A local's guide to Amsterdam. If you want to see and experience things in Amsterdam the authentic way then search no further, this guide is for you.
I've lived here for 6 years and taken the time to get to know almost all the neighbourhoods, uncovering some true gems. It's time to go out and about as if you were a local, not a tourist. 😉
Amsterdam is a vibrant city with so much to offer. It's more than the cliché red light district and coffee shops. It's got tons of museums, parks, cafés, bars and restaurants, not to mention night clubs, great parties and much more. It's also charming and very romantic, didn't you know? It's an accessible city that has something for everyone, no matter your interests.
The vibe here is laid back, friendly, and open-minded. People here are very down to earth, and did I mention? Most of them speak perfect English. So good in fact, you might forget it's not their first language. To enjoy Amsterdam like a local and get its authentic feel, you'll want to move away from central station and the red light district and start to get more into neighbourhoods like Amsterdam Oost, the Pijp, Oud-West and Westerpark...
In this guide I've put together some of my favourite places to eat and drink, as well as some of my favourite neighbourhoods and parks. I hope you enjoy it and if you like it remember to share, or better still, leave a tip. Thank you. 🙏🏼
Top tips - know before you go
- The weather here is unpredictable so it's best to make sure that you always have: something warm, some lighter layers, and most importantly: waterproof layers, including shoes. Forget your umbrellas as it's often windy here, better to bring a good hat or raincoat.
- The best way to get around is by bike. It's cheaper, environmentally friendly, and what all the locals do. However it's not for the faint hearted! People here bike aggressively and do not take pity on tourists so be prepared.
- Rules for biking: don't be afraid, or hesitate. Be confident in your decision and keep going. Don't hesitate to use your bell, and be pushy. Ride in your lane and just like when driving stick to the right if you are slow or just at regular speed, overtake on the left. It's best not to ride side but side but in single file.
- Rules for pedestrians: stay on the pavement not on the bike lane. If in doubt, check, stay close to the buildings rather than in the road. When crossing the road always look both ways, and if stepping off the pavement be sure to look for bikes before you do.
Prices in Amsterdam
Unfortunately due to inflation, Amsterdam is no longer cheap. Prices are about comparable to other major cities. It's perhaps slightly less expensive than Paris and London, you can still find cheaper restaurants and bars. However coffee is pretty expensive and depending where you are, you can expect to pay the same price you would in any other major city for a meal.
The perfect hotel if you need space to work remote. Each room is set up with a desk space and the top floor is an incredible co-working area with great vibe
A beautiful hotel in Amsterdam. Right by central station and all the central tourist attractions, but in its own unique and calm location with beautiful views on the river Ij.
Java eiland on which the hotel is situated, is perfect calm location where you can go for nice walks along the river and enjoy a more peaceful side to Amsterdam, before going back to this stunning hotel.
The Pulitzer has a unique feeling to it. With its beautiful and secluded inner courtyard, you can be in the heart of Amsterdam yet away from the hustle and bustle. Step outside the door and right onto the Prinsengracht, right in the heart of the city and within walking distance of pretty much any destination.
This hotel is beautiful and uniquely situated in Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood. Within walking distance of Oosterpark, the Tropen Museum, and the very interesting Java-straat and surrounding neighbourhood.
It's a great place to stay a little bit outside of the city centre, but still be very well connected to all the main sights. It's also in a more local and authentic neighbourhood than some of the more touristic areas.
This hostel is right in the centre of Oosterpark, an amazing location! You can wake up and go directly to the Tropen Museum, or walk along the Amstel, towards the Pijp, or further into the Oost neighbourhood. Everything is in walking distance or very well connected by public transport.
Not only that, but there is a very cool café in the lobby open to all, with beautiful views and a good atmosphere.
Between Amsterdam city centre and the Bijlmer arena neighbourhood, you can find this charming bed and breakfast. Diemen is a village next to Amsterdam that is more quiet and residential. If you're looking for a place to stay that is off the beaten path and makes you feel rested at the end of the day, this is it.
Centrally located, with a cafe for remote working, a rooftop bar and spa, and a club in the basement, Volkshotel has literally everything you want on offer. It's a great place to stay.
If you're a fan of speciality coffee then this place is for you. It's small and hidden away in Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood, not far from Oosterpark and with a truly local feeling to it. Serves delicious coffee and cakes, not to be missed if you need a break after a long day of walking.
For the coffee aficionados, another wonderful speciality coffee shop in Amsterdam Oost. There is cozy indoor seating and some outdoor spots too when the weather is good too.
It serves delicious coffee, as well as cakes and snacks to accompany them.
A delicious and super tiny speciality coffee shop. It's in the perfect location to grab a coffee and a quick rest whilst you've been walking around the 9 straatjes or the Jordaan.
Famous for its cinammon buns, and a must for its speciality coffee. A great place to stop for a break and a bite before you continue exploring the Pijp.
Specialty local coffee roaster that has been a city favorite since it was opened by two Dutch women in 2014. Back to Black serves specialty coffee and pastries/cakes.
Two locations!
