I absolutely love the feeling of being pleasantly surprised when I travel. To be honest, I used to think of Amsterdam as just a destination for bachelor parties because of its famous Red Light District and legalized weed. Sure, you can still have a fun night out, but the city is more than that.
I was delighted to discover that Amsterdam is actually a beautiful and magical city with its scenic canals, rich history, and picture-perfect architecture.
I absolutely love the feeling of being pleasantly surprised when I travel. To be honest, I used to think of Amsterdam as just a destination for bachelor parties because of its famous Red Light District and legalized weed. Sure, you can still have a fun night out, but the city is more than that.
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Know Before you Go:
– When walking around, keep in mind that cycling is the locals’ favorite way to travel, so be extra mindful of cyclists.
– The primary language spoken in Amsterdam is Dutch, but nearly everyone speaks English as their second language.
– Amsterdam does not have the same outlets as the US – so pack your Universal Power Adapter.
– The Currency of the Netherlands is the Euro.
When to Go:
Summers are crowded as everyone arrives to take advantage of the warm weather, so expect long waits, and make sure to book your stay in advance.
If you want to visit Amsterdam to see the famous Tulip fields, plan your trip around mid-April and mid-May.
Overall, spring and early fall are the best times to visit because there are fewer tourists than in the summer, and you can still walk around comfortably before winter arrives. You might get some rain so bring a rain jacket.
Where to Stay:
Although Amsterdam is a small city, it offers many neighborhoods to choose from, depending on your preferences.
The Jordaan neighborhood or the Canal Ring are usually the best areas for first-time visitors who want to be close to most attractions.
For food lovers who want to be close to attractions but away from tourists, and experience a more local vibe, I suggest staying in the De Pijp neighborhood. It’s a charming area with diverse restaurants and the famous Albert Cuyp Market that sells Dutch specialties like herrings and waffles. My family and I stayed there, and we loved it!
How to Get Around:
Amsterdam is a small, flat city that is highly walkable. It’s also known as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.
The public transportation system in Amsterdam is efficient, with buses, trams, and metros available for getting around the city. GVB tickets are valid for all three modes of transport. Depending on your needs, you can purchase disposable tickets for single trips or reloadable cards that you can refill as necessary.
Having a car is unnecessary within the city, but if you plan to explore outside the city, car rentals are an option.
While Ubers and taxis are available, the city’s compact nature makes walking, cycling, or using public transportation the most convenient and cost-effective choices for getting around.
I’ve listed some of the top things to do in Amsterdam below, enjoy!
Top Things to do in Amsterdam
1. Canal Boat Tour
While exploring the beautiful canals on foot is a wonderful experience (and definitely a must-do), why not hop on a boat tour? It’s a great way to learn cool facts about Amsterdam’s history while enjoying a leisurely cruise and seeing the city from a different perspective.
Fun Fact: Amsterdam has more canals than any other city in Europe, even Venice!
2. Visit the Museums
Amsterdam is a haven for art lovers with over 60 museums to explore! I couldn’t visit all of them obviously, but I highly recommend a few:
– Anne Frank House: a museum dedicated to the inspiring Anne Frank
– Rijksmuseum: a collection of Dutch artwork
– Moco Museum: a museum featuring modern and contemporary art
– Eye Film Institute Museum: a museum dedicated to Dutch films and art
Tip: Some museums are extremely popular, so it’s best to purchase tickets in advance to avoid missing out, like we did with the Van Goh Museum.
3. Try the Local Food
Get ready to eat carbs here! Some typical Dutch foods you should try include:
Poffertjes: These are mini fluffy pancakes typically served with powdered sugar and are popular in markets.
Stroopwafels: These are thin waffles with caramel syrup on the inside. You can find these freshly made at markets like the Albert Cuyp Market, or you can buy them at Von Wonderen.
Pannenkoeken: Dutch pancakes are larger and thinner than American pancakes, with a consistency more like crepes. The Pancake Bakery is a popular place to try them.
Krokets: Dutch croquettes with fillings like beef, veal, chicken, shrimp, mashed potato, white sauce, and many others.
Bitterballen: These are deep-fried meatballs usually made from beef ragout and are a popular snack to have with beer.
