With Amsterdam’s incredible 17th-century canal houses, Dutch Golden Age Masters paintings, and nearby breathtaking Keukenhof flower gardens, Amsterdam is a must-see — and definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s the perfect, ultimate European travel destination for first-time European travellers.
Read on for where to stay and what to see and do in Amsterdam, based on the actual travel experiences of a frequent Amsterdam traveller. Make the most of your travels to the magnificent city of Amsterdam in Northwest Holland with this authentic Travel Guide.
If you are a first-timer, see why Amsterdam just might be the perfect place for a first-time (or return) visitor to explore this wonderful part of Europe. See highlights of the incredible cultural, entertaining, and epicurean delights this great city has to offer.
Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting?
Yes, Amsterdam is definitely worth visiting, whether you are travelling as a couple or as a solo traveller. Amsterdam is undisputedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it’s easy to navigate and has one of the best public transport systems available. A truly international city, people-watching opportunities abound in the many world-class grand cafés and eateries located throughout this city.
A city of history and culture, Amsterdam offers some of the most scenic and extraordinary cultural attractions you will find anywhere such as the world-famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museums, Anne Frank House, breathtaking canal tours and scenic terraces on historic squares.
A product of the incredible wealth and power of the Netherlands’ 17th Century Golden Age, Amsterdam is a city you can truly immerse yourself in. Expect to spend a lot of time exploring, as a visit to Amsterdam is best traversed on foot, bike, or boat. With so many museums, eateries, cafés and curiosities to see, this small city packs a lot to see per square kilometre.
What to Expect on a Trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands
When visiting Amsterdam, expect to enjoy the relaxed, tolerant atmosphere, the unique wit and the vibrant Dutch culture of a city full of rich history and truly stunning landmarks.
Make the most of your trip and get off the beaten path. Stroll through the skinny alleyways and sidestreets and find little hidden gems in Amsterdam’s Jordaan Neighborhood like antique stores, book shops, cafés and historic bruin cafés — the original Dutch pubs named after their historic dark wood panelling.
Tour Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum to see the incomparable paintings of Dutch Golden Age Masters. Walk through the exquisitely preserved 14th-Century Oude Kerk (Old Church) or visit the breathtaking Keukenhof flower gardens to see spring tulips in full bloom.
Many great places are not found on your typical tourist maps and are best found by exploring.
All of this makes the city one of my favourite business travel destinations and a favourite holiday spot I love to return to over and over.
When is the best time to Travel to Amsterdam?
Be sure to time your visit carefully as the city gets into full swing during the summer months and can be very busy. Summer is of course lovely, but If you are not as concerned about lounging on outdoor terraces in the summer try October through May for a welcome reprieve to fellow travellers.
I’ve travelled to the Netherlands in every month of the year and despite the sometimes gloomy weather, I prefer the off-peak times to visit. Christmas time in particular is one of my favourite times to visit when Christmas markets are plentiful, the streets are colourfully lit, and you can take canal tours of the amazing Christmas lights displays.
Why is Amsterdam a Perfect Destination for Your Trip to Europe?
Amsterdam was my very first overseas travel destination and these were the things that made it a delight to visit then, as well as a fantastic place to return to many times over:
- English is widely spoken everywhere in Amsterdam and across the Netherlands. You don’t need to learn a new language (although it is fun to learn a few Dutch words!)
- Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe – Beauty, history, and culture are everywhere
- Public Transportation is extremely easy to navigate and quite affordable, especially with an O.V. Chipcard
- the Netherlands is a very safe country to visit (normal precautions apply!)
- You can find a wide variety of exceptional cuisine for every budget
- The Dutch people are very friendly and accepting of nearly everyone
- Some of the greatest Museums in the world are in Amsterdam and the surrounding areas (think Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, etc.)
What Languages Do They Speak in Amsterdam?
While the official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, nearly everyone you will encounter in the Netherlands speaks English. Locals will converse in Dutch and will seamlessly switch to English when they hear you speak. Additionally, a large number of Dutch people will speak some German as well, as it is often taught there as a third language in School.
Interestingly, Dutch may look familiar to English speakers on some level, however, you will find it is a very different language to learn to speak or read!
