As you probably know, going to Amsterdam as a teenager tends to be for far different reason than just to admire the city's beauty and delve into its' history. However, this was the first holiday abroad for my boyfriend and I so we thought that it would be a wonderful place to explore the wonders and also have a bit of the teenage fun that Amsterdam is famous for!
WACKY- was the word that sprang to mind, as soon as I saw Amsterdam below me on the descent into the airport. The City is MAD! I'm not even just talking about the fact that a lot of people (mostly the tourists) are walking around with bloodshot eyes and a distant smile on their faces (you know exactly what I mean, I'm sure), it's just the crazy collection of people, shops, old and new. You just feel the liberty of everything and the happiness of the city, that you just don't get with London- definitely not when you work there anyway! The pubs and shops are all lit up with different colours and painted in crazy patterns and there's always something happening. Then there's the red light district, which brings about a whole new meaning to "wacky" all together, I won't go too much into that, but that's another thing you definitely just don't get in London. All of the citizens of Dam are so nice too, except for when they are armed with a bike.
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If I took anything away from my experience in Amsterdam it was a serious hatred for BIKES!! Anyone who has been to Amsterdam will be guaranteed to have had nightmares about what could have happened had they not seen 10 bikes shooting towards them at the last minute- EVERY SINGLE TIME they were about to cross the road in Dam. But the bike problem isn't just on the roads, it extends to the pavements too, where apparently bikes also have right of way, well according to the people on them anyway. Tom and I were crossing to an island in the road, when someone on a bike decided they were going the complete wrong way and did a "U" turn from the bike lane, ONTO THE ISLAND (just missing us) and then onto the road where a car had to slow for it. I mean really, it was like one of those awkward moments in school where you suddenly realise you are walking in the complete opposite direction to your next class, but instead of doing the typical continue walking so your grave error goes unnoticed, they decided to be that person to turn and knock everyone around them flying, except this time with a weapon- the bike!
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I wish England had canals rather than roads. Although it might take longer to get everywhere, they are so scenic and I'd rather sit in a boat for 4 hours than a car for one. I must say though, at least with roads there is a small chance that you are able to run across without going all the way to the crossing, however, with a canal, you don't really have any chance at all- I mean you can try to jump it or swim it, never say never, right?! It's usually fine, but those times when you need to be directly opposite and the nearest bridge is a few minutes down the road is just so frustrating. But if nothing else, the canals are beautiful, and the history behind their layout makes them all the more amazing!
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Our Hotel:
Apollo Museum Hotel Amsterdam
City Center
As it was our first holiday together, we didn't particularly want to stay in one of the many hostels dotted all around Amsterdam, therefore, we spent a little bit more money and opted for a hotel just to the side of the Rijks Museum. With the price being split between us and being part of a deal, this seemed fairly reasonable and, whilst our room wasn't anywhere near as nice as the one on the website, it was still well worth the extra cash. The hotel was in the prime location, right by the museumplien, a lovely plaza full of restuarants, and a short walk from the center, it couldn't have been situated anywhere better!
Sightseeing
A'DAM Lookout Tower
The A'Dam lookout tower was absolutely a standout place in our trip to Amsterdam and something I would absolutely recommend to anyone going!
The chill out 360 Sky Deck where there are platforms, benches and music playing, could be a great place to chill with friends as you look out over the gorgeous view of Amsterdam. Then there's some fun things for kids to do, like the swing and a random life-sized horse to climb on. And of course some placards and interactive screens detailing all of the history you would ever need to know about Amsterdam, which can be interesting to everyone.
Another added feature was the lift up to the top, which was all digitalised sort of like VR, which was just an added extra bonus!
The panorama restaurant and rooftop bar was absolutely lush as it also overlooks Amsterdam in all directions and has plenty of seating and more cool replicas, screens and details of the history dotted all around. The restaurant is on one side of the wrap-around room and seemed to be fairly pricey, but had snacks available at the bar. We spent a good two hours here watching the sun go down (behind the clouds), making our two drinks last, and this was absolutely lovely. We felt on top of the world up there!