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Where to eat
Yuan’s Hot Pot Amsterdam Ferdinand Bolstraat 袁记串串香阿姆喜力博物馆店
The absolute best place for hot pot in town. You do not want to miss this! Delicious food, a very central location, fun and friendly staff... What more can I say?
A super fun, modern food hall with delicious bites. Be prepared to hunt for a table. We went on a Saturday and it was worth the wait, they had a DJ and everything! The bao buns were particularly good.
This cafe/bar is open until 1 AM serving the best apple pie you'll ever taste. Winkel 43 also has some great outdoor seating perfect for an evening drink.
In my opinion the best Syrian place in town. They sell delicious wraps, breads, olives, hummus... you name it. Super tasty and at an affordable price. I also find the staff to always be in a good mood and friendly.
A great bar, particularly in the summer time but fun all year round. Its uniquely situated underneath a parking lot but don't worry it's not scary, it's trendy! With views onto the canal and great outdoor seating to watch the boats go by.
A great rooftop bar in Amsterdam Oost, Canvas offers views over the city and a trendy, laid back vibe. It's a great place to meet friends for drinks, and later you can head to the club in the basement.
One of the best quintessential "Amsterdam view spots" they don't take reservations so walk all the way back and wait for a table when you enter. Service is slow and food isn't great so just stay for the drinks and the view on a sunny day :)
Very fun bar with themed cocktails - you can also rent private karaoke rooms (must do that in advance). It is on the Pride street so tons of other bars in walking distance if you start your night here!
A really nice bar, both in winter and in summer. In summer time it has a nice outdoor seating area while in winter it's cozy inside and offers board games.
A really nice place to go in the summer time to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat. Right next to the Beatrix park and close to the RAI or Zuidas, it's the perfect place to end your day.
Situated right across from Central Station, the Tolhuistuin is a great place to enjoy drinks and tapas style dinner. In the winter time it's cozy, with a beautiful view onto the Ij. In the summer time it has a great outdoor terrace, and a garden in the back which offers a really cozy secluded vibe.
Situated in the Eye Museum overlooking the river Ij, this is a fantastic place to enjoy a drink, watch the boats go by and just enjoy the Amsterdam views.
This place and the surrounding Marrine Terrein are just a great place to be, particularly in the summer time. Discover a lesser known part of Amsterdam, or at least lesser know by tourists. ;-)
What to say about Pllek? A fantastic outdoor/indoor alternative space. What's not to like? Right on the River Ij, in the summer time you can sit outdoors and enjoy the view, even go for a swim if you are brave enough.
One of my all time favourite parks in Amsterdam. Completely off the beaten path, at the far end of Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood. Flevorpark is beautiful, huge and has plenty of spaces in the shade and in the sun to hang out. Not to mention, it has a small beach and access to the water, and its own swimming pool on the far west side. A wonderful and peaceful place.
A cute medium sized park in Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood. Here you will find roller skaters and dancers, as well as people doing outdoor workouts and the usual people picnicking and barbecuing. The nice thing is that it's right next to the Tropen Museum and a decent size to walk loops around.
Frankendael park is a small and beautiful park in Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood. It's more secluded and has fewer people than Oosterpark, and is very pretty and landscaped.
My favourite park in Amsterdam, that I fell in love with when I first moved here. It is huge and has vast wide open spaces and greenery where you can sit, play ball games or barbecue.
It also has a more wooded and secluded area where you can walk amongst the trees, a place with outdoor jungle bars for a workout, and a small urban farm, as well as a row of cherry trees that blossom beautifully in the spring.
In the park itself there are also bars, restaurants and the Westergasfabriek, a great place for outdoor drinks in summer.
Martin Luther Park is a great place to be, especially in the summer. It's right on the edge of the Amstel making it a great place to chill on a hot summer's day, watch the boats go by and people swim. Additionally, you can find places to rend a SUP nearby.
The largest park in Amsterdam, called the Amsterdam "forest". This is a really great place to come and hang out and be in nature. If you really want to spend the day outdoors then skip the popular city parks and come here.
This is a great place to go in the summer time, especially if you're in or around the Zuidoost neighbourhood. It's also a festival ground at times! It's super relaxed, got a large outdoor area, possibilities for swimming but also lots of nice woody shaded areas all around.
Amsterdam's anthropological or ethnographic museum. Absolutely love this place nestled in Oosterpark. It always has great and very interesting exhibitions on, it also hosts events and has a lovely café. It's worth a visit and is perhaps a little less overwhelming and crowded than other places.
The Rijksmuseum is huge. It has 5 floors, if my memory serves me correctly each themed to a different century. You could spend an entire day there looking at all the art and exhibitions, it's truly fantastic. I think it's well worth a visit, but you need to plan for that and beware you will be exhausted.
Museum house where Anne Frank & her family hid from the Nazis in a secret annex, during WWII.
🎟Ticket: €16
*Every Tuesday at 10am CEST, all tickets become available for a visit six weeks later so plan for this!
Amsterdam's contemporary art museum and another great place to visit. Once again it's huge so you will need time. Exhibitions change as well as the permanent collection, so worth checking what's on to see if it will be your cup of tea.
