Things to do in Amsterdam | Travel Guide
WHERE TO EAT, DRINK & EXPLORE
With Amsterdam’s never-ending canals woven into the city and its extensive collection of museums and galleries, you can spend the day wandering along with the smell of waffles and coffee! I’m forever in awe of the quirky architecture and the beauty of this place!
Below are some recommendations of what to do, where to eat and where to explore.
where to eat & drink in Amsterdam
Manneken Pis Amsterdam / Here you’ll find the BEST chips you will ever have in your life!
FoodHallen Rotterdam / An international indoor food market, which makes you walk around for over an hour trying to decide what to eat because everything looks too amazing and it’s too difficult to decide.
Bar Botanique / Over in Amsterdam East, a botanical jungle and the most Instagram-able place in the world!
CT Coffee and Coconuts / Craft coffee, fresh coconut juice & an eclectic menu served in an airy space with beach-shack vibes.
The Pure Markt / A relaxed foodie market held Sunday’s from late March to the end of October in Frankendael Park. Featuring over 90 vendors selling a variety of sustainable, organic and artisanal products. You can pick up food for on the go, have a chilled picnic for lunch or enjoy a drink on the cosy terraces with live music.
Kanarie Club / Taking ‘pool bar’ to the next level with a two-story bar including a swimming pool upstairs.
where to go in Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum / The worlds largest Van Gogh art collection in the world!
Stedelijk Museum / A museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art- I love this museum! Featuring some of my favourites such as Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Roy Lichenstein and Piet Mondrian.
Moco Museum / A boutique museum showcasing modern and contemporary artwork. When we visited there was a Banksy exhibition which is on till January 2019 and contains around 50 original works by the Street Art legend.
Rijksmuseum / Behind the famous ‘I AMSTERDAM’ letters, the Dutch National Museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam tells the story of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
The Jordaan neighbourhood / In central Amsterdam, the Jordan is a district known for its beautiful houses, indie boutiques and cute eateries. The perfect area to take a stroll and enjoy the architecture.
Vondel Park / The most famous, largest park in the Netherlands and in the perfect location to visit the museums too. Great for a chilled picnic to take a break from all the gallery hopping!
what to do in Amsterdam
Walking Tour / You can do a free self-guided walking tour by numerous companies in the Jordan area which you can download and follow from your phone.
Bike tour / Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, with over 881,000 bikes in the city (four times the number of cars!) There are many companies that offer a cycling tour around Amsterdam so why not join in!
Canal tour / We went with a company called ‘Lovers Canal Cruises’ and went as the sun was setting, which made it a beautiful experience and lets you see a different side of the canals, with beautiful lights lighting up every bridge! There is an audio guide included so on top of the stunning views you get to learn about the history of Amsterdam too.
where to shop in Amsterdam
Nine streets / This quaint and quirky neighbourhood is bursting with vintage and designer shops and cosy cafes.
Albert Cuymarkt / This is Amsterdam’s largest market with over 260 stalls! Filled with gadgets, homeware, flowers, fruit and veg and clothing!
Bloemenmarkt / The only floating Flower Market in the world! Full of cut flowers, plants and souvenirs.
Waterlooplein Flea Market / Waterloo Square Flea Market is the oldest flea market in the Netherlands. Open 6 days a week with over 300 stalls full of books, jewellery, vintage cameras, retro clothing and more.
travel tips for Amsterdam
I Amsterdam City Card / You can purchase one of these cards which can be valid for either 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours. You can visit dozens of museums and attractions for free or at a discount, and enjoy unlimited access to Amsterdam’s public transport. Depending on how long you’re in Amsterdam and what you’re planning on seeing you can save yourself a lot of money. Apart from the 44 museums which the card grants you free access to you can go on a free canal cruise and 25% off many restaurants and cafes.
Bikes / The best way to get around Amsterdam and essential to complete your Amsterdam experience! There are more than 881,000 bicycles in Amsterdam, that’s four times the number of cars!
Anne Frank House / If you want to go to the Anne Frank House you need to book way in advance as both times I’ve been to Amsterdam I’ve missed out on the chance of going as it’s been booked up months in advance.
