This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2021. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
When my husband and I visited Amsterdam, we chose to stay in De Pijp rather than the busy Canal District.
After spending a week exploring the neighbourhood, I completely understood why it’s considered one of the coolest parts of the city. It has an effortlessly local feel, with leafy streets, independent cafés, and far fewer tourists than the historic centre.
While many visitors come here for the famous Albert Cuyp Market or the Heineken Experience, Amsterdam’s trendiest neighbourhood has so much more to offer. If you slow down and spend a full day here, you’ll discover one of Amsterdam’s most vibrant neighbourhoods—one that’s perfect for wandering without a strict sightseeing checklist.
If you’re looking for the best things to do in De Pijp, this itinerary covers all of my favourite spots and includes plenty of hidden local charm.
Quick summary:
Skip the tourist traps and discover Amsterdam’s coolest neighbourhood—De Pijp. This one-day itinerary covers everything from local markets and street food to riverside strolls, unique architecture, and Dutch beer.
Recommended tours:
🚇 Amsterdam GVB Public Transport Ticket – Unlimited travel on Amsterdam’s metro, trams, buses and ferries.
🍽️ Amsterdam Breakfast Food Tour & Stroopwafel Workshop – Explore Albert Cuyp Market, sample Dutch breakfast favourites and learn to make traditional stroopwafels.
🍺 Heineken Canal Cruise & Heineken Experience – Combine a scenic canal cruise with entry to Amsterdam’s famous brewery and beer tastings.
Where to stay:
🛏️ De Pijp Boutique Hotel Amsterdam – A fun, quirky option close to De Pijp’s top attractions.
How to get to De Pijp
Getting to De Pijp is quick and easy from anywhere in central Amsterdam. The fastest option is to catch Metro 52 (North–South Line) to De Pijp Station, which sits right in the heart of the neighbourhood. Alternatively, several tram routes stop along the edge of De Pijp, making it easy to reach from Amsterdam Centraal, Museumplein, or the Canal District.
If you’re already exploring central Amsterdam, you can also walk to De Pijp in around 20–30 minutes depending on where you’re staying. The route takes you past some of the city’s beautiful canals before leading into a much more local, laid-back atmosphere.
🚇 Planning to use public transport? A GVB Public Transport Ticket gives you unlimited travel on the city’s metro, trams, buses and ferries, making it an easy way to get between neighbourhoods without worrying about individual fares.
Best things to do in De Pijp, Amsterdam: One day itinerary
Morning
Let’s start with the most popular of the De Pijp activities, which is Albert Cuyp Market. This market takes the title of the Netherlands’ most visited daytime market and is open 6 days a week from Monday-Saturday. The stalls stretch in a long line down the street of Albert Cuypstraat, with the vendors offering all sorts of goods including souvenirs, apparel, food, and other miscellaneous knick-knacks.
If you’ll be visiting during the colder months, you definitely need to get a fresh stroopwafel from the Albert Cuyp Market! Eating stroopwafel is one of the essential Amsterdam experiences, and the original stroopwafel stall here is meant to be the best place to sample this Dutch treat. Better yet, if you’re a foodie, you can even learn how to make your own during a breakfast food tour of De Pijp.
🍽️ Want to experience Albert Cuyp Market like a local? This Amsterdam Breakfast Food Tour visits cafés and market stalls around De Pijp, where you’ll sample Dutch cheeses, pancakes and other local favourites before finishing with a fun stroopwafel-making workshop.
Burn off your market treats by taking a quick walk through Sarphatipark. The inner-city park has a lovely pond, a historic monument, and is a fab place to do some dog-watching.
Lunch
If you’re wondering where to eat in De Pijp, this neighbourhood is very keen on brunch with a ton of casual cafes offering delicious daytime menus. I had a few favourite food spots during my stay in De Pijp, but I think Sir Hummus tops the list with its Israeli hummus and falafel menu. Travelling as a vegetarian really doesn’t get better than this! I gorged on the fancy hummus and bread and departed this food joint extremely satisfied.
