Welcome to Amsterdam! Filled with beautiful, winding canals and plenty of famous buildings people come in droves to visit the city’s famous museums, get lost in its maze of streets, or simply stroll along one of its many bridges. It’s also richly steeped in Dutch culture and history. But if you’re a first-time visitor, there are some things that you may want to avoid. To make your first visit the most memorable experience possible here are 11 things not to do in Amsterdam and what to do instead!
From the minute you arrive in Amsterdam, you’ll have your first chance to break away from the traditional transit route. Even with large bags in tow, don’t bother with expensive taxi rides. An Amsterdam airport taxi will charge you a fixed price of 39 Euros from the airport to the Amsterdam city center. For that price, you can pay for your public transit for the entire trip plus a few lovely meals to boot!
Unlike some cities where the trip from the airport to the centre city is either expensive, time-consuming or both, Amsterdam is home to one of the best public transport systems. The train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station is the fastest and cheapest way to get to the center of town. The train runs 24 hours a day, so it doesn’t matter when you arrive in town. Plus trains from the airport to the city run every 10-15 minutes during the day. Even if you come during off-hours, you’ll still be able to get a train within the hour. The 14km journey costs only €4.60 and takes just 20 minutes.
To save even more money, be sure to purchase a three-day travel card. For just €28 this will get you unlimited transport on trains, trams and buses. Including your airport transfer! To use the card, just tap on and off at the designated stations to register your rides.
Founded in 1862, the Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market. When you hear the words “Floating Flower Market,” you’ll be just like me and imagine rows and rows of flower vendors floating beside the iconic gable houses along the canal. Bouquet of tulips in baskets and bundles being sold by the dozen. But when you arrive, the scene is markedly different. Today, the Bloemenmarkt is nothing more than souvenir stalls taking advantage of the prime historic location. The only real “flowers” on sale are tulip bulbs. So long as your country will allow them to be carried through customs you can bring home these Dutch flowers to plant in your own garden. At one point, the flower market was just that, an actual flower market. But sadly the vendors have moved out of the city center and over to larger warehouses out of town.
If seeing the famous Dutch Tulip is what you’re looking for, then you should instead make your way to the Keukenhof flower gardens! The gardens are open from March into Mid-May when the flowers are in bloom. The Keukenhof has over 4.5 million blooming tulips spread over the 32 hectares of green space inside. They create what can only be described as a blanket of fantastical aromas and ethereal colours. Since the Keukenhof is located just outside the city it’s also a great opportunity to see a bit of the Dutch countryside.
If you missed out on the Keukenhof open dates, another alternative to the Bloemenmarkt is the Aalsmeer Flower Auction. This is the largest flower auction in the world! It is located in the fourth largest building by footprint in the world, covering 518,000 square metres. All filled with flowers! Ticket prices to enter the market are €9 per person. Plus you can download the audio guide for free to get a personal guided tour of the market and learn all about the history of the market, the flowers, individual sellers.
The Damrak is the main street that runs between Amsterdam Centraal towards Dam Square. Since it is such a busy thoroughfare, this street has transformed from a quaint little alley into a raging tourist trap. Although it still seems to make the top of the ‘Where to go in Amsterdam,’ lists, I would definitely find ways to get around it. There is little more to see here than the crowds, American restaurants and cheesy, overpriced souvenir shops. Lots of people come here to visit the Damrak Waterfront but truly, you can find better and more beautiful canal houses outside of this area. Don’t assume this is the only place to get that iconic shot of Amsterdam’s Dancing Houses.
If you’re looking for a more local, quiet street to explore that still gives you those iconic Amsterdam canal houses you should check out the Jordaan neighbourhood. The Jordaan is a neighbourhood bordered by the stunning Singel canal and upper-class Prinsengracht canals. The narrow canals here were initially home to the working classes of Amsterdam, but it is now one of the most vibrant and upscale neighbourhoods. Home to some of the most charming, lovingly created houses. The flower-lined canals are brimming with art galleries, chic boutiques and some of the best restaurants and cafes.
