Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of our favorite places! It is filled with a delightful array of visuals and experiences you can’t find anywhere else. If you don’t already know Amsterdam, you probably wouldn’t expect to find them here either. We plan on visiting Amsterdam many more times, and we suggest you make time for it in YOUR travels, even if it means making a detour.
Money
Money in Amsterdam is easy. Cards are accepted everywhere and the Euro is the currency of the Netherlands. There are banks and ATMs all over the place, but we did not use, or need to use, cash even once. Make sure your credit card does not charge international currency exchange fees before you travel, and know your exchange rate.
There are many neighborhoods in Amsterdam, and if you look for maps online there will be overlap. Here, we will list a few of our favorites and you can go from there. Centrum is the “old neighborhood” and includes most of the things on this list. Dam Square, De Wallen, and much more are here.
Heading further out you can reach upscale Jordaan and Haarlem, which is really outside of Amsterdam altogether. If you don’t have time to get that far, it’s ok. There’s plenty to see in and around Centrum and it’s pretty easy to plan everything so you can walk from one place to the next in short bursts.
De 9 Straatjes is another great area that encompasses a small, fashionable area mostly meant for shoppers. Lovely shops, bistros, and cafes are everywhere in this neighborhood
Our personal preference is to stay away from the more recognizable names, like McDonalds or Bulldog brand bars and stores. They are seemingly everywhere but, in our opinion, don’t add anything authentic to the Amsterdam experience and seemed to be overpriced. We found many more interesting and unique cafes and bars just by exploring on our own.
How to Get Around
The first place you might arrive in Amsterdam is Schiphol Airport or Centraal train station. Schiphol is outside of the city center, so you will have to find a taxi, Uber, train, or bus to get to most of the most popular activities and tourist spots. We suggest the train as it is the quickest and can be very cost effective if you plan ahead. However you decide to travel, GVB is most likely who you are going to be traveling with inside the city limits. In Amsterdam everyone over the age of 4 needs their own ticket and you will need to place your ticket or card against the card reader when beginning your ride and again when it ends.
Once you are in the area around Amsterdam Centraal, you can really start exploring. Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the Begijnhof, the Red Light District, the Bloemenmarkt, and more are within walking distance.
Where to Stay
Amsterdam is a modern city with an old flair. There are many, many places to stay and you area really spoiled for choice. For tourists we suggest staying as close to Dam Square as you can so that transit times are as low as possible and sightseeing is maxed out. Hotels, Airbnb, Vrbo, whatever you like. Don’t expect to camp though. There is a not a lot of land left for leisure activity in this city, and country, boxed in by neighbors and the sea.
Where to Go and What to Do
There are many parts of the city to explore, but we will get the most obvious one out of the way first. The De Wallen, or the Red Light District is really just another neighborhood for many people. Besides the obvious addition of legal prostitution that is. There are several interesting churches including the Ouse Church and a certain, secret church in an attic, making the neighborhood a living contradiction of sorts, or inherently human in nature, depending on your point of view. There are many places to go in De Wallen that are far less questionable. Restaurants, cafes, and shopping abound. The canals are much the same as the other neighborhoods in Amsterdam and are lovely to walk around. In any event, the neighborhood is unique and worth a walk around.
One of our favorite surprises visiting Amsterdam was that there are a great number of wild parakeets! As some Amsterdammers (or Mokumers), told us, several decades ago some people in Amsterdam kept parakeets as pets and released them into the city when they grew tired of them. The birds did not die, and instead flourished! Now there are many thousands of the green, flying noisemakers around. It was a wonderful surprise to see them suddenly flying overhead, raising a racket.
Here is a list of some of our favorite place to visit:
The Heinekin Experience is a great stop if you are a beer fan. Take a guided tour and see how the world famous brand brews its hops.
The Van Gogh Museum is another tourist favorite. You will need to procure tickets in advance, as it is often sold out.
The Rijksmuseum is the premier museum in Amsterdam offering Dutch and European art.
The Vondelpark is a wonderful 19th century walking park with water features and is quieter than the surrounding city. If you are looking to unwind or take a break from the busy city without actually leaving it, this is what you’re looking for.
The Moco Museum is an odd museum and a bit out of place surrounded by the Dutch masters, which makes it perfect for Amsterdam. See the works of Banksy, Salvador Dali, and other modern and contemporary artists.
The Bloemenmarkt is a must see if you are visiting the city, although if the flowers are not in bloom it is a bit underwhelming. Dating all the way back to 1862 the flower market is a sight to see April and May when the Tulips are in full bloom.
The Begijnhof is one of those places you may never have heard of, never planned on visiting, but is well worth the visit if you’re nearby. This courtyard in the center of Amsterdam is inhabited only by women, and is open for people to walk through. Established in the 14th century the Begijnhof is the only Catholic organization to exist past the banning of Catholicism in the 16th century, because the houses all belonged to the women who lived there. This is a fascinating piece of Dutch history and well worth the time it takes to visit.
Established in 1957 The Anne Frank House is the actual house where she lived her tragic story, and wrote her diary. Check the official website for times and entry prices.
Canal Tours are very popular and for good reason. Prices vary and there are many tours to choose from. Some offer food, drinks, and private tours if you don’t want to sit next to that stranger from the airplane.
Click here for a Google Map of some of our favorite places in Amsterdam!
