Venice of the North—165 UNESCO canals, world-class museums, bike-friendly streets, tulips, and Europe's most liberal city.
Amsterdam packs world-class museums, historic canals, and unique attractions into a compact, walkable (or bikeable!) city.
Moving museum in actual house where Anne Frank hid during WWII. See original diary, secret annex, powerful history. MUST book online weeks ahead - sells out daily. Emotional and essential visit.
World's largest Van Gogh collection. 200+ paintings including Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, Bedroom. Chronological journey through his life. Book online ahead. Skip crowds by going early (9am) or late afternoon.
National museum with Dutch Golden Age masterpieces. Rembrandt's Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid, beautiful building. Allow half day minimum. "I amsterdam" sign in gardens. Stunning architecture inside/out!
Best way to see Amsterdam! UNESCO canal belt from water. 1-hour or 2-hour cruises, audio guides, see gabled houses, bridges. Evening cruises romantic. Some include drinks/dinner. Don't skip this!
Charming neighborhood with narrow streets, independent shops, cafés, galleries, Anne Frank House. Former working-class area now trendy. Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes) shopping, cozy brown cafés. Perfect for wandering!
Amsterdam's Central Park. 47 hectares, perfect for picnics, running, cycling. Outdoor theater summer. Cafés inside park. Local life, families, tourists. Free and beautiful. Great afternoon relaxation spot!
Famous legal prostitution windows, coffee shops, bars, old churches. Historic area - oldest part of Amsterdam! Respectful curiosity OK. Busy evening, avoid solo women late night. Part of Amsterdam culture - controversial but unique.
Central square, Royal Palace (still used by royal family), National Monument, Madame Tussauds. Surrounded by shops, cafés. Street performers. Tourist-central but iconic. Palace interior worth visiting (€12.50, check if open).
Amsterdam has temperate maritime climate. Mild but rainy year-round. Best months for weather and tulips!
Best time! 12-18°C, tulip season (Keukenhof Gardens April-May), King's Day (April 27), fewer crowds than summer. Pack layers and rain jacket. Tulips everywhere - magical! Book hotels early.
18-23°C, warmest but busiest season. Long days (sunset 10pm), outdoor festivals, terraces packed. Higher prices, crowds at museums. Still rain possible. Book months ahead. Best weather but most tourists.
Second best! 12-18°C, fewer tourists, golden leaves in parks, Amsterdam Dance Event (October). Museums less crowded. Good prices. Rain increases. Cozy café weather - bring umbrella!
3-8°C, dark and rainy (but rarely snows). Christmas markets December. Very cheap hotels. Cozy brown café season. If canals freeze (rare!), ice skating on canals = amazing. Museum season - indoors anyway!
Rain 200+ days/year! Pack: rain jacket, umbrella, waterproof shoes. Layers essential (weather changes quickly). Dutch saying: "There's no bad weather, only bad clothing." Embrace it - canals beautiful in rain!
Keukenhof Gardens open mid-March to mid-May only (8 weeks!). 7 million tulips. Peak bloom late April. Day trip from Amsterdam (45min). Book tickets online. Best tulip experience in world. Don't miss if visiting April-May!
Amsterdam is small and walkable. Choose area based on vibe: canals, nightlife, quiet, or budget.
Dam Square, shopping streets, Red Light District, main attractions walking distance. Tourist-central, expensive, crowded, noisy. Best for first-timers wanting convenience. Skip if seeking authenticity or quiet.
Charming canals, independent shops, brown cafés, galleries, Anne Frank House. Former working-class now trendy. Authentic Amsterdam feel. More expensive but worth it. Best neighborhood for atmosphere!
Trendy multicultural neighborhood. Albert Cuyp Market, Heineken Experience, hip bars, restaurants. Young vibe, less touristy than centrum. Good value accommodation. Locals' favorite - authentic Amsterdam nightlife!
Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark nearby. Upscale, quieter, residential feel. Designer shopping (PC Hooftstraat). More expensive. Great for museum-focused trips. Safe, elegant, but less "Amsterdam character".
Nightlife square, clubs, bars, theaters, restaurants. Young crowd, energy, music. Between Museum Quarter and Jordaan. Can be noisy. Best for party-goers. Lots of tourists but fun atmosphere!
Convenient for trains/airport, budget hotels, IJ waterfront development. Can feel less charming than other areas. Good for short stays or budget travelers. Easy tram access everywhere.
Amsterdam is bike capital of world. Also excellent trams, walkable, and canal transport. Skip taxis - expensive and unnecessary!
€10-15/day, best way to experience Amsterdam! 400km bike lanes. Rules: stay right, hand signals, bike lights mandatory. Watch for trams. Lock bike with two locks (theft common). Most authentic Amsterdam experience!
Excellent network, 15 lines cover entire city. Buy GVB day pass (€9) or OV-chipkaart (rechargeable). Check in/out with card. Tram 2 tourist lifeline (Central Station to museums). Runs 6am-midnight.
