Amsterdam, in The Netherlands, is a city of canals, bicycles, history, and culture. It’s the kind of place you could visit again and again and find something new each time. In June 2022, I visited for the second time and it was even more spectacular than the first. Here are my recommendations, tried and tested by me, I hope you take some inspiration for your next trip to the Dam!
How to get to Amsterdam
By Air: Fly into Schiphol International Airport and from there get the train to Amsterdam Centraal Train Station. Alternatively, fly into Eindhoven Airport which is a little further away, and get an Airport Shuttle Bus into Amsterdam.
By Train: Amsterdam Centraal Train Station is linked to lots of other major European cities so if you’re already in Europe just hop aboard. I recommend using the Omio App for booking trains, it’s very helpful.
Where to stay
For this itinerary, I am going to recommend the Hostel I stayed at during my stay in Amsterdam for a couple of reasons. The hostel is called This Ho(s)tel and it is a mere 5-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal Train Station, nestled near the Red Light District. During my stay in Amsterdam, I was backpacking on a “budget” so straight off the bat I was looking for a good deal. Accommodation in Amsterdam is expensive on a bad day so the hostel life was calling my name. This capsule-style hostel was affordable, well located, included free coffee & tea each morning, and was very well decorated and maintained. Now bearing in mind, the rooms are capsule-style so they are small and cozy. A private room can be shared by up to 2 people and towels are unlimited per guest. It suited our needs perfectly. As a bonus, there is a taco restaurant located in the lobby – Fiona. I didn’t eat here but the menu looks great. I’ve had good and bad experiences in capsule room hostels but this was one of the good ones. If your budget is more generous, I recommend looking up an Airbnb in one of the cool districts like De 9 Straatjes or Jordaan.
Day 1
If, like me, you arrive in the city in the afternoon, start off the day by checking into your hostel after 3 pm and dropping off your bags. Now it’s time to put on your walking shoes and begin to explore the cobbled & winding streets of Amsterdam. You’ll see a lot of people eating potato fries out of a cone which is a very popular street food here. I recommend getting your dipping sauce on the side to avoid a wet fries situation like the situation pictured below but when they are good, they are great!
If you happen to be staying near the Red Light District, why not explore that on your first night and see what truly goes on in the neon-lit, canal-side district famous for you-know-what? I think in recent years it has become less seedy and more of a destination to visit, full of busy bars & restaurants and packed with tourists alike. We grabbed some Chinese food for dinner at Sichaun Restaurant on a rainy, cold evening and it was delicious – bookmark this place on your map! There are plenty of places around here to grab a drink or two and soak up the atmosphere for your first night in the City of Canals.
Day 2
Start your morning off the right way with a bit of shopping at the Waterlooplien Markets. They are open every day except Sunday so don’t @ me if you go on a Sunday! They have any amount of vintage & thrifted clothing and homeware to explore and maybe treat yourself. I did pick up a really cool vintage brown leather jacket for 35euro, a steal. There’s also a couple of cool vintage shops in the area surrounding to browse through too. After that, follow google maps to the Bloemenmarkt Flower stalls, a must-see when visiting Amsterdam. The walk from the vintage markets to the flower markets is stunning, crossing bridges & canals, perfect for some photo-ops. The people of Amsterdam are very stylish and well-dressed so if you’re into fashion like me, you will enjoy the style and the people watching.
After a long morning of shopping and exploring you might build up an appetite. Time for some Michelin recommended Sushi & Dim Sum from A-Fusion. I’m not going to lie, this is some of the best food I have EVER had. The dumplings in particular were divine. Just go!
Now at this stage you might have built up a thirst so hop on the Amsterdam light rail and head to the OG Brewing House in the City – Brouwerij’t lJ featuring its very own Windmill – You’re welcome. I tried a flight of beers so I could taste them all. This brewery is a special place and they are good at what they do. It felt like a more “local activity” than some of the other things I’ve mentioned so far. They also have great merch!
Thirst quenched and a belly full, one is now ready to continue exploring. Book yourself on a canal boat tour. I choose one that included an open bar which in reality was a couple of free wines or Heineken’s but it was perfect for an hour of cruising around the canals, taking in some history and more importantly the beautiful architecture. I booked mine here through Viator and it was 22euro per person, not so bad and there are plenty of operators offering the same or similar tours if you wish to shop around. This was one of my favorite activities during my time in Amsterdam and really, really recommend doing one!
The final offering for an action-packed day 2, grab a table at one of the many bars in Rembrandt Square and enjoy some local beverages. This area is a party zone so if that’s not your scene, feel free to pass it up. If you stay, go easy on the 10 Jaegers for 10euro 🙂
Day 3
What’s the best way to cure a hangover? Walking through the Museum Quarter in Amsterdam. It’s full of historic buildings, buskers, coffee stalls, grassy areas, and of course, museums. Here you have the Rijksmuseum, The Moco Museum, The Van Gogh Museum, and The Stedelijk Museum to name a few. Grab a fresh sandwich and coffee in Stach on the way for some much-needed fuel. I started off at The Van Gogh Museum and as someone with a low attention span, I really enjoyed this museum. It houses 100’s of pieces of art & all the history you could ever want on the man himself.
The next stop is The Moco Museum. This is home to a lot of modern, contemporary, and street art including artists like Banksy and Studio Irma. My favorite display is Reflecting Forward – a Digital Immersive Art exhibition. You have to experience it in real life! This is a great museum for anyone who loves color, politically charged themes and eye-catching art works.
The more of you, the more I love you
A stone’s throw from the Museums lies Vondelpark, basically the Central Park of Amsterdam. If you have time, take a long walk or a stroll through this haven in the middle of the city and enjoy the greenery, ponds, and fresh air. Watch out for all the cyclists though! This applies to any sidewalk or street in this city, the Cyclists seem to have the right of way so always watch your step or you will end up in a heap.
Grab some lunch before the next and final activity on this itinerary. I grabbed a Poke bowl from Poké Bowl Original which is right across the street from the Heineken Experience Museum and it was delicious. I will preface this by saying I have done many a distillery and brewery tour and this was by no means my favorite but if you are only in Amsterdam once and you love beer, then you will probably enjoy it and the 2 pints you get after the tour ends which are included in your entrance fee.
That wraps up an action-packed adventure in the most famous city in The Netherlands. You’ve seen the sights, tasted the amazing food & beer, and soaked up the atmosphere of one of the most exciting cities in Europe. While my itinerary covers all the things I experienced, there is 1000 more sights, experiences (of the edible variety), and museums to see and do. Personally, I enjoy exploring sights and restaurants and then going to history museums but there is so much of that here to enjoy too. Please take some inspiration for your next trip to Amsterdam!
Safe Travels,
Olivia
Bonus Round – Haarlem
Haarlem, Netherlands
If you have an extra day to pass in Amsterdam, Make your way to Haarlem, only 30 minutes away on the train from Amsterdam Centraal. It’s like a mini version of the real Dam but it’s also very near the coast so here’s my recommendation. Arrive in Haarlem, and explore the town by foot. Enjoy the canals, windmills, markets, and food on offer and then rent a bike and cycle to the beach! It’s about a 30-minute picturesque bike ride from the city center to the beach (Bloemendaal aan Zee) and it’s a wonderful way to see the Dutch countryside & beach so near to the city. Shout out to a great brewery in Haarlem, Jopen, which is set in an old church and serves great beers. Haarlem is a great little addition to any trip to it’s big sister, Amsterdam.
I hope you find some inspiration from my travels to The Netherlands and see all the beauty it has to offer both within and outside of the famous “red light district”.
Safe travels as always,
Olivia
