Amsterdam usually hailed because the “Venice of the North,” stands as certainly one of Europe’s most enchanting cities and a must-visit vacation spot within the Netherlands.
Amsterdam is certainly one of Europe’s hottest cities for a weekend getaway because it’s a small metropolis, however jam-packed with cosy cafe’s, stylish shops, historic museums and artwork galleries and picturesque canal streets with wonky homes. And it’s an ideal vacation spot for these searching for a winter getaway in Europe.
In case you’ve been craving to discover the eclectic attraction of Amsterdam however really feel a bit overwhelmed by the myriad choices, look no additional than this Amsterdam journey information. We’ve curated the proper itinerary to make sure your weekend getaway is stuffed with one of the best there’s to see and do in Amsterdam as a vacation spot for winter weekend away (however additionally an excellent information for warmer months too!). That is your finest issues to do within the Amsterdam information.
On this weekend journey information, anticipate a extra native perspective from the town, slightly than the one-stop-shop touristic expertise. We’ll information you thru hidden gems identified to locals in relation to locations to go to and locations to eat, together with the traditional must-see sights in Amsterdam. I’ve crafted this 3-day itinerary that will help you profit from your weekend on this unbelievable metropolis and to cowl one of the best issues to do in Amsterdam.
Earlier than we dive into the small print, let’s cowl some fundamentals, reminiscent of one of the best time to go to Amsterdam, the place to remain, and methods to navigate the charming streets of this Dutch gem.
How you can get to Amsterdam
Attending to Amsterdam is simple because it’s so properly related!
By Airplane
There are every day flights into the town’s fundamental airport, Schipol Airport from all main European cities.
If flying from the UK, flight costs vary between £56-180. It depends upon the time of 12 months flying, however the least expensive time to fly to Amsterdam is from Jan-March and October-November. Schipol Airport is a brief prepare experience from the centre of city. Flying is a speedy and swift method to get to Amsterdam.
Arguably, the preferred method to get to Amsterdam, particularly from the UK, is the Eurostar prepare that goes straight into Amsterdam Centraal which is bang in the midst of the town, making it tremendous handy!
By Practice
Eurostar prepare costs might be as low-cost as £105 return, and because the prepare leaves from Kings Cross, it’s an affordable tube experience to the station too. The prepare from London to Amsterdam is a 4-hour journey going by way of France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Centraal additionally has direct trains from Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Munich, Zurich and Vienna.
I’ve taken each the prepare and a airplane to Amsterdam and each have been tremendous simple. It simply actually depends upon your finances and comfort.
Getting round Amsterdam
Amsterdam is comparatively small and the general public transport hyperlinks within the metropolis are exceptionally environment friendly making it a breeze to navigate by way of the town. The intensive community of trams, buses, and ferries seamlessly connects each nook of the town, making certain fast and handy journey for each locals and guests. With well-marked routes and frequent providers, public transport turns into a stress-free possibility for exploring Amsterdam’s myriad sights.
Moreover, the town’s bike-friendly infrastructure gives one other pleasant and genuine method to discover at your personal tempo, offering an genuine and quintessentially Dutch expertise.
The very best time to go to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a kind of cities that you may go to all 12 months spherical, it simply depends upon the way you need to expertise it. Every season in Amsterdam brings its distinctive attract.
This information focuses on the winter months, however there’s a full information to Amsterdam on the weblog that highlights all one of the best issues to see and do in Amsterdam, all 12 months spherical.
The place to Keep in Amsterdam
As talked about earlier than Amsterdam is small and really simple to get round so so long as you select to remain inside the neighbourshoods of Jordaan, Centraal, Museumplein, De Pijp, and Oud-West, you’ll be close by of all of the issues to do in Amsterdam on this journey information.
When it comes to accommodations, as all the time, that is dependent in your finances and the vibe you need on your keep. Beneath is a listing of finances, mid-range and boutique luxurious accommodations you’ll be able to keep in Amsterdam inside these central neighbourhoods.
That being mentioned, Amsterdam is kind of expensive in relation to lodging. Finances accommodations vary from £60-90 an evening, mid-range accommodations vary from £100-170 per night time and boutique accommodations vary from £200-400 per night time.
Finances
Mid Vary
Boutique Luxurious
So with out additional ado, let’s bounce into the 3-Day Itinerary for a weekend in Amsterdam!
DAY 1 (FRIDAY): De 9 Straatjes (9 Streets), Vondelpark & Dinner at Foodhallen
Welcome to your first day in Amsterdam, and what higher method to kick off your journey than by immersing your self within the metropolis’s distinctive attraction? Start your day by wandering by way of the well-known De 9 Straatjes (9 Streets), a community of quaint, picturesque lanes lined with boutique retailers, classic shops, and cosy cafes.
Runstraat is the primary avenue for stylish outfitters, like Ganni, Dyptique and RAILS.
It’s additionally well-known for the lengthy queues, (actually over the bridge) of vacationers and locals alike to get a portion of the finest fries within the metropolis: Fabel Friet. If feeling peck-ish after travelling and strolling round, that is the proper choose me up. However be warned, there’s nowhere to sit down and a literal safety guard is patrolling the world ushering folks away as French fry lovers aren’t allowed to eat standing across the streets.
