A Perfect First Day in Amsterdam: Palaces, Passageways, and Photo Ops
Arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol & Making it to the Hotel
Getting to Amsterdam Centraal from the airport is easy:
(1) follow the signs for "Trains";
(2) use a yellow ticket machine and select "I want to go to Amsterdam", then "2nd Class", then "Valid Today";
(3) activate the ticket by tapping it against a card reader; and
(4) finally, tap again when exiting Amsterdam Centraal.
Once I arrived, I decided to walk to my hotel (located near Leidseplein) to gain an initial experience of central Amsterdam.
A Stroll Down Kalverstraat
After dropping off my backpack at my hotel and grabbing a quick lunch, I set out via Kalverstraat, one of the busiest shopping streets in the Netherlands. Stretching about 750 meters, it’s packed with global brands, but its roots go back centuries. It got its name from the cattle market that once filled the street from 1486 to 1629. Despite the crowds, the architecture and energy make it a scenic stroll.
Royal Grandeur: Tour of the Royal Palace
My first destination: the Royal Palace on Dam Square (if you’re keen on historical oddities, look for the Amsterdam Ordnance Datum on Dam Square—the marker for the country’s sea level measurements). Originally built as Amsterdam's city hall during the Dutch Golden Age, the Royal Palace was transformed into a palace by King Louis Bonaparte in 1808. Walking into the central hall, it's hard not to be awed by the architecture and the scale of the place. After a major renovation from 2005 to 2009, it's now back to its full splendor, open for public tours and royal functions.
Price: 13.50€/adult
If you have time or interest, consider checking out the Nieuwe Kerk next door. However, admission is a fairly steep 19.50€/adult.
Buerspassage: Art in the Unexpected
Just a few minutes away lies the Buerspassage, a transformed 19th-century arcade turned whimsical underwater art installation. Think: vaulted ceilings painted with swirling fish, shipwrecks, and even a submerged bicycle. A hidden gem that’s easy to miss but hard to forget.
Basilica of Saint Nicholas
Next, I wandered into Amsterdam’s principal Roman Catholic. Completed in 1887, the Basilica of Saint Nicholas mixes Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance architecture, and its peaceful interior feels worlds away from the bustle outside. Recently, it became a co-cathedral of the Haarlem-Amsterdam diocese, and houses a relic of Saint Nicholas—fascinating for anyone into religious history.
Oudekerksplein: Old Church, New Stories
A short walk brought me to Oudekerksplein, centered around the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest church. The square balances reverence with rebellion—adjacent to the red-light district, it’s also home to a moving statue titled "Belle", honoring sex workers worldwide. There's also a tiny bronze relief of a hand on a breast, anonymous and cheeky, embedded in the cobblestones—a little reminder of Amsterdam’s complex relationship with morality and history.
The Waag (Sint-Anthonispoort)
Next, I made my way to The Waag, formerly the Sint Antoniespoort city gate. Note that Amsterdam's Chinatown is centered right here. To get there, I passed through the heart of the Red Light District - I do recommend coming back here at night, as the atmosphere is truly unique. The Waag once hosted the Surgeons' Guild, where Rembrandt’s iconic painting The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp was set.
Nieuw Spiegelstraat
Onward to Nieuw Spiegelstraat, lined with antique shops and galleries specializing in the obscure and specific—from maritime maps to porcelain figurines. Even if you don’t plan to buy, it's a collector’s dreamscape.
Rijksmuseum Gardens
Next, I worked my way towards the exterior of the Rijksmuseum, admiring its intricate facade and strolling the free-access gardens. The building itself is a masterpiece, and the surrounding park offers a calm, scenic break.
Admission to the Rijksmuseum is 25€/adult. Nearby, you can also find the Van Gogh Museum, which, as of mid-2025 costs 32.50€/adult and includes the Kiefer exhibition. I opted against visiting the interior of either as I've visited a number of fantastic art museums in Europe already (including the Louvre and the British Museum). With that being said, you can check out the highlights for each and see whether it's worth it for you: The Best of the Rijksmuseum and The Permanent Collection at the Van Gogh Museum.
Damrak at Blue Hour
After dinner and a quick rest at the hotel, I took the tram to Damrak for the photography moment of the day. The reflections in the canal, the line of classic Dutch gabled facades, and the blue hour glow created a postcard-perfect shot. It’s easily one of Amsterdam’s most iconic scenes—and for good reason. Check out more of my cityscape photography.
Damrak, Amsterdam
Below is a route map from day one (after dropping off my bags at the hotel), giving you a sense of the ground you can cover in a packed afternoon.
