A Guide to visiting Amsterdam
| Things To know and some fun facts |
Currency – The Euro Language – Dutch credit/Debit cards- widely accepted as well as cash voltage -220v two prong European plug crime- the most reported crime in Amsterdam is theft of a bicycle red light district- is only a very small area of the city |
Amsterdam a brief introductory Guide
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. Its a great place to visit with very friendly people (unless you get in the way of their bike). I visited Amsterdam for two main reasons the Anne Frank museum and Van Gogh museum neither disappointed. However I found so much more to see and do here and I hope my Amsterdam guide will help you find some great places to visit on your trip. As well as give you some handy information, hints and tips on visiting this wonderful city .
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Cycling and Bikes
Well first off I’d just like to give you all a warning. If you value your life and your health and safety stay out the way of those bikes. There are thousands of them and you think superman was fast wait until you see these in action. Sir Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy (champion uk cyclists) have nothing on these people. Great tip to remember is always assume the cyclists has right of way as they usually do it might just save you injury or worse a mouthful of abuse.
A Guide to Getting Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is great city to walk as well as use the extensive public transport system.
Trams- this was the only type of public transport that I used (other than trains) while visiting. There where several tram routes near where I was staying. Important you must buy a ticket BEFORE travel. Ticket machines are available at the central station and at tram stops. You can also purchase tickets on board using a credit or debit card. You can buy tickets that are valid for one up to 7days. The ticket are in 24 hour slots not calendar days so if you buy a ticket at 4pm its valid until 4pm the next day or for however many days tickets valid for. You can also get 1 hour and 1 and half hour tickets. Make sure to ALWAYS check in and out to validate the journey.
Buses are similar to trams and its the same ticket as the trams. One ticket can be used on both within the validity period.
The I am Amsterdam card also gives unlimited travel on public transport. It could potentially save you a lot of money depending on what you plan to do during your visit.
Bikes
You can hire bikes around the city also for around 10-15 Euros a day and Amsterdam is a very bike friendly city and probably one of the best cities in Europe to cycle around.
My Top 5 things do when visiting Amsterdam
1. Anne Frank’s House
There can’t be many people who have not heard of Anne Frank and her famous diary. Anne was a young Jewish girl that with her family and some friends hid in the secret annexe of her fathers office building for over 2 years during world war II while hiding in the annexe Anne kept a diary of her time in hiding.
Until they where suddenly discovered and arrested on 4th August 1944. On 3rd September 1944 all those who had been in hiding in the secret annexe were sent to Auschwitz. Anne her sister Margo and Auguste the other woman in hiding where sent to Bergen-Belsen where all would perish shortly before the camp was liberated.
Of the 8 people who hid in the Annexe only Otto Frank, Annes Father would survive the war the others died during the Holocaust, where millions of people where exterminated the vast majority of whom where Jewish. After the war Otto had Anne’s diary published. The Anne Frank House a museum in Amsterdam was eventually opened so people could come and see inside the Secret Annexe where the family and their friends all hid. I cannot recomened this museum Highly enough and should be top of your things do to list if your planning a visit to Amsterdam. Tickets must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment. When i visited you could only visit with prebooked tickets due to restrictions due to the Pandemic
2. Visit the famous sunflower paintings while in Amsterdam
I think just about everyone has seen one of Van Gogh famous sun flower paintings or self Portraits. Well this museum is dedicated to him and his works and its fantastic and must for any art lover Visiting Amsterdam. If you plan to visit here during your Amsterdam trip booking tickets in advance is essential they had completely sold out the day that I visited and that was in low season (January). So I can only imagine what it must be like in high season.
3. Canal cruise
when visiting Amsterdam a cruise on one of the many canal boats is a must. This is simply a must do activity so you can see Amsterdam from a different perspective. You can do Pizza cruises and booze cruises there are so many different companies and cruises to choose from you really will be spoiled for choice during your visit.
4. Free walking Tours
There are many free walking tours available in Amsterdam. The Anne Frank and World war II walk is a good one or this one by Freedam tours that shows off both the sites and history of Amsterdam its been rated the best free walking tour in the city. There are so many different walking tours to choose from many of them are listed here with Guruwalks . They do tours in different languages though so make sure you book on a tour in your correct language.
5. Visiting Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Is a must
If your visiting Amsterdam a visit here is a great idea. Its the Museum of the Netherlands and its huge. I was here for hours and still didn’t see everything before I had to leave for my visit to the Van Gogh museum which is just a few minutes walk away.
Places to Stay
Krisotel
coffee Maker and Old fashioned phone in my room
Inside my hotel Room Krisotel
I was in Amsterdam for my birthday so I decided to splash out and go for a hotel instead of a Hostel I book the Krisotel and I got a really good deal on this hotel and included breakfast. I loved everything about this hotel it had really great facilities and you could get free hot drinks through out the day as well. it was only few minutes from tram stops that took me to lots of the main sites and some where in walking distance. This hotel was one of my favourites during my 3 month trip across Europe and if your looking for a hotel thats at the higher end of budget and lower end of the mid range I highly recommend you look here.
There are number of hostels choices in Amsterdam and if your looking for a budget place to stay during your visit these hostels have really good reviews and although I’ve not personally stayed in them I know people who have and highly recommend them.
Booking.com have loads of different hotels, hostels and even some apartments that you can compare in Amsterdam. So I’m sure you will be able to find accommodation to suit your requirements
Amsterdam Travel Cost
Hostel prices – If you want a centrally-located hostel, expect to pay between 18-30 EUR per night for a bed in a dorm with eight or more beds. A 4-6-bed dorm costs upwards of 30-60 EUR per night. Prices are fairly consistent all year round.
A private twin room with an en suite bathroom starts at 80-125 EUR per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard but only a few hostels have self-catering facilities. Only a couple offer free breakfast.
Budget hotel prices – Budget two-star hotels start at 80 EUR per night (most average around 125 EUR), there are a few new pod hotels in Amsterdam where you can get a single pod for around 65 EUR. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, a TV, and a coffee/tea maker
I hope you liked my guide to visiting Amsterdam
if you did read my three days in Amsterdam post to see what I got up to while there.
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