Amsterdam locals have been riding bicycles since birth. The city is home to over 880,00 bikes. That’s about 1.9 bikes per person! But despite this, Amsterdam is not the cycling paradise you might think it would be. It actually has a long way to go in terms of biking infrastructure. Despite the staggering numbers of people who use the bike lanes and cycle to work every day it’s far from being at the top of safety rankings. This means that although renting a bike is one of the top things to do in the city, you shouldn’t go into it thinking you’ll have an easy go of it. Bikers in Amsterdam are confident, chaotic and cocky. They have known the rules of the road for ages, and you’ll be trying to slowly adjust to the speed of things.
My advice for anyone wanting to ride a bike in Amsterdam is to book a bike tour. Bikes tours are great since they will give you a primer lesson on the rules of the road and any local tips for keeping yourself safe. Riding in a pack with your tour group is also a huge plus. You don’t have to worry about the directions, just follow the leader. It’s a beautiful way to slowly ease into the flow of riding. And as a bonus, you get to learn more about the city along your way!
I’m prone to pushing myself while visiting a new city to solely dine on traditional local cuisine. And yet the real locals, who live in Amsterdam, aren’t eating just cheese and herring every day. That would be like me as a Canadian just eating poutine, maple syrup, butter tarts, and bacon all day. While you never want to travel to a new city and NOT experience unique traditional items, that shouldn’t be the ONLY thing you eat. After a week of eating only traditional Dutch food, I can tell you I was almost dying to eat a salad (something you’d otherwise never hear me say!)
In Amsterdam, as in much of Holland, Indonesian food is one of the most popular forms of cuisine for locals to enjoy. The East Indies was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. When immigrants from the colonies came to Holland they brought with them spices and food from their home country. And even to this day, the locals love Indonesian food. The most popular kind of cuisine is called rijsttafel which means “rice table.” A rijsttafel meal consists of dozens and dozens of small plates filled with different traditional Indonesian dishes. It’s the perfect way to try a myriad of different varieties of food to see which is your favourite.
30 years ago, visiting Amsterdam to imbibe in the green leaf was something of a novelty you could only experience “legally” in the Netherlands. Today, states and provinces in North America have slowly started to change their laws around the legalization of marijuana. So Amsterdam isn’t the hub of pot-smoking hippies it once was. That being said, if you are interested in altering your state of mind, there are still dozens of “coffeeshops” where you can indulge. But never ever buy drugs on the street. Not only is this very dangerous as scammers are aplenty, but you run the risk of your joint being laced with something far more nefarious than weed. Even when visiting the real deal coffeeshops don’t go in guns blazing if you’ve never sampled marijuana before. A bad trip is a sure-fire way to ruin your vacation.
There are so many well-priced and chic coffee shops that there’s no need to resort to street drugs. Always consult with the “cannabis concierge” across the counter. They will be able to best advise you on what strength or variety you should try. They know their stuff, so always listen to what they have to say. Start with a slow dose and then level up to your preference.
But NEVER feel pressured to try cannabis just because you’re in Amsterdam. The “when in Rome” trope really doesn’t apply here. Drugs aren’t for everyone and there are so many ways to enjoy your trip to the Netherlands outside of smoking up. Thankfully, so many of the coffeeshop in Amsterdam cater to non-smokers as well. And their menus consist of everything from smoothies to croquettes. So you can still enjoy your time inside these establishments without feeling the need to partake if that’s your choice!
Personally think travel influencers over-demonize Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours. Are Hop–On Hop–Off tours uber-touristy? Yes. But, for many people with disabilities or mobility issues, they are hugely helpful. Hop-On Hop-Off tours are almost always wheelchair accessible as they are a worldwide industry with high service standards. And wheelchair-using customers don’t pay extra for the service. Independent and private wheelchair-accessible tours are enormously expensive. So these buses are a fantastic service and people need to stop obsessively hating on them. But, in some cities, they just don’t make sense. And Amsterdam is one of those places. The Hop On Hop Off buses cannot enter the city center, so you’ll miss out on so many key historical sites along the canals.
