Travel Guide to Amsterdam
Before even thinking about why this Western European destination was even appealing in the first place, I had heard from expats and Europeans alike that Amsterdam was their favorite city. After visiting?! I can see why it tops peoples bucket lists around the world. It’s the food scene, the shopping, and the old world feel. Holland is a special place with a way of life that most of us dream of. So on my travel guide to Amsterdam, explore what you are getting yourself into…
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Amsterdam is for an event, like the tulip season in the spring (late April-early May), Kings Day (in May), and the fall time cause duh. They have an amazing music scene with regular stops on top artist lineups and other music festivals.
Where to Stay
There are loads of Airbnbs in original Netherlands 1600’s homes to boutique hotels inside of historic monuments to choose from. No matter what kind of stay you prefer, make sure to stay in the 9 streets area or close to Jordaan. We stayed in a lovely Airbnb (see photos below) that was on the top level of an old home in the city center.
Pros?! Location, design, and the views out of windows and balconies. Cons? You must climb four to five stories of STEEP stairs every time you go out and come back. That means you also have to lug your luggage all the way up and back down yourself. No elevator. And the photos on the listing are misleading. There is no view from the bathtub, furniture was broken and there were loads of spiders. So I will let you decide for yourself…
Due to unforeseen flight cancellations, I also got to experience the Soho House Amsterdam for a night. I would highly recommend getting yourself the most luxurious room, order in room service, and enjoy the many amenities of the hotel. They have an amazing rooftop pool, club house to grab a coffee in, and a couple bomb restaurants full of fresh food.
Other hotels I would recommend are the Conservatorium, the Waldorf Astoria, the W, and the Pulitzer. These are luxury and boutique options that may not be tangible for the average travelers budget. Click here to see more hotels within your budget! But I recommend booking services out of these hotels.
Go to the Away Spa for massages after getting off the red eye, hit the restaurants inside the lobbies, or grab a cocktail in their elegant bar spaces. You’ll get the elevated experience without the millionaires price tag.
Where to Eat
Amsterdam is a foodie haven. With it’s large international expat community, the variety of cuisine can be overwhelming. I was suprised by a few restaurants and the fact that you need a reservation for most dinner spots in the City Center.
Here are my recommendations on where to eat in Amsterdam:
Jansz- modern Dutch at Pulitzer Hotel
Mr. Porter- steakhouse on W rooftop
Hearth- vegan blue pasta :)
Cafe Chris- one of oldest cafes in Amsterdam
Cafe Papeneiland- apple pie breakfast :)
Cecconi’s- Italian at Soho House
Moo’s Amsterdam- modern Dutch dinner
De Kas- vegan in a greenhouse
Pluk Amsterdam- cafe with vegan desserts
Peacock Alley- dinner at Waldorf Astoria
Saint Jean Cafe- plant based cafe
Margo’s- grab & go vegan pastries and lattes
Bakkerij Wolf- try the shasukra!
La Perla- wood fired pizza snacks
Things to Do
There are so many things to do in Amsterdam, you can’t hit them all in one trip. Wanna know what the best things to do are?! Here’s my list:
Rijkmuseum
Inside the Rijkmuseum is a collection of famous paintings by artists like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Vermeer. These iconic pieces of art are those you may have studied in art history class in school. Also, make sure to check out the epic library that is still used by students today.
When visiting the museums in Amsterdam, make sure to book them ahead of your stay. There are waits upwards of 1-2 weeks at popular museums like the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh museum and the MOCO museum. Check out this link to more epic museums in Amsterdam to explore.
Canal Boat Tour
The number one thing recommended by all our friends who live there and all the waiters we had was to take a boat cruise on the canals. But this is Morgo Goes and we don’t just take the hop on hop off boat tour. We do it right with a private skipper, blue velvet benches, and a bottle of champagne. If you are interested in seeing the canals by water, definitely check out the Rederij de Jordaan.
We boarded the vessel at the Waldorf Astoria hotel and spent 1.5 hours chatting up Captain Ryan. He told us all the insider knowledge into why the houses lean, the construction currently under way, and the significance of the canals on the city. His boat in fact is an artifact in itself. The Welmoed was formerly owned by a physician who would visit his patients by boat. * heart throbbing *
Reservations are available by email only to customize your experience to exactly your needs. Email Reinhard at reinhard@rederijdejordaan.nl and tell him I sent you! 10/10 worth the splurge.
