A Beginner’s Guide to Amsterdam: 11 Things You Should Know

The very first time I visited Amsterdam, I knew it was a city I could see myself living in. Lined with iconic canals, ruled by bicycles, and scattered with street cafes spilling onto cobblestone lanes, it is one of the most eclectic cities in Europe.

Today, the city is known for its progressive outlook on identity and open-mindedness. It’s as great a place to visit for youthful party lovers as it is for couples or culture-seekers. When the sun sets along the canals, the city comes alive with bustling bars and speakeasies. But things haven’t always been easy going here, and Amsterdam packs an interesting WW2 time History, too.

The city also boasts some world-class museums and restaurants, which make it a wonderful destination no matter the season.

If you’ve never visited Amsterdam before and are wondering where to start with your planning, this is the guide for you:

Cruise The Canals

No visit to Amsterdam is complete without a cruise on the canals. Here, canals are like a road system, with more than 165 canals stretching over sixty miles throughout the city. The canals are a part of the city’s bones and culture and are even a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tours range in price from around €15 to €20 for a one-hour group trip and more for a private boat rental. Countless companies offer cruises, including Amsterdam Canal Cruises and Flagship Amsterdam.

Pro Tip: If you are Traveling with a group, I highly recommend booking a private canal cruise. While a cruise at any time of the day offers a unique perspective of the city’s architecture and layout, an evening cruise is especially beautiful as you get to see the city lights reflect on the water.

Amsterdam is Europe’s Bicycle Capital

Did you know that there are more bikes here than there are residents? It is said that there are over a million bikes rolling through the streets of Amsterdam. It makes sense when you realize that the city has over 250 miles worth of bike lanes.

An interesting fact is that around 25 thousand bikes are lost to or thrown into the canals every year.

You can rent a bike from companies like Ansterdan Bikes or Black Bikes for as little as €10 per day.

Pro Tip: Be super cautious when cycling AND walking around the city. With so many bikes on the road, one can only imagine the accidents that happen daily. Stay in bike lanes when on a bike, and avoid them when you aren’t. Bike theft is also common, so make sure you lock your bike away properly.

The City is Known for its Nightlife

One of my favorite quotes about the city is from John Green. He wrote, ‘Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth, it’s a city of freedom,’ which really rings true when it comes to nightlife.

Amsterdam comes alive after dark. There is something for everyone here, from cozy pubs and bars to chic cocktail bars and world-famous nightclubs open until the early hours of the morning.

For the highest concentration of bars, clubs, and pubs, head to the iconic Red Light District (also known as De Wallen), Rembrandtplein, and Leidseplein. Alcohol is surprisingly affordable in Amsterdam, ranging from around €4 for a beer and €8 to €10 for a cocktail.

Try Dutch Poffertjes and Stroopwafels

The Dutch are well known for their sweet tooth, having created some world-famous desserts like stroopwafels and poffertjies. If you’re not familiar with the latter, poffertjes are basically small fluffy pancakes dusted with powdered sugar. Oh, and they’re also darn good at making a gooey Dutch apple pie.

Both of these treats are must-tries and can be purchased at places like Rudi’s Original Stroopwafel at the market at Albert Cuyp or at Hans Egstorf. A serving of poffertjes should cost around €4, while a stroopwafel costs between €2 and €5.

Visit During a Tulip Bloom

A quick Google of Amsterdam will inundate you with pictures of tulip fields. Amsterdam is synonymous with these gorgeous flowers, and if you have the opportunity, it is entirely worth planning your visit between late March and early May to view them in full bloom.

Make your way to Keukenhof Gardens, a forty-five-minute drive or an hour-and-a-half train ride from Amsterdam Centraal. At these botanical gardens, over seven million flower bulbs bloom in an eruption of color across the 32-hectare park. It is often regarded as the most beautiful spring garden in the world, showcasing perfectly curated flower beds in every design and shape. You have to see it to believe it, and you can do so for just €20 (parking costs an additional €8) between the hours of 8 am and 7:30 pm.

Pro Tip: Allow three to five hours to explore the gardens in their entirety—you won’t be sorry.

Amsterdam is One Of The Safest Cities In The World

Amsterdam is ranked as one of the world’s safest cities. It’s pedestrian-friendly and has low crime rates. But like any major tourist destination, always keep an eye out for suspect characters and be aware of scams. Oh, and keep your belongings close to you – pickpocketing is always a problem during high tourist season.

Book Tickets and Accommodation In Advance

As mentioned, the city is one of Europe’s most famous destinations. So, booking tickets in advance is crucial. The most popular attractions include the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum, often selling out tickets weeks in advance. I know because I was silly and missed out on tickets to the Anne Frank House myself.

This museum can only be visited during an allocated time slot with an online ticket. A single adult ticket costs €16, and tickets go live every Tuesday at 10 a.m. for a visit six weeks ahead. This process alone should tell you how busy the city gets during peak season…

Get an OV Chipkaart at The Airport

An OV Chipkaart is the contactless ticketing system used by public transport in the Netherlands. It includes all forms of transport, from trains to trams to buses and metros. Day tourists can purchase disposable cards, or you can get an unregistered card if you plan to visit the city in the future. The card costs a non-refundable €7.50 and is valid for five years. You can easily pay and top up your card for Travel, after which you still need to check in and out of every journey using the available card readers.

A one-hour trip on the GVB (Amsterdam’s public transport system) costs €3.40. Transport options are clean, safe, reliable, and on time, and are well worth using while in the city.

Amsterdam’s Pride Weekend is One Huge Party

Once a year, Amsterdam’s Pride Week culminates in an extravagant parade along the canals. It’s one of the city’s largest events, held between late July and early August. My first trip to Amsterdam overlapped with this event, and as one of the world’s most gender-liberal cities, it was truly a spectacular destination to celebrate Pride Week.

Pro Tip: Naturally, this event attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists, who visit not only for the parade, but for the afterparties and festivals that follow it. Make sure to book accommodation well in advance, as well as tickets and reservations for events, festivals, museums, and restaurants.

The Best Time to Visit is During the Fall

I know I’m pushing for a Pride visit, but this does happen to be one of the busiest months to visit Amsterdam. If you prefer quiet streets, fewer crowds, and a more cozy atmosphere along the canals, I recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons in the fall (between September and November). On top of the mellow crowds, prices for flights and accommodation is generally lower than in peak months.

Pro Tip: I also highly recommend spending at least three days in the city. There is so much to see and do, and you want to leave time to relax in Vondelpark and soak up the canal-side atmosphere without rushing from one museum to the next.

Summer’s Are HOT

Amsterdam’s summers can be unexpectedly hot and dry. When I visited during August, temperatures reached above 90 Fahrenheit daily. While the canals provide a bit of relief, these aren’t the type of canals you can dive into for a quick cool-off (just think spinning boat propellers and decaying bicycles at the bottom – no. thank. you).

If you do visit during summer, there are some places to cool off. Locals like to swim at Park Somerlust on the banks of the River Amstel, in the Nieuw-West Sloterplas, and at Nieuwe Meer in Amstelveen.