Amsterdam’s Jordaan Neighbourhood and the ‘Nine-Streets’
Formally a predominantly Jewish working-class neighbourhood from the 17th century, the Jordaan, and specifically the area referred to as The Nine Streets or ‘9 straatjes’ in Dutch, is home to some of the best shopping in the city and a number of lovely boutique hotels.
The Jordaan is one of the most quaint districts in Amsterdam, featuring wonderful dining, shopping and lovely views of the canals. In the popular area of the Nine Streets (de negen straatjes) you will find local, up-and-coming Dutch fashion designers, galleries, eclectic antique shops and a variety of fantastic pubs, charming cafés and restaurants — perfect for people-watching.
Jordaan’s Picture Perfect Canals
If you want to find the best canals in Amsterdam for photographs, the Jordaan area is one of the most picturesque. The Prinsengracht Canal, or Prince’s Canal is home to the famous café with its waterfront terrace on the canal. The Prinsengracht Canal is definitely one of the most photographed canals in all of Amsterdam.
The Jordaan neighbourhood is also intersected by a number of smaller, picture-perfect canals with photo-worthy bridges that Amsterdam is famous for. The neighbourhood is prominently featured in many of the popular bike and canal photographs you see of Amsterdam.
Jordaan’s Street Markets
Street markets are plentiful in the Jordaan with a number of them suddenly appearing on various days of the week offering antiques, vintage clothing and vinyl records. In addition, many local and organic foods including some excellent quality Dutch cheeses are found at the markets. If you are looking for great quality cheese, markets are your best choice to find quality products rather than some of the high-street touristy shops that often sell inferior quality, overpriced products.
Getting Around Amsterdam
Should You Bicycle Around Amsterdam on Your Trip?
Bike touring Amsterdam is one of the most romanticized aspects of Dutch culture and an item high up on many travellers’ wish lists. It is one of the best ways to see the city and surrounding countryside and a healthy and fun mode of transportation for your trip.
The reality is that you will want to be very careful when riding a bicycle in the city centre of Amsterdam. Dutch cyclists ride with purpose and ride to transport themselves (and often others) on their bikes, and are considered expert cyclists. They ride quickly and very closely together. Do exercise a high degree of caution around bikes in general, and do not walk on the red bicycle paths!
You may want to look for some of the many other picturesque areas within or just outside of the city that has less commuter bicycle traffic to enjoy a leisurely ride.
Where to Bicycle in Amsterdam
Rather than the city centre, pick one of the many wonderful places outside of the core to take a leisurely stroll on a bike.
Vondel Park, near the city centre, is another wonderful place to walk or cycle. The 100-plus acre park lies within the heart of the city centre, close to the Museumplein (Museum Square) and has dedicated cycle paths and plenty of room to roam.
Outside of the city, there are bicycle paths that connect nearly every town and city in the Netherlands. A particularly lovely place to ride is near one of the many beaches riding amongst Holland’s incredible sand dunes.
Bicycle Rentals can be found at most hotels for around €10, do keep it locked as there are hundreds of bikes stolen per day in the city. It seems that an unlocked bike is a public domain bike.
Amsterdam’s Fantastic Public Transport System
The Netherlands has one of the best public transport networks, period. There are a number of different networks within the city, including buses, trams, light rail, and heavy rail that will take you anywhere within the city or internationally. All of the ticket kiosks are in Dutch and English and are very easy to navigate.
Taxis are outrageously expensive and I would avoid them, take the train instead!
Within the city, you can purchase a ticket when you get on the bus or train, or simply use your credit card to tap on and off when you enter/exit. For Intercity and Sprinter trains, tickets can be purchased at kiosks throughout the station.
Tip: purchase an OV Chipcard for €7 at a station kiosk instead of a ticket. You can reload the card so you always have the ability to hop on and off any NS Transit bus or train in the country. As an added benefit, you get a substantially reduced fare!
Related: Read more about how to get Rail and Car Transport to Amsterdam From Schiphol Airport here.
Eating and Drinking in Amsterdam
Visiting a Food Hall in Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s unique Food Halls are a great place to seek out when looking for an energetic and eclectic place for a meal. The concept features many micro-restaurant food stalls and bars together under one roof reminiscent of an upscale food court.
At a Food Hall, you and your party can choose from an array of cuisine from dozens of stalls and satisfy everyone’s unique tastes in one place. The Variety in these places will ensure everyone gets to pick what they like — no more fights over which type of restaurant to go to!
