Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands is famous for their canals, coffee shops, and tulips. In my opinion, it’s a beautiful place to visit. The locals are pleasant and the city is easy to enjoy. If you enjoy places like London, Paris, and Rome, you will definitely enjoy Amsterdam.
Best Time of Year to Visit Amsterdam
Spring & Summer
Although there isn’t a thing as the best time to visit Amsterdam, as all seasons are great; I personally think Spring is the best time to visit Amsterdam. Spring is when tulips are blooming and the weather is perfect.
Based on many travel bloggers, the summer includes countless festivals, many people having picnics in the park, tons of outdoor cinema & art, and locals having a cool drink on sunny terraces. Likewise, we saw this a lot during the Spring as well. The weather is typically an average 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
Autumn & Winter
During Autumn, the fall leaves are a sight to see and considered the most beautiful then. Additionally, during the Winter pubs are full of people enjoying the company of each other. So no matter when you go, you will have a great time! The weather is typically an average 44 degrees Fahrenheit for winter and 58 degrees Fahrenheit for autumn.
Where to Stay
The Intercontinental Amstel is conveniently located in the heart of Amsterdam, close to the city centre. The hotel is walking distance to The Royal Carré theatre and the Hermitage Amsterdam museum. You will be able to reach the main attractions like the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Concertgebouw, the Stedelijk Museum, the Anne Frank House, and Amsterdam’s boutique shopping streets within minutes using the transit service. You will not be disappointed with your stay here.
Things to See and Do in Amsterdam
Firstly, Amsterdam is one of those places where you don’t need a tour guide. Certainly, all you need is a transit card and/or a bike and you can get everywhere you need to go. Our stay at Intercontinental Amstel was walking distance to a transit stop.
Furthermore, Amsterdam is truly a walkable city. As such, most major sites are near the city centre. Additionally, we used public transit to get everywhere. According to Amsterdam.info, driving is strongly discouraged within the canal ring. Check out the website for all things transportation.
Canal Tour
After landing and getting settled at our hotel for a bit, we immediately took a canal cruise. Above all, it was so relaxing and the best way to start our first day in Amsterdam. The weather was perfect. Our tour guide was great!
Because our Chase Sapphire card is what we usually use to book our tours, it was a no brainer to use it to book a canal cruise. The tour is through Boat Amsterdam. Further, we chose a 70-minute canal cruise with a live guide (unlimited wine and beer included).
For 2 adults we paid $34. If you don’t have a Chase card, you can book a similar tour directly through Viator.
Pancakes
Amsterdam is known for its pancakes! While there, you must try Het Karbeel. They have delicious pancakes. This place gets very busy so we opted to eat here for brunch instead of dinner. We were able to get in pretty easily. It’s pretty small but has so much character!
Museumplein
Museumplein means Museum-square in English. The museums are located around the square and is referred to as the Museum Quarter or Museum District. Also, it’s located close to the busy city centre, which is where all tourists in Amsterdam gather. Trying to fit in with the locals, we hung out here and enjoyed a hot dog and people watch for about an hour before entering the Van Gogh Museum. This is a great place to have a picnic and just relax.
I AMSTERDAM
We also took a few photos of the I AMSTERDAM sign. After 2019, The ‘I AMSTERDAM’ sign has been moved from Museumplein.
As of December 9, 2019, there are three locations to spot I Amsterdam:
- The first set is at Oostpoort in Amsterdam-Oost (in front of Stadsloket Oost).
- A permanent set is at Schiphol Airport. Outside Arrivals 1.
- The last one is by the Sloterplas Lake. Some of the letters are upright and others lie flat, making it hard to get that Instagram-perfect picture.
Check iamsterdam periodically for updates of where the sign is located. The set of letters are going to be situated at multiple locations throughout the city in the few upcoming years.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is a must-see while in Amsterdam. The museum has a no-photo policy which I loved because it allowed everyone to enjoy the artwork of Van Gogh. There were areas where you could take photos but not of the actual art. We did see a few people taking photos but I advise you not to take that risk.
Either way, Van Gogh’s story is pretty interesting and I learned quite a bit about his life and legacy. If you love art and/or history, this is a great place to visit.
We did not purchase tickets in advance but I would advise that you do because we had a bit of a wait (1 hour). Luckily for us, we had time to waste. There is a ticket booth outside of the museum, but tickets may not be available for the time you would like, so you should get tickets in advance.
Heineken Experience
If you are a beer lover then you need to definitely visit the Heineken Experience. You can discover the history of the company, the 4 natural ingredients of the beer, the brewing process, and a tasting room (which is awesome). At the end of the tour, you can enjoy 2 Heinekens.
For 2 adults you will pay around 36 euros.
Gassan Diamond Experience Tour
This tour was very cool to experience. For those looking to purchase diamonds or expensive watches this place is it. The tour includes:
- Learning more about diamonds, diamond cuts, and the unique GASSAN 121 diamond
- History of the diamonds and company
- Access to the large watch and jewelry collections
- Access to an exclusive in-house Rolex Boutique
Tours are 7 days a week, all year round from 9.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. You will get to see the diamond polishers at their craft, while the tour guide will tell all about the history of diamonds and the company. The guides will explain the process of transforming a rough diamond, into a dazzling brilliant cut, or the GASSAN 121’ exclusive cut while the diamond polishers show you how it’s done.
Don’t forget to Pin It!
