Destination Amsterdam: Curiosity Welcome
A list of things to do, places to see, plus tips and insights to help you plan a trip to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam, the capital city of Netherlands, is certainly one of the most unique, most controversial, and vibrant cultural cities I’ve ever been. If you have never been to Amsterdam and asking yourself what are the things to do and see there, I sure hope this blog post will be able to answer that question, and also help you plan a trip to Amsterdam.
The city of Amsterdam is know for their picturesque canals, tulips, bikes, Van Gogh Museum, Marijuana, windmills, sex shows in the Red Light District friendly people, all of this in Amsterdam. There’s plenty to of things do, no doubt – some are pretty cool, and some are pretty “eh." It’s why visiting Amsterdam is never a dull moment. I mean, it is a place where you can get high and get laid, ha! Prostitution is legal and so is smoking weed. But it’s not just that, it’s truly a vibrant and lively city.
I’ve been to the Amsterdam a couple of times, but I did spend a lot more time truly getting to know the city during this trip. I’d say three days in Amsterdam is a good duration for a stay. I have to warn about how busy Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is though, it gets INSANELY crowded.
First thing: you can rarely find any cheap flights to Amsterdam. I have been to this city – during off-peak and peak season, and I can tell you that there’s no such thing as off-peak season anymore. This city seems to get crowded all-year long. And with this city being crowded all-year long, finding the best hotels in Amsterdam can be tricky. While there are plenty of places to stay in Amsterdam, hotels in the city center get so fully booked quickly.
WHERE I STAYED: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam, a luxurious 5-star hotel located in a former shipping house. It is truly one of the best hotels in Amsterdam.
WEBSITE: https://www.amrathamsterdam.com/en/index.html
RATE: Anywhere from $235/night for rooms to $1000/night for suites.
TIP: Book in advance on their website.
ADDRESS: Prins Hendrikkade 108, 1011 AK Amsterdam, the Netherlands
PH: +31 (0)20 5520 000
Click here for my full review of Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is Known for Their Picturesque Canals
I didn’t go for a canal cruise, but I strolled around The Jordaan. This charming neighborhood is Amsterdam’s Greenwich Village. You’ll find lined up 17-century houses, shops, cafes and designer boutiques. As you stroll down this charming neighborhood, walk on one of those bridges and stand in the middle for a picture perfect canal shot, and that right there is uniquely Amsterdam.
A QUICK FUN FACT:
There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, with a total length of 60 miles (or 100km).
Centraal Station/Central Station
Stop by the Centraal Station, a Neo-Renaissance rail station designed by the same Dutch architect who designed Rijksmuseum, P.J.H. Cuypers. Even just standing outside the Centraal Station, you’d be able to capture another unique character of Amsterdam – right in front of it is a parking full of bikes. And not far from it at all is parking decks full of more bikes. I mean A LOT OF BIKES.
Amsterdam is a Paradise of Pedal Power
If there’s one thing I have picked up about Amsterdam right away, it is that there are more bikes than cars. And sure enough, I’ve learned that there are over 800,000 bicycles in Amsterdam. People here just love to bike to wherever, which is pretty cool. But I had to get used to it, being mindful crossing those skinny streets, because yeah, bikes are everywhere.
Museum Square or Rijksmuseum
Be captivated by art and explore Dutch history by going to Museumplein or Museum Square, home of Rijksmuseum, the largest museum in the Netherlands. One of the most important historic art sitting in the museum is The Night Watch by Rembrandt. But beyond art, don’t forget to check out its garden, making it ideal for relaxation with its magnificent landscape greenery and sculptures. While you’re in Museumplein, you might as well check out Van Gogh Museum.
Dam Square
Explore the main street of Amsterdam, Damrak. It leads from Centraal Station, to Dam Square. Dam Square is the heart of the city – The Royal Palace, street performers, national monuments and war memorials, local fast-food, souvenir shops, sex museums, cheese shops, and a lot more.
Coffee at The Leidseplein Square
Grab a coffee and just enjoy the city at the Leidseplein. This is where you’ll find a wide variety of restaurants and bars – from fine dining to casual affordable small cafes. The casual small cafes are the best places to get your cup of coffee verkeerd, the Dutch version of caffè latte or café au lait.
Check Out Those Cheese Vendors
There’s plenty of cheese vendors in Amsterdam. The Dutch are very passionate about their cheese – as these are a cornerstone of their national diet and each region has its own specialty! Even Netherlands’ very own Beemster Cheese is proudly served in sandwiches in KLM flights.
A QUICK FUN FACT:
Amsterdam is the center of the dairy trade in the Netherlands, and is surrounded by fertile farmlands where wold famous cheeses have been produced for many centuries.
Smell the Flowers at The Flower Market
A trip to Amsterdam won’t be complete with stopping by or at least passing by Bloemenmarkt or Flower Market. They’ve got wide variety of just beautiful flowers and tulips, of course. But it’s not just flowers, this is also the perfect place to buy your presents or souvenirs.
Yummy Stroopwafels
Have some Stroopwafels. These stroopwafels are chewy syrup waffles. You won’t miss seeing packs of these in shops, grocery stores and at street stands at festivals and markets where they make them fresh!
Stop By the Red Light District
It is indeed a place like no other. It gets more and more controversial with every step I take strolling around the streets, ha! Strip bars, erotic shops, marijuana museums, museums of prostitution, “boxes” or “windows” of barely dressed prostitutes advertising their services, “live sex shows” and it goes on… To sum it up, Red Light District is Bourbon Street and Times Square put together, on a spring break. Young twenty-something might find these interesting, but there’s nothing to it, really.
SOME QUICK FUN FACTS:
The drug laws in Amsterdam states that Cannabis is not really legal. It is, however, tolerated – meaning, the authorities will turn a blind eye to those in possession of 5g or less.
Coffee shops in Amsterdam are not just a place where you get coffee, tea, or freshly-squeezed juices and sandwiches. But these coffee shops are where you can legally buy soft drugs (Marijuana or Hashish).
Enjoy a Green Escape to Vondel Park
This beautiful park in the middle of the city is made for romantic walks and easy strolls. You could also rent a bike and bike around the park. This park is just a few blocks away from Rijksmuseum.
And lastly, have your photo taken on the I Amsterdam letters. A visit to Amsterdam isn’t complete without this 🙂
I hope this sums up all the places to visit in Amsterdam. I’d like to know which one was your favorite. Comments are welcome!
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Hi, I'm Shar! I started the outbounder as a place to share my adventures as I explore different places around the world, my love for different kinds of food, and a passion to capture a moment in time through photography.