The chill out 360 Sky Deck where there are platforms, benches and music playing, could be a great place to chill with friends as you look out over the gorgeous view of Amsterdam. Then there's some fun things for kids to do, like the swing and a random life-sized horse to climb on. And of course some placards and interactive screens detailing all of the history you would ever need to know about Amsterdam, which can be interesting to everyone.
Another added feature was the lift up to the top, which was all digitalised sort of like VR, which was just an added extra bonus!
The panorama restaurant and rooftop bar was absolutely lush as it also overlooks Amsterdam in all directions and has plenty of seating and more cool replicas, screens and details of the history dotted all around. The restaurant is on one side of the wrap-around room and seemed to be fairly pricey, but had snacks available at the bar. We spent a good two hours here watching the sun go down (behind the clouds), making our two drinks last, and this was absolutely lovely. We felt on top of the world up there!
- We got tickets as part of a deal with access passes, photos, a free gift and 2x drinks included with each, which was actually for a very decent price of 18.50 Euros, which I believe was well worth the extra as we would've spent more than this in the bar anyway!
- (Be warned: although the Regular ticket, priced at 12.50 Euros, says it includes a photo of your experience, this will be sent to you in low quality and you will have to pay more to download the higher quality version).
- Another thing to note is that tickets for the tower itself are different from tickets to the swing. The swing tickets are priced at 5 Euros each and must be paid for in addition to the entry ticket. There was also a queue for the swing for the entire time that we were there, not to mention, as high up as it is, it did look a bit pathetic-but would be a thrill for kids!
- Tickets are valid for any day! We called up to confirm this, as it was tipping it down with rain on the day we had booked the lookout, and they were very polite in confirming that it was absolutely fine for us to use our tickets the following day instead.
To Book click the link below:
Anne Frank House
1st the worst 2nd the best right? Well not quite, the lookout was spectacular but it has to be said the Anne Frank House was easily even more so! This amazing story is brought to life to beautifully in this museum and really enabled me to picture what she was saying and how they all lived together for two years with the fear and uncertainty that she explains in her book. As we all know, this phenomenal young mind wrote so amazingly about her situation and brought to life the story of Jews in hiding in the 2nd World War in Holland, as well as the story of young girls and the normal insecurities and feelings they would encounter. If you haven't read the book, read it! And if you go to Amsterdam and don't go here, why are you bothering to go? Seriously though, this is the most amazing attraction in Amsterdam, hands down, and I just can't get over how much Anne Frank's story has touched my heart!
I definitely recommend that you book well in advance, as we had a lot of struggle getting tickets! Here's where to do it:
iamsterdam Sign
The iamsterdam sign is an absolute must-see due to its' fame as a tourist hot spot, having featured in photos from pretty much every tourist to Amsterdam. This is situated directly behind the Rijks museum on the edge of the Museumplein, and was therefore right next to our hotel, making it easy for us to pop back when it was overcast (as when we went there first, it was swarming with other tourists and pretty much impossible to get a photo)! The Museumplein itself is also a lovely spot to hang out, (when it's not raining!) with little stands selling food, a bar to one side, an open area of grass and lots of museums to keep you entertained. I wish we had spent more time here, however it was just too cold.
- The "s" and the "e" are the easiest to climb!
Heineken Experience
Everyone visiting Amsterdam has heard about the Heineken Experience from online or someone who has been, and after being myself, I know why it is so popular! If you are going to Amsterdam be prepared for the volume of Heineken you will consume. I reckon that near enough every single establishment selling alcohol in the city has a gigantic, green, glowing Heineken sign, so it's easy to see why the attraction is hard to miss. Being based inside the old Heineken brewery building, the experience begins with a self-guided tour of the old brewery where you are able to read placards, listen to talks and interact with equipment as you walk around. You then come to a more modern part of the experience where virtual reality technology transports you into a digital paradise for the remainder of the tour. To find out what I mean you will have to go and experience it yourself, as you are guaranteed to love it!
