Amsterdam, Netherlands Destination Guide
Section 1: Intro to Amsterdam
With its narrow canals, picture-perfect bridges, and laid-back, cool vibe, Amsterdam is a city that exercises a powerful hold over visitors. Known for art, culture, literature, bicycles, diverse cuisine and a liberal attitude, Amsterdam truly has something for everyone. This city has multiple faces, and is constantly reinventing itself, which explains why so many people keep coming back again and again.
Which of the Following Phrases Best Describes this Destination?
Creative, Cultured, Liberal
What’s the Destination Known For?
Art is a huge part of Amsterdam’s tourist industry, and the city contains a plethora of important galleries and museums, in particular, the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the most important collection of the painter’s work.
At 2 meters below sea level, Amsterdam is a city on the water. Divided by a labyrinth of canals, Amsterdam’s charm is found in the ubiquitous presence of water throughout the city, meaning that it feels like a quaint town without losing any of the advantages of big-city life.
Amsterdam’s history is written all over its architecture and seeps into the city’s culture. It has been an important trading port and transport hub for centuries, and the eclectic atmosphere of the city reflects its diverse past.
The legalization of cannabis and coffee shop culture has made Amsterdam a key destination for weed smokers, and the city is a global leader in cannabis production. Haarlemstraat is a focal point for coffee shops, where weed aficionados can light up while sipping on a green tea or iced coffee.
The flat landscape of the Netherlands is ideal for cycling, and Amsterdam is a city for bicycles. Cycling is by far the best way to get around and the Dutch are experts when it comes to biking in style.
Getting There
AMS - Amsterdam Schiphol Airport:
Location: Evert van de Beekstraat 202, 1118 CP Schiphol
Located 9 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam
Visa: US citizens are eligible for the Visa Waiver program, and can enter the Schengen zone receiving a 90 day tourist visa.
Train: Schiphol Station is located directly under the airport and has connections to destinations across the Netherlands. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the center of Amsterdam.
Bus: The Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397) transfers passengers to multiple city center destinations including Museumplein. Departs every 7 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes throughout the night. Tickets €11 return, or purchase as an add-on to the Amsterdam public transport ticket.
Car: It is a 30 minute drive from the airport to Central Station.
Location: Stationsplein, 1012 AB Amsterdam
Local Etiquette
The Dutch tend to have very frank manners, and prefer straightforward informality rather than strict adherence to complex etiquette.
Tipping: It’s usual to tip approximately 5%-10% in restaurants (but not bars)
Greeting: Greet strangers and acquaintances with a handshake. When greeting a person you know relatively well, three kisses are customary.
Table manners: If you have not finished eating, or want more food, lay your knife and fork in a cross shape across your plate
Gestures: Maintain eye contact when speaking to people. Circling your index finger close to your ear means you have a telephone call (it doesn’t mean ‘crazy’!)
o Hello – Hallo
o Hi (informal) – Hoi
o Goodbye – Dag
o Thanks – Bedankt
o Please – Alstublieft
o Yes – Ja
o No – Nee
o Do you speak English? – Spreekt u Engels?
o I don’t understand – Ik begrijp het niet
o How much is it? – Hoeveel kost dit?
o Cheers! – Proost!
Temperatures:
Spring:
High: 55F / 13C
Low: 41F / 5C
Summer:
High: 68F / 20C
Low: 54F / 12C
Fall:
High: 57F / 14C
Low: 46F / 8C
Winter:
High: 43F / 6C
Low: 34F / 1C
Elevation: -6.6ft / -2m
The best month for swimming is August, the average sea temperature is 65F. The wettest month of the year is also August.
The weather is best in the summer months, when there is an average of 7 hours per day of sunshine. August can often be very busy with crowds of tourists and heavy rainfall, so the best months to visit are June and July. In winter, the temperature drops significantly, and snow is usually predicted in January or February.
How to dress: Amsterdam has a cool, temperate climate, and it can become very cold in winter. The summer months are warm, but humid, so it’s best to be prepared for rain at any time of the year!
Getting Around
In-city transportation:
The Amsterdam metro is run by GVB, and is integrated with the bus and tram network.
Single, 1 hour ticket: €2.90
24 hour ticket: €7.50
For longer stays, it’s recommended to get a personal OV-chipkaart in order to access reduced fares.
Uber operates in Amsterdam
Amsterdam prides itself on being a global leader in bike culture, and the city is quite literally made for bikes. Cyclists enjoy ample bike lanes, and specially designed signaling to make sure that they are safe in traffic. Pedestrians beware – it’s best not to walk in cycle lanes!
The “I Amsterdam” city card offers great value for money, as it allows entrance to many of the city’s museums, public transport and includes a free canal cruise.
Cards may be ordered online, or picked up at the airport or in Amsterdam’s Central Station.
