City of bikes and canals - Amazing Amsterdam!

Amsterdam Downtown!

Amsterdam - A bike friendly charming city with a lot of history, culture and fun. We had an exhilarating time exploring it with our friends for two and a half days. It is a city that has something for everyone, whether you like nature, culture or entertainment.

Here is what we did: Day 1, we walked around the Dam Square and the De Wallen area, where we saw some old buildings, churches and the famous red-light district. We also visited the Vondelpark, a large park with ponds, cafe and playgrounds. We had one of the most delicious stroopwafles at the famous Albert Cuyp market. In the evening, we took a night canal cruise (Lovers) and enjoyed the views of the illuminated bridges and houses along the water.

Dutch Waffles!

Day 2, we took a short ferry ride from Amsterdam Central to Noord, where we visited some amazing attractions. There is also A'DAM lookout, a tower with an observation deck and a swing that lets you soar over the edge. We also had fun at the WONDR museum, an interactive and colorful place with different rooms to explore and play.

Fun & funky Wondr Museum!

Day 3, we decided to skip the museums and just stroll around the canals, as we had already seen few in Paris and we wanted to save some time. However, if you are interested in art or history, you might want to check out some of the famous museums in Amsterdam, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. Just make sure to book your tickets in advance, as they can get very busy.

Canal Cruise boarding (night view)

Pros

• A wonderful city to explore on foot or by bike and there are wide bike lanes for cyclists. But be careful when you walk across the bike lanes, as the cyclists can be fast and expect you to watch out for them. The best way to get around as a visitor is by bus, but you can also rent an electric bike if you want more flexibility. Just make sure you know the safe cycling rules in Amsterdam, like staying in your lane, turning on your lights at night, and giving a sign to turn. We stayed at our friends’ place far from downtown, but it was easy to commute by bus or Uber.

• Like Paris, ton of food options to try in Amsterdam especially delicious Dutch waffles, and it’s a safe city to venture out at night as well.

Cons

• Nothing, other than being vigilant and practicing commons sense for navigating any new city/country.