The amazing technologies and VR was something that we noted in most of the Amsterdam attractions and made them all a really fun experience. Everything was interactive and fun in order to capture all of your senses and entice every demographic.
The amazing technologies and VR was something that we noted in most of the Amsterdam attractions and made them all a really fun experience. Everything was interactive and fun in order to capture all of your senses and entice every demographic.
- Included in the standard price you are able to get a half pint of Heineken during the tour and two each at the end of the tour in a giant disco-like bar. (Although, just a little warning that all this Heineken leaves you feeling a little tipsy upon your exit!)
To book follow the link:
House of Bols- Cocktail & Genever Experience
This is an attraction that is less known, however, it's definitely worth a visit! I mean, the cocktail alone was worth it, but the experience also showed us a great time too. Similarly to the Heineken Experience, the House of Bols began with a self-guided tour around the history of the company, it's founders and it's recipes. This then led into a rainbow room (good for photos) full of Bols Liqueur flavours for you to smell, such as Peppermint, Apricot Brandy and Banana- most of which, I must admit, I did not find appealing! Next up we came to 3 little rooms which you each had to go in separately and drink from a vile to "experience the taste", and I won't ruin it for future visitors but this is certainly a very weird but cool experience. Then, after having gone round some more of the tour, you soon came to the multicoloured bar, where you are able to choose a cocktail using an interactive menu as part of the standard ticket, which was then made in front of you by two very talented bartenders. From my experience, the cocktails that were made were very strong, however, I recommend the one I got- stroopwaffle of course! This was certianly an activity I would recommend and was good for us to get out of the rain on the day we went.
We didn't book, and I don't think you would need to but just in case, here's where to do it:
Blue Boat Canal Cruise- Day
Undoubtedly, the best way to explore the city of Amsterdam is by boat, due to the 31 miles of canals, over which there are 1281 bridges (yes I googled that, I didn't count). Therefore, we planned to take a canal cruise on our first evening, allowing us to rest and enjoy the city after a long day of travelling. The Blue Boat canal cruise office was literally one minute from our hotel so we popped down there before checking in and booked it for 5pm that evening. We then arrived early and were able to snap the best seats at the back of the boat! It was so relaxing (although pretty chilly) floating around taking pictures of all the sights we recognised and getting our first feel of the beauty of Amsterdam. However, I must admit, it didn't help us to get our bearings of the city at all like I had thought it would, not helped by the fact that we couldn't hear the audio guide from outside. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that any visitors to Amsterdam should absolutely take a cruise during their stay!
We didn't book, however, I believe that they were quite busy and we got two of the last tickets, therefore, below is the link:
Amsterdam Canal Cruise- Night
During our stay there was one day when it rained solidly, and luckily for the rest of the time it was dry. Therefore, we moved our plan to go on a night cruise forward and decided to enjoy the city lights from a boat inside. We booked this trip last minute at the site by Centraal Station and boarded a boat with only two others and the captain, where we were finally able to listen to the pre-recorded audio guide as we saw the city by candlelight. We were even allowed to take drink (Heineken, of course) on board and so we sat drinking and enjoying the view from the warmth of the boat, making for a very lovely romantic evening!
- This felt like a totally different experience to the cruise we took during the day, so in my view it was definitely well worth doing both.
We just showed up to this one, as I said it was practically empty and there were plenty of them, so you probably won't need to book!
TFIOS Bench
The Fault in Our Stars bench is an attraction that definitely appeals to a select group of people (primarily teenage girls) who would be familiar with the spot as one of the filming locations from the popular film adaption released in 2014. In the romantic drama, Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16 year old cancer patient, and Gus Waters, a teenage cancer survivor, meet at a cancer support group, and fall in love. At the establishment of this romance the pair are inspired to start getting up and enjoying life together; whether that be throwing eggs at their friend's ex's house or taking a trip funded by a last wish foundation to Amsterdam to meet their favourite author! If you have seen the film, you will know what pivotal moment takes place on this bench, but if not I won't drop a spoiler, but I will say it's a turning point where the flood gates open and don't close until long after the end of the film!