Price: 24h: €59; 48h: €74; 72h (without public transport): €79; 72h (with public transport): €87
Price: Varies: usually approximately €20
Walking:
It’s very easy to get around Amsterdam by foot, as the city is compact, flat, and there are many pedestrianized areas in the center.
Section 2: What to see, do and eat
Breakfast
Contemporary; Café; Healthy
$$
Location: Ceintuurbaan 282-284, 1072 GK Amsterdam
Times: Daily 8:00 - 23:00
Casual dress
This laid-back café is found in beautifully designed interiors, in an old converted theatre. Their excellent coffee and healthy breakfast menu is a great way to start the day on the right foot.
Best dish: The magic mango lassi and the healthy green coconut bowl
Café; Brunch
$$
Location: Goudsbloemstraat 91, 1015 JK Amsterdam
Times: Monday to Wednesday: closed, Thursday to Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00
Casual dress
This popular brunch hangout has also spawned a cocktail bar and a brunch boat – perhaps the best way to combat that hangover after a night out in Amsterdam!
Best dish: Benny Henny: poached eggs on crispy fried chicken, topped off with spinach and hollandaise sauce
Café
$
Location: Overtoom 95, 1054 HD Amsterdam
Times: Monday: closed, Tuesday to Friday: 8.30 - 17:00; Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 - 17:00
Causa dress
Koffie Academie imports coffee beans from all over the world and roasts them on site – the perfect spot for a morning caffeine hit
Best dish: The carrot cake
Brunch
American; Brunch
$$
Location: Jacob Van Lennepkade 215, 1054 ZP Amsterdam
Times: Closed: Tuesday; Wednesday to Monday 10:00 - 16:00; Thursday to Saturday 18:00 -23:30
Casual dress
A firm fixture on Amsterdam’s hipster scene, serving a fantastic all-day brunch in comfortable surroundings.
Best dish: The famous chicken and waffles, washed down with a Bloody Mary cocktail
New Zealand; Brazil; Bakery
$$
Location: Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54, 1072 BH Amsterdam
Times: Daily 8.30 - 16:00
Casual dress
A ‘Kiwi café with a touch of Brazil’ that combines a home-cooked vibe with the best of Brazilian street food.
Best dish: Navajo eggs with pulled pork, avocado and chipotle cream
Dutch; Café
$
Location: Prinsengracht 191, 1015 DS Amsterdam
Times: Daily 9:00 - 21:30
Casual dress
This Amsterdam institution serves Dutch pancakes in a 17th-century Dutch India Company canal house.
Best dish: The Indonesian pancake filled with chicken and mushrooms cooked in peanut sauce, on a bed of crispy onions and prawn crackers
Lunch
Café; Healthy
$$
Location: Daniël Stalpertstraat 61, 1072 XB Amsterdam
Times: Daily 9:00 - 17:00
Casual Dress
The avocado craze is taken to a new level at this concept restaurant, but the food here deserves to be taken seriously. Watch out – payment is by card only, and reservations are not accepted.
Best dish: The Wagyu Bun Burger – even the buns are made from avocado!
Restaurant; Northern European
$$$
Location: Roelof Hartplein 1-3, 1071 TR Amsterdam
Times: Daily 9:00 - 1:00 am
Snappy casual
This classy lunch spot is particularly well-located for the museum quarter and boasts superb architecture and lavish interiors, with a beautiful terrace.
Best dish: Try the award-winning shrimp croquettes
Japanese
$
Location: 148, Kerkstraat, 1017 GR Amsterdam
Times: Daily 11:00 - 20:00
Casual dress
The best place for authentic ramen in Amsterdam, reasonably priced and with a convivial atmosphere.
Best dish: The spicy Vatten ramen for chili-lovers; and the excellent gyoza should not be missed
Dinner
European; Organic
$$$
Location: Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE Amsterdam
Times: Sunday: closed; Monday to Friday: 12:00-14:00, 18:30-20:00; Saturday: only 18:30-30:00
Smart casual
This is an Amsterdam institution, located in a set of greenhouses, and supplied by the harvest of their nursery. One for a special occasion.
Best dish: The menu changes daily, but you can be sure of the freshest, quality produce.
Seafood
$$
Location: Gedempt Hamerkanaal 201, 1021 KP Amsterdam
Times: Daily 11:00 - 24:00
Smart casual
Probably Amsterdam’s best fish restaurant, Stork serves up sustainably sourced treats in their edgy restaurant on the waterfront.
Best dish: Splash out for oysters – they have a wide range of varieties
Chinese
$
Location: Zeedijk 111-113, 1012 AV Amsterdam
Times: Monday to Saturday 12:00 - 23:00; Sunday 12:00 - 20:00
Casual dress
This Chinese eatery in the heart of the Red Light District has earned a formidable reputation: authentic food, swift service, and great value for money.
