First Timer's Guide to Amsterdam

We loved spending time here in Amsterdam, we would love you to enjoy yourself as much as we did.

Sure, you’ve heard about visiting the red light district and the coffee shop culture, but what else is there to do….

What to do

Hire a bike:

Such a simple thing, but if you are to hire a bike anywhere this is the place you must give it a go. Amsterdam is so bike-friendly. So why not do it yourself, cover more mile than if you were to just walk. Be careful there are bikes EVERYWHERE!

Visit a museum

There are two very popular Museums, they would be the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. If you like museums these would be the two to check out. Super handy as they are so close to one another. These are the two most visited museums in Amsterdam, with the Anne Frank Museum being the 3rd most visited.

A’DAM Lookout

The A’DAM Lookout is located over in Amsterdam-Noord. Only a short ferry ride from Centraal, and then a 2 minute walk from where the ferry drops you to the A’DAM Look out building. It’s a 20 storey building to an uninterrupted 360 degree view of Amsterdam. If you are up to the idea, there is an over-the-edge swing at the top. They also have food and drinks available from a restaurant at the top. Depending on what ticket you purchase it might even include a drink at the top.

Anne Frank House

Do yourself a favour and step back in time with a visit to the Anne Frank House. This is the exact house that Anne, her family and an additional 4 had hidden from the Nazi’s in during World War II. Unfortunately she did not survive the war, although you will be able to see her wartime diary along with the room in which they hid.

This is a very popular place to visit, so to ensure you get the date you want we recommend you book well in advance. The line is super long, but don't worry if you have a ticket, you will get in. Once inside the doors they have a cloak room for big jackets and bags. This is also where you will pick up the audio tour device.

Amsterdam Ice Bar – Xtra Cold

This is the most unique bar we have been to, and you need to check it out. The ticket you purchase will include three tokens for drinks. Two of these can be redeemed inside the ice bar and the third can be redeemed in the warmer front bar. Don’t worry if you think you’ll be cold they will give you a jacket and some gloves prior to you entering the ice bar. So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets, you won’t regret it.

Take a canal tour

With more than 100 kilometres of canals around the Amsterdam, it hard to miss it. There will be a few companied that will offer a canal tour, and we recommend you have a ride. You will be able to embrace all the beautiful architecture Amsterdam has to offer. These canals we dug I the 17th Century, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

Hope this has been helpful and inspired you to try a few different things in Amsterdam during your visit.

If there is something we have missed, let us know we will check it out next time we visit

Mandy and Michael xo