Amsterdam Travel Reports & Tips

Sofronio Cobos

Updated: 26 May 2026 ·

Best Things to Do:

Navigation:

Our Amsterdam Travel Tips that You Should Know for a City Trip to Amsterdam

Here you will find the most important information for your trip to Amsterdam at a glance. Amsterdam is a great destination for a city trip, as the city is home to many attractions.

For us, Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. We love to stroll through the streets along the canals, try food at the markets, or shop in unique local stores.

In our articles with travel reports and tips for Amsterdam, we share our best travel tips and showcase the most beautiful and popular attractions. We also have tips for accommodations and the best places to stay. There are also a few insider tips included.

Amsterdam Travel Reports in the Blog

Amsterdam Travel Tips

Here you will find my best Amsterdam tips for your next city trip.

Getting to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is only 200 km from the Ruhr area. Therefore, the city can be reached quickly from West Germany by car, long-distance bus, or train. Due to climate change, we generally recommend avoiding flights for short distances in Germany and neighboring countries.

By Train or Long-Distance Bus

Traveling from Southern Germany by train or long-distance bus can take quite a while, but it is often a budget-friendly alternative.

From Heilbronn, unfortunately, it would take me 15 hours by Flixbus. By car, the journey takes about 5.5 hours. Since parking in Amsterdam is scarce and expensive, traveling by plane or train is often the better choice.

Despite the travel time and the annoying stress of changing (it is unfortunately like that coming from my hometown), I would always take the train to Amsterdam again.

By Car

If you do want to arrive by car, I recommend using the P+R parking lots. You can find an overview here. On weekdays, 24-hour parking costs 8 euros, and on weekends, it costs 1 euro. The parking lots are all connected to the public transport network, and you can conveniently take the train into the city center.

Pay attention to the right button at the gate when entering to choose the P+R rate. Do not use the pre-payment by credit card. At the exit, there are blue machines where you can validate your ticket for the bus or train. These will be stamped in the train.

Attention! The discount rates for P+R only apply if you use public transport. This will be checked via the train ticket that you must hand over or scan when paying.

By Plane

Several airlines offer nonstop flights to Amsterdam from Germany since Schiphol Airport is an important hub in Europe. The airport is a bit outside the city, but it is well connected to public transport by bus and train.

Traveling Around Amsterdam

On Foot

The city center is not very large and is easy to navigate. You can explore almost everything on foot.

Biking in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Attractions Biking
photo by viel-unterwegs.de

In the city center, you hardly see any cars. Everyone rides bikes here. You can rent bikes at almost every corner or join a bike tour. Bikes cost around 11 - 14 euros per day.

Riding Trams and Metro in Amsterdam

One thing to note: I have never seen such unclear and poorly designed maps for a tram and tram network in a city. Not only did we have trouble understanding them, but numerous other tourists did as well.

The GVB app is also a total failure and only works with the internet. It is useless without WIFI.

Therefore, my tip! Right after leaving the train station (Centraal Station), you should take a map from the tourist information diagonally left across the street behind the trams. This is the only map that displays a reasonably clear network (with line numbers).

Tickets for the metro and tram:

The tickets are called OV-Chipkaart and are time cards in the form of credit cards and very practical. You can get them from very friendly sellers in the tram, at VVV offices, or at the pink machines.

Tip: Buy bus & train tickets conveniently before your trip

Things to consider when riding trams in Amsterdam:

Check in and out with the OV-Chipkaart: You must always check in and out when you get on and off. Just hold your card in front of one of the readers when getting on or off. If you hear a signal, it was successful, and a green light will light up.

To ensure everyone can get on and off quickly, there is a special 'double door' (usually at the front and rear with the conductor) for boarding. The exits have flaps so that you can only exit here.

The principle works the same for the subway and bus.

We wanted to take the metro once. However, due to a power outage, we had to exit the metro again - nothing moved. We then reached our destination via detours with the tram.

Ticket Prices:

A day ticket (24 hours and valid from the first check-in) costs 7.50 euros. An hour ticket costs 2.90 euros, and the i amsterdam card includes many museum entrance fees and also provides free public transport.

Recommended Amsterdam Travel Guides

Even though you can find many useful tips for Amsterdam's attractions and insider tips in this travel blog, I recommend that you still purchase a printed travel guide. I find these guides extremely practical, as they also include many activity tips that are not always up to date on websites.