Best dish: Oysters in black bean sauce
Other
Food Truck; Burgers
$
Location: Gerard Doustraat 98; Huygensstraat 35-37
Times: Sunday to Wednesday 12:00 - 20:00; Thursday to Saturday 12:00 - 23:00
Casual dress
This legendary food truck now has a number of pop up restaurants across the city – and check the website to find where the van will be next!
Best dish: Try the Dutch beef croquettes as a shared snack, plus the Peruvian beef thriller burger.
Mediterranean; Lebanese
$
Location: Reinier Claeszenstraat 4b, 1056 WJ Amsterdam
Times: Monday to Thursday 17:00 - 23:00; Friday & Saturday 15:00 - 1:00 am; Sunday 15:00 - 23:00
Casual dress
This late-night eatery does exactly what it says, serving falafel and beer to hungry customers in Amsterdam. The falafel is light, crisp and delicious, and is guaranteed to satisfy.
Best dish: Falafel and merguez sausage wrapped in a soft pitta bread, served with salad
Ice Cream; Gelato
$$
Location: Tweede Anjeliersdwarsstraat 17, 1015 NS Amsterdam
Times: Daily 13:00 - 20:00
Casual dress
Monte Pelmo have been serving delicious ice cream from their tiny store in the Jordaan since 1957, and they certainly have earned their reputation as the best ice cream in town. Don’t be dissuaded by the queue – service is very efficient.
Best dish: Make sure you try the strawberry cheesecake flavor.
Top things to See and Do
By far the best way to experience Amsterdam is from the water. Gliding along the city’s labyrinth of canals allows you to appreciate the unique architecture and charm of this beautiful city.
Main attractions: Pass through small, winding canals and back streets, as your guide tells little-known stories from Amsterdam’s past
Location: Most tours start near to the Central Station
Opening hours: Tours run year round, by a number of companies
Price: Average prices start from $25 per hour
Don’t forget to wrap up warm in winter – it can get cold on the water.
Amsterdam’s grandest art museum is a veritable treasure trove – the building itself is a Gothic and Renaissance masterpiece, and it houses countless works from the Dutch masters and art from around the world.
Main Attraction: Rembrandt’s masterpiece, The Night Watch
Location: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam
Opening hours: Daily 9:00 - 17:00
Price: Adults €17.50; Children (under 18) free
Over 1 million objects are housed in the museum, of which, only 8000 are on display.
One of Amsterdam’s most popular museums, the Anne Frank house is a monument to Anne Frank, her family, and the many Dutch Jews that perished in the Holocaust.
Main Attraction: Visiting the rooms where the Frank family lay in hiding, preserved with historical artifacts, photographs and objects from the period of Nazi occupation.
Location: Prinsengracht 263-267, 1016 GV Amsterdam
Opening hours: Daily 9:00-20:00; in winter the museum closes at 19:00
Price: Adult: €10; Child: €5
Tickets must be pre-booked on the museum website, and are valid only for a specific time slot. Book early to avoid disappointment – tickets tend to sell out extremely quickly.
For those seeking a breath of fresh air, the vast Vondelpark offers a respite from the narrow city streets of Amsterdam. It is the largest city park in the city and welcomes 10 million visitors each year. As with most places in Amsterdam, it is best experienced by bike.
Main Attraction: Watch out for free open-air concerts in summer and the historic Pavilion.
Location: Vondelstraat
Opening hours: daily 24/7
Price: Free
Many visitors arrive in Amsterdam simply to see the renowned Van Gogh museum, the world’s largest collection devoted to the artist Vincent Van Gogh. It forms part of the ‘holy trinity’ of Amsterdam museums, and is located close to the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk museum.
Main attraction: See some of Van Gogh’s most famous works, including Sunflowers, and Self Portrait as a Painter.
Location: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 9:00-19:00; Friday & Saturday, 9:00-21:00
Price: Adult: €18; Child (under 18): free
Shopping and Snacking in De Hallen
De Hallen is a new, up-and-coming center for shopping, food and entertainment, consisting of a restored cinema, a food hall crammed with various types of street food, and a number of boutique stops for those seeking unusual and creative gifts. Head to De Hallen in December for unique Christmas gifts and a relaxed shopping experience.
Main attraction: Don’t miss the weekly indoor craft market
Location: Hannie Dankbaarpassage 47
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 7:00-1:00 am; Friday & Saturday, 7:00-3:00 am
Price: Free
De Hallen is housed in a former tram depot, and it now contains a cinema, library, hotel, food hall, shopping center and local market.
The Stedelijk is Amsterdam’s principal museum of modern and contemporary art, and is home to around 90,000 important pieces. The museum takes visitors through the development of modern art throughout the 20th century, featuring works by Cézanne, Kandinsky, Koons, Matisse, Picasso and Pollock.
