Amsterdam has been on the top of my list of cities to visit for YEARS now, and I’m so happy to say it has surpassed all my high expectations!
It’s unlike any city I’ve ever visited: It’s clean, super vegan-friendly, and more people ride bikes than drive cars. The buildings are so charming, I found myself letting out an “awwww!” everywhere I looked. I’ve never felt so safe and comfortable in a new city before either.
If Amsterdam isn’t on your list to visit yet, add it ASAP if you’re looking for a chill city with great vibes and culture! So far if I were to live in any European city, Amsterdam would be it!
We only got to experience this incredibly charming city for 4 days, but I got a lot of good stuff for you guys in this travel guide, so get ready! A few of my friends have studied abroad here, plus you guys gave me a lot of great suggestions too, so I have compiled the best of the best for an ah-mazing trip here, no matter how long!
RESTAURANTS
Vegan Junk Food Bar – Vegans rejoice, this place is exactly what it sounds like! You can see what I ordered in my video here where I go here for lunch & drool over the whole menu! Spoiler: You’ll want everything pictured above.
Pluk – IMO this is the most Instagrammable brunch spot in the city! They have a good selection of veg options too. Check out my Amsterdam Instagrammable Spots Guide here for more of my recs!
Mook Pancakes – Another breakfast spot everyone raves about! We didn’t stop here, but they serve American style pancakes in a fun hip-hop atmosphere.
Ree 7 – Come here for breakfast, lunch, or to get one of those insane freakshakes you may have seen on Instagram! GORGEOUS interior & is next to Jordaan neighborhood.
The Avocado Show – For all you avocado connoisseurs like myself, you need to try this place! Every meal has avocado in it & is presented so beautifully!
Bagels & Beans – Looking for a quick, inexpensive breakfast? These are all over the place, and there’s one right next to the museumplein. We stopped here before hitting up the Van Gogh Museum, and they have a variety of bagels and toppings! I got the Oatie bagel with hummus, tomato & rocket, a coffee and green juice for under $10! Score.
DUTCH EATS YOU GOTTA TRY:
Stroopwaffel – I mean, you gotta try the stroopwaffel while you’re here! The best way I can describe it: thin waffle cookies with a caramel syrup between them, topped with chocolate, candies, or nuts! Try van Wonderen by the city center or Albert Heijns store brand!
Bitterballen – So these are definitely not vegan, but if you eat meat you can order these at pretty much any bar! For you veg heads, you can get your fix too at the Vegan Junk Food Bar! I tried both kinds at the Vegan Junk Food Bar, and they were delicious. I guess they are normally described as fried balls of…beefy gravy? Okay I don’t know if that sounds appetizing to you but everyone seems to love ‘em so give them a go!
Winkel 43 – Order the appeltaart for one of the best apple pies ever!
Pannekoken – Another Dutch classic! A lot of places serve American-style pancakes, so make sure you find a Pannekoken house to get some that are authentic! The Dutch like to eat theirs for dinner!
Poffertjes – While I only had the pleasure of smelling these wafting through the streets and in Albert Cuypmarkt, these are similar to mini doughnuts!
BARS:
Hannekes Boom – If you’re of drinking age, YOU HAVE TO COME HERE! I won’t take no for an option. It’s a college-age/young adult crowd and right on the water with a big outdoor area and lots of seating. It’s the perfect spot on a sunny or summer day for a good time & it’s not touristy!
Roest – Another awesome non-touristy spot on the water!
De Biertuin – Known for their huge beer list and spacious patio!
Brouwerij – A brewery in a big windmill! So adorable! Come here around happy hour, as they close early at 8pm!
CLUBS:
Melkweg or Paradiso – Both tend to have long lines, also look up their dress codes ahead of time, mainly for guys!
Chicago Social Club – Smaller, less busy, but sometimes selective on who they let in. It’s best to know who’s performing that night apparently.
WHERE TO STAY:
I always like to give a few suggestions here, depending on what kind of traveller you are! If it’s your first time here, or if you want to be in the heart of it all and not have to walk super far everyday, look for a hotel as close to the city center as possible.
If you prefer to be away from all the tourists or stay somewhere a little quieter, I would recommend checking out either De Pijp or Jordaan neighborhoods. An Airbnb in these areas would be so charming! You’ll have to do some walking (or biking!) to get to the touristy areas/attractions, but you’ll be away from the madness, yet close to a bunch of cafés, bars, and restaurants. The Albert Cuypmarkt is in De Pijp as well!
WHAT TO DO & SEE:
Rent bikes – It’s the Dutch thing to do! There are so many bikers though, you gotta keep an eye out so you don’t get hit! Great way to see the city!
Vondelpark – Visit Vondelpark one afternoon, it’s the biggest park in the city! Bring a picnic or a sketchbook to enjoy a nice day, or bike around here too! The Vegan Junk Food Bar is close to here too!
Albert Cuyp Market – Stroll through this market in the De Pijp neighborhood to grab some bites of food and shop around!
