Three days in wonderful Amsterdam

I travelled to Amsterdam on the 9th of January (my birthday) by Eurostar as part of my three months in Europe trip. I was going to be spending three days visiting this wonderful city Visiting various sites including visits to a number of Amsterdam’s museums. Amsterdam was my second Port of call so to speak having just been to London. I arrived in on time by Eurostar and I purchased travel tickets for the tram. I could get a direct tram from train station to a stop near my hotel then it was only a few minutes walk to my hotel.

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Krisotel Amsterdam

I wasn’t really sure what to expect of this boutique hotel but, the reviews online where very favourable. When I arrived the receptionist was very friendly, helpful and efficient. I was informed of everything I needed to know and told that I could get free hot drinks if i wished throughout my stay. I went to my room and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the room was i loved the coffee machine even although I don’t drink coffee. The room was nicely decorated everything was clean and all the fixtures and fittings where beautiful.

I went to get something to eat and I ended up in Burger King as I really couldn’t decide what I wanted and I was hungry. I then headed back to the hotel and was pleasantly surprised to find a tv channel in English and I watched of all things the late great Angela Lansbury in murder she wrote. Yes I know, I really know how to rock and roll. I then went to sleep ready for the first full day in this beautiful city.

I booked this hotel through booking.com

Booking.com

DAY ONE IN AMSTERDAM

Well I had planned out my first day and bought tickets to the places I was going to visit already. I wanted to make sure I made the most of my time Amsterdam. Firstly I was going on a canal cruise in the morning. Then in the afternoon I was going to visit Anne Frank’s house. I had a very nice breakfast at the hotel. I then set out for my very short walk to the cruise start point. How close my hotel was to cruise start point was complete surprise I didnt realise when I booked. It was only later when I checked the map so I could plan how to get there that I realised.

Amsterdam has many wonderful canal Cruise

I did the city cruise with blue boat company. The cruise was great it was very informative and interesting. I got to see the city from another perspective and it was very enjoyable. The cruise lasted about 75 minutes. We sailed passed many of the beautiful house boats, the Heineken experience, Anne Frank house and many other interesting places along the way the architecture is beautiful.

To book your tour check out Get your guide page where it shows you many different options

Dutch Pancakes for Lunch

For lunch I had pancakes I know, I know its outrageous. However I heard so many good things about Dutch pancakes it would have been rude not to. I went to Pancakes Amsterdam which was situated right next to Anne Frank house.

I got the Dutch pancake with cheese and bacon I cant remember the name but it was very good. They do both sweet and savoury Dutch pancakes as well as American style pancakes. I can highly recommend this place the staff where very friendly also.

Anne Frank House

After lunch I visited Anne Frank House. I had prebooked tickets online at the time of my visit you had to pre-purchase online. I purchased a ticket for both the museum visit and the introductory programme directly from the Anne Frank museum website. The introductory programme lasts 30 minutes and it is in English. It costs an additional 7 euros but it was well worth the price. This for me was a must on my visit to Amsterdam. It has been on my bucket list for a long time probably from the time I first read Anne’s diary as a child.

I found both the introductory talk and my visit inside the house itself very interesting. For me being able to see where Anne, her family and their friends spent over 2 years of their lives in hiding was very humbling. It was hard to imagine so many people hiding out in this small place. Knowing they did that for over two years is amazing. How no one could see it was there still baffles me. You are not allowed to take photographs inside the house itself. Further to this Anne diary is also on display. Its truly was fascinating visit for me.

Wandering the streets

I then spent some time wandering about the many beautiful little streets. Of course I got lost in the rain which for anyone who knows me knows is a very common occurrence. I eventually jumped on a tram and headed back to the hotel.

I bought a sandwich out of a little shop and headed back as I was still full from lunch those pancakes are filling.

DAY TWO

Rijksmuseum

Today was another day where I had planned out my whole day. In hindsight I think I should have split the two museums up. However by the time I realised it was too late. I spent the morning in the Rijksmuseum. Which i was pleasantly surprised to find was only a short walk from my hotel.

Honestly this place is massive there is so much to see and do here it amazing. I spent several hours there and could have spent Longer. The nights watch painting by Rembrandt’s is on display in the museum. As well as so many other fine pieces of art. I got lost surprise surprise during my visit I mean nothing new about that. I actually ran out of time here as I had tickets booked for the Van Gogh Museum which was just a short walk away I used get your guide to book my ticket. Its an interesting place and I can highly recommend a visit here. This was a great museum and if you only have time for one Museum on your visit to Amsterdam you wont go wrong with this one. Again I purchased my tickets through Get your guide website

Tulips ?? but, all I see are wonderful sunflowers.

Van Gogh Museum was next on my list for today. I had booked my tickets online and I was glad I did. There was sign saying they where sold out for the rest of the day. I went in January so it was low season so I would assume it be much harder to get tickets in the summer. This place was massive I dont know what i expected to be honest. However it was much bigger than I imagined it was going to be. I spent a couple of hours here seeing all the wonderful paintings. I had known of the famous sunflower painting and Van Goghs self potraits. However I hadn’t realised there where so many of them or about any of his other work. I found this museum interesting and can highly recommend especially if your an Art lover.

I forgot about Lunch

However I was so busy enjoying myself and marvelling at all the wonderful sights of the Amsterdam museum’s that I forgot to have lunch. I got some food from burger king AGAIN i know I know all this wonderful food Amsterdam has to offer and Im eating in burger king. However they had a burger that i wanted to try. After this I went to the small shop and bought sushi for eating later.

I then went back to the hotel where I messed about online fore a while catching up with friends before eating my sushi and going to bed

DAY THREE

This was my final day of my Amsterdam visit and I didn’t have any set plans for today. I was just going to wander the streets and see what this beautiful city had to offer. So thats what i did i walked the canal lined streets.

Dam Square

I first of all headed to Dam square. Where i saw the palace it was closed as it was winter but thats ok I knew this the square itself is nice and the national monument is here as well as Madam Tussauds, Ripleys believe it or not, shops and the Gothic 15th Century new church. I wandered around the square for while just soaking in the surroundings. No visit to Amsterdam is complete if you dont visit Dam square.

Just chilling in Amsterdam

Then I went to seek out China town area of the city there is a nice arch here but otherwise I was not that impressed I then got lost again this is going to be a theme for the whole 3 month trip I warn you now. I wandered about confused and I’m so busy looking at my phone I don’t pay attention to where I am which is very very bad. However I cut down a side street as google maps tells me too and I suddenly get that sensation of being watched. I look up and I’m surrounded by several windows with beautiful young ladies in them. Well at least I can tick the Red light district off my list now of places to see right.

I then did some shopping and bought some nice sweets and other items and then rode the trams for a while well why not ive got a ticket may as well. Did a lot more wandering about the canals and houses are just pretty. I then had lunch but it was almost 4pm as I forgot again. I went into a nice little cafe which I can’t remember the name of which is a pity as it was lovely. After this I headed back to the hotel as i needed to pack for going to Brussels tomorrow. I had a great time in the wonderful city of Amsterdam. I used get your guide to book most of my activities and there is so much to chose from

Final Thought

In summary many people visit Amsterdam for the “special” cafes and the red light district. Others are actually put off going on a visit to Amsterdam because of them. However these are only a very small part of the city. There is so much more to see in Amsterdam there are lots of museums to visit. Beautiful canals there is so many other things to do on a visit to Amsterdam that you dont need to do either of these two things. I loved every minute of my stay here and can’t wait to go again in the near future.

If you enjoyed reading this one check out My Amsterdam guide for more hints and tips

Or why not check out my London guide or check out what I did on my three days in London

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