In a nutshell
- We love Amsterdam! The city is a fantastic destination for a city trip in Europe. In this article we share all the important travel tips for Amsterdam with you.
- On our travel guide we’ll tell you what to do, how to get there, how you get around in Amsterdam and where to stay.
- We also share with you the best travel time for Amsterdam and tell you how expensive the city really is.
Is Amsterdam Worth a Visit?
Yes! Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations for a city break in Europe – with a good reason! The Dutch capital has so many attractions to offer that you shouldn’t miss it out while visiting Europe.
Even though Amsterdam doesn’t have such famous building like Pais has the Eiffel Tower or Rom the Colosseum, Amsterdam is simply pretty!
The city center is crisscrossed by canals, you can discover charming little streets everywhere, and the infamous Red Light District and coffee shops offer a cool contrast.
What to See in Amsterdam?
First we give you a short overview about the most important attractions in Amsterdam. However, you find more information about them in our article about the best places to visit in Amsterdam.
The best things to do in Amsterdam are:
- Take a canal cruise in Amsterdam
- Stroll through the 9 Straatjes
- Visit on of the famous museums like the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum
- Explore De Wallen – Amsterdams Red Light District
- Walk to Amsterdam’s central Square the Dam with the Royal Palace
- Check out the well-known coffee shops in Amsterdam
- Swing 100 meters above Amsterdam on the Adam Lookout
- Get to know some iconic buildings like the Oude Kerk and the Begijnhof
- Take the ferry to Amsterdam Noord and the NDSM Wharf
- Stop by some hidden gems in Amsterdam
How Much Time Do You Need in Amsterdam?
There is never enough time to explore everything in Amsterdam. However, 3 days are a good start if you visit Amsterdam for the first time.
If you want to do some day trips from Amsterdam, for example to the windmills in Zaanse Schans or the less visited city Utrecht, you should plan 5 days.
Are you reeeeally short on time? Then 1 day is enough to see the absolute most important places in Amsterdam.
From Amsterdam you can continue your trip to other cities in Europe like Cologne and Hamburg in Germany or Brussels and Bruges in Belgium.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam?
Unfortunately, staying in Amsterdam doesn’t come cheap. Hotels are very expensive, especially in the city center. The rooms are generally very small and if you opt for a cheap hotel, you might not get your own bathroom.
You don’t have time to read it all? The best value for money is the Volkshotel Amsterdam. If you want it really cheap, we recommend you sleeping in a hostel. The ClinkNOORD is a great option.
If you care more about a good location than the price, you might find the best hotel for you in our article with the best areas to stay in Amsterdam.
Do you want to stay in a small hotel with cool designs? Then a boutique hotel in Amsterdam is perfect for you. Our favorite design hotel in Amsterdam is the Ruby Emma.
Are you traveling with kids in Amsterdam? No problem. There are some amazing family hotels in Amsterdam. And because they are not easy to find, we’ve selected the 9 best family-friendly hotels for you.
We’ve stayed with our two kids in the Bob W – we loved it!
How to Get to Amsterdam?
If you are already in Europe you can get to Amsterdam by train or bus.
Anyways, there is also a big international airport in Amsterdam where a lot of flights from Europe and oversea land.
Arriving by plane at Amsterdam Schipol Airport
Schipol is the biggest airport in the Netherlands. iIf you’re coming by plane, it’s most likely that you land here.
Book your flight to Amsterdam on Skyscanner
From Amsterdam Schipol, the easiest way to get to the city center is by train or bus.
Read more about how to get from Amsterdam Airport to the city center
A good option if you want to travel by train is the Amsterdam Travel Ticket. You can use the airport train to the center, as well as almost all other public transport in Amsterdam.
Arriving by train
If you’re coming by train, you will arrive at the central station of Amsterdam which is located in the middle of the center. From here, you can walk to your hotel, take a tram or a bus.
There are direct trains from other cities in the Netherlands to Amsterdam (like Utrecht, Rotterdam or Den Haag) and trains from Germany.
You can book international train tickets to Amsterdam on nsinternational.com and national tickets on ns.nl
Arriving by bus
The biggest long-distance bus provider in Europe is Flixbus. There are many connections all around the country and to neighboring countries like Luxembourg or Germany.
Flixbusses are cheaper than trains but not so comfortable.
It’s best to download the Flixbus app but you can also book your journeys on the flixbus website.
How to Get Around in Amsterdam?
You have several ways to explore Amsterdam. The best way to get around the city center is on foot, while public transport is ideal for the outskirts. Here’s everything you need to know in detail.
Amsterdam on foot
Amsterdam is a very compact city. You can easily explore the entire city center on foot. Thanks to the parallel canals in the Canal Belt, it’s easy enough to get your bearings even without the help of a map.
Amsterdam by bike
The most authentic way to explore Amsterdam is by bicycle. Just like everywhere else in Holland, cycling is the number one mode of transport in Amsterdam.