Museumplein – Here you’ll find the main museums surrounded by a gorgeous park! I HIGHLY recommend the Van Gogh Museum! He’s Dutch, and it’s so well done! The Rijksmuseum is absolutely gorgeous as well, and MOCA currently has a BANKSY museum which I’m so bummed I didn’t have time to check out! If you like photography, you’ll love the FOAM Museum as well!
Anne Frank House – Make sure you check the website here to book your tickets in advance, they seem to be reserved up to two weeks! If you forget or are on a last minute trip, check the site for last minute available tickets on the day of! They seem to pop up throughout the day, so if you have some flexibility, you should definitely do this!
The canals – I mean, obviously! You won’t have to look for them, they’re flowing all throughout the city. Prinsegracht is the most famous one, but I loved Herengracht or Brouwersgracht for photos, as there are way less people around.
The Fault In Our Stars Bench – If you’re a fan of the film, you gotta recreate the iconic scene on this bench!
Have a picnic – Either in Vondelpark or on the canal at sunset! You can find pretty much all you need at the Albert Heijns supermarkets that are everywhere!
Canal Boat Ride – There are SO many you can choose from, from paddleboats to dinner or sunset cruises, and they’re the best way to see the city! Stop by the store before your cruise to grab a bottle of wine and snacks for the ride!
Bloenmarkt – The only floating flower market!
CAIT’S TRAVEL TIPS:
-Download the Google Translator app on your phone ahead of time, and download the Dutch language so you can use it without Wi-Fi. This SAVED ma life!! You can take a photo of any sign/menu or just hold your phone camera up to it, and it will translate it to English (or whatever language you want). You can also just type in the word to have it translated or spoken out loud as well. Plus it’s FREEEEE!
-Be alert when you’re walking around so you don’t get hit by a biker! If they’re ringing their bell at you, let them pass! (I wasn’t paying attention and almost got hit like twice…MA B!)
-Walk or bike to get a real feel for the city. There’s so much you can miss by taking a taxi/uber or public transportation, plus you’ll save some major cash!
-We walked 20k+ steps a day here, so bring at least 2 pairs of comfortable shoes, socks, and Band-Aids just in case! I wore these Crocs (they’re seriously so cute & comfy and I never got a blister) and these platform Converse I wear on all my travels!
–9292.nl is a super convenient website if you need help with public transit! They also have an English option available & they have a free app too!
-Make sure you have the right adaptor for your electronics! I thought mine I got for my UK trip would work here, but it didn’t. This is the one you’ll need!
Have you been to Amsterdam? What are your favorite spots? Let me know!
xx
This is the perfect travel guide! I was in Amsterdam on a lay over but never got to see anything. But I’ll be back 🙂
I lost my job few months back and there was no way to get income for my family, things was so tough and I couldn’t get anything for my children, not until a met a recommendation on a page writing how Mr Bernie Wilfred helped a lady in getting a huge amount of profit every 6 working days on trading with his management on the cryptocurrency Market, to be honest I never believe it but I took the risk to take a loan of $1000. and I contacted him unbelievable and I was so happy I earn $12,500 in 6 working days, the most joy is that I can now take care of my family I don’t know how to appreciate your good work Mr. Bernie Doran God will continue to bless you for being a life saver I have no way to appreciate you than to tell people about your good services. For a perfect investment and good strategies contact Mr Bernie Doran via WhatsApp :+1(424)285-0682 or Telegram : @Bernie_doran_fx or Email : Bernie.doranfx01@gmail.com
I am very pleased with the help CYBER CREDIT GURU rendered in restoring my credits. I am a disabled Veteran who over the past 2 years had to let my credit go due to health priorities that were not covered by VA & other insurance, my credit scores were 514 Experian, 515 Equifax, and 518 TransUnion. No public records, only 3 open Accts but several collection Accts with Zero Balances, few Weeks ago, I ran into some Credit blogs on the net which led me to CYBER CREDIT GURU the most talked about US based Russian hacker, who tremendously repaired and upgraded my credit score to 784, 789, and 802 within the 3 Bureaus in just a Week after I contacted him. If faced with similar challenge, connect with him via: C Y B E R C R E D I T G U R U (AT) G M A I L (DOT) C O M or Call / Text: +1(650) 239 7249 you too can be helped, I recommend him without hesitation.
GET RICH WITH BLANK ATM CARD … WhatsApp +1 331 278 5948
I want to testify about official hackers blank atm cards which can withdraw money from any atm machines around the world. I was very poor before and have no job. I saw so many testimony about how official hackers send them the atm blank card and use it to collect money in any atm machine and become rich.( ;officialhacks1234@gmail.com ) I email them also and they sent me the blank atm card. I have use it to get 250,000 dollars. withdraw the aximum of 5,000 USD daily. official hackers is giving out the card just to help the poor. Hack and take money directly from any atm machine vault with the use of atm programmed card which runs in automatic mode.