In case your legs want a break or your physique wants a caffeine kick, there are two stylish cosy cafes with scrumptious baked items to go to: Pluk Amsterdam or Bakkerj wolf.
Climate allowing, spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling by way of Vondelpark. As one of many metropolis’s most beloved parks, Vondelpark offers a tranquil escape from the city hustle and the proper method to seal the afternoon.
Figuring out Amsterdam although, the climate may not be dry so an alternate is visiting Foam, a small images museum or the unforgettable Anne Frank Home. Even within the winter months, e-book this early. Tickets can be found on-line right here.
Wrap up the day by having dinner at Foodhallen. Dinner at Foodhallen in Amsterdam is like stepping right into a foodie wonderland – informal, cool, and scrumptious. Think about a buzzing indoor market with stalls serving up a little bit of every little thing – from mouthwatering burgers to recent sushi. The vibe is laid-back, the décor is stylish, and also you’re surrounded by fellow meals fans. It’s not only a meal; it’s an entire expertise that kicks off your weekend in Amsterdam good.
DAY 2 (SATURDAY): The West (Haarlemmerdijk), Noord & The Crimson Gentle District
Start your day with a leisurely brunch at Café Thijssen, a restaurant that’s cherished by locals with a comfortable ambiance. Take a stroll by way of Haarlemmerdijk, a lesser-known neighbourhood of Amsterdam however up and coming with all of the classic and classy design shops popping up there. The canal views from there are beautiful, so take a digital camera with you.
Afterwards, make your method to Toki for a espresso break and make sure to indulge of their famend sesame seed cookie.
Because the afternoon unfolds, enterprise to the “different facet of Amsterdam” in Noord, accessible by a fast (free!) ferry experience throughout the canal from Amsterdam Centraal. The ferry port is on the opposite facet of the station so both stroll round or by way of the station.
Noord, Amsterdam’s eclectic neighbourhood positioned simply throughout the canal, is a vibrant and dynamic space characterised by its up to date artwork scene, stylish eateries, and a singular mix of commercial and creative landscapes. There are various cool museums and sights right here, however the ones price going to in my (humble) opinion are:
- The Eye Movie Museum is a hanging architectural gem devoted to the world of cinema. It homes a various assortment of movies, exhibitions, and screenings, providing a charming expertise for film fans.
- The Straat Museum, also called Avenue Artwork Museum Amsterdam (SAMA), is an open-air artwork area showcasing vibrant avenue artwork in Amsterdam-Noord. Guests can discover an ever-evolving outside gallery, the place city artists from world wide contribute to the colorful narrative of this dynamic neighborhood.
- The Nxt Museum is an immersive expertise that blends artwork and know-how. This progressive museum showcases digital and interactive artwork installations, offering guests with a singular and futuristic exploration of the intersection between artwork and know-how
In-between museum hopping, seize a chew at Eye Movie’s restaurant or Pllek. Each have attractive views of the river. On a sunny day, it appears attractive!
In your manner again, should you’re curious, pop over to the notorious Crimson Gentle District and have a stroll round. It’s undoubtedly one thing to expertise while in Amsterdam, even when simply by foot.
For dinner, dress as much as hit up Bar Botanique, a stylish restaurant and cocktail bar. Like most brunch and dinner locations in Amsterdam, e-book forward to snag a desk and never be disillusioned. Most eating places take bookings through their web site or on the OpenTable app.
This place is as cool because it sounds. Image this: stylish restaurant meets full of life cocktail bar, with the bonus of lush botanical décor that units the temper good.
Different stylish eating places I’d suggest are:
DAY 3 (SUNDAY): De Pijp & Albert Cuypstraat Market, Canal Cruise & Mueumplein
Begin off the day with brunch in De Pijp. My favorite is Benji’s however there are lots of different locations to select from which can be within the space, you’ll discover them beneath. The brunch scene in Amsterdam is superb, actually!
Different brunch locations in De Pijp:
After brunch, wander all the way down to Albert Cuypstraat Market, the most important outside market in Amsterdam. Right here you’ll discover stalls of every kind: recent meals stalls, classic clothes and most significantly stroopwafles from top-of-the-line makers on the town: Rudi’s Stroopwafles. Freshly made, these irresistible Dutch treats include two skinny waffle layers with a gooey caramel filling.
Final however actually not least, spend the early afternoon taking a canal cruise. There are lots to select from! Captain Jack gives small group excursions from 40 euros, whereas the larger corporations like Blue Boat and Stroma canal cruise excursions begin at 18 euros per particular person. In case you’re searching for a non-public boat, Pure Boats provide extra boutiques cruise excursions. With Locals can be an excellent place to discover a personal canal cruise, supplied by locals!
Sunday’s itinerary assumes you’ll should be again on the airport within the afternoon however should you’re taking a later flight or prepare out, there’s undoubtedly time to squeeze in a museum on Sunday too! The Rijksmuseum is epic, however to totally get pleasure from it, you’d have to put aside 3 hours – so in case you are speeding, I’d choose both Stadelijk or the Van Gogh museum. Each are virtually equally as iconic.
Staying an additional day? Add a day journey to Rotterdam or the Hague into the itinerary.
Have you ever been to Amsterdam?
What are your prime issues to do in Amsterdam? Something you’d add to this Amsterdam bucket checklist?
Love as all the time and glad adventuring…