The many canals of Amsterdam are what make this city so unique. And seeing the town from the water is the most authentic way of exploring it. There are dozens of companies to choose from. But if you can afford to book a canal tour with a local private guide that is really the way to go! These local guides can tell you all about the various buildings you’ll float on past and even little stories on the history of the city. The more generic boat tours are also great options and usually at least have a recording you can listen to which will give you some insight on the sights passing by.
Heineken is known as the “Beer of Amsterdam,” as it was developed here in the city in 1864. But the brewery that the Heineken family bought had been producing beer since 1592! So suffice to say, Heineken beer has been a big part of Amsterdam for hundreds of years. But, the Heineken Experience is expensive and overhyped. Plus, their beer tasting only offers you, Heineken, when the Netherlands has hundreds of amazing breweries. All of which are worth giving a try!
Brouwerij de Prael is a microbrewery located in the historic Red Light District. It is a beautiful local brewpub with over 3,000 different labels as well as its own microbrews. Here you can enjoy a tasting of 4 beers for €10,00 per person in the most enjoyable atmosphere! Far better than just heading to the touristy Heineken center.
Speaking of beers, please, oh please, skip the Beer Bikes! If you’ve been to Amsterdam, you’ll have HEARD these raucous bikes travelling around the city. In fact, you’ll hear them far before you actually see them. They are extremely popular with frat boys or stag night groups. These travellers aren’t interested in the nuances of local beers and more focused on getting extremely drunk while driving the rest of the city crazy. They might look like a fun little novelty but are super overpriced for the mediocre experience. The bikes are so hard to control and often the locals find themselves flying into fits of rage trying to weave around these moving barf-mobiles.
A “brown café” is a kind of like the Dutch version of a classic British pub. The nickname caught on, but no one really knows where it started. To be deemed a “brown cafe,” you must indeed have a dark brown interior. Dark wood is prevalent as is dim lighting. Vintage decor and bottles of liquor older than you are also a vital part of the experience. These places are an excellent spot to find locals and ask for recommendations and try something you’ve never even heard of before. So before you book your buddies on a hugely expensive beer bike tour, consider a “Brown Cafe Crawl” instead!
A new trend for visitors to Amsterdam is to head up to the A’DAM Lookout. The A’DAM LOOKOUT is an observation deck with an “unrivalled” panoramic view of Amsterdam. I would argue against that point but let’s carry on… In addition to the lookout, there is a small gallery and Audio guide about Amsterdam to enjoy for your €14.50! But what most people seem to be interested in is the ‘Over The Edge‘ swing that dangles a pair of daredevils 100 meters over the edge of the building for an extra €10. The whole experience is super touristy and overall not worth the considerable wait to get inside or the price.
If you’re looking for a rooftop view for free, then you must check out the Central Library Rooftop Terrace. The library is located right beside central station so it’s easy to get to. The OBA Oosterdok, or Central Library, was built in the early 2000s and is one of the most impressive modern libraries in Europe. The building is spread out over ten floors. In addition to millions of books, the library includes an auditorium, an exhibition room, a museum, and 2000 parking spaces just for bicycles!
But the best place to visit for tourists is La Place Cafe. This is the library’s own rooftop restaurant terrace located on the 7th floor. From up here, you have a magnificent view of the whole of Amsterdam. To me, this is the best panoramic view in the city! And best of all, so many people don’t even know it’s even up here! As it caters to many students who come here to study, the restaurant is reasonably priced. And even serves alcohol to boot! It’s the ideal place to grab a spot of lunch and enjoy a Dutch beer in the sunshine while looking out over the city.
