Row houses and boats on a cloudy day in a canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam has my heart.

It was my first international trip with my now-husband shortly after we got engaged and we went right before my birthday. It was late August, the weather was warm and sunny (extremely atypical for northwest Europe, especially The Netherlands), and experiencing a new country for the first time lit a fire in me to see so much more of the world.

I provide recommendations for Amsterdam more than any other place and I think there’s a few reasons for that. For one, it’s an easy and relatively quick flight from my hometown of Minneapolis: there are multiple direct flights a day, it’s only around an eight-hour flight time, and most of them leave in the evening which means you sleep through your plane ride and wake up bright and early as you pull into Schiphol. Another reason is it’s a very common gateway to the rest of Europe as it’s the third-busiest airport for international travelers behind Dubai and London Heathrow. Thirdly, Amsterdam is just an incredible city: charming, walkable, and so much to see and do.

I’ve now been to Amsterdam twice and each time I leave, I start making a list of the things I want to see, do, and eat next time we visit. As I make more treks back to my favorite city, these recommendations will continue to grow and my “next time” list will have more added to it.

The Activities

Mike’s Bike Tour

https://mikesbiketoursamsterdam.com/

This bike tour is always my number one recommendation for anyone going to Amsterdam. It came from a friend who visited shortly before my first time and I cannot thank her enough for this incredible suggestion.

The biking scene in Amsterdam is unreal and a bit intimidating. Mike’s Bike Tours helped us get acquainted with biking in Amsterdam and also took us outside the city, past some windmills, and to a Gouda cheese farm/wooden shoe maker (yes, this was in one spot). The team at Mike’s Bike Tours are aware most if not all people on these tours are not well-versed in Amsterdam bike norms. They take time to talk through what you should and shouldn’t do inside the city, who has the right-of-way, and how to react when someone dings their bell at you.

We set off through the city streets and made a few stops for our tour guide to point out a few interesting features of Amsterdam and its architecture, such as the hooks atop of row houses to help wheel up groceries, furniture, appliances, etc., as well as the significant bridges and canals we were passing over.

After we rode under the freeway encircling the city, we were greeted by fields and farms and a few windmills we were biked right past. The tour guides are very familiar with these routes and know all the places to stop for photo opps. Toward the end of our ride, we were given a forewarning about the Gouda farmer and his “classical” (read: a little racist and sexist) views and that we should just smile and nod and eat the cheese. I’ve endured more for less, so at least I got some good cheese out of it. We were able to purchase cheese and other gifts and then headed back toward the city, which took us by the zoo and Brouwerij ’t IJ.

This is by far my favorite thing we’ve done in Amsterdam. It’s so fun to see the city by bike and see how easy it is to get around by bike. Even if we don’t do the actual tour again, this tour made us confident in our biking abilities to ride the same route or just pedal around the city.

The Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the museum to visit on your trip to Amsterdam. Located on the same square as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijks is larger and (obviously) more inclusive of other pieces of art. It’s easy to spend a full day at the Rijks exploring various pieces of Dutch art, whereas the Van Gogh Museum is an easy few hours focused only on Van Gogh (again, obviously). The iAmsterdam city card gains you admission to this museum as well.

Anne Frank House

The significance of the Anne Frank House and the gravity of being in that space is truly eye-opening and an experience to sit with and reflect on for awhile. The site offers handheld devices to scan codes in various rooms that narrate your tour in your language of choice. The Anne Frank House offers a firsthand look into the Frank family’s hiding place during WWII and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to visit. Plan for a few hours to both put yourself in an appropriate mindset and time to decompress after your visit.

NEMO Science Museum

We visited this science museum because of its prominence on the city skyline and also just for something to do one afternoon. It’s a great option catered towards kids and family. It also has a great sky deck with a cafe and panoramic view of the city (read: beer with a view).

Vondelpark

Vondelpark is outside the Centraal district but is quick and easy to get to. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the city and wish to spend some time on some grass or around some trees, Vondelpark is a great spot. Grab a quick lunch and snag a park bench, people watch, and enjoy nature in the middle of the city.

Red Light District

The Red Light District obviously has a reputation that precedes it. We didn’t spend much time there, however we did walk through twice: once around sunset and once at night on our way back from dinner. It gives off “frat boy in a foreign city” energy at times, which is likely from the many bars that line the streets with hoards of drunk frat boys trying to get in. That being said, it’s nice to walk around and see the area. Take in the architecture, watch out for drunk frat boys, wave to the nice prostitutes, and just enjoy the city.

The Drinks

Tales & Spirits

Lijnbaanssteeg 5-7, 1012 TE Amsterdam, Netherlands

One of the first stops after getting settled into our hotel was Tales & Spirits, a cocktail lounge and restaurant located a short walk from Centraal station. Known for their unique cocktails and even more unique glassware, something as simple as ordering a martini at Tales & Spirits is a one-of-a-kind experience. Tales & Spirits updates their menu fairly regularly, so check the menu for something that tickles your fancy or ask your server for recommendations!

We were treated to a Van Gogh-inspired martini, complete with a set of fruit reductions served on a paint palette and a paint brush to mix them into the martini itself. I also enjoyed a pear-forward drink served in a copper pear-shaped cup which nearly came home with me (just kidding, do not steal from small businesses).

Oedipus Brewery

Schaafstraat 21, 1021 KD Amsterdam, Netherlands

Thanks to some thorough research done prior to our second visit, Oedipus Brewery was found on a list of recommended breweries and was confirmed as a good choice when we met a couple locals (they were a little shocked that a couple foreigners made the visit to Oedipus). Located in Amsterdam-Noord, Oedipus is an off-the-beaten-path brewpub with an artsy vibe and delicious beer. Getting to the taproom requires a train ride and a 15-ish minute walk (or just a walk if you’re staying in Noord, partially over a canal lock), however it’s worth it to feel like you’re joining a group of locals. After our taproom experience, we found Oedipus on the menu of a few other bars and restaurants we visited throughout the rest of our trip.