4 lines, mainly outer areas. Less useful for tourists than trams. Same tickets as trams. Useful for: Schiphol Airport line, Amsterdam Noord, some hotels. Most attractions accessible by tram/bike.
Free ferries from Central Station to Amsterdam Noord. Cross IJ river in 5 minutes. Access NDSM wharf (cool art area), A'DAM Lookout tower. Bikes allowed. Quick and scenic!
City center walkable (3km across). Best for exploring neighborhoods. Watch for bikes (don't walk in bike lanes - red lanes!). Cobblestones = comfy shoes. Can walk everywhere but bikes faster and more fun.
Train to Central Station (€5.50, 15-20min, every 10min). Tram/metro also available. No need for expensive taxi (€40-50). Airport under city - super convenient! Buy ticket at machines or with card.
Amsterdam is expensive - especially accommodation and eating out. Budget carefully or wallet pain guaranteed!
Amsterdam perfectly located for day trips. Windmills, tulips, cheese, historic towns - all under 1 hour away!
7 million tulips (mid-March to mid-May only!). 45min from Amsterdam. Book combo bus+ticket. Peak bloom late April. Most beautiful garden in world. Bike through tulip fields nearby. Must-do if visiting spring!
Historic windmills (20min from Amsterdam), cheese farm, clog workshop, traditional Dutch village. Free entry (museums paid). Touristy but photogenic. Morning less crowded. Combine with Volendam fishing village.
Traditional Dutch villages. Edam = cheese, Volendam = fishing village (touristy), Marken = island village (less touristy). Rent bike or take bus. Full day trip. Wear clogs, eat herring, buy cheese!
Beautiful city 15min by train. Historic center, Grote Kerk church, Frans Hals Museum, shopping, cafés. Less touristy than Amsterdam. Great for relaxed day. Saturday market. Return evening or stay overnight.
Government city 50min by train. Mauritshuis (Vermeer's Girl with Pearl Earring), Parliament, International Court. Scheveningen beach for North Sea. Combine culture + seaside. Full day recommended.
30min by train, beautiful canals (quieter than Amsterdam!), Dom Tower (climb 465 steps!), cafés at canal level, university city. Less touristy alternative. Great cycling. Half day or full day.
Dutch cuisine is comfort food - not fancy but hearty! Plus amazing Indonesian food (colonial history). Dining out expensive.
Stroopwafels: caramel-filled waffle cookies (buy fresh at markets!). Poffertjes: mini fluffy pancakes with butter and powdered sugar. Street food and markets. Sweet Dutch treats - addictive and delicious!
Gouda, Edam, aged cheeses. Visit cheese shops for samples. Albert Cuyp Market has cheese stalls. Pair with mustard. Smoked cheeses delicious. Take home vacuum-sealed. Quality much better than supermarket!
Raw herring with onions and pickles. Eat Dutch style: hold tail, tilt head back, drop in mouth! Or on bread. Fishy but traditional. Try once for experience. Buy from street stalls (haringkar). €3-4.
Stamppot: mashed potato + veg, hearty winter dish. Bitterballen: deep-fried meat croquettes, bar snack with beer. Comfort food! Brown cafés serve both. Try at traditional Dutch restaurant. Filling!
Former colony = amazing Indonesian food! Rijsttafel ("rice table"): 15-20 small dishes with rice. Nasi goreng, satay, rendang. Cheap and delicious. Best at Blauw, Tempo Doeloe, Kantjil & de Tijger. Must try!
Albert Heijn supermarket (FEBO vending machine = €2-3 snacks!). Lunch specials €10-15. Albert Cuyp Market cheap food. Broodje haring €4. Avoid Leidseplein/Dam Square restaurants (tourist prices). Eat like local = save €€€!
€65-95 (1-5 days). Includes: free museums (Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum), public transport, canal cruise, discounts. Worth it if visiting 3+ museums + using transport daily. Not needed for short stays. Calculate savings!
Tickets released 6 weeks ahead at 9am (sells out in minutes!). Set alarm, be ready. Small batch released day-before at 9am (try luck). No tickets = can't enter. Book museum online too (Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum).
NEVER walk in red bike lanes! Bikes don't stop. Watch both ways. Bikes have right of way. Don't bike drunk (yes, police check!). Use hand signals. Lock bike with two locks (U-lock + chain). Theft is common!
Netherlands = card-friendly! Many places don't accept cash (even small purchases). Bring debit/credit card that works internationally. Some places don't take Amex. Street vendors/markets need cash. ATM fees high.
"Coffee Shop" = sells weed (legal). "Café" = serves coffee/food. Brown Café = traditional bar (gezellig!). Don't mix up! Coffee shops: 18+, ID required, don't photograph, no alcohol. Cafés = normal coffee/food.
"Gezellig" = cozy, convivial, untranslatable Dutch concept. Brown cafés, candles, friends, borrels (drinks). Experience it: afternoon in café with beer, canal-side terrace sunset. This IS Amsterdam. Embrace hygge's Dutch cousin!