When I visited Amsterdam, I read a lot about their grand public courtyards and headed right to Dam Square. What I found were hoards of tourists all crammed into a relatively boring centre. Even when I tried again later in the day and earlier in the morning, when these places were quieter, I still was unimpressed. While the building surrounding the square were apparently historic they had been transformed into tourist monstrosities. Even the dreaded Madame Tussauds had her headquarters right here in the square! These large public squares really lacked that magic I found in other cities around Europe. They were pretty plain and didn’t have the sparkle that places like St. Marks or St. Wenceslas have where it makes the heavy tourist load worth it. There are so many other amazing places to visit in Amsterdam, these squares just aren’t worth the time.
Yes, that’s right, we’re headed back to the Jordaan Neighbourhood for this next alternative activity! Despite being so close to the city centre, the Jordaan neighbourhood the perfect escape from the crowds. One such delight to be found here is the Noordermarkt. On Mondays, a large outdoor market is held where you can buy organic food, textiles, crats and yes, actual bouquet of flowers!
And don’t think you’re missing out on any history by choosing to visit this square over the ones in the city centre. The Noordermarkt dates back to 1616! It was initially named Prinsenmarkt, after the Prinsengracht canal, which the square borders. And the Noorderkerk church that dominates the square was built in 1623! During World War II, it was here in this square that protesters arrived to oppose the deportation of Jews by the Nazis. One of the most famous scenes of resistance from the people of the Netherlands.
Ok, now I know I’m going to cause quite the stir on this point! You might say, “But one of the main reasons I’m planning to go to Amsterdam is to see the Anne Frank Museum!” Well, if you have had your heart set on it for ages, obviously you should make your way there. But the museum is subject to huge lines even with advance tickets. And if you plan your trip something spur of the moment, you’ll often be disappointed to find you can’t get a spot. Tickets are known to book up months in advance and even though the afternoon is dedicated to walk-up admission the line often wraps around the canal. And many people find themselves to be almost inconsolable disappointed to miss it.
The story of Anne Frank is a harrowing tale for the ages, and something almost every schoolchild reads in their adolescence. And while visiting the house where Anne wrote her book and hid from the Nazis is a powerful experience there are actually other places in Amsterdam to learn more about the war and the experience of Dutch people during the occupation of the Netherlands. If you can nab a ticket to the Anne Frank House that’s great, but if you miss out on booking it in advance check out my recommendations for amazing alternatives!
The Verzetsmuseum or “The Dutch Resistance Museum” was chosen as the best historical museum in the Netherlands! Here, you literally walk through history as the exhibition tells the story of the Dutch people in World War II. From May 14th, 1940 to May 5th, 1945, the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. Inside the museum, you step back in time and get to experience what life actually looked like in Amsterdam in the forties.
There are “streets” you walk along, and the walls are full of photos and decor that help evoke the climate of the war years. You can read actual copies of the underground newspapers, discover escape routes and see how people went into hiding (just like Anne Frank). There are moving personal documents which tell the story of people who were confronted with life or death choices by the German forces. This museum makes you feel like you have lived through what Anne and her family had to live through in a more in-depth way. The Verzetsmuseum is a fantastic alternative to the Anne Frank house and one which immerses you into the atmosphere of life in Amsterdam during the war.
When you think of Amsterdam, your first thought might not be of rain. You think of tulips and wooden clogs and maybe even rounds of cheese. But let me tell you, you should be thinking RAIN and WIND! The city is called the “San Francisco” of the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a temperate, oceanic climate with over 200 wet days a year! This results in an average annual rainfall of about 760mm!! But don’t let this rain on your parade! Rain just requires a little bit of advanced planning.
