DESTINATIONS
AMSTERDAM
NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam is a happy place with cute boat houses and beautiful, friendly people. You will find people riding bikes, children playing outside, brightly colored flowers, and amazing architecture.
THE BASICS
LANGUAGE: Dutch
CURRENCY: Euros
CLIMATE: Sub-oceanic, humid & rainy, high season is mid-April to mid-October
DRESS CODE: Casual
GETTING AROUND: Bicycle, Metro, Uber, Taxis
COST OF VISITING: $$$ – Hostels start at $20 per night and an average meal runs around $15 euros, $4 euros for a beer
TIPPING: Tipping is not expected unless you stay in a restaurant or hotel for a long time, if you would like to tip 10% is sufficient
SAFETY: Ranked the 6th safest city in the world in the 2017 Safe City Index
PACKING ESSENTIALS: Jacket
VISA:US passport holders may enter for 90 days without a visa
GETTING THERE
FROM AIRPORT
The airport is 15-20 minutes from Amsterdam city center. An Uber will cost you around 30 Euros, Taxi 39 Euros, Train 5.40 Euros.
WHERE TO STAY
I stayed with a friend while visiting Amsterdam, but have stayed in a Generator hostel while in Italy and can highly recommend this chain. They have cozy, cool decor and great chill areas. The Amsterdam location is highly rated on Hostelworld as well. Prices start around $34 USD per night for a dorm.
Amsterdam is a great place to try couchsuring for your first time! The people are super friendly
Stay on the canal in cute houseboat!
WHAT TO DO
WHISKEY L&B
Whiskey L&B is a small hidden whiskey bar we found and it was much to our liking as we love dark little bars like this! Definitely a good place to start your evening or wind down and enjoy a nightcap.
VISIT A COFFEESHOP
Want coffee? Go to a cafe. Want marijuana? Go to a coffeeshop. Coffeeshops are Amsterdam’s legal dispensaries. Truffles, a type of shrooms are also legal. It is best to smoke in the same coffee shop you purchase the weed. Most bars do not allow you to smoke as you cannot drink and smoke in the same establishment in Amsterdam. Not sure where to start? Try Paradox Coffeeshop.
GO BREWERY HOPPING
Amsterdam is home to several big beer brands including Amstel and Heineken (you can tour both), as well as several smaller local breweries. While there, we visited Bouwerij t’ IJ, a small brewery with tasty beer located next to a windmill, and Troost, which was also delicious. For more, here is a full list of microbreweries I found.
RENT A BICYCLE
Rent a bicycle and explore! Most attractions in Amsterdam can be toured in one day, especially on bicycle.
TRY DELICIOUS LOCAL FOOD
By delicious local food, I mean Poffertjes and Stroopwafels, of course! Both are sweet treats that go great as an afternoon snack with a coffee from a local cafe.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH ATTRACTIONS
I was only in Amsterdam for two days, but here is a list of attractions that sounded interesting.
GO NEIGHBORHOOD HOPPING
Start on the trendy streets of Jordaan, move to Oud-West, De Pijp, and Indische Buurt. Check out this page for a guide to Amsterdam’s hippest neighborhoods.