Email: officialhacks1234@gmail.com
Whatsapp ; +1 331 278 5948
GET RICH WITH BLANK ATM CARD … WhatsApp +1 331 278 5948
I want to testify about official hackers blank atm cards which can withdraw money from any atm machines around the world. I was very poor before and have no job. I saw so many testimony about how official hackers send them the atm blank card and use it to collect money in any atm machine and become rich.( ;officialhacks1234@gmail.com ) I email them also and they sent me the blank atm card. I have use it to get 250,000 dollars. withdraw the aximum of 5,000 USD daily. official hackers is giving out the card just to help the poor. Hack and take money directly from any atm machine vault with the use of atm programmed card which runs in automatic mode.
Email: officialhacks1234@gmail.com
Whatsapp ; +1 331 278 5948
I lost my job few months back and there was no way to get income for my family, things was so tough and I couldn’t get anything for my children, not until a met a recommendation on a page writing how Mr Bernie Wilfred helped a lady in getting a huge amount of profit every 6 working days on trading with his management on the cryptocurrency Market, to be honest I never believe it but I took the risk to take a loan of $1000. and I contacted him unbelievable and I was so happy I earn $12,500 in 6 working days, the most joy is that I can now take care of my family I don’t know how to appreciate your good work Mr. Bernie Doran God will continue to bless you for being a life saver I have no way to appreciate you than to tell people about your good services. For a perfect investment and good strategies contact Mr Bernie Doran via WhatsApp :+1(424)285-0682 or Telegram : @Bernie_doran_fx or Email : Bernie.doranfx01@gmail.com
BITCOIN FRAUD /SCAM TRACE & RECOVERY EXPERT
Have you lost hope of ever recovering your money from scam brokers? I have good news for you and yes it is 97% possible for you to recover
your money through binary cash refund (BCRF)but to do this you need an expert ,I lost over 76,000$ to fake broker and I lost any hope of
ever making profit through binary trading until I met an awesome recovery Hacker known as RecoveryMasters who introduced me to (BCRF)..and to recover any lost money to any Cryptocurrency i was able to recover my money and with an amazing recovery Hacker guidance I have been able to make profits after recovering my lost funds. l recommend RecoveryMasters to anyone ( Recoverymasters@email.cz ) or WhatsApp him on +15-5120-2-23-35
Don’t forget to mention Claudie recommended you
Bouncing Back From Bankruptcy!!!
Bouncing back from bankruptcy can be a bit dicey! I filed chapter 7 a year ago, my assets were liquidated and used to settle most of my debts, while most of the remaining debts were discharged. I found out to my dismay that my credit score had dropped drastically. I tried almost every card company but didn’t get approved, some interest rate were so outrageous that I had to decline. I was practically living from hand to mouth. A neighbor of mine recommended METRONET CREDIT SOLUTION a credit specialist who had helped him in the past. I contacted them and they helped me remove all the negatives from my credit report (including bankruptcy)! And raised my credit score to 700s across all three bureaus and also gave me guidelines to maintain my credit score. I’m so happy and grateful to them for this great help. I’m recommending their services as promised to anyone in need of credit related assistance. You can reach them via METRONETCREDITSOLUTION@GMAIL.COM or Whatsapp: +16265140620.
TROVIAN CREDIT REPAIR did a fantastic job in helping me get a home of my choice. I had bankruptcy two years ago. Everyone I spoke to said there was nothing they could do. So I contacted Trovian and listed all the negatives impacts affecting my credit report and how he could help me out. His responses were encouraging and he went ahead with the process, he removed the bankruptcy of 2yrs from my credit and every other thing that has been depriving me from getting a home and my score was high I got qualified for a FHA loan. He also walked me through the complete process and helped me get a $240,000 loan from my bank which I used to set up a new business for myself. I cannot say how grateful I am for his help and willingness to tell everyone out there about him. You can reach him with his direct details. TROVIANCREDITREPAIR@GMAIL.COM or text (424) 3074562. Thanks and may God bless you all.
FAST CREDIT RESTORATION SERVICES
I started the year with a bad credit score, lingering debts and derogatory record which affected my ability to finance a new home, including a new car. I tried a few credit restoration firms but all were abortive until I saw a post about HACK VANISH CREDIT SPECIALIST. I reached out to them and surprisingly they helped cleaned-up my derogatory and raised my FICO score to 782 across all three bureaus, within a short period of time I got qualified for a new home, and also purchased my dream car. Anyone with related issues can reach out to them for assistance via [Hackvanish @ Gmail. Com] or Phone: (2 0 9 ) 3 3 0 – 3 0 4 7.
FAST CREDIT RESTORATION SERVICES
I started the year with a bad credit score, lingering debts and derogatory record which affected my ability to finance a new home, including a new car. I tried a few credit restoration firms but all were abortive until I saw a post about HACK VANISH CREDIT SPECIALIST. I reached out to them and surprisingly they helped cleaned-up my derogatory and raised my FICO score to 782 across all three bureaus, within a short period of time I got qualified for a new home, and also purchased my dream car. Anyone with related issues can reach out to them for assistance via [Hackvanish @ Gmail. Com] or Phone: (2 0 9 ) 3 3 0 – 3 0 4 7…