Amsterdam usually hailed because the “Venice of the North,” stands as considered one of Europe’s most enchanting cities and a must-visit vacation spot within the Netherlands.
Amsterdam is considered 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.
When you’ve been craving to discover the eclectic allure 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 the very best there’s to see and do in Amsterdam as a vacation spot for winter weekend away (however additionally a fantastic information for warmer months too!). That is your greatest issues to do within the Amsterdam information.
On this weekend journey information, anticipate a extra native perspective from town, relatively 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 can assist you benefit from your weekend on this unbelievable metropolis and to cowl the very best issues to do in Amsterdam.
Earlier than we dive into the main points, let’s cowl some fundamentals, equivalent to the very best time to go to Amsterdam, the place to remain, and methods to navigate the charming streets of this Dutch gem.
The right way to get to Amsterdam
Attending to Amsterdam is simple because it’s so properly linked!
By Airplane
There are each day flights into town’s primary airport, Schipol Airport from all main European cities.
If flying from the UK, flight costs vary between £56-180. It will depend on the time of yr flying, however the most cost-effective time to fly to Amsterdam is from Jan-March and October-November. Schipol Airport is a brief practice trip from the centre of city. Flying is a speedy and swift strategy to get to Amsterdam.
Arguably, the most well-liked strategy to get to Amsterdam, particularly from the UK, is the Eurostar practice that goes straight into Amsterdam Centraal which is bang in the course of town, making it tremendous handy!
By Prepare
Eurostar practice costs will be as low cost as £105 return, and because the practice leaves from Kings Cross, it’s an affordable tube trip to the station too. The practice 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 practice and a airplane to Amsterdam and each have been tremendous simple. It simply actually will depend on 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 town. The in depth community of trams, buses, and ferries seamlessly connects each nook of town, guaranteeing 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, town’s bike-friendly infrastructure provides one other pleasant and genuine strategy to discover at your personal tempo, offering an genuine and quintessentially Dutch expertise.
The most effective time to go to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a kind of cities which you can go to all yr spherical, it simply will depend on 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 the very best issues to see and do in Amsterdam, all yr 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 throughout 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 motels, as at all times, 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 motels you may keep in Amsterdam inside these central neighbourhoods.
That being stated, Amsterdam is sort of expensive in relation to lodging. Funds motels vary from £60-90 an evening, mid-range motels vary from £100-170 per night time and boutique motels vary from £200-400 per night time.
Funds
Mid Vary
Boutique Luxurious
So with out additional ado, let’s soar 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 strategy to kick off your journey than by immersing your self within the metropolis’s distinctive allure? 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 outlets, classic shops, and cosy cafes.
Runstraat is the primary avenue for stylish clothes shops, 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 greatest fries within the metropolis: Fabel Friet. If feeling peck-ish after travelling and strolling round, that is the proper decide me up. However be warned, there’s nowhere to sit down and a literal safety guard is patrolling the world ushering individuals 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 supplies a tranquil escape from the city hustle and the proper strategy to seal the afternoon.
Understanding Amsterdam although, the climate won’t be dry so an alternate is visiting Foam, a small pictures 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 all the pieces – from mouthwatering burgers to contemporary sushi. The vibe is laid-back, the décor is stylish, and also you’re surrounded by fellow meals fanatics. It’s not only a meal; it’s a complete expertise that kicks off your weekend in Amsterdam excellent.
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 liked by locals with a comfy environment. 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 gorgeous, so take a digital camera with you.
Afterwards, make your strategy to Toki for a espresso break and you’ll want 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 trip 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 situated simply throughout the canal, is a vibrant and dynamic space characterised by its modern artwork scene, stylish eateries, and a singular mix of commercial and creative landscapes. There are a lot of cool museums and sights right here, however the ones price going to in my (humble) opinion are:
- The Eye Movie Museum is a placing architectural gem devoted to the world of cinema. It homes a various assortment of movies, exhibitions, and screenings, providing a charming expertise for film fanatics.
- The Straat Museum, often known as Avenue Artwork Museum Amsterdam (SAMA), is an open-air artwork area showcasing vibrant avenue artwork in Amsterdam-Noord. Guests can discover an ever-evolving out of doors gallery, the place city artists from around the globe contribute to the colorful narrative of this dynamic neighborhood.
- The Nxt Museum is an immersive expertise that blends artwork and expertise. This revolutionary museum showcases digital and interactive artwork installations, offering guests with a singular and futuristic exploration of the intersection between artwork and expertise
In-between museum hopping, seize a chunk at Eye Movie’s restaurant or Pllek. Each have beautiful views of the river. On a sunny day, it seems beautiful!
In your manner again, in case you’re curious, pop over to the notorious Crimson Gentle District and have a stroll round. It’s positively 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 excellent.
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 might be within the space, you’ll discover them under. 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 biggest out of doors market in Amsterdam. Right here you’ll discover stalls of all types: contemporary meals stalls, classic clothes and most significantly stroopwafles from the most effective 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 loads to select from! Captain Jack provides small group excursions from 40 euros, whereas the larger firms like Blue Boat and Stroma canal cruise excursions begin at 18 euros per particular person. When you’re searching for a personal boat, Pure Boats provide extra boutiques cruise excursions. With Locals can be a fantastic place to discover a personal canal cruise, provided by locals!
Sunday’s itinerary assumes you’ll must be again on the airport within the afternoon however in case you’re taking a later flight or practice out, there’s positively time to squeeze in a museum on Sunday too! The Rijksmuseum is epic, however to completely get pleasure from it, you’d must put aside 3 hours – so in case you are speeding, I’d decide 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 at all times and joyful adventuring…
