Holland’s capital is a charming city famous for its canals and Dutch culture including bicycles, windmills, tulips, and of course the red light district. It was a city I was only in for a few days and while I was there KNEW I had to come back. It’s a city I could imagine living in and can see myself revisiting over and over! 💐🌷🍃🚨🚲

Amsterdam, Netherlands

🍲Staampot (literally anywhere but a rec below)

🚇The trams also run all over the city and once you know what direction you’re going, are also very easy to follow with nice people aboard to help you as well as clear signs and boards everywhere to tell you the next tram time. Tap-on and tap-off!

✈️ fly into Schiphol Airport (AMS) and take the train (€4.90) 15mins to Amsterdam Centraal Station right in the center of the city

🚞Amsterdam Centraal is a landmark in and of itself and is where you’ll come in from the airport or from other cities! Lots of food and convenience store options.

🚋The metro runs underground and can be spotted throughout the city with the Ⓜ️. It’s very straight forward and easy to navigate. Tap-on and tap-off!

Come in April if you can! The weather is not only sunny and mild, but it is Tulip season in the Netherlands!💐

💶Currency is the € (euro) there are 🏧s everywhere

🚫no alcohol of marijuana in public! Huge fines for both locals and tourists

🍃🚬Coffeeshops are for marijuana! (And coffee) but do NOT sell alcohol. Establishments can either sell marijuana OR alcohol.

‌🍄‍🟫🍄Smart shops are where you can purchase mushrooms

🚷That being said, at any given intersection you need to lookout for other pedestrians, bicycles and cars! It may not seem like a street that would be so busy back home, but the brick roads are car accessible! 

‌🚲I’m sure you know Amsterdam is a very bike-forward city and bicyclists actually have the right of way before pedestrians!

Local GVB transportation (subway and trams) you can tap on and off with your debit / credit card! Just don’t forget to tap off!! 

Carry some €. Most places accept card, but some smaller business prefer cash including coffee shops 💨

🗣️While always a good idea to learn some of the local language, everyone I interacted with spoke English!

Expect long lines at the airport and a crowded city! Book tulip tours ahead wherever you are going and make restaurant reservations!

Lisse, Netherlands is about a 30min drive outside the city and where all the tulips are! Keukenhof gardens is a botanical garden where there are 1000s of tulips and other beautiful flowers on display! Get these tickets online which comes with a round trip bus from Amsterdam RAI! Take the M52 right to Europaplein station and when you walk up the stairs you’ll see the bus line! Get there 30mins before your scheduled tour at least to leave on time! Same thing for on the way back to the city as the busses leave irregularly from the gardens.

If you want those famous tulip field photos, these are NOT accessible in the gardens. Rent a bike or drive to a nearby field in Lisse. Some are free but many are private and cost a few € to enter. Always ask before you enter!! 

Keukenhof entrance + Amsterdam bus transfer

I recommend a cycling tour. A good option below.

Cycling tour


    Bollen en Bloemen | Visit Duin- & Bollenstreek
    

Reach out if you would like a more tailored itinerary that fits your needs for families, groups or a different travel style! 

https://a-bike.nl/rent-a-bike-in-amsterdam/

A great way to get around the city is to rent a bike! For less than €20 you can have a bike for a whole day with locks included! Just keep up and follow the rules of bike lanes and be courteous!

You can rent a boat with or without a skipper (self-drive) for the canals! There are many options, but below is a good option if you are interested!

https://www.nautal.com/en/boat-rental/search?_page=1&limit=18&where=Amsterdam,%20Netherlands&withCaptain=With%20or%20without%20captain&radius=100&cmp=boat&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_lang=en&utm_campaign=20280548307&utm_adgroup=149174835263&utm_keyword=rent%20a%20boat%20amsterdam&utm_matchtype=b&utm_device=m&utm_position=&utm_location=1010543&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm2anmCw5bO2py-xUTIocEOuMXpD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiMmwBhDmARIsABeQ7xQu2sHcf8aIiqKdrzv0H-yOv5QVvbHLEofDA4XQ36jtOAC6j-X4SdcaAgelEALw_wcB

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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