Bring a sturdy umbrella and always keep a lightweight raincoat in your backpack for those unexpected downpours. You can find lots of compressible raincoats that fold up to find into your pocket so you always have one on hand. I always tell people to keep a list of “rainy day places” where they can escape to. Since the city is packed full of museums, this is an excellent opportunity to head inside. Enjoy the safety and warmth of the Dutch masters arms and peruse some beautiful artworks while you await the sunshine.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is famous the world over. It consists of a network of alleys containing approximately three hundred, one-room suits. These rooms can be rented by the hour where sex workers offer their sexual services to paying customers. They advertise themselves from behind glass windows or doors, typically illuminated with red lights, hence the name. The area where the Red Light District is located was historically a large port where sailors would come into dock. Sailors on leave were prime customers for sex workers and the area slowly became a hub for this kind of activity.
Many tourists make the mistake of coming here thinking the working women are themselves sideshow. They whip out their cameras or phones and snap photos as they pass. This is tantamount to being illegal in the area, and some sex workers are known to have a cup of pee on hand to throw in the face of tourists who take their photos. These women are not a tourist attraction. They are just trying to make a living. And it’s sad to see so many tourists come down here to make a mockery of their lifestyle. And if you come down here just to gawk at the girls in the windows, you’ll miss out on the treasure hidden behind the red lights.
The Red Light District is located in the famous De Wallen neighbourhood. And surprisingly, this area just happens to be one of the most exciting and historic parts of town! If you know what you’re looking for. Local guides can take you through the deep history of the neighbourhood, along the narrow alleys, into “Chinatown,”, past the famous “Weigh House,” and of course give you some interesting information on the reality of the red and blue lights and the women who work there. It’s a fantastic opportunity to really learn about the area and not just see it for it’s superficial exterior.
Leidseplein has become THE spot for tourists to grab a beer. But most locals look at this square as a giant crowded tourist trap. Leidseplein used to serve as a parking lot for horse-drawn traffic in the 19th century, but today is a large public square packed with loud restaurants and rowdy nightclubs. Personally, I have a sore spot about the place because it was where I was almost hit by a tram, but that’s a story for another time… Sure it’s central and popular but there are so many better places to get a drink in the city.
NDSM (Nederlandse Droogdok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij) is located about 15 minutes away from the city centre. And the trendy area is only accessible by a free ferry which departs from the Central Station. The former shipyard, abandoned in recent years, has been transformed into a vibrant artist community. Here you’ll find incredible outdoor works of art that are constantly changing. The area started to drawn in so many tourists and local visitors that fabulous bars and restaurants started to move into the neighbourhood. Here you can dine and drink while immersed inside the most vibrant atmosphere. Sitting here enjoying a cafe or pint of beer is such a better experience than out in loud and touristy Leidseplein.
Vondel Park is the Central Park of Holland. But with being so popular, you garner a lot of visitors, both locals and tourists alike. The park opened in 1895 and is spread out over 47 hectares of land! But amidst these 47 hectares are loud kids seemingly constantly screaming, lots of trash left behind by rude tourists and a seemingly never-ending stream of people. Overall, I found it felt too vast and unmanicured to feel overly cozy and relaxing.
Wertheimpark is the oldest park in Amsterdam. It opened to the public in 1812! The park really has an air about it that feels more local. Parents bring picnics to enjoy, old ladies stroll around with their friends and student comes to study under the shade of the trees. The park also comes packed with lots of history. It was named after Jewish banker and philanthropist, A.C. Wertheim, who died in 1897. Today, there is an Auschwitz monument here called ‘Nooit meer Auschwitz’ (Auschwitz never again) created by Jan Wolkers. Wertheimpark is also home to Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, which is definitely worth checking out if you’re into plants. With so much to see and do, in addition to just lounging around, this is definitely the park I think you should check out.
Hopefully, this tour gave you some insight into what you might want to skip or alternatives to the big-ticket items in Amsterdam. The city is such a treasure, and there are so many secrets to discover around even the canal. Let me know in the comments what your favourite hidden gem is or any other bit of advice you want to share with new explorers!
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Great Information. I will definitely take your advice when my husband & I visit next spring (2025). Would love your advice on the best neighborhood to stay in Amsterdam & perhaps a good (overnight) day trip from Amsterdam. Thanks!