Amsterdam Travel Guide

Amsterdam has always been an appealing destination for travelers looking for a cultural city break, a shopping trip, a last minute weekend break or a fun party destination. Amsterdam is known for many things, such as it’s freedom, tolerance, canals, biking, tulips, windmills, culture, art and painters. It’s unique vibe with wobbly houses and endless canals make Amsterdam one of the most charming world cities to visit. The city has inspired the design and policies of many cities and countries across the globe, but none have ever managed to recreate the charm and atmosphere of Amsterdam.

In this Meet The Cities travel guide we will give you a digital tour through Amsterdam so you can prepare for your city trip. This travel guide is divided in several sections where practical travel tips and trip advice are given. And you will be shown what the best places to visit are.

Travel and stay

When you are looking for the best hotels to stay at during your city break then the hotel page has you covered. On this page you will find the best hotels in Amsterdam for travelers on a budget who are looking for cheap hotels as well as the best hotels for travelers looking for a luxury experience in a five star hotel. All hotels are hand picked and categorized by star rating based on first hand positive reviews, insider knowledge, proper service and a good location near the airport, convention centre, or city centre of Amsterdam.

If you wonder how to get from Schiphol airport to the city center of Amsterdam then you should check out the Schiphol airport page. The airport is well connected to the city center of Amsterdam as well as Amsterdam Central Station, but there are several options to choose from. After reading this page you will be well prepared for your journey when you arrive at the airport.

If you are wondering how to get around within the city of Amsterdam then you should visit the public transport page. On this page the payment system of the public transport in Amsterdam is explained. You can also find links to websites where you can plan your trips, for example to museums, the airport and your hotel. And it also explained when to use which method of transportation to quickly arrive at your destination.

Activities

Ever since the Dutch golden age Amsterdam has been a hub for creative minds. Works of master painters like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Escher and Vermeer and historical paintings like the Nightwatch can be found among the impressive collections of top museums in Amsterdam. If you wish to know which museums you must visit during your city trip then you can find a list of the best museums in Amsterdam on the Museums page.

If you are looking for some action during your vacation in Amsterdam then check out the attractions page. Here you can find the top tourist attractions, interesting activities and its location on the map of Amsterdam. You can go taste some cheeses, visit the zoo with the whole family or take a sightseeing tour throughout the city. There are always fun things to do in Amsterdam.

If you desire a change of pace then you can visit one of the many parks of Amsterdam. During the summer the parks of Amsterdam are filled with people who enjoy a picnic in the sun. Especially the Vondelpark is a popular destination for locals, conveniently located next to the cultural and nightlife centers of Amsterdam. If you wish to find out which parks Amsterdam is home to then go to the Parks page.

Food and restaurants

The food and restaurants page shows the best places to go out to dinner in Amsterdam. When you are on a city trip with the family you might want to visit one of the famous Dutch pancake restaurants. If you prefer to keep it healthy, exotic and Asian you can get a nice traditional meal with a diverse array of dishes at an Indonesian restaurant. And when you are with a business partner you might want to visit a top restaurant with at least one Michelin star. We have conveniently listed the best restaurants of Amsterdam for you to enjoy.

The street food page discusses the many local Dutch delicacies. All the snacks and tasty bits to fill your belly with can be found here. So if you are looking to taste the Dutch local flavours in Amsterdam then this page is for you. Bon appetit!

Music and nightlife

It’s a public secret that Amsterdam is one of the favourite destinations of British, German, French and Italian travelers for a party holiday. The nightlife of Amsterdam is unmatched and quite notorious in Europe. Fans of classical music, dance parties, indie music and backpackers alike who want to chill out and have a good time will feel right at home in the nightlife of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam has lots of bars and cafe’s. On the cafes and bars page you will find rooftop bars where you can drink a nice cup of tea while overlooking the city. But you will also find bars where you can settle down at night for a nice cocktail. Drinking beer is very much part of the Amsterdam culture, so you might also want enjoy the vibe at a cozy brown café and enjoy some local beers.

The Netherlands is home to many DJ’s, such as Armin van Buuren, Hardwell and others. This has ensured Amsterdam has a vibrant nightlife with lots of nightclubs that come alive deep when the rest of the world is going to sleep. On the discos and clubs page you can find the biggest nightclubs of Amsterdam where all the action takes place.

Some of the most visited music and concert halls in the world are located in Amsterdam. It has an impressive opera hall where the classics of music are performed to everyone’s delight. The city also has both big and intimate stages where popular artists are frequent visitors during their European tours. The concert page offers options for people looking for a night filled with music and entertainment.

Shopping

Amsterdam is a popular shopping destination for tourists from across Europe. Amsterdam has long shopping streets that go from the Central Station, past the inner canal rings all the way to Museum Square and beyond. If you go in a straight line following connected streets you can spend entire days shopping without ever reaching the end. Of course it can be interesting to stray from the path and check out other shopping districts for luxury fashion or boutique stores. On the fashion shopping page you will find the most important shopping streets of Amsterdam.

The city

On the history page the story of Amsterdam is told. It tells the story of how Amsterdam has been a liberal haven for many centuries. Here you can find how Amsterdam grew from a small village, to the cultural capital and richest city in the world, to the world city it is today. Also interesting to understand is its relationship with the history of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, New York.

On the practical information page you will find information about the weather in Amsterdam, it’s tipping culture, the opening hours, the service numbers and more. For example, if you wish to stay some days in Amsterdam during Kingsday then you will find the date here. It is convenient to read this practical tourist information when preparing for your holiday or business trip to Amsterdam.