Top 10 Things to Do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is truly one of the most dreamy and magical places in Europe. This is the trip that will live in my head rent free. The time I will tell my kids I ran around the cobblestone streets and canals with Dutch locals. It really did feel like a set from a movie scene most likely because I watched the Fault in our Stars on the plane ride to Amsterdam. This was also my first trip I took as a flight attendant and my first time ever in Europe. It truly was a pivotal trip that fueled the fire for my travel bug.
Weather and When to Go
The spring time is so magical in Amsterdam the tulips are in full bloom and the weather is not too hot or too cold. I visited in May and felt like it was so ideal. The crowds will be high due to this time being the peak tourism months from April - May. Another magical time to go would be to see the lights on the canal cruise. The winter months can be very rainy though so prepare with an umbrella. I also went in October and it poured the whole day. It definitely leads to a lot of museum visits and cafes, not a coffee shop ;)
Where to Stay
I got lucky and have a friend who lives in Amsterdam and stayed a night in the an apartment in the city and then my last night when I was solo I stayed in a hostel right by VondelPark with Stay Okay
Hostel recommendations:
Stayokay Vondelpark the hostel I stayed at and made a very sweet friend at! I paid around 50 euro with all the fees and locker storage
MEININGER Amsterdam City West This hostel had solid reviews and close to the train station
ClinkNoord - affordable and closer to the city center
Budget Hotels:
Volkshotel unique budget friendly hotel
Eden Hotel chosen as one of the best values for the price
Hotel Luxer good location, nothing too fancy but affordable
How much time to Explore
I think the minimum time you need to feel like you got a solid feel for Amsterdam itself is 2 full days. If you have more time and more museums or tours then stay an extra couple days. I would also recommend another day for a day trip to see the tulips in the springs or a day in Rotterdam for an even more quaint experience.
What to know before you go
Bike culture - Look both ways at all times. There is a designated bike lane and walking lane so make sure you’re in the right spot. It took me a while to adjust to the chaos of bikes being literally everywhere. Make sure to practice proper bike safety if you do rent a bike in the city.
Currency - most places take credit cards, but it doesn’t hurt to have some euros especially if you go to local markets. That was the only time I couldn’t pay with card
Red light district - if you do go on a tour be mindful and respectful of the woman working there. Don’t take photos and videos of them. It was a big eye opening experience for me to even see what the red light district was like. I felt so heavy and a mixture of emotions within my 20 minutes of seeing it.
Language - They do speak dutch here however most everyone speaks english so I had no issues with ordering or getting around. My friends spoke Dutch as well so that helped, but they were also very mindful about speaking English around me
Coffee shops - if you go into a coffee shop you might be surprised that they don’t serve actual coffee. Instead they serve something a little more green. All coffee shops sell weed.
How to Get around
It is very easy to get around since Amsterdam itself isn’t massive. I flew into Schippol Airport and took a train straight to the city center. We used a Felix scooter to get to an apartment that was about a 25 minute walk away. We chose to rent bikes for the first day to see more otherwise I mainly walked from destination to destination since it was doable distance wise.
Top 10 Things to See and Do
Rent a bike and pedal around the canals at sunset
It was such a fun experience to be able to bike the streets and see the city in a different way. It was fairly inexpensive to rent the bike for the day, however a few places we went to were sold out so if you can book them in advance I would recommend that. Be very cautious because it takes some time to get used to the chaos of the plethora of bike riders filling the bike lanes. I was also very jet lagged and tired so that didn’t help me with quick decision making.
2. Anne Frank House
I fly standby so I never book anything in advance until I’m physically on the flight. Unfortunately with last minute travel I didn’t have a lot of time to book museums with notice. The Anne Frank house is pretty hard to get into if you don’t have the reservation within at least a week in advance. If you’re going at peak tourist times then I would book it even further in advance. I will for sure make a trip back just so I can experience this place.
3. Canal Tour
If the weather is nice I would book a boat that has no roof so you can get 360 views. They have some very affordable options that are more touristy and packed with people. There are also some that are more expensive and provide drinks and food if you want a more luxurious experience. We did a last minute tour with the Lover’s tour and next time I would book one more in advance and go on a nicer one. I saw pureboat tours that looked really cute and boutique-like.
4. Jordaan Street
This neighborhood is so special and also another dreamy area to stroll through. The colors of the buildings and trendiness made this one of my favorite areas we went to. There are so many cozy corners, foodie places, specialty shops, and a local market called Noordmarket.
5. Stroopwafels Waffles
You have to get a stroopwafel at least one time and the place I went to and had the longest line was at van Wonderen Stroopwafels
6. Go to any other museum
Van Goh
Modern art museum (Moco)
Rijksmusuem
7. Visit 9 streets to walk around and go to antique shops
I love to go to vintage shops in different countries so this street is also very quintessential to Amsterdam. The shops, views of the canals, and more local spots made this another favorite place to hang at. It is also a Unesco world heritage sight.
8. Vondelpark for a picnic
This is the main park in the city and is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll or to pack a picnic and people watch in the heart of the park. There are also some cafes on terraces along the park.
9. Red light District
The Red Light District is something unlike anywhere else in the world and for that reason is why I added it on the list. I would only recommend coming here if you want to be cultured and learn about it and also aren’t on a family friendly trip. It is a very eye opening experience. I learned that it isn’t as taboo a topic as it would be in the United States. No one is looked down upon for their work choice. Be sure to NOT take photos and videos especially of the workers. There are tours and museums if you want to learn more.
10. Try Dutch Food
I tried all of these different Dutch foods and the boys I was with made me try some fun things that I can’t even tell you the name of them lol.
Frites - there are lots of friteries around the city center so you can’t go wrong
Bitterballen - fried balls with a filling inside
Stroopwaffles - I recommended the place I went to above!
Dutch beer - apparenly the beer is well known, but the guys I was with had me try a traditional shot that I’m pretty sure was Jägermeister.
Pancakes - we got some dutch pancakes with my hostel friend and split a savory and sweet one! Really hit the spot!
Additional Activities
Markets - if you’re going on a weekend be sure to check out a local market albert cup market is popular
take a day trip to see the tulip festival
See a Show - we went to an english speaking comedy show and of course I got picked on for being American, but it was a great local experience to have!
Day Trips - Rotterdam, Hague, Leiden are a few other noteworthy cities! I visited my friend’s hometown in Appledoorn and it was so sweet to see a whole different part of the Netherlands!