Another noteworthy option is Little Collins, which offers an Aussie brunch for hungry tourists and Amsterdammers. Yes, I know–me, an Australian–eating at an Aussie cafe in the Netherlands. In my defense, the Dutch seem to be utterly obsessed with Australian culture so I was really just doing what the locals do! And I can confirm that the plates at Little Collins are legit what we would eat in Australia.
Afternoon
Make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes, because the afternoon activities are all about walking. Start by taking a leisurely stroll along the Amstel River and the Nieuwe Amstelbrug bridge. The Amstel, which is actually the namesake for the city of Amsterdam, borders the eastern edge of De Pijp.
Along the riverside, you’ll see some of Amsterdam’s permanent houseboats (which #funfact is actually the living choice for over 5000 of the city’s residents). You might spot rowing clubs practicing for competitions and larger boats using this waterway as it is significantly wider than the other canals in the city centre.
De Pijp is also known as being one of the best neighbourhoods to see Amsterdam School architecture. This style was used in the 1910s-1920s for schools or other institutional buildings and usually featured rounded corners and red/brown brickwork. At the southern end of De Pijp, the Bezoekerscentrum de Dageraad housing complex is a great example of Amsterdam School. I thought the cascading curved edges on the facade looked pretty neat.
Evening
Finish off the day by drinking a Dutch beer. There are other locations around the neighbourhood to get authentic Dutch brews.
🍺 One of the most fun ways to experience Dutch beer is by combining the famous Heineken Experience with a scenic canal cruise. This package departs from central Amsterdam and includes entry to the Heineken brewery plus a canal cruise aboard a Heineken-branded boat, complete with drinks, snacks and commentary.
Inside the original Heineken brewery, you’ll discover how one of the world’s most famous beers is made through a series of interactive exhibits, historic brewing rooms and multimedia displays. The self-guided experience finishes with two freshly poured Heinekens, making it a fun stop whether you’re a beer enthusiast or simply curious about the brand’s Dutch heritage.
We also enjoyed Brouwerij Troost, housed in an old monastery that has been converted to a modern industrial brewing warehouse and tasting room. If you’re hungry, I’d also highly recommend getting dinner here. The casual pub-style menu suggests matching beers for each item, which I thought was a huge novelty! We thought the veg burgers were top-notch.
For dessert, walk a few blocks to Massimo Gelato for a drool-worthy Italian ice cream. You will not regret it, I promise!
Where to stay in De Pijp, Amsterdam
If you’re looking for a neighbourhood with plenty of character, I’d highly recommend staying in De Pijp. My husband and I loved being based here for a week, as it felt much quieter and more local than Amsterdam’s busy Canal District while still being within easy reach of the city’s major attractions.
We stayed in a private apartment just a 5–10 minute walk from most of the places featured in this itinerary. It overlooked a typical Amsterdam street and had a spacious living area and kitchen, which made it much more comfortable than many of the compact hotel rooms you’ll find throughout the city.
🛏️ If you want a comfortable option for your stay in Amsterdam, I’d recommend splashing out a bit. De Pijp Boutique Hotel Amsterdam looks like a nice option and is very close to the main De Pijp attractions.
Is De Pijp worth visiting?
Absolutely. While Amsterdam’s famous canals, museums and historic centre deserve their place on every itinerary, I think spending at least one day in De Pijp offers a completely different perspective on the city. Instead of rushing between major attractions, you’ll find yourself wandering leafy streets, lingering over brunch, browsing local markets and discovering cafés and bars that feel much more like everyday Amsterdam.
It ended up being one of my favourite parts of the city, and I’m so glad we chose to stay here rather than in the tourist-heavy centre. If you’re looking for a neighbourhood with great food, beautiful architecture and a more relaxed local atmosphere, I don’t think you can go wrong with De Pijp.
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