Try the highly rated and appropriately named Foodhallen located in the Amsterdam Oud-West area. $$ | Bellamyplein 51, Amsterdam | Website
Great Breakfast in the Museumplein
Restaurant Blushing, located a block from the Museumplein has gorgeous modern decor and excellent service while serving great espresso and tasty, healthy breakfast specialties. I tried the Pancakes and a latte (or two) and left completely satisfied before meeting up with friends for a day at the Rijksmuseum. Blushing is located at Paulus Potterstraat 30A | +31 20 363 8081 | Website
Is It Worth Visiting Amsterdam if You Don’t Enjoy Cannabis or Partying?
Yes, it is very much worth visiting if you don’t enjoy that lifestyle, as it is only a very minor part of the city! Amsterdam does have a lively party scene, but it is also a visually stunning, culturally rich city, arguably rivalling any major European city for things to experience.
Amsterdam’s culture is decidedly tolerant and generally leans quite liberal, however, the perception of Amsterdam as being the Las Vegas of Europe is something local officials are actively working to erase, in fact going as far as campaigning this year to discourage young rowdy tourists.
Coffee Shops and the Red Light District
The storied Red Light district, also known locally as ‘De Wallen’, is actually a very small, contained part of the city. My experience has been that it is more of a tourist attraction. You will often see as many bus-loads of elderly tourists as you will see ‘patrons’ of the area’s services.
One thing to remember: do not take photos of people working in the windows in and around the Red Light area or you may be confronted by people you may not want to interact with. It is ok to photograph buildings, however, it is best to be discrete.
Museums You Must See in the Amsterdam Area
There are literally hundreds of museums in the Netherlands, supposedly more per square kilometre than anywhere else in Europe.
Here are a few spectacular museums, from Van Gogh and Rembrandt, historical sites, to world class Auto museums like the Louwman Museum in The Hague, make sure to check out some of these spectacular must-see museums.
- Rijksmuseum – Museum Plein, Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum – Museum Plein, Amsterdam
- Anne Frank Huis – Amsterdam
- Frans Hals Museum – Haarlem
- M.C. Escher museum (Escher in Het Palace) – The Hague
- Mauritshuis – The Hague
- Louwman Museum – The Hague
The Museumplein (Museum square), at the south end of the city centre, houses the 17th century Rijksmuseum and the more contemporary Van Gogh museum within a block of each other.
The Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank Huis is a sobering, must-see. The museum features access to the Secret Annex in the warehouse loft where Anne, along with her Father Frank, Mother Edith, Sister Margo, and four others hid from the persecution of the occupying Nazis during World War Two. Anne’s papers and journals left behind and promptly rescued from the annex were compiled years after by her Father and published as the Diary of Anne Frank. The museum, bookshop and café host well over a million visitors a year, therefore online reservations are a must, especially during high season. I was lucky enough to walk in during low season but that is unlikely to ever happen now.
Frans Hals Museum – Haarlem
A short ten-minute train ride to the charming nearby city of Haarlem (namesake of Harlem, NY) just outside of the city of Amsterdam, houses the museum of Dutch Golden Age painter Frans Hals. Hals, a contemporary of Rembrandt was an important influence on 17th-century portraiture. Incidentally, Hals is buried in the nearby Grote Kerk church, which in and of itself is well worth a visit.
Mauritshuis – See The Girl With a Pearl Earring and The Goldfinch
Trek a little further out of town to The Hague and you find the Mauritshuis, home to a number of impressive Rembrandts, Vermeer’s masterpiece the Girl with the Pearl Earring, Carel Fabritius‘ The Goldfinch, and Potter’s Bull. Nearby the Mauritshuis is the M.C. Escher museum (Escher in Het Palace). Located in the former Royal Palace, the museum is laden with the curious works of this 19th-century artist.
The Hague’s Louwman Museum Automotive Masterpiece
If your taste leads more to the automotive kind, The Hague’s Louwman Museum showcases the marvel of automotive design and craftsmanship. The museum houses a staggering private collection of every imaginable vehicle from centuries-old carriages to rooms full of Ferraris, Porsches and F1 cars. One impressive piece for me was a circa 1908 electric car. Pishaw Tesla!
