Hiya there, I was hoping to draw on your personal experiences for things to do in the city that might not be mentioned on your normal travel guides?
I know about the main museums / galleries / red light district / anne frank house and those sorts of things but I love it when someone can tell you "we just happened to find this place....." or "I live there and I love to go....."
I'm going for 4 nights at the beginning of October with my boyfriend just as a wee break from work so we have no strict plans... just going to enjoy the city, stroll about, visit attractions and coffee shops. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
2007-09-19 06:48:08 · 10 answers · asked by Fiona F 5 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Netherlands
Whatever your hobby or interests are, google for it, Amsterdam has more museums per square km than any other town.
Here is a link to a list of many of the Amsterdam museums:
http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/
I like Museum Willet Holthausen:
http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museum_willet-holthuysen/
Just a house on one of the canals, decorated as it would have been in the 18th century.
An other good one is Ons lieve heer op solder:
http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museum_amstelkring/
A house with a church hidden upstairs.
A 'street' you need to walk is the flower-market, it is one part of the much longer canal Singel, the market is on barges, but you do not recognize them as such seeing them from the front. Across the street are some nice shops, a Chinese are and crafts shop and a hammock shop come to mind.
Leidsestraat, with many of its side streets, is nice for drinking and eating.
But there are also a lot of nice small restaurants on Zeedijk, near the red light district and Centraal station.
There are many shops, and other fun things in the center of town, markets at the Waterlooplein (secondhand and bric-a-brac) and Albert Cuypstraat, a normal weekly market (most days of the week.)
http://www.amsterdam.info/map/
2007-09-19 08:27:35 · answer #1 · answered by Willeke 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We travelled to Amsterdam in August and really loved it. Yes you definately need to do the normal stuff! I would recommend going to the red light district during the day, it's a real eye opener..... Go to the Nemo Centre - it is the boat shaped building that you can see from the train station. Inside is a science museum, its an absolute scream inside, really aimed at kids but we spent a couple of hours in there.
We walked everywhere and it is down the back streets that you find the off the track places. We found a beautiful restaurant called the Silver Mirror down one of these and although it was very expensive the food was wonderful.
If you go to the passenger ferry terminal and walk behind it there is a really interesting restaurant there. (We stayed in the Moevenpick next door).
We also did a trip to Edam and the Windmills and really enjoyed it. Edam is gorgeous and full of lovely little houses.
My best advice is to wander down all the little side streets and alleys. We found most of the places we ate at off the beaten track and they were all the better for it.
Also a lot of people were offering canal trips in small boats, we didn't get the opportunity to do this, but it looked great fun. Have a look on the internet just before you go to see if there are any festivals on at all. Whilst we were there they had a huge one promoting the theatres in the city.
Oh and have a laugh at what ice cream is called out there!!!
2007-09-19 08:25:45 · answer #2 · answered by Jojotraveller 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To start with Amsterdam is a great city completely ignore what trucky and yoo hoo have said the obviously don't know a thing to start with the Red Light District is very safe and worth a visit as it is one of the sites of the city a lot of tourists go there just to see it also if you come out of Central Station you will see ahead of you the main street called Damark there are a lot of restaurants etc down here don't go to any of these they are good but are tourist traps but part way down you will find a bus company cant remember their name but they are very good you can get a lot of tours with them one I would personally recommend is the boat and bus city tour it takes if I remember about an hour on the canal trip and the bus trip I think was about two hours including a visit to a diamond factory well worth every cent if you are looking for somewhere to eat go off the beaten track a bit you will find a lot of nice and reasonably priced places a trip to Mardoudam is a must this is Holland in Miniature I have relatives in Amsterdam and Gouda and go over at least twice a year here is a very good link for you
http://www.holland.com/amsterdam/gb/
2007-09-20 06:31:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Vondelpark is one of the nicest parks, I think the most beautiful park of Amsterdam. Good for a stroll in the fall.
The Jordaan district is on old district. Very lovely with nice people, small exceptional shops and many restaurants. The Pijp, another district in the south of Amsterdam is also very nice. Famous for it's big flee market, the Albert Cuyp.
If you want to dance at night I'll recommend the Panama, good club. There's so much to see and do, I'm sure you won't be bored. Don't be afraid to ask the locals, they'll guide you to the best places.
Have fun!
2007-09-19 20:47:27 · answer #4 · answered by Duvel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am surprised that 2 replies said that Vondel park is good ---- personally i think it is drab and badly maintained compared to most of the parks around europe. I was surprised by this from the home of the tulip.
Don't miss the Night Watch 3D which is the painting brought to life in bronze with over 25 figures on Rembrandsplat.
The Amsterdam ship is worth a visit although a little off the beaten track.
In general the laid back ambience and the canal walks are the best of Amsterdam
Cheers
2007-09-20 04:37:51 · answer #5 · answered by maranta 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Amsterdam may be the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is among typically the most popular tourist places in Europe; and you can visit it from with hotelbye . with its universities, academies, and study institutes, along with an increase of than 40 museums, numerous theaters, and entertainment spots, Amsterdam could be the country's primary national center and an excellent place to pay your holyday. Additionally, Amsterdam can be fabled for its old houses, laid out in a structure of concentric sectors in the shape of a fan. Are some 6,750 houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries are crowded in to an area of 2,000 miles, dissected by 160 canals, themselves home to numerous houseboats.
2016-12-16 12:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Vondelpark is lovely in summer, and buzzes with locals and tourists alike. There's usually a show or concert in the open air theatre there, but not sure it will still be going in October. But there's lots of pretty walks there round the lakes, if you like that sort of thing. It's away from the shopping/nightlife areas, nearer the musems.
Just found this link that probably explains where it is better than i can
http://www.amsterdam.info/parks/vondelpark/
2007-09-19 08:27:07 · answer #7 · answered by sixoclock 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless things have changed drastically in the last few years, if people give you directions by pigeon they are not making fun of you.
The Netherlands is one of my favorite places that I've been, and I've been there a lot.
By the way, in Frankfurt there's a burger shop that's supposed to be for American tourists ... they only cook burgers once a year.
2007-09-19 18:30:20 · answer #8 · answered by Capt. Kiith-Sa Soban 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be carefull in the Red light district for thieves and fighters. Travel the canals by boat, like you would do in Venice. The old town is very small so it is easy to discover many nice things to see.
2007-09-19 07:00:22 · answer #9 · answered by Trucky 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A note pinned to your shirt with your name and hotel on it...
2007-09-19 07:23:58 · answer #10 · answered by YoooHoooo 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