For inspiration and preparation for our travels, we love reading other great travel blogs. On-site, we often have a travel guide with us. We can highly recommend these for Amsterdam:

500 Hidden Secrets Amsterdam, DuMont Amsterdam, and the small, fine Bildatlas Amsterdam.

In particular, I find the new city guides from DuMont compact and excellently done! At around 11 euros, it's the right size and perfect for a city trip. If you are staying longer in the Dutch capital, the much more comprehensive Lonely Planet is worth it.

Free Amsterdam Magazines for Events, Markets, and Concerts:

Amsterdam Travel Tips: Free Magazines in Amsterdam
Free Magazines in Amsterdam photo by viel-unterwegs.de

In Amsterdam, I found 4 free magazines that you should look for in cafes and bars:

  • enjoy the summer: Festival Guide.
  • A-mag: Amsterdam Magazine
  • uit gids: Also an Amsterdam magazine.
  • Hello Amsterdam: The best of Amsterdam

Good to Know

  • Do not walk on bike paths as a pedestrian!
  • Women in the windows of the Red Light District do not want to be photographed. Respect their privacy.
  • The canals usually have no railings. Every year, drunk people (especially in the Red Light District) who just want to relieve themselves by the shore fall into the water and drown.
  • In some shops, you can only pay with cash, while in others, only with a travel credit card. Bring both.
  • Although Amsterdam is a safe city: Be mindful of pickpockets in the Red Light District.
  • As many still travel to Amsterdam to smoke weed: Do not do this in public. Drinking beer is also prohibited for safety reasons in the Red Light District.
  • The tram and metro run until 12:30 AM. After that, the more expensive night buses operate.

Plan Museum Visits and Tours Well in Advance

Plan your museum visits carefully to avoid standing in long lines.

My tip: Book tickets at least 2 months before your trip, for example, at Get your Guide

King's Day

On the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, April 27, a huge orange party takes place in Amsterdam. Everyone wears the national colors, drinks, and you can sell your old stuff at flea markets throughout the city. Plus, there are plenty of free concerts. However, many hotels are already fully booked well in advance.

Biking in Amsterdam

Did you know that there are more bicycles than cars in Amsterdam? Here, everyone rides a bike, and you can rent bikes everywhere. This way, you can also reach places outside the city without having to deal with the often crowded metro during the summer heat!

You can comfortably ride through Vondelpark - Amsterdam's largest city park.

Cost and Budget for Amsterdam

For a nice hotel in a good location, expect costs of 100 - 200 euros per night.

Amsterdam's Free Ferries to NDSM Wharf

Directly behind the station is the dock (best to go through the station building) to take the ferries to the north of Amsterdam. Here is the "IJ," the oldest part of the Amsterdam port. With the Buiksloterweg ferry and the smaller IJ ferry, you can experience Amsterdam like the locals from the water. The ferries run from Waterplein West to the other IJ shore and to the NDSM wharf.

These pedestrian and bike ferries are free and run every half hour to the other side!

Best Travel Time for Amsterdam

The high season for a trip to Amsterdam is between June and August. With many sunny hours during the day, you can make the most of your days since it gets dark very late. However, many tourists are also in the city during this time, and it can get quite hot.

Tip: How about a visit in spring (March - May) when the tulips bloom? Or in the fall starting in September when the tourist crowds decrease, and you don't have to deal with long lines at attractions?

Food & Drink

Eating in Amsterdam is a revelation. My father used to always bring back Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) when he returned from business trips to Amsterdam. Now I regularly visit - often just at the airport - but even here, you can buy your favorite cheeses, chocolate bars, and chocolate sprinkles.

Things You Must Try in Amsterdam:

  • A fresh and still warm Stroopwafel
  • Pannenkoeken, which are savory pancakes. Tip: Especially delicious at Pancakes.
  • Haring: A herring from one of the many stalls along the canals, pickled and served with onions and pickles.
  • Stamppot (mashed vegetable and potato dish) served with sausage or meatballs. Tips:
  • For breakfast, many Dutch eat hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles). I love it occasionally and always have some at home.
  • Cheese! Of course. Try all the flavors and take some home from one of the many stores near Rembrandtplein. Not only have all the birthday kids from us received cheese, but my fridge is now well-stocked with it.

By the way: In Amsterdam, there are food vending machines everywhere, meaning food from a machine. For example, "Febo de Lekkerste" on Ferdinand Bol Street. We have not tested the food but this establishment is worth mentioning.

I took a food tour in Amsterdam with Eating Amsterdam Tours (Twilight De Pijp Food Tour). In the following days, we tried numerous cafes for breakfast and traditional restaurants in the city center and De Pijp.