Tip: If you are planning on doing more than two or three museums, I find it well worth getting a MuseumKaart (Museum card) which can be purchased over the counter at many museums for around €65.
Is Amsterdam a great city for shopping?
Amsterdam has truly exceptional shopping of all kinds, from crafty to vintage, casual to luxury, you will find it within walking distance of the centre of the city.
Adjacent to the historical Dam Square you will find De Bijenkorf, the Netherlands’ own high-end chain department store. Here you will find the typical high-end fashion and housewares you would expect from a high-end store. However, the reason I like to visit is that these stores are housed in such lovely buildings, the stores are very well laid out, with merchandise beautifully presented. From an architectural perspective, they are very appealing and worth a look and feature nicely presented cafés with excellent pastries if you are in need of a quick Espresso shot.
Vondel Park an Oasis Within The City
Vondel Park is a 100-plus acre park that lies within the heart of the city centre in the lovely, upscale area of Amsterdam South – close to the Museumplein (Museum Square) and The Heineken Museum.
The park is known for its various cafés, bars, and pavilions that are situated throughout the expansive space, along with flower installations, and dedicated pathways for cyclists. Be on the lookout for the giant concrete Pablo Picasso statue ‘Figure découpée‘ that is prominently featured in the park!
It is said that the park attracts over 10 million visitors annually, so expect it to be very busy in the months of July and August. Early spring and autumn are ideal times for a visit and is the ideal spot for a quick escape from the buzz of this sometimes frenetic city.
Winter Ice skating in Amsterdam
It seems that the Dutch nations’s second obsession after bicycling is ice skating. Every few years it gets cold enough for the canals to freeze and Netherlanders eagerly take to the ice. In fact, I can’t count the times when discussing the winter weather my Dutch friends will exclaim ‘maybe it will be cold enough to skate on the canals this year!”. With such a beautiful environment, who can blame them?
Netherlanders also speak about an epic legendary event called the Elfstedentocht, an 11-city tour and race where skaters make their way across canals that link 11 cities together in the North of Holland. Unfortunately, the last time this event happened was back in 1997.
Although it is a rarity to skate on the canals these days, you can skate in Amsterdam in the winter at the Museumplein. Ice is artificially maintained just outside the Rijksmuseum and is a great activity to do when visiting in the winter.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
There is an abundance of hotels in Amsterdam, but the reality is that depending on when you travel you may have to look long and hard to find something remotely affordable. But hey, maybe you have some Hilton points to burn! Read on as well for my secret under-the-radar name-brand hotel listed below that is great quality and unusually quite affordable.
Note: I do not get any consideration for these suggestions, the following are all places I usually stay or have stayed at on may many trips to Amsterdam.
Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam – located directly across from Amsterdam Centraal. Bonus, you won’t be dragging your suitcase through the city centre while getting there. A Beautiful historic building, it has been renovated thoroughly but keeps its old-world charm. Now a member of the Raddison Hotel Group. $$$ | Damrak 1-5 | Website | +31 20 623 4255
DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam – NDSM Wharf – This is my secret under-the-radar hotel option in Amsterdam that is very competitively priced. The reason this hotel is so reasonable is it’s located across the river in the quiet but very hip NDSM Wharf area. It is easily accessible by a free 15 min ferry ride. Rooms are top-notch, with a great breakfast and a nice hotel bar. $$ | NDSM-Plein 28 | Website | +31 20 722 0666
DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station – I love the location right next door to Amsterdam’s Central Station, great breakfast, with easy access to the Cruise Terminal. It also has an unbelievable Skybar on the rooftop with some of the best views over Amsterdam and the Red Light District. Rooms are modern but tend to be on the small side. $$$-$$$$ | Oosterdoksstraat 4 | Website | +31 20 530 0800
Conclusion
Amsterdam was the very first city I visited in Europe years ago and it provided a great introduction to European culture, ways of living, and the extraordinary beauty the region has to offer.
I’ve returned to the Netherlands over 40 times since on extended trips and love the culture, people and everything the country has to offer. I can’t think of a better place to kick off a European travel addiction or chart a course to on your next European itinerary.
Is Amsterdam on your list of dream vacations? Or, have you visited before and have more great Amsterdam tips to share? Please leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!