The medieval core in one loop: hidden church, the oldest parish church, Chinatown, Dam Square and a secret courtyard, with a jenever stop.
Best time: Morning, before the Wallen fill up (Time Out advises visiting the Red Light District by day)
The route, stop by stop 1 Amsterdam Centraal Start behind the station; 5 min.
2 Our Lord in the Attic Attic church in a canal house; 60 min.
A canal house built during the 1660s with a complete Roman Catholic church hidden in the attic rafters.
3 Oude Kerk Medieval church; 30 min, plus tea in the cloister garden.
The city's oldest parish church sits in the middle of the Red Light District, a vast medieval hall church with a wooden vaulted roof and tombstone floor.
4 De Koffieschenkerij Tea and apple cake in the Oude Kerk garden; 20 min.
A tearoom in the Oude Kerk's cloister garden serving loose-leaf teas, coffee with apple cake and toasties: a quiet refuge in the Red Light District.
5 Hoi Tin Chinatown on Zeedijk: dim sum or buns from the bakery; 30 min.
Family-run Chinatown fixture for dim sum and roast meats, with an in-house bakery.
6 Wynand Fockink One jenever in the alley behind Dam; 20 min.
A historic distillery tasting room in an alley off Dam Square pouring jenever and old Dutch liqueurs.
7 8 Royal Palace Amsterdam Optional: the Citizens' Hall; 60 min.
Built in the 17th century as the city hall and now a royal palace still used for state occasions; the visit includes a free audio tour of the grand halls.
9 Haring & Zo Herring behind the palace; 10 min.
Herring and fried fish stall just behind the Royal Palace, useful when you are around Dam Square.
10 Begijnhof Quiet medieval courtyard off the Spui; 20 min.
A hidden courtyard of historic almshouses around a lawn, just off the busy Spui; free to walk in.
11 Cafe Hoppe End with a beer on the Spui; 30 min.
A former distillery turned brown cafe with sawdust floors and dark panelling; the after-work crowd spills onto the Spui.
More walks in Amsterdam Amsterdam Tips & tricks Get from A to B Practical info Walking routes