- As with any location linked to romance, the bench hosts many locks with inscriptions of names and dates from couples and friends who have visited. Although I didn't add a lock myself, it was lovely to read of visitors all the way from 2015 right up until before me in 2018.
Dam Square
Dam Square is one of the most popular sites in Amsterdam. It's location makes it pretty much impossible to miss, not to mention that it features the Royal Palace, the grand hotel Krasnapolsky, Madam Tussauds (also in a very grand building) and finally, the Nieuwe Kirk (new church). The famous monument was built in memory of Dutch soldiers and members of the resistence who died in WW2, and stands in the middle of the square. In addition to the buildings, there are many resturants and souvenir shops to browse around as well as the carnival when it's in town, street performers and all the rest.
Oude Kirk & The Red Light District
I know at the sound of the notorious "Red Light District" everyone does a silent gasp- even I used to, but for anyone who goes to Amsterdam, the Red Light District is sort of unavoidable. It is right by the Centraal and day (but especially night, of course), it is where it's all happening. Oddly, directly in the middle of the district is the Oude Kirk (old church), as well as plenty of coffee shops, restaurants and bars and museums. Honestly, during the day, it's just another of the many gorgeous streets along one of the canals, with a handful of "exotic" shops and a couple of, let's just say, "live underwear models" in windows. However, generally during the day it is pretty calm and PG rating, and at night, to be honest, it's not much worse either, maybe rating 15 (from the little that I saw, everything that needed to be covered was, just about!) The most shocking thing to me- maybe not Tom- was where on earth all these places hid during the day, because suddenly the street (which didn't seem at all vacant in daylight) was home to countless of these Ladies in windows, "shows" and museums all lit up in red!
Artis Zoo
If you're debating whether or not to go to Artis, let me convince you. This is such a lovely, underrated zoo, where there are lots of animals, exhibitions and things for kids to do. The animals are in suitable enclosures, and the information is all written in English for you to read up about them. Yes, ok it is just like any other zoo, but it is great value for money, and is set in gorgeous scenery. A highlight has to be the butterfly enclosure, where I spent the whole time trying to get an in-focus image of a butterfly flying- unsuccessfully!
There was a small queue for tickets as we didn't book, but here's the website:
Our 5 Day Itinerary:
Places We Ate At & Loved:
TedsOMG, I can't stress enough how much I LOVE Teds!! And, what's more is that everyone else in the place (which was jam packed both times we went) was having a whale of a time too, as well as all of the reviews online saying exactly what I am right now. The place serves literally the best food (we had Croque Monseuoir), for a very modest price, as well as cocktails and milkshakes (which looked absolutely amazing), soft drinks and coffees. It specialies in brunch (particularly good for hangovers) and the small team of staff were truly lovely too, despite running around all over the place. We went twice as we loved it so much! After coming back someone who has previously been to Amsterdam mentioned "a tiny little but amazing place (they) went for brunch" and I instantly knew they meant Teds!
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Pizza ResturantWe can't remember the name of this lovely little Italian pizza restaurant down Warmoesstraat, where we had pizza on our final night in the city. The food was delicious, staff very nice and and price was great. If you are lucky enough to find it, I highly recommend it, but if not, this and the parallel street have a cluster of restaurants tucked away, all of which look appealing!
The MexicanThis was a tiny restaurant/ cafe which we ate in on the day that we needed to have a big lunch because we were having a smaller dinner. I had Nachos (yes as a main!) and it was honestly the best nachos I've ever had in my life!
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The best burgers in AmsterdamThis little restaurant was right along the front and had a good price and absolutely lovely burgers. Just be warned, in Amsterdam burgers seem to always be sold separately from chips, and this resturant was no different. However, we always found that one portion between us was plenty.
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My Packing list:
Thank You for reading!
Becky xx
If you have been to Amsterdam, comment below your reccommendations and if you are going, get ready to have a blast!
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