Day Trip to Zaanse Schans
Jump on a train from Amsterdam Central Station to the small suburb town of Zaanse Schans. It is around a 25 minute train ride and costs around 9 euro round trip. Click here to get your tickets online! The train lets off onto a very small station and immediately you can smell the chocolate wind coming from the factory nearby.
The main touristy area is about a 15 minute walk over the bridge. This area is a great place to get acquainted with more Netherlands history of windmills and green wooden houses. Make sure to visit the wooden clog workshop, DIY hot chocolate shop for stroopwafels, and grab a beer at one of the many small cafes.
Tulip Fields
When visiting in the springtime, you can have a once in a lifetime experience. Explore the vast farms of millions of spring flowers in bloom, mostly tulips. Some of the locations you can see the eye candy are Lisse or Keukenhof. We missed them by 2ish weeks on this trip so I will have to return myself for this experience. But learn from my mistake and book your trip in late April!
Shopping
I consider shopping a competitive sport and when it comes to Amsterdam’s game, ITS STRONG. There are plenty of luxury options in 9 Straajes, hidden gem vintage, and markets everyday of the week. It almost feels criminal to tell you which ones to pop into since each of our individual styles are different. But if I had to give you my top three…
The different markets that are each day can be found on the city’s website here. We visited Noordermarkt and Bloemenmarkt, a floating flower market that is open most days. Bring your tote bag and some local currency as many of the vendors cannot take foreign bank cards as a small biz. Other markets to try out that we didn’t are Ijhallen (which happens once a month) and Waterlooplein Market.
But you’ll be good at regular stores as they take any and every form of payment. If you are a boujee babe, then make sure to purchase those luxury items like designer bags, diamonds, or expensive pieces of clothing you have had your eye on. Read more about the European tax free rebates here!
Cocktails
There are loads of cocktail bars and exquisite hotels that just beg you to stop and drink a while. Grab a martini at Door 74 (DM me for the number for reservations) or inside of the many hotel bars. They usually get busy around 10pm.
If you are less of a drinker and more of a c*nnabis connoisseur, follow your nose to the closest Coffeeshop. In Amsterdam, cafes are places to get coffees and coffeeshops are m*rijuana bars. They are easy to spot as they usually have green or neon light signs. Read more about the general rules around indulging while in Amsterdam here.
You can even try “magic truffles” aka magic m*shrooms. The town is cracking down on drug tourism so make sure to follow the general courtesy guidelines as to not be a part of the disturbance to the locals.
Red Light District
The city opens up at night and the iconic Red Light District flood with curious humans. This infamous part of Amsterdam is home to live s*x shows, s*x museum, and stores to stock up on all your bedroom essentials. Grab a seat at Casa Rosso or explore the history here... 10/10 recommend to experience the history and get an eye full.
Sauna Deco
If you are comfortable with nudity and wanna experience a traditional European bath house, head for massages and a steam at Sauna Deco. This family owned spa has been running for 40 plus years and features steam baths, saunas, a dipping pool and other spa services. Spend up to 4 hours detoxing and relaxing in the luxury, art deco decor.
Other Travel Tips
Here are some more tips when it comes to traveling to the Netherlands. Also a few fun facts:
No need for Americans to obtain a visa
Easiest way to get around is to walk or bike. UBER is available for longer walks but often are more expensive because of the lack of drivers. Take the train if you plan on heading out of town from Amsterdam Central (can buy tickets online or at the station)
There is loads if construction happening
The Netherlands is one of the only countries in the world to not have stray dogs
Language is Dutch but most people speak English so it is easy to ask questions to locals/wait staff
Pack waterproof jackets, an umbrella, and layers
And that is my travel guide to Amsterdam. It was my first time visiting and totally plan to spend more time in this city. We spent 7 days just in Amsterdam and I feel like we finally got the lay of the land by the end of the week. The people are so kind though so do not hesitate to get lost and ask for directions later in this town. Happy exploring!