Main Attraction: The visiting exhibitions have a formidable reputation, and it’s worth making repeat visits to catch shows focusing on different artists.
Location: Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Opening hours: Daily 10:00 - 18:00 (Friday open until 20:00)
Price: Adult: €18.50; Child (under 18) and Concessions: free
Take a break after viewing the galleries in the excellent museum restaurant and café.
Nestled in the heart of the Red Light District lies the medieval church of St Nicholas. It is Amsterdam’s oldest building and oldest church and consequently bears little resemblance to the majority of Dutch churches, having characteristically Catholic design features such as high windows and a sculpted choir.
Main Attraction: Each hand-carved stall in the choir contains a different proverb, often cautioning worshippers against the evils of alcohol and immoral behavior.
Location: Oudekerksplein 23, 1012 GX Amsterdam
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00; Sunday 13:00-17:30
Price: Adult: €10; Child (under 18): free; Concessions: €5
Festivals/Parades
Each year, on the 27th of April, the Dutch celebrate a national holiday in honor of their monarch, and celebrations in Amsterdam are the wildest in the city. Open-air street parties take over the city as visitors and tourists alike join to celebrate the Dutch national day.
Main Attraction: The street parties, music and markets that spring up across the city
Location: Various locations across the city
Date: April 27
Price: Many free events across the city
Don’t forget to wear orange (the Dutch national color) and take the opportunity to spend some money – it’s the only day of the year when transactions are not taxed!
In June the city is taken over by a month-long arts festival focused on music, theatre, dance and contemporary performance arts.
Main attraction: the festival is particularly well known for contemporary dance and ballet events.
Location: Various locations across the city
Date: Most of June
Price: Tickets usually start at around €10, with some free events
Nightlife
Amsterdam’s nightclub scene is world renowned, and Sugarfactory is one of its best-known and popular venues. Doubling up as a theatre, Sugarfactory has a laid-back atmosphere and is housed in a former sugar factory!
Main Attraction: The Sunday night club night, Wicked Jazz Sounds, is legendary
Location: Lijnbaansgracht 238, 1017 PH Amsterdam
Opening hours: daily 23:30 - 5:00 am
Price: €9.50
Watch out for new up-and-coming artists here – the bill often includes new international talent.
If you’re looking for a stylish venue where you can sip on a cocktail while listening to live music or poetry, then Labyrinth is the place to be. Located right next to Vondelpark, Labyrinth is a perfect place for a relaxed night out.
Main Attraction: The brilliant open-mic night every Monday attracts an eclectic crowd and talented local artists
Location: Amstelveenseweg 53, 1075 VT Amsterdam
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 16:00-24:00; Friday & Saturday 15:00-2:00am; Sunday 15:00-24:00.
Price: Cocktails start at €11
Maloe Melo is another Amsterdam landmark – a cool blues café that plays live music late into the night, it’s the perfect place to head to for post-dinner entertainment.
Main Attraction: The grizzled faces of many of Amsterdam’s local music legends – Maloe Melo has a long pedigree when it comes to the underground jazz and blues scene.
Location: Lijnbaansgracht 163, 1016 VX Amsterdam
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 21:00-3:00am; Friday & Saturday 21:00-4:00am
Price: fairly cheap
Hidden Gems
Jacob Hooy opened his first herbal and medicine store in 1743, and this 18th century shop has been in business ever since. Now a health food and herbalist store, this impressive shop is perfectly atmospheric and will evoke an Amsterdam of times past.
Main attraction: the perfectly preserved 18th century store interior – worth a visit in its own right!
Location: Kloveniersburgwal 12, 1012 CT Amsterdam
Opening hours: Daily 10:00-18:00; Monday opens at 13:00; Sunday closes at 17:00
Make sure to notice the old fashioned apothecary shelves, boxes and barrels!
Amsterdam’s worst-kept secret is a bakery devoted entirely to chocolate cookies. But these are no ordinary cookies – warm, melting and delicious, they keep tourists and locals alike flooding back to Van Stapele time and time again.
Main attraction: It’s all about the cookies.
Location: Heisteeg 4, 1012 WC Amsterdam
Opening hours: Daily 10:00-18:00
Price: $
Call ahead to reserve cookies if you’re planning on going late in the day – they often sell out due to their immense popularity!
This eccentric little museum houses a wonderful range of small automatic pianos and is a fascinating change from the larger, more imposing Amsterdam museums.
Main attraction: Check out the original pieces of music composed by Stravinsky specially for the pianola.
Location: Westerstraat 106, 1015 MN Amsterdam
Opening hours: Friday to Sunday 11:00-17:00
Price: Adult €5; Child €3
