Amsterdam is an attractive, tourist friendly destination. In part, Amsterdam’s popularity comes from a centrally located airport that provides easy air and train connections to other major European cities. Equally important, Amsterdam is a haven for good food, good fun and a cultural environment that attracts younger travelers from all over the world. This is a city with an edge to it. It mixes the old with the new, Calvinism with the sexual revolution, conservatism with laissez-faire and yet it retains a practicality that is the hallmark of Dutch society.
For most visitors Amsterdam is their only stop in the Netherlands as they continue on to Paris or Copenhagen without a look at the rest of this interesting country. Many "through" travelers take the opportunity to visit Amsterdam because of its festive atmosphere (it is one of the few towns in Europe where hotel prices are higher on the weekends than during the week). The town is full of good nightclubs, excellent beer, and if you have a desire to use marijuana, you can do it legally. If so inclined, buy your weed in a "coffee shop", as they are licensed for the transactions and are reputed to have good quality product.
Amsterdam has numerous tourist attractions and attempting to see all of them all could while away your time and money. Most of the attractions are of minor importance and some are uninteresting. Others are tacky, unusual (like the Sex Museum and the Erotic Museum (think Red Light District)), or extremely touristy. However none of this seems to keeps the crowds from visiting. In our recounting of the best places to visit in Amsterdam, we focus on just seven of the city’s many attractions including two that are “must sees” - the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum!
If you want to see Amsterdam, but just have a few hours between flights, take the train from the Airport to the Centraal Train Station where you can catch a taxi to the Van Gogh Museum. From there, walk back to the Masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum. Next hop a taxi to the Anne Frank Huis. You will end your day close to the Centraal Station where you can catch the train back to Schiphol. If you have some more time, take a canal cruise or wander to the Dam and then through the Red Light District to catch some of the local color on your way to the Centraal Station. You won't see all of the city, but you will see some of its treasures. (Look below for descriptions of these attractions).
Unfortunately, several of the city's top attractions are undergoing renovations during 2009. Always check locally for the most up-to-date information. We provide the address of the official websites of all the major attractions to help you keep current.
If you are not in a rush to get to some other place in Europe, Amsterdam is best seen by walking, riding the streetcars and the occasional use of a canal boat. A leisurely stroll reveals more about the heart and soul of this city than you can experience any other way. If you are short on time, take public transportation.
We have created a new street map of Amsterdam showing the locations of the Best Places to visit in Amsterdam. It is based on Google Maps and can be viewed as a map, satellite image or a hybrid of the two. Click the "hybrid button" on the map, select the Dam, zoom in close and you can see images of people milling around.
Stop in the transport ticket office next to the Information Center (just across from the Centraal Train Station) and buy a Nationale Strippenkaart with 15 strips/tickets for approximately six and a half Euros. You can also buy a Strippenkaart from the bus or tram driver, at a slightly greater expense. See this official site for more information on the Strip ticket. (GVB is the public transport company of Amsterdam.)
* Each strip of the Strippenkaart represents a zone in the transportation system. Each journey costs a base strip and an additional strip for each zone you will travel.
o Have the strips validated on the streetcar or bus, either by the conductor (just tell them where you are going) or use one of the yellow colored ticket validating machines.
o If you use the self-validating option, there will be a map posted in the vehicle that will show you destinations by zone, allowing you determine the appropriate number of strips. Add the number of strips to one base strip and fold the ticket for validation at that number of strips below the last validation (it's easier to let the conductor help you with this task).
* Most of tourist Amsterdam is found in one zone (ticket validations last one hour) which would require two strips (the zone and the base strip).
* The Strippenkaart is usually the most economical way to travel in the city and the tickets can be used on buses or trams throughout the country, if you do not use them up touring Amsterdam.
Amsterdam has a number of good restaurants.
* If you like steak, try one of the many Argentinean steak houses (steak in pepper sauce is a popular entree).
* One of the Amsterdamers' favorite cuisines is the Indonesian Ristafel (rice table) and a number of fantastic Indonesian restaurants can be found in the city.
* If you have a taste for Falafel, Amsterdam has some of the best this side of the Middle East. We recommend the Maoz shops. They are small and crowded, but worth the wait.
There is no shortage of hotels in Amsterdam. Pricing can be higher on weekends.
* Major hotels are clustered around the Dam, the Centraal Train Station and the Museumplein. Smaller independent hotels can be found along many of the city's canals.
When you tire of the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, you might want to take a walk in the Vondelpark at the edge of the tourist area of the city.
Finally, bring or buy an Umbrella; rain seems to be common in Amsterdam regardless of the season.
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