10 Best Travelling Tips to Amsterdam
These specific tips about Amsterdam will be very useful to make the most of your visit and avoid mishaps that can ruin your stay.
View of Amsterdam | ©Javier M
Amsterdam is a charming city that sometimes seems to be taken out of a fairy tale. However, knowing how to enjoy it is what will complete your trip.
The main idea of these tips is that you can save money, avoid making mistakes, eat well and increase the chances that everything goes as expected, or even better.
1. Get a tourist pass
Aside from accommodation costs, where do you think you will spend most of your money during your stay in Amsterdam? I'm sure you're thinking about local transportation, canal cruises, museum tickets, food, etc.
For this very reason, I recommend you to book the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass, with which you will be able to save money on all those activities. And it includes:
- Free admission to most of the best museums in Amsterdam.
- Unlimited use of public transportation (streetcars, buses and subways).
- Free bicycle rentals and tours
- Free or discounted canalcruises.
- Discounts at many restaurants
Details of interest
Depending on the length of your stay, you can get a card valid from 1 to 5 days. A 24-hour card costs 59 € and a 5-day card costs 124 €
If you want to know more about this and other Amsterdam sightseeing passes, I recommend you to read the article about The best Amsterdam sightseeing passes.
2. Go to Amsterdam's coffeeshops
A coffeeshop in Amsterdam is not the equivalent of a coffee shop, it means something completely different. I feel it is my duty to inform you so you won't be surprised.
I'm sure you already know that Amsterdam is one of those few places on earth where you can legally buy and consume marijuana for personal use. This doesn't happen on the streets, but in the coffeeshops where you can see various types of weed, hash and edibles.
In case you want to experience this part, and are a bit hesitant or unsure, maybe booking a tour of Amsterdam can clear up several doubts for you.
3. Don't take pictures in the Red Light District
Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam and the Red Light District comes alive as soon as night falls. If you walk through the Red Light District at night, you will see prostitutes poking their heads out of almost every glass window in that area.
If you are visiting Amsterdam's Red Light District, do not photograph sex workers, as it is disrespectful to them.
Not only is it frowned upon, but you can also get in serious trouble with the authorities, and even pay a hefty fine. You can also book tickets to the Red Light Secrets museum in Amsterdam to learn more about this area.
4. Save money when eating out in Amsterdam
Street food is a lifesaver for those looking to save money on their trip. You'll find street vendors and food trucks with some Dutch favorites like stroop waffles, kippers, frites, bitterballen, leidse kaas and poffertjes.
'Dagschotel' is like Amsterdam' s dish of the day and appears on most restaurant menus. It is the cheapest dish on the menu and will help you save a few euros.
Eating where the locals do is one of the most useful travel tips. The Dutch in Amsterdam spend their time in what they call 'bruin café' or brown cafés. These resemble pubs and serve authentic food at an affordable price. De Wetering, In 't Aepjen, Papeneiland and Het Molenpad are some of the best.
Discover the buffets
Amsterdam' s buffets are also a great way to save money. They serve food for less than 20€, but mostly offer Chinese or Asian specialties. Some of the good restaurants of this type are:
And if you want to treat yourself on a particular day in Amsterdam at an affordable price, I recommend you to book a table at the Hard Rock Café. For 22 euros you can ensure several courses of American food with live music.
5. Avoid Amsterdam's tourist traps
All famous cities tend to have "tourist trap" areas and spaces. By that I mean places to eat that are expensive and of regular quality, spaces that don't live up to the expectations they promise, and places that take advantage of tourists' illusion.
For example, Amsterdam has many fake museums. Some of them are stores claiming to be museums. To name a few there is the vodka museum, the cheese museum, the tulip museum, and so on. Instead of going to these places, I recommend you to visit a real museum like the Rijksmuseum or buy a ticket to the Van Gogh museum.
If you want to ensure good value for money food, go to De Pijp, FoodHallen or Noord. I also recommend avoiding the "Tours and ticket" stores, they are in all the tourist areas and are very expensive. Instead I recommend you to buy tourist passes if you are looking for savings and comfort.
6. Beware of cyclists
One of the first things you'll notice in Amsterdam are the roads dominated by bicycles. The city is full of them and the locals love to travel by bike. In case you didn't know, Amsterdam has been declared the most bike-friendly city in the entire world.
Note that bike lanes in Amsterdam are usually red. They are all marked with a bicycle icon at each entry point so that the bike lane cannot be mistaken for a walking lane. However, many tourists don't realize this and walk on them.
If you don't want an accident, keep an eye out for these lanes. In some areas they are almost more dangerous than the roads. But if you dare to be a Dutchman, you can book a bike tour in Amsterdam and learn more about the customs.
7. Always carry an umbrella with you
Amsterdam's weather is quite unpredictable and the city averages 200 rainy days a year, which means the chances of you getting caught in the rain are quite high.
So, regardless of what the weather app says, always have a raincoat or umbrella handy!
The oceanic climate, influenced by the North Sea, is the main reason for the heavy rainfall. However, thanks to the multitude of museums, galleries, stores and an efficient public transportation system, there will always be something to do regardless of the weather.
8. Bring a bottle and drink tap water
The Netherlands is one of those countries where the quality of tap water is regulated and it is completely safe to drink and tastes great.
Buying bottled water all the time is not environmentally friendly. If you think bottled water is cleaner, let me tell you that it depends on how it is stored and transported. These bottles are made with plastic and if they are kept in the sun for too long, they will no longer be as safe.
Also, bottled water is not cheap in Amsterdam and can cost you up to €2.50 in some tourist areas. You will rarely get free water in restaurants, so it is a good idea to bring a bottle from home and fill it up at some of the city's public drinking water points.
9. Park far from the center
Parking in Amsterdam is expensive and can cost up to 10 euros per hour. So if you are driving to Amsterdam, I recommend parking your car away from the city center to save money.
On the highway leading to Amsterdam, pay attention to the "P + R" signs because this is where you should park your vehicle. Parking here usually costs 1 euro per day and from these points you can easily take Amsterdam's public transport to wherever you want to go.
If you arrive in Amsterdam by motorhome, you will be happy to know that there are plenty of places to park, albeit a bit far from the city center. The best are Gasper Camping and Camping Zeeburg.
10. Bring your photo ID
Not only do you need a photo ID if you are visiting a museum or an important site, but the police may stop you on the street and ask you for an ID. This usually happens mostly when people seem intoxicated by drug use.
Sometimes it may just be because you are tired, because of your gait or because you don't sleep at night. But if you want to avoid mishaps keep your ID with you at all times. If you are worried about losing your passport, it wouldn't be a bad idea to carry your driver's license with you.