Raw Herring: A very popular Dutch delicacy, usually served with onions and pickles.
Gouda: Dutch cheese is world-famous, so be sure to try them at local markets or visit a cheese shop for a tasting!
4. Coffeeshops & The Red Light District
Amsterdam’s well-known Red Light District is a popular destination for tourists. It’s home to legal prostitution, a lot of sex-oriented business like risqué sex shows and sex shops, and coffeeshops that sell weed products.
Even though it’s not really my thing, I found it interesting to stroll through and see the windows/doors illuminated with the neon red lights. Behind these windows, women are dressed in sexy lingerie trying to attract customers. If someone was interested in sexual services, they would knock on the window and negotiate a deal.
Setting personal judgements aside, it was definitely quite the experience!
5. Wander through Vondelpark
Vondelpark is a beautiful park with numerous green spaces where you can enjoy a pleasant picnic, walk, cycle, and relax. If the weather is good during your visit, I highly recommend a visit to this park.
6. Rent a Bike
Experience Amsterdam like a local by riding a bike!
If the thought of riding a bike on the streets feels a bit scary, no worries! You can just rent a bike near the entrance of Vondelpark and cycle inside the park. This way, you can pedal to your heart’s content without any worries about traffic or running into pedestrians.
7. Visit the Floating Flower Market
The Netherlands is renowned for its beautiful tulips.
The Bloemenmarkt is a floating flower market on the Singel Canal and is the ideal place to buy tulips.
Even if you visit when tulips are not in season, it’s still enjoyable to take a walk through the vibrant market. You can find a wide variety of bulbs for sale and also purchase souvenirs.
8. Visit the Albert Cuyp Markt
Don’t miss out on Amsterdam’s most famous market! It’s located in the trendy De Pijp neighborhood and offers a wide variety of items like fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, flowers, clothes, shoes, accessories, fabrics, and a lot of souvenior items.
The best part about this market is the food. You can try some delicious Dutch foods such as local fresh herring, hot stroopwafels (waffles with caramel center), and poffertjes (mini pancakes)!
9. The Heineken Experience
For beer fans, the Heineken Experience is a fun interactive tour inside a former brewery, where you can dive into the rich history and process of beer making.
There are many tour options, but the basic 1.5 hour self-guided tour includes 2 tokens for 2 beers. For an extra charge, you can also design and personalize your own bottle as a cutesy souvenir.
Tip: If it’s your birthday, be sure to mention it at the entrance. You’ll receive a birthday cap and some extra tokens for free beers at the bar! Cheers to that!
10. Take a Ferry to Amsterdam Noord
A free ferry is available to take you on a quick ride across the river from the city center.
Once across the river, you will find the A’DAM Tower, a high-rise building that offers panoramic views of the city. It also features the “Over the Edge” swing, which is the highest in Europe, allowing you to swing over the edge of the building!
Right next to the A’DAM tower is the modern Eye Film Institute museum, which offers film screenings and exhibitions. It’s a must-visit for film and art lovers.
Where to Eat
COFFEE/BRUNCH
– Scandinavian Embassy – I only had coffee here, but it was *chef’s kiss*
– Coffee & Coconuts – An amazing place for brunch and tasty drinks
– Bakers & Roasters – Lots of brunch options and everything is yum yum yum
– The Pancake Bakery – A good place with massive menu of Dutch pancakes (but be warned, they are big).
LUNCH/DINNER
– Cafe De Klos – Amazing ribs.
– The Seafood Bar – A little pricey but the seafood is fresh and delicious.
– Albert Cuyp Markt – The best street market in Amsterdam with tons of Dutch delicacies.
– Naa Thai- Delicious Thai food in De Pijp neighborhood
SWEETS/SNACKS
– Van Wonderen – Bakery with a wide variety of toppings and sizes for stroopwafels.
– FEBO – A food vending machine scattered all over the city. You can swipe your credit card, and the little glass doors open to reveal an array of hot snacks.
Where to Shop
If you’re in the mood for some retail therapy, be sure to check out De 9 Straatjes (The 9 streets) which is filled with boutiques, and art galleries, and gift shops.
I have never been but most definitely your photos and descriptions of the city have made me put Amsterdam on the top of my “Cities to visit “ list. Cheers!