Brouwerij ’t IJ

Funenkade 7, 1018 AL Amsterdam, Netherlands

If you’re looking for beer, snacks, and an Instagramable view, Brouwerij ’t IJ is the place to go. We’ll get to the food/beer but the most noteworthy part of this brewery is its location at the base of a traditional Dutch windmill. This brewery was pointed out during our bike tour with our tour guide informing us the windmill is the only windmill within Amsterdam city limits, which sits two stories tall. Imagine a more Dutch experience and you can’t without the addition of a pair of wooden clogs.

The beer at Brouwerij ’t IJ was traditional and delicious and their selection of snacks was also fantastic. We decided on a cheese/pretzel/mustard spread which paired perfectly with our brews. The beer and the food is graet, but Brouwerij ’t IJ is worth a visit for the novelty of enjoying a drink under a Dutch windmill alone.

The Food

Quick Bites

Wok To Walk

Various locations

Wok To Walk is a fast and “healthy” Asian food option for anyone on the go. Comparable to a Chipotle setup, Wok To Walk offers fully customizable dishes flame tossed and made to order. Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, or a build-your-own wok, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Grab it and sit next to one of the canals for a lunch.

Döner Company

Centraal Station

This may have been a drunken stop on our way back to our hotel in Noord and it turned out to be one of the best ones. The Centraal location was one of the last places open and late night kebabs gave me life.

Fast Casual

Cafe Luxembourg

Spui 24, 1012 XA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Cafe Luxembourg was a great lunch spot for our first day back in Amsterdam. The service was great, we had a delicious meal, and it was a great spot to sit down, let the day catch up to us, and plan out our next moves for the rest of the day.

Fancy Eats

d'Vijff Vlieghen

Spuistraat 294-302, 1012 VX Amsterdam, Netherlands

Described as a “culinary museum”, d’Vijff Vlieghen (translated to The Five Flies restaurant) is located in five connected 17th century canal houses. With walls covered in 17th and 19th century gold plastered leather, antique maps, and other antique objects, you step back in time when entering the space, setting the scene for an incredible meal and an unforgettable experience.

We dined at d’Vijff Vlieghen for our first anniversary and opted for a five course meal with wine and dessert. Leaving the menu selections up to the experts, we sat back and enjoyed the most incredible soups, tartar, mains, and finished it off with dessert, all paired with a healthy wine pour. There’s really not much else I can say besides what an incredible and memorable experience we had and I cannot recommend this place enough.

As we left, we were gifted a magnet of one of the row houses which now sits on our refrigerator to remind us of the amazing experience we had at d’Vijff Vlieghen.

The Stay

Centraal

Our first trip, we stayed at a Marriott property near Centraal station which offered us easy access to transportation (both out of Centraal and around the tram stops) and many restaurants and attractions.

Sir Adam

https://www.sirhotels.com/en/adam

On our second trip, we opted for another Marriott hotel outside the main area of the city. The Sir Adam is located in Noord and is a very close walk from the ferry station (see Other Tips section for more information on the ferry). The Sir Adam is in the icnonic A’DAM tower, a key landmark in Noord right across from the Eye Filmmuseum. The rooms were modern and a bit small and the hotel leaned toward a younger crowd. That being said, we did not spend a lot of time at the hotel and it offered a clean and comfortable place to sleep and some very unique elevators.

The restaurant in the lobby (where we received a complementary breakfast through Marriott) was bright, airy, and had great food. We were also encouraged to check out the A’DAM Lookout on the rooftop: a bar, lounge, and lookout attraction with panoramic views of Amsterdam and the surrounding areas. There is also a swing attraction that swings you over the edge of the tower. We did it, it was…something. But seeing all of Amsterdam was a fantastic experience from this tower.

Hot Tips!

iAmsterdam Card

If you are planning on visiting a few museums on your trip and are also planning on utilizing Amsterdam’s reliable and convenient tram service, I recommend purchasing an iAmsterdam card upon your arrival. You can purchase based on the amount of time you plan on using it (i.e. the duration of your trip) and the card can get you into museums and lets you ride the tram seamlessly.

Ferry Services

The ferries are a free service connecting Centraal to various ports along Noord-Amsterdam. The ferries are sectioned off for pedestrians and bicycles and run 24 hours a day. You rarely have to wait more than a few minutes until the ferry comes. If you’re looking to stay in a quieter area of Amsterdam but still have access to the tourist hotspots, staying in Noord and utilizing the ferry is your best bet.

Bikes

Bikes outnumber people in Amsterdam and that’s really not that much of an exaggeration. In the hierarchy of right-of-way, bikes always come first, even above pedestrians. As a pedestrian, be sure to keep an eye out for bicycles and know that if someone dings their bell at you, you were in their way. If you’re interested in utilizing a bike during your visit, look up the rules of the road before committing because it is baptism by fire if you jump on a bike and go for it. That being said, bikes are an easy and convenient way to get around Amsterdam thanks to its bike lanes and fairly flat landscape.

Albert Hjein

Looking for a quick snack or a couple food items for your stay? Head to the nearest Albert Hjein grocery store for all your needs! These stores are cash only, so be sure to have cash handy.

The Summary

Go to Amsterdam.

Don’t let it become a quick layover you where you never leave the airport before going somewhere else in Europe. Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands has so much to offer, so much to explore, and so much to eat.

Enjoy Amsterdam! Text me when you land!

Amsterdam, Netherlands