There are cycle lanes everywhere, and unlike most other countries, you don’t have to be afraid of being hit by a car.
In fact, almost all the Dutch ride without a helmet. You can hire a bicycle pretty much anywhere in town and at many hotels or you book a guided bike tour in Amsterdam.
Read more about city tours in Amsterdam
Amsterdam by public transport
Amsterdam also has an extensive public transport network with metro, busses and trams. A single ticket costs 3.40 euros. You can buy it directly from the machines or pay by credit card.
If you plan to use public transport more often, a 24h ticket may be worth it for 9 euros.
When entering and exiting the tram, you always have to hold your ticket to the card reader. The same goes for the turnstiles at the metro stations.
Read more about public transport in Amsterdam
Amsterdam with hop-on/hop-off
Amsterdam also has classic hop-on hop-off buses. However, the buses don’t go through the city center but rather through districts a bit further out. That’s why, in our opinion, they’re not necessarily worth it.
Something special that Amsterdam offers are Hop-On Hop-Off boats. The concept is the same – just with boats. You can hop on and off whenever you like and explore Amsterdam’s canals from the water.
Read more about hop-on hop-off in Amsterdam
Do You Need a Citypass for Amsterdam?
It really depends if a city pass in Amsterdam is worth it. There are several city passes in Amsterdam, but most of them are just worthwhile if you want to visit many attractions that are included.
The best city pass is the I Amsterdam Card. You can use public transport free of charge and get free access to many museums. That’s especially worthwhile if you really want to visit a lot of museums in Amsterdam.
We recommend you buying the I Amsterdam Card online There are 24-, 48-, 72-, or 96-Hour cards.
Is Amsterdam Expensive?
Like many cities in Europe, Amsterdam is quite expensive. But luckily, not everything in Amsterdam is expensive. Here you get a better overview about prices in Amsterdam:
What is expensive in Amsterdam?
- Accomodation: a double room in a hotel in the city center costs around 200 euros.
- Restaurants: if you want to eat in a nice restaurant you pay around 20 euros for a plate.
- Public transport: a single ticket for 3.40 euros is not the cheapest.
- Museums: for most museums you pay around 20 euros entrance.
What is cheap in Amsterdam?
- Supermarkets: the prices in Dutch supermarkets are in general really low
- Sightseeing: many of the main attractions are free like (e. g. canal belt, Red Light District, 9 Straatjes)
- Fast Food from vending machines: “Febo” are the vending machines with typical Dutch snacks called – they are quite cheap!
How do you pay in Amsterdam?
Cash is dying out in the Netherlands. You can even pay for very small amounts by card, and some restaurants or shops won’t even accept cash anymore.
It’s best to have a credit card with you (e. g. Visa or Mastercard), then you should be able to pay everywhere with it.
Anyways, we recommend you having some euros in cash with you – just to be sure.
When is the Best Time to Visit Amsterdam
The best time to visit Amsterdam is from May to October. These are the warmest and longest months of the year.
Our favorite months are August, September and October. That’s late summer or early spring. The temperatures are mild and you have many hours of sunshine per day.
Also, hotels are cheaper again from August onwards and there are fewer people in the city than in the months before. Most people in Europe have vacation from June to August.
You can also travel to Amsterdam in winter, but be prepared for cold temperatures. There can even fall snow – most likely in January.
Be prepared for rain: It can rain all around the year in Amsterdam. So don’t forget your rain clothes and take a look for cool indoor activities in case you catch a rainy day while you’re in Amsterdam: read our tips for Amsterdam in the rain.
Read more about the best time to visit Amsterdam
Food and Restaurants in Amsterdam
There are some dishes you should definitely try, when you are in Amsterdam:
- Stroopwafels: two flat waffles with a layer of syrup (can be found in supermarkets or candy shops).
- Bitterballen: deep-fried balls filled with meat. Traditionally, you eat them with a beer
- Cheese: the Netherlands are famous for cheese. There are many cheese shops in Amsterdam you should try.
- Seafood: Amsterdam is located near the sea. So, you can try fresh fish here.
- Fries: the fries in Amsterdam are not just fries but really tasty fries with different toppings.
- Snacks from Febo’s: Febo’s are vending machines where you can buy cheap fast food all around Amsterdam.
Finally, we have a list with our personal recommendations for restaurants in Amsterdam for you:
- Calf & Bloom: modern bistro with healthy food
- Café de Ceuvel: vegan café in Amsterdam Noord
- Broodje Bert: simple restaurant with tasty meals and snacks
- In de Waag: cool restaurant in De Wallen
- Bakers & Roasters: New Zealand café with Brazilian influence
- Pancakehouse Upstairs: cute café with amazing pancakes
These were our travel tips for Amsterdam
Do you have any more questions about your trip to Amsterdam? Are there any tips missing on our travel guide for Amsterdam? Feel free to leave us a comment!