*Pentru varianta in limba romana, apasa AICI.
Around three weeks ago we came back from our lovely Amsterdam citybreak and I have to say we had such an amazing time exploring this beautiful place even though we only had three days at our disposal. I will soon write a travel blog telling you everything about the hotel we chose for this adventure and I promise you will love our futuristic experience.
Till then, let me just recommend you the top 10 things you should not miss if you have an Amsterdam getaway in plan.
- Canal Boat Ride
I will start with my favorite part of this short holiday. A canal boat ride is the one activity you should not miss if you are visiting Amsterdam on warm weather. This is, in my opinion, the best way to see explore the Venice of the North and admire its beauty while enjoying a glass of prosecco or a cold beer, depending on your preferences.
The good news is that you don’t even need a license to do this if you choose the right type of boat.
We got some help from Canal Motorboats Amsterdam and I totally recommend their boat rental company for a lovely day on the canals.
They have two different types of boats ready to take you to your next adventure: a cheaper and simpler option, spacious aluminum boats, and eco boats which are a bit more expensive, but totally worth it.
One piece of advice: Do not expect the canals to be empty, they are in fact really crowded on sunny days so you need to be a little careful if it is your first canal ride. Always stay on the right side of the canal, respect Amsterdam navigation rules and be careful for the bigger cruise boats which have priority.
I want to tell you one more thing: the boats have capacity for 7 persons so if you are a larger group, this activity will also be extremely cheap because you will split the price.
You can find all the necessary information regarding Canal Motorboats Amsterdam, including prices/hour, if you just click HERE.
- Eat French fries on the canal
I have always had a crush on French fries and Amsterdam was the perfect place to indulge my cravings. You will literally find places that sell them in every corner in the city and you definitely spoil yourself. They are just yummy!
- Buy all the tulips at Bloemenmarkt
Holland is known all over the world for its beautiful tulips fields that I am so sad I missed this year. If you happen to be Amsterdam in mid April be sure to visit Keukenhof and let yourself amazed by those colorful fields. Since we got there at the end of May, we didn’t have this chance so we went straight to Bloemenmarkt, the flower market, and bought a handful of them on my favorite color: pink. The good news, boys, is that you won’t spend a fortune: 50 tulips will cost you less than 10 Eur so be sure to put the smile on your girl’s face.
- Enjoy the craziness in Red Light District
You cannot say you have been to Amsterdam if you do not visit the Red Light District when the night comes. The visit itself is a show and I recommend it for girls as well although it is a magnet for boys obviously. You can see people smoking marijuana joints at every corner (since this activity is legal in their country) and girls from all over the world behind windows offering their sexual services for a fee. You can even find legal stores called coffee shops where you can buy joints, marijuana muffins or any other sweets with the same flavor. You just need to relax and enjoy the experience even if you do not agree with it because this is Amsterdam after all.
- Visit Anne Frank House and Jordaan Neighborhood
The Anne Frank House is a writer’s house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. This place is located on the canal right next to Jordaan, which is probably the most famous neighborhood in Amsterdam. You will find many restaurants and cafés alongside the canal. We didn’t actually visit the museum since we didn’t buy tickets in advance so I would recommend paying attention to this matter if you want to visit.
- Take in all the sun at Museumplein
We spent a lovely afternoon at Museumplein, but I must say the place was extremely crowded due to the good sunny weather. You might know this place for the famous I Amsterdam sign which was impossible to take a picture with because of the crowds. Located at the Museumplein are three major museums – the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum.
- Take a walk along Prinsegracht and choose your favorite café
Together with three other canals, Prinsegracht is part of the Amsterdam Canal District and it also the longest in the city. We loved just walking around, admiring the beautiful buildings, the flowers and the bikes. We finally decided to stop at my new favorite café, George, and enjoy a cup of good coffee and the lovely view.
- Take a bike ride in the city of bikes
Ok, I must start with telling you a truth about myself. At the age of 27 I have no idea how to ride a bike and I never even tried to learn. Since I was a little kid, I thought this activity is not for me so I just ignored it existed. When I have finally arrived in the bikes’ city, I kinda wished I knew how to ride one. My boyfriend always tries to convince me and maybe he will succeed one day, but there is a long way till there.
Till then, I was happy to just take a bunch of pictures with the beautiful bikes around the city and even with a cute Vespa which I would have taken home with me.
- Taste the local beer
You cannot leave Amsterdam without enjoying a glass of cold beer on the canal. We choose a café in Jordaan with a great view of the Westerkerk Church where we tried two types of beer which were both delicious even for a girl. I totally recommend giving them a try: Brand Ipa for me, with a citrusy flavour, and Brand Weiss, for my boyfriend, brewed adter a traditional Bavarian recipe. We also tasted Affligem on other occasion.
- Make a stop at Amsterdam Centraal
I have seen so many pictures on social media with the perfect Instagrammable place in Amsterdam and I had no idea where it is. When we arrived in the city from the airport, our first stop was the central station and there I saw my magical place knowing I had to take tons of pictures there.
I hope you have enjoyed my Top 10 Mandatory things to do in Amsterdam and stay tuned for all the details regarding the accommodation we chose for this citybreak. Be sure to subscribe so you can be the first to see the new blog.
PS: I am wearing sunglasses from Jadu, watch from Daniel Wellington, pink dress and trousers from Zara, straw bag from H&M.
Have a magical week,
Blonde around the World ❤
