Amsterdam is a great place to do spend your holidays. Do you know why?
Amsterdam is a city full of life, colours, nature, nightlife and... bicycles! It is incredible how bikes are the most used means of transport and you can always rent one when you are there. If you arrive via the railway station or if you pass by it, you will discover how true this really is.
Image by @windmilldreams
It is possible to visit this city in three days but you do need more days if you really want to try to get in touch with the culture and the locals, but also to feel the beauty of this city.
Do you know what you cannot miss?
- A'DAM Lookout -
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Have you ever imagined riding on Europe highest swing? In this place, you can! You may be scared at the beginning but don't worry... it is not dangerous and you will be laughing the entire time!
This is only one of the unbelievable experiences that you can take! A 360º view over Amsterdam, a sky bar and a restaurant, an interactive exhibition and a super fast elevator, are other things that you can expect.
- Zaanse Schans -
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Windmills are one of the symbols of Netherlands, so don't forget to go to Zaanse Schans, which is 30min by public transport from Amsterdam, and see them with your own eyes. Some are open to the public with a low admission price.
- Anne Frank House -
Amsterdam has a lot of history, perhaps the most famous historical person of the city being Anne Frank. At the Anne Frank House, you can visit where Anne and her family hid, along with others, for more than two years due to Nazi persecution and where she wrote her diary, now internationally famous. During the visit, you can see the original diary in addition to photos, documentaries and some objects from the period. It is an unforgettable experience.
We recommend buying tickets online so you don't need to be on the queues (usually, it is a huge queue).
Image @sandra_egorova97
This is the most iconic history place in the city to go but you have also other museums, such as Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Madame Tussauds, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Rembrandt House Museum, along with many others.
- Cheese, stroopwaffles and Bitterballen -
Cheese is another symbol of Netherlands and it is a big business in Amsterdam so you can't leave this city without trying it. There are a lot of shops with a wide range of Dutch cheeses, like Gouda and Maasdammer. In most of them, you can try some for free and then decide which one you like most.
You will also see a lot of tradition Dutch cookies, called stroopwaffels, with caramel inside. They are very delicious and while you are eating the first, you will be thinking about eating the second!
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Bitterballen is crispy meatballs normally served with mustard. It is a very common Dutch snack and is really good when combined with beer - heaven! Speaking of beer, if you are in the Netherlands, you need to try dutch beers. For instance, Heineken, Grolsch and Bavaria. In Amsterdam, you can also visit the Heineken Experience, an interactive adventure through the intense and dynamic world of Heineken.
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- Red Light Street -
This part of the city is really calm during the day, but at night it transforms into something unusual for most of the people, turning into a tourist attraction. There are red lights, sex signs and girls at the window everywhere. You can experience and watch sex shows.
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- Nightclubs -
In Amsterdam, you can dance in different types of clubs: warehouses (Warehouse Elementenstraat), school (De School) and industrial buildings (Sugarfactory), and basements (Shelter), where some of them really hidden.
Are you ready to move your feet and enjoy the moment?
- King's Day -
Every year, on 27th of April (King's birthday), there is a big outdoor festivity in the Netherlands, with more focus and a special atmosphere in Amsterdam. People celebrate throughout the day with a wide range of activities, wearing orange clothes (their pets too!), showing pride for the Dutch Royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.
Image by @melania_oliver
- Nature -
Vondelpark, which is a famous park in the Netherlands, is situated near the Van Gogh museum. It is really nice to spend some time there relaxing and enjoying nature or go around the park by walking or riding a bike. There are also free concerts during the summer season.
Image by@vondelpark.amsterdam
Amsterdam is a green city so if you are fanatic about parks, you will find one "every corner". Some examples of other parks that you can go for picnics and generally just to relax are Rembrandtpark, Sarphatipark and Oosterpark.
Are you convinced that you need to book a flight and accommodation to Amsterdam? I know that the answer is a "yes", otherwise, you are going to miss such a beautiful city with a lot of different things to enjoy!
*Header image from odyssey (Pinterest)