If you haven’t travelled to Amsterdam yet, buy a plane ticket now! Amsterdam exceeded my expectations and I didn’t want to leave. The city’s vibe, atmosphere, and people make it one memorable city. 

Things to do 

Canal Boat Cruise

I highly recommend that one of the first things you do when getting to Amsterdam is a canal cruise. It is a great way to see the city and all of its beautiful bridges and canals. We booked a canal cruise through Boat Amsterdam that had “all drinks included” which was great because we got unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks for the 70 minute cruise! Our guide was great and was very knowledgeable about the city. I also recommend booking an early boat cruise. We got lucky and had the whole boat to ourselves, plus the city is less crowded earlier in the morning which makes for better views! 

Heineken Experience

Go explore the original Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam. The Heineken Experience is very interactive as you learn about the beginnings of Heineken. Plus you get 2 free drinks that are ‘Dam good! 🙂  

Red Light District

When we all think Amsterdam we all think about its openness and legality of weed and prostitution. And I know this activity won’t be for everyone, but if you are interested in Amsterdam’s Red Light District you have to make a trip there during the day and then again at night. The district completely transforms to a lively street of people drinking, hanging out along the canal, going to sex shows, and prostitutes standing in their windows. While in the Red Light District you have to visit the Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution and learn about the legal prostitution that goes on in Amsterdam. It is actually very informative and interesting. It definitely changed my views on the business.   

Anne Frank House

 Go visit the actual house that Anne Frank had to hide in during WWII to escape the Nazis and where she wrote her world famous diary. Be sure to buy your tickets for the Anne Frank House in advance. 

Walk the Canals

Just walking along the canals is an amazing sight. There are flowers and bicycles lining the canals. The canals are filled with houseboats. I learned it is actually very expensive to have a houseboat on the canals and there is limited amount of spots. Looks like I won’t be having a houseboat in Amsterdam anytime soon. Each bridge you cross is unique and just as pretty as the next. 

Rent a bike 

Biking is a huge form of transportation in Amsterdam. Our airbnb host told us that most locals own at least 2 bikes. There are rental places throughout Amsterdam and it is a great way to explore the city. Plus it is faster than walking! 

Places to Eat and Drink

Brouwerij ‘t IJ

This brewery is next to a giant, traditional windmill and has a great atmosphere. Their beers are very tasty and I suggest getting a flight so you can taste a little bit of everything! A fun fact about Brouwerij ‘t IJ is that all of their beers are certified organic. 

Langendijk 

Bar Langendijk is located next to Brouwerij ‘t IJ and is the perfect spot to grab a meal and a drink. They have a beautiful outdoor terrace that you can enjoy on a nice day. You can also dock your boat and order take away.

Bagels & Beans

Bagels & Beans is great for many reasons. As soon as you walk in the door you feel welcome and the staff is beyond friendly. This company focuses on natural products and care about quality of food. The food here is fresh, healthy and delicious!!! We got the tapas so we could try a little of everything. You must get their bagels with the garlic sauce, they’re mouth watering! 

Other Tips

• www.tours-tickets.com is a great website to use to easily book all your tickets for tons of different attractions, museums, and activities.
• Airbnb and hostels are great ways to save money on accommodation and to meet people. Hostelworld is a great website to use to find hostels in Amsterdam…..and all around the world for that matter.
• Have cash or be sure to have a MasterCard – our Visa credit cards couldn’t be used at a majority of places in Amsterdam. 
• If you have credit card points look and see if you can redeem some of your points for a canal cruise..this activity ended up being free for us because we used our points!