I absolutely love Amsterdam's Maritime museum. Not only is its location great, but the building is beautiful and inside there are so many beautiful things to see. In addition it's fun for children, interactive, and you will learn a lot about the art of sailing. Fascinating!
As any science museum, Nemo is fun! However it will likely be overcrowded with families and children. It's well worth a visit but it's another one that will take you at least 3h.
Really excellent Street Art museum, a fun place to visit. Bear in mind that it's in a warehouse so in winter it's cold even if it is indoors. Come prepared.
The Van Gogh museum is fascinating as you get to learn so much about his life and who he was, as well as seeing many works of art. However it is huge and will take minimum 3h if you want to see it all and again, is a bit overwhelming.
A super cute village worth visiting on a nice sunny day. You could cycle there from Amsterdam and make it a day out, enjoy the canal and all the lovely pubs and restaurants. It's charming and is an easy day out.
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About Amsterdam's neighbourhoods
De Wallen (red-light district) and centre
For me this is everything below central station and in the red light district. It has its charms, certainly some of the old streets and buildings there are beautiful. However, it's very much overshadowed by the crowds of tourists who are all there to see and do the same thing.
If you're curious then definitely stop by and check it out, but don't spend more than a few hours before you move on, especially if your time is limited and you want to get off the beaten path.
The Pijp (pronounced like pipe)
The Pijp is a more trendy, young and hip part of Amsterdam. Tourists visit so it's still crowded, but it's beginning to feel a bit more authentic and local. Here you will find lots of bars, restaurants, as well as clothes shops and tiny boutiques which are great for shopping. Make sure you visit to get a taste of what young Amsterdammers are up to. It's also perfect for shopping, away from the crowded Kalverstraat.
Amsterdam Oud-Zuid
South of museumplein and of Vondelpark you will find the posh Amsterdam Oud-Zuid. This is where you can still find beautiful stately houses and fewer apartments. Old and beautiful buildings, with more upmarket cafés, bars and restaurants as well as designer shops of course.
Zuidas & Amsterdam Rai
There's not really any reason for you to visit this part of town unless you're on a business trip. This is Amsterdam's version of the City. High rise buildings and offices, this is where you will find consultancies, lawyers, agencies and more. Nearby is the beautiful Beatrixpark which is very peaceful and worth a visit. A bit further west is the old Olympic Stadium and Olympic neighbourhood, part of or bordering the posh Amsterdam Oud-Zuid.
Amsterdam Oud-West
Home to the Jordaan, the Nine Straatjes and a lot of Amsterdam's most iconic and cute places, it's a fantastic neighbourhood and great starting point to do some sight seeing. You can do everything on foot, walking up and down the various streets that belong to the Nine Straatjes, stop for food, coffee, and do some shopping. As you continue, you can make your way to the Anne Frank house and further into the Jordaan, seeing those classic picturesque canal houses and their shutters. It's truly one of the prettiest neighbourhoods.
Haarlemmerstraat
At the top of the Jordaan and bordering Westerpark you will find the Haarlemmerstraat and its neighbourhood. Again, you can walk down into the Jordaan or up into Westerpark and Spardammerstraat. The Haarlemmerstraat itself is full of cute shops, cafés, restaurants and more.
Noord
As its name suggests, it's North of the river Ij and just across from central station. Noord is a bit more grungy and alternative but also starting to be trendy and the place to be due to all the new flats being built there. You can take the ferries for free from central station either just across the river or all the way to the NDSM wharf. It's definitely worth a visit, and more off the beaten path than some places.
Zuidoost - Bijlmer
Also affectionately known as the "Bims", this neighbourhood is right outside the city centre. It's where you will find the football stadium and the Afas Live concert venue, so if you're in this part of town you're like there for one of those reasons.
Personally I love this neighbourhood, it's super diverse and home to a lot of Carribbean and Surinamese people. As such, it also has more of that "Carribbean flavour" to it, depending on when you come. In the Amsterdamse Poort there are plenty of shops and local businesses, and nearby there is the Nelson Mandelapark. In the summer, it's home to the almost month long Kwaku festival.
It's a vibrant and creative neighbourhood that's home to more than just the football stadium, and worth getting to know it if you have time.
A fun and small night club in Amsterdam. The great thing is that it's in the Volkshotel where there are also other options for your evening (and day time).
I'm Emma, an avid traveller and I've been fortunate enough to travel my whole life. I frequently travel as a solo female traveller. I have been all over Europe, and places further afield like Cuba, Japan and Thailand to name a few. I also lived for 8 years in Geneva, 6 years in Amsterdam, and have been going to London since I was a child.
When I travel I love to discover the best of local destinations, whether that's cafes, bars or restaurants, but also outdoor spots, hikes, beaches, or other unique locations. My goal is to travel on an affordable budget that doesn't break the bank, but without being on a shoestring either.
On Thatch I want to share my knowledge, years of experience and research with you, to enable you to make the most of your travels and help you fall in love with the places I've been.
