Amsterdam, Netherlands

I visited Amsterdam the first time when I was 17 on my high school choir's European Tour. I remember loving the canals, but we only got to spend one day in the city & we were on a strict itinerary. Fast forward to 16 years later & I finally made my way back! Amsterdam is a truly magical place. It is filled with so much scenic beauty, amazingly friendly people, & so much to do! If I made a list of my favorite cities in the world, Amsterdam would definitely be in the top 10. The following are my suggestions & tips on what to see, where to stay, & how to get there.

The Canals

You can't say Amsterdam without thinking of the canals. Amsterdam is made up of over 100 kilometers of canals, but the three main canals are Herengracht (Patricians' Canal or Lords' Canal), Keizersgracht (Emperor's Canal), & Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal). These three canals make up the main tourist area of Amsterdam or what I call the "downtown of Amsterdam." Along these canals you can visit many of the city's "must see" sights (including the Anne Frank House), dine al fresco, & shop til you drop at The 9 Streets! You will also see SO MANY boathouses!

Museumplein (Museum Square)

If you venture south from the main canals, you will find Museumplein (aka Museum Square). Here you will find Amsterdam's three major museums: the Rijksmuseum (National Museum), Van Gogh Museum, & Stedelijk Museum. You will also find the very Instagram-worthy "I amsterdam" sign directly behind the Rijksmuseum. You could easily spend an entire day in this part of Amsterdam exploring all three museums. However, if you're on a time crunch or you're like me & get bored quickly in museums, it is still worth the visit for the scenery alone. Not only is there plenty of architectural beauty to be had among the three museums, but if you continue through the tunnel connecting the Rijksmuseum, & past the "I amsterdam" sign, you will find yourself in Vondelpark. This park is one of Amsterdam's largest parks & is filled with ponds, fountains, walking paths, & plenty of open space to relax (think NYC's Central Park). If you're lucky enough to be in Amsterdam on a day filled with sunshine, you will most likely find locals soaking up the sun & enjoying all the park has to offer.

Heineken Experience

In every city you visit, there is bound to be one "tourist trap" or something aimed at making money off tourists. Often times locals will advise you to steer clear & experience the "real" city. While I generally agree it is important to explore, there are certain things that we, as tourists, just should do! The Heineken Experience is definitely one of these things. Even if you are not a huge beer drinker (or drinker at all), it is a very fun experience. Not only do you get a history lesson on the brand, get a demo on how the beer is made, & get to see real horses, there are a ton of interactive activities along the tour as well. From a selfie booth, to a virtual reality "pour the perfect pint" game, to kicking a goal in the sports room, to creating your own customized bottle, there is plenty to do & see at the experience. I can't recommend this enough! Also, it is indoors, so great for days when the weather isn't ideal.

***Tip: Buy your tickets online ahead of time to avoid the lines!

Canal Cruise

As stated above, you can't come to Amsterdam without taking in all the beauty of its canals. And what better way to do that than IN the canals?! Whether you do a quick search online before your trip or you walk into a travel agency/tourism shop once you arrive, there are a multitude of options for cruising the canal. You can partake in a standard one hour cruise, enjoy a dinner cruise at sunset, or if you're feeling adventurous you can rent your own boat! On my most recent visit, I took a one hour guided cruise shortly before sunset with Lovers Canal Cruises. I enjoy guided tours because you get to learn a lot of history and fun facts while taking in the scenery. Plus, with the timing just right you get daylight & dusk! I definitely recommend seeing the city via the canals.

Our tour guide informed us these are the "drunk houses" since the foundations have cause them all to change angles & heights!

Bicycles

Second to canals, when most people think of Amsterdam they think of bicycles. The Dutch LOVE their bicycles! So much so that there are far more bikes in the city than there are cars. If you want to really feel like a local, you can rent a bike for a few hours, the day, or your whole stay. Riding a bike throughout the city is a great way to get around. Given the age of the city & the geographical makeup, driving is not exactly ideal. The roads along the canals are very narrow for vehicles & parking isn't the easiest to find. It really is the perfect city for transport via bike. I mean, what other city has parking garages for bicycles?! Love the green factor as well. The amount of good this city (and country) has done for the environment is very admirable!

How To Get There

From the US: Some of the best deals out there right now are Wow Airlines & Aer Lingus . You can get a round trip flight to Amsterdam from several locations in the US including Baltimore/DC, Newark, Pittsburgh, & Boston. The flights connect in Reykjavik, Iceland & Dublin, Ireland, respectively, & cost under $600 (including baggage fees). In comparison, flights on major US carriers like United & American Airlines are $200+ more. Just be mindful if you fly Wow Airlines that food/beverages & entertainment on board are an added expense.

Within Europe: Depending on where you are in Europe prior to heading to Amsterdam, there are several low cost options. Flights are quite cheap with airlines such as easyJet & Ryanair (as always be sure to add in the baggage charges). I've flown both of these & have had no issues. If you prefer train travel, Eurostar & Rail Europe offer many convenient options.

Where To Stay

Location, location, location! If you're going to be in Amsterdam, I think staying on a canal is a must. What better view to wake up to than the canal? You can accomplish this in one of two ways: a hotel or Airbnb. There are tons of Airbnb options for those that like to feel like a local when in another city. If you want a hotel without the splurge, I would suggest the Armada Hotel. I stayed here recently & not only was the price great, the location was perfect. Be sure to pick the canal view room & you can look at this view:

(Gotta love the Snapchat geofilters!) I was in a corner room & I loved waking up to this every morning! One thing to note though (for us annoying Americans), the hotel has NO air conditioning in the rooms. If you happen to be in Amsterdam when it is warm, this can be a bit unpleasant. However, if the weather is anything but hot, this hotel is a perfect pick!

Tips

Getting to/from the airport and/or train station: Amsterdam has a great public transport system, so it is very easy to get into the city from Schiphol Airport (if arriving by plane) or Central Station (if arriving by train). From the airport, you can take a train to Central Station. There are kiosks in the airport where you can specify the station as your destination & a paper ticket will print out. Once you get to Central Station, there are several trams that will take you throughout the city. If you stay at the Armada Hotel, a tram will drop you off right out front! When traveling by tram, you have to have a chip card (OV-Chipkaart) which you can purchase at the kiosks in Central Station. When you board AND when you get off the tram, just tap your card on the reader & you're good to go!

Food: When in Rome, right? Well in Amsterdam, you have to have a Dutch pancake! It is the size of a small pizza, but super thin. I would say it's like a cross between a regular pancake & a crêpe. There are so many topping choices, but the classic is powdered sugar & butter. Trust me, go with the classic! OMG is it good!

Drink: Obviously, if you're going to have a beer you should have a Heineken. However, for those not-so-savvy beer drinkers like me or those who want something a little sweeter, let me suggest Wieckse Rose Beer. It was SO GOOD! I've searched everywhere back home & can't find it. If any of you know where I can get this in the States, please let me know!

Avoiding the Crowds: The "I amsterdam" sign is a VERY popular sight in Amsterdam. Instagram alone has thousands of posts with people standing by the sign. There are two permanent signs (at the airport & in Museum Square) which have people hanging all over the letters, sitting on top, etc. (aka, you're not getting a good pic). Here's the insider tip you will thank me for later: There are "traveling signs" that move around the city. Google where those are when you get there & find the one AWAY from the crowds! I happened to come across one at the Rai Convention Center on my way to the airport on my last day & boy was I happy. Just look at the difference:

So. Much. Better.

Goede reise!