Amsterdam is truly one of the most surprising cities—in the best possible way. Even if you haven’t been there before, you’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard the hype about the coffee shops (read: legal weed and mushrooms) and the red light district (read: legal prostitution and sex shows). And yes, that’s all technically true. But Amsterdam is so much more than the sum of its parts. It is truly one of the most charming and picturesque cities I’ve ever visited. The city is literally pristine and packed to the brim with charm (which is so not what I expected). Not to mention, the Dutch are some of the nicest people on the planet.
It’s a fact: in my travel “Book of Bests,” Amsterdam definitely tops the list as one of the happiest places on earth. Read on to find out why.
Pro Tips
Hoofing it
Amsterdam is one of the most walkable cities in the world. And trust me, you’re going to want to go by foot to soak in every inch of the culture so bring comfy shoes (leave the heels at home). From floating houses to crooked houses and secret gardens, there are a million and one hidden treasures that you’d probably otherwise miss if not on foot. And most everything in the city is at most a mere 30 minute walk away.
Amsterdam is also super easy to navigate if you remember a few key layout rules:
The horseshoe
Amsterdam’s city center is wrapped around its famous horseshoe-shaped canals. Just remember that the Central Station is the northernmost landmark and street names often change when you cross the water.
East to West
Another trick to remember is that the first part of the horseshoe canal system to be built was the western part. That means that lower numbered addresses are westwards and higher numbered addresses are eastwards. Easy, right?
Alphabetic street names
Yes, really. All the city street names are sequenced in alphabetical order from the inner ring (nearest the central station) to the outer ring. Every street name ends in “gracht,” which translates into English as “canal,” and a lot of streets look the same, so this is a super useful tool.
If all else fails
Leave it to the Dutch to think of everything. They created a super handy door-to-door public transit app called 9292. Punch in an address or postal code and the app will calculate walking distance, public transport directions, and guide you step by step.
Keep your head on a swivel
No, I’m not talking about the crime rate (in fact, Amsterdam is one of the safest cities in the world!), but be sure to look around before crossing the street. Locals use bikes as their primary mode of transportation, and they come flying in all directions! Like mama always said, “Look both ways, honey!”
Silence is golden
One of the first things I noticed about Amsterdam is that it is eerily quiet. And trust me… loud, boisterous Americans stick out like a sore thumb. And while the Dutch are super quirky in humor (more on that later), there is seriously barely a murmur whether you’re at the most popular restaurant or the busiest park. So keep your voice low unless you want to scream “tourist.”
Money matters
When it comes to buying things in Amsterdam, make sure you have cash on you. A lot of machines don’t have chip readers, which can be problematic for some cards. Oh, and keep in mind that Dutch people don’t ever tip at restaurants or cafes. At nicer restaurants you can tip 5-10% if the service is stellar, but it’s not an expectation.
Where to Stay
Forget the hostels you heard about in college, Amsterdam is a place you want to splurge on a hotel if it’s within your means. One factor to consider is that Amsterdam is a super diverse city, so be sure to do a little research and pick a hotel in a neighborhood that suits your taste. Here are a few of my faves:
What to Do
You could get lost (both physically and literally) just walking the streets of Amsterdam all day. But I always find it helpful to go in with an itinerary, especially when visiting a new city. Sometimes you’ve just gotta be a tourist… so here’s my list of not-to-be-missed Amsterdam attractions:
Get out there
The Dutch are a super quirky bunch, even though they come across as a little reserved at first glance. They basically specialize in off-the-cuff experiences that are a little out there, and you’ll undoubtedly encounter a few. If you have some extra hours to spare, check out the Pancake Boat, a 75-minute tour of the docklands and harbors with (obvi) unlimited pancakes. For all my feline-loving fans out there, you’ll want to hit up De Poezenboot (the “cat boat”), a floating cat sanctuary that’s been keeping paws dry since 1968.
Where to Eat
Ok, I’ll admit it. Amsterdam doesn’t top my globe-trotting list as the best food ever. But it’s really not as bland and tasteless as some might say. In fact, I’ve had some incredibly delicious meals here. And the best part is that it’s all generally pretty light fare so you can skip the food coma and soak in the city. Not to mention, it leaves more room for all the delicious snacks and sweet bites the city has to offer (which I kind of think are the very best part... But more on that later). Here are some of my favorite spots:
Snacks (and other light bites)
While it’s definitely worth it to splurge on a few top-tier culinary experiences while in Amsterdam, you absolutely cannot overlook the amazing snacks, sweets, and super casual options. Amsterdam is a city where grazing is encouraged, so leave room for spontaneity. Here are a few of my favorite places to grab a quick bite:
Other snack items to try:
• Bitterballen (Dutch meatballs)
• Friet Speciaal (Dutch French fries)
• Tompouce (a Neopolitan-esque pastry… Hema has the BEST!)
The “other side” of Amsterdam
Outside of the Red Light district, most places in Amsterdam aren’t open crazy late (typical time is midnight or 1:00 AM). So you probably won’t be partying until the wee hours, and “clubs” aren’t really a thing here.
However, some of Amsterdam’s “other” activities are a great way to spend an evening, if you’re over 18 (and so inclined)...
Cannabis is undoubtedly part of the Amsterdam tourist culture, and if you’re over 18, you’re more than likely going to want to see what all the fuss is about. Here are some tips on how to be smart about enjoying your (legal!) high.
You’ll get way more than a caffeine buzz at Amsterdam’s coffee shops. It’s hard to walk a block without seeing at least one (there are over 200 within city limits). In addition to pre-rolled spliffs (which by the way, contain tobacco), they also have a wide assortment of edibles. Here are a few of the classier coffee shops that I think are worth a visit:
Insider tip: In addition to coffee shops, you’ll also come across places called “smart shops.” These places sell some of the safest psilocybin dosing (hallucinogenic mushrooms). Since their “truffles” are younger processed mushrooms, not the fully grown raw variety, their dosing is more precise. It’s generally a good idea to avoid drinking earlier in the day before trying them.