiest city squares. This square, of course, is named for famous Dutch master painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, who peers down at you from his statue's perch in the center.
Though this square once functioned as a major butter and dairy market, you'll now find it lined with more modern and charming cafes and restaurants.