Travel to Amsterdam

About Amsterdam

Travelers in the Netherlands can experience Amsterdam's 17th-century architecture and houseboats floating along numerous canals as they use one of the ubiquitous bike paths to travel through the Dutch capital. Art lovers will delight in the Rijksmuseum and Vincent van Gogh Museum, while a year round party scene will be sure to fascinate those looking for a good time. Travelers looking to escape the business of London and Paris will be delighted to experience Amsterdam's relaxed and accessible atmosphere!

Quick Guide to Amsterdam

• Must Know: Cycling is the most popular way to travel around Amsterdam. The city is quite flat and filled with over 400 kilometers of bike paths. Consider renting a bike while you’re in Amsterdam to travel like a local!
• Must See For those interested in Amsterdam’s history and culture, the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum cannot be missed. Those feeling more adventurous should visit the oldest area in Amsterdam - the world famous Red Light District.
• Must Do
• Visit one of Amsterdam’s world-famous coffee shops or take a cruise in a glass-roofed boat on one of the city’s the 160+ Golden Age canals.
• Must Eat Tuck into the nation's favourite treat, Stroopwafels!
• Did You KnowThere are a total of 165 canals in Amsterdam.

Top Experiences in Amsterdan

A Twilight Boat Ride on the Canal

There are many benefits to taking a trip on Amsterdam’s famous canals in the evening, the first being that they tend to be less busy. Secondly, sailing through the romantic canals of Amsterdam under the moonlight is a much more beautiful experience than whizzing through the city at rush hour.

Flower Market

Have you ever dreamt of seeing tulips in every color? Well you’re in luck. Meandering through Amsterdam’s famous Bloemenmarkt (flower market) is a visually spectacular experience. Indulge in the sights and sounds of this bustling part of town, flowers in one hand, a stroopwafel in the other.

Van Gogh Museum

Post-Impressionism lovers rejoice! The Van Gogh Museum is stocked full of the painter's most well-known pieces including ‘The Potato-Eaters’, ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘The Bedroom’. This collection also boasts pieces by Gauguin, Monet and Degas, perfect for a rainy-day in the capital of the Netherlands!

Best Time to Visit Amsterdam

With its huge system of canals and waterways, world-famous museums, historical sights, and friendly people, exploring Amsterdam at any time of the year is wonderful. The ideal time for visiting Amsterdam, however, is in the more pleasant months of July, August, and September. During these months, the weather is mild and not too warm to roam around the city, drenched in sweat. It is a perfect time for sightseeing and touring around the city. This is also the season when the city opens itself up to travelers in greater numbers as the parks, beaches, and restaurants are filled with relaxing vacationers. It's an excellent time for long bike rides, and the festival season is in full gear. Here you will enjoy an endless parade of festivals and delightful concerts on canal stages. Spring is also a popular time to visit Amsterdam, mainly because the city becomes a veritable blanket of tulips. These can be seen in dedicated tulip centers, as well as out in the wild in Amsterdam's lush parks, which can be the ideal place to spend a sunny afternoon. Even during the off season (November to mid-December and mid-January to February), Amsterdam isn't short of things to enjoy.

Eating in Amsterdam

From savory to sweet delicacies, Amsterdam offers a variety of mouthwatering culinary options to the hungry traveler. There are endless opportunities for indulging in both ubiquitous Dutch delights and multicultural cuisines. The Dutch have a fascinating culinary culture. As you travel through Amsterdam, expect to find traditional Dutch food alongside different cuisines such as Japan's sushi or Spain's paella. As you explore Amsterdam city, take your taste buds on a gastronomical tour. To truly embrace the local cuisine, nothing beats a traditional Dutch restaurant where visitors can indulge in conventional Dutch food such as Krokets, Rijsttafel, Bitterballen, and Oliebollon. A beloved local delicacy in Amsterdam is the 'Hollandse Nieuwe' (New Dutch herring). This delicacy features raw herring served with raw gherkins and chopped onions. Whether you are a die-hard vegan, a meat-loving foodie or a vegetarian, Amsterdam restaurants will cater to your needs. Meat lovers can look forward to Persian chicken and the Dutch grilled meats served in modern restaurants. If you fancy vegan pastry, be sure to enjoy muffins or coconut macaroons in any Thai, Italian, or Indian restaurants strewn across the city.

Walking Around in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is famous for its vibrant nightlife and cultural diversity, though this magnificent city has a lot more to offer. With canals giving way to quaint cobbled street paths, it's hard not to appreciate travelers' fascination with this city. To immerse yourself in Amsterdam's culture, you need to take a stroll through the city center. Amsterdam's historic city center is large and well preserved. Traversing this city center will allow you to take it in and appreciate its beautiful sights. As you walk through the center of the city, look out for its attractions, such as the bustling Dam Square, the iconic Westerkerk, Begijnhof, and the infamous Red Light District - or simply stroll along the city's many canals. These canals form a unique semi-circle around the city square, and are crossed by several bridges and streets. These historic canals also offer different ways to explore Amsterdam. You can hop onto a canal boat and enjoy the view of the city like never before. Later, head downtown, where you can stop at a local restaurant and indulge in some Dutch delicacies.

Public Transport in Amsterdam

Amsterdam boasts an extensive public transport network, which is run by the GVB Company. It includes buses, metros, trams, trains and ferries to help you get around the capital. Trams are the ideal means of transport for visitors, since they are relatively cheap and provide an interesting way to tour the city. There are 18 different tram lines, which run daily from 6:00 a.m. until 12:15 a.m., and nearly all of Amsterdam's main attractions and museums have a tram stop right outside. However, you need a public transport chip card or a valid ticket from GVB to be able to travel with the tram. Amsterdam buses are also efficient in reaching the nearby attractions of the city. Night buses are also available and start operating at midnight after the trams have stopped running. Just ensure you have the public transport chip, as you cannot purchase a ticket on the bus with cash. The metro system in Amsterdam can also take you quickly through the city. It has four lines of service, which you can board at either Central station, Amstel station or Sloterdijk station. There are also multiple ferries in the city that provide fast and easy transport to, and from, various points in the city.

Coffee Places in Amsterdam

The Netherlands is one of Europe's biggest coffee hubs, and Amsterdam is a testament to this. Lining its beautiful waterfront streets and on every corner of this cosmopolitan city are coffee shops unlike any you'll find elsewhere on the continent. With a robust coffee culture, this city has some of the best craft and specialty coffees the world has to offer. On that list of best coffee places in Amsterdam, The Coffeevine Bar is on a league of its own. Here, each cup of coffee is slowly brewed by devoted baristas, using a filter-equipped apparatus such as an AeroPress, a Clever, or a V60. There is no espresso machine in sight, and the coffee shop masterfully makes filter-only coffees all day long. Another beautiful coffee shop in Amsterdam is Hutspot, featuring beautiful design features that will have you snapping pictures throughout your visit. With a North African influenced interior design, it is the perfect place to sip a latte macchiato on a calm day. Black Gold, on the other hand, serves specialty high-quality coffee and a dose of inspirational music to boot. The coffee and vinyl shop also sells coffee making equipment and features small in-store art exhibits and concerts, complete with a DJ.