Travel Tips to Maximize Your Trip to Amsterdam

by Susan Young
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Mon May 22, 2023

No matter the season, Amsterdam is a vibrant mix of young people, music and colorful architecture. Add a dose of springtime and you will enjoy a brilliant blend of tulips and sunshine. Here are some basic tips to get the most out of your time and budget in this happening city.

Getting around Amsterdam is easy and inexpensive, and the city is walkable as long as you stay out of the bike lanes. You can easily achieve your daily steps goal by exploring the streets and bridges along the canals. However, if you need a break, purchase the OV-chipkaart for use by the hour, day or longer, for use on the trams, trains, buses and ferries. The mass transit system is easy to understand and safe to use. Bicycles are also available to rent, hourly or daily.

Another way to get around is by cruising the canals. Some of the best options are the smaller boats, which can reach canals that the larger ones cannot. Amsterdam Boat Tours offers a small, open boat experience while your cruise captain gives a detailed narration of funky facts, as well as well-known landmarks. Hop on-Hop off options are also available, if you want to make a day of it.

Lodging in Amsterdam varies from low-budget hostels to high-end hotels. If your budget can handle a five-star hotel, check out the Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht by Hyatt. Located on the “Prince Canal”, this site was originally a public library and brings to mind the book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, with its whimsical decor and white-glove service. The lush courtyard, in the back, takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Dining in Amsterdam offers a multitude of options, with restaurants popping up at every turn. A favorite Dutch culinary experience is the Rijsttafel (meaning Rice Table) which consists of a feast of Indonesian foods brought back from, what used to be, the Dutch East Indies. Mama Makan Restaurant, located in the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam features local favorites as well as vegan options in a botanical setting.

Bussia Restaurant in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The city offers everything from a burger and brew at Cafe Noir to a classy lunch at Bussia to a Latin American experience at Caliente Cantina. You won't go hungry with the many varied options around every corner. And don’t forget street food offerings of Poffertjes, Dutch mini pancakes. These tiny puffs of sweetness can also be found at Pancakes Amsterdam, located throughout the city.

Springtime in Amsterdam demands a visit to the Keukenhof tulip gardens. From mid March to mid May, this attraction offers over 7 million blooming tulips in every color imaginable. Exhibits include tulip history dating back to the 17th century and pavilions loaded with other colorful varieties of flowers. Visitors can rent bikes or take an electric boat ride through the canals surrounding the area, or just walk the many acres of meandering paths.

Within the city, The Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam's Floating Flower Market, is touted as the only floating flower market in the world. Located on the Singel Canal, this market is loaded with tulip bulbs, ready for export, flower seeds and souvenirs to take home. Coffee shops, cafes and cheese shops line the street adjacent to the markets.

Of course, Amsterdam is known for its famous museums like Rijkmuseum and VanGogh, which are not to be missed. But save time for other, not so well-known artistic discoveries like the MOCO. After you have taken in the Dutch Masters, the Modern Contemporary Museum offers funky sculpture and street art with the likes of Warhol, Basquiat and Koons, among others.

The Anne Frank House Museum offers a revisit to the history lessons learned in school about the Holocaust and the brave souls in hiding. It is a very sobering climb up the stairs to the hidden rooms behind the bookcase of the annex, where Anne Frank composed her diary.

Be prepared for a strenuous trek up several levels and back down through the house. Tickets are required and can only be obtained in advance, online. Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., all tickets become available for a visit six weeks later.

Adjacent to the Anne Frank House you will find the Westerkerk Church, where the painter Rembrandt is buried. The tower of the church is known by a different name, Westertoren, whose chiming bells are described in Anne Frank's Diary. The tower's clock was also visible from the hidden rooms. There is no charge to visit the main sanctuary of the church, however, they welcome donations.

During the 1600’s, the Protestant religion governed the region and took over Catholic churches and monasteries. Catholics had no choice but to hide their religious gatherings inside homes of the rich. The Museum of Our Lord in the Attic showcases a preserved Catholic sanctuary within an otherwise normal home. What lies behind the walls of this typical canal house is well worth a visit.

Just a five minute walk from the Anne Frank House you will find the Houseboat Museum. Located on the Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal), for just five Euros, you can experience the feel of living in a houseboat. Representative of the more than 2,500 houseboats in Amsterdam, this former cargo ship was built in 1914. The amazing use of space boasts plenty of headroom, bedrooms and bathroom with living area and kitchen.

You won't want to miss the usual attractions, but check out the lesser known spots, if your timeframe allows. Even if you only have a few days to explore Amsterdam, use them wisely and you won’t be disappointed.

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