Tips for breakfast in Amsterdam:

Other cafes and restaurants where we had a great meal include:

  • My Little Patisserie, great patisserie that also offers workshops.
  • Sira Citra, Indonesian rice table. Rice with many small ingredients that you can try one after the other.
  • Olive and Cookie, vegetarian slow food.
  • De Turk, a small shop with fresh Turkish food, coffee, and more.
  • Par Hasard, supposedly the best fries in Amsterdam! Very tasty and large portions. Newest trend: Fries and wine.
  • Troost Brewery, craft beer in an old police station. Great location, the beer tastes great, and of course, there are fries as well.
  • Sugar'n ice, fresh Stroopwafel to take away (Spuistraat 124)
Amsterdam Travel Tips: Eating Stroopwafel
Eating Stroopwafel - best served warm. photo by viel-unterwegs.de
Amsterdam Travel Tips: Eating Herring
Try herring from one of the many stalls along the canals. photo by viel-unterwegs.de

More on the topic of food in Amsterdam, including a report on the food tour through De Pijp and tips on breakfast and dinner, will follow shortly.

Hotel Tips for Amsterdam

Accommodations in Amsterdam can quickly blow your budget for a trip. Hotels are not cheap if you want to stay in a central location. The best neighborhoods include the historic city center with the canal belt, the multicultural and trendy De Pijp district, and the trendy Jordaan district.

I really like De Pijp. Here you have a great selection of cafes for breakfast and restaurants for dinner. Moreover, you are close to the center.

A special place is the accommodation on a houseboat (e.g. The Cabin). But here it applies: Book quickly, as these rooms get booked up fast.

Not entirely in the center but very modern and centrally located is the Meininger Hotel Amsterdam West. I really like the Meininger hotels and can also recommend this one.

Checklist for City Trip to Amsterdam

At Least 2 Months Before:

  • Buy a travel guide, research in travel blogs, and download the Trip Advisor App for Amsterdam to your smartphone (my tips and the travel guides I had can be found above in the article)
  • Book an accommodation. Especially in the summer months, Amsterdam is a popular destination for city trips. You can find my tips further down.

One Month Before:

  • Buy discounted train tickets. Even though I often complain about DB Bahn, traveling by train is the coziest way from Southern Germany to Amsterdam.
  • If you want to fly, check out my tips for booking cheap flights.
  • Consider what you want to see and possibly think about an i amsterdam card or a museum card that covers up to 400 Dutch museums.

Two Weeks Before:

  • Reserve tables at popular restaurants. The restaurants within the canal belt are all very small, and the Dutch like to stay longer when dining out. Without a reservation, it's nearly impossible to get a spot in one of the smaller (less touristy) restaurants.

One Week Before (or On-Site):

  • Book tours online. I often look for special tours from private guides. My favorite is Get your Guide. For instance, I booked our crime scene tour through the Red Light District. Food tours are also popular. After being blown away in Rome, I booked a food tour in Amsterdam with the same provider.
  • Packing: Definitely include a rain jacket in your travel gear. The weather in Amsterdam can be very changeable and windy. Comfortable shoes should also be packed, and leave everything else at home. Amsterdam is best explored on foot.

Upon Arrival:

  • Get a map at the tourist info for the tram/metro
  • Buy a museum card (covers up to 400 Dutch museums).
  • Plan museum visits well, or else you will have to stand in long lines. Possibly book tickets here in advance.

Further Information About Amsterdam Online:

  • Spotted by Locals Amsterdam: An absolute favorite site with insider tips from locals about various cities. Especially as an app on site, it is great when you are looking for fantastic addresses for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Insider tips from locals. Costs 3.99 euros and contains valuable tips that are more helpful than any travel guide.
  • holland.com (Dutch Tourist Information)
  • iamsterdam.com (Official city website)

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful in answering your questions. If you have any ideas or questions, we would be very happy to hear your comments here on the travel blog.

If you have no questions: We still look forward to your feedback and hope you will share this article with friends or save it on Pinterest. Then you will find the tips again later.

Would you like to always receive the best travel and insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, or subscribe to my newsletter to receive regular updates and exclusive tips.

♥ Do you like my tips? Say thank you with a coffee ☕️

My articles are the result of intense research, personal experiences, and honest recommendations - entirely without AI. I write them so that you can plan your travels stress-free and with real, tested tips.

If you enjoy my work and just want to say thank you, I would appreciate a small tip in my virtual travel fund. Every contribution helps me continue to create high-quality content with passion and independence for you. Thank you!

Trust is essential: In some of my articles, you'll find affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one of these links, it doesn't cost you any extra - but I receive a small commission. This way, you can support me without any additional effort and help me keep this blog alive. Thank you for being part of my community and sharing my passion for authentic travel!