Simply Wanderfull

Get Social With Me

Charming Amsterdam, the best city on earth in my opinion! A unique destination where one can meander through a maze of streets and canals. Picture this: bicycles, blooming flowers, picturesque canals, crispy French fries with mayo, cozy cafes, and the joy of making new friends. This is the Amsterdam that I cherish and adore.

Amsterdam has been our go-to spot for years! My first visit to Amsterdam was for our honeymoon, followed by visits with our teenage children, and most recently, a trip without our adult kids. Each experience has been unique and equally as awesome. So lets dive in to planning your next vacation: the ultimate trip to wandering around Amsterdam!

I love to use the Lonely Planet Amsterdam City walking map for a great resource that packs nicely for your travels to Amsterdam. For other great trip planning resources download my Free Ultimate Travel Packing List and Tri-Fold Vacation Brochure to get prepared for your next tri

Getting There:

Getting to Amsterdam is a breeze, thanks to its well-connected transportation options. The city is served by the award-winning Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located just 9 kilometers (about 5.5 miles) southwest of the city center. From the airport, a direct train can whisk you to Amsterdam Centraal Station in just 15 minutes, making it a convenient choice for travelers. For those coming from other European cities, high-speed trains connect Amsterdam with major hubs like Paris, London, and Berlin, ensuring a seamless journey.

*Tip For Train Tickets: To buy tickets for the train from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol into the city, you can purchase tickets at the airport’s train station, which is located directly below the terminal. Look for the yellow ticket machines, where you can pay using cash or credit cards. The process involves selecting your destination (Amsterdam Centraal Station code: 1000), choosing your class of travel, and confirming your ticket type. The average fare for a one-way ticket to the city center is around €4.60, and trains run frequently throughout the day, making it a quick and affordable option to reach Amsterdam.

Where To Stay:

Here are some excellent hotel options in Amsterdam, categorized by luxury, mid-range, and budget:

Luxury Hotels

Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: This stunning hotel is set in a collection of 17th- and 18th-century palaces along the UNESCO-protected Herengracht canal. It offers elegant rooms, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, and a luxurious spa, making it a top choice for those seeking opulence and exceptional service
Conservatorium Hotel: Located near Museumplein, this five-star hotel combines modern luxury with historical charm. It features spacious rooms, an award-winning restaurant, and a wellness center, making it perfect for culture lovers and those looking for a refined experience.
De L’Europe Hotel: One of Amsterdam’s original grand hotels, overlooking the Amstel River. It features a blend of traditional and modern amenities, including a Michelin-starred restaurant and a spa

Mid-Range Hotels

Pulitzer Amsterdam: This unique hotel is made up of 25 restored 17th and 18th-century canal houses. It offers charming accommodations with modern amenities, an on-site restaurant, and a beautiful garden. Its central location makes it an excellent base for exploring the city. We stayed here twice and both times that we visited were wonderful accommodations and is located in a quiet area of Amsterdam. Very nice.
The Kimpton De Witt: This hotel is a great choice for the location, and is fairly priced, clean and serves up a great breakfast that is included in the price! We stayed here once and really liked it. Located within walking distance from Amsterdam Centraale Station. It is located just off the busy streets so we liked that it was quiet in a busy area.
Hotel Estheréa: Situated along the Singel canal, this charming hotel features cozy rooms decorated in a classic style. Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast and access to a lovely lounge area, all within walking distance of major attractions

Budget Hotel

Volkshotel: A trendy option for budget travellers, Volkshotel is located in Amsterdam East and offers stylish rooms at affordable prices. The hotel features a rooftop terrace with hot tubs, a bar, and a co-working space, making it an ideal choice for young travelers or those looking for a vibrant atmosphere These hotels provide a range of experiences to suit different preferences and budgets while ensuring a memorable stay in Amsterdam.

Where to Wander?

Spending a couple days walking around Amsterdam? Here is a list of our favourite things to see and do while in Amsterdam.

Rembrantsplein

Rembrantsplein is a square that is located in Amsterdam that is both historic and lively. It is particularly know for its lively atmosphere of numerous cafés, terraces, clubs, and entertainment venues surrounding the area. I personally love sitting out at a cafe and people watching with a cold beer. There is nothing better than this!

Some notable cafes and bars in Rembrantsplein include:

Café Schiller: A grand Art Deco restaurant with traditional Dutch dishes and a historic interior
Café “Los”: A casual cafe with live performances and sports screenings
Cafe Aunt Rosie: An old-world cafe with chandeliers, sidewalk tables, and great cocktails
The Three Sisters: A popular pub with outdoor seating and live performances
Bruincafé ‘t Centrum: A classic brown cafe with a cozy atmosphere
Escape Caffé: A gastropub offering cocktails, vegetarian options, and late-night food

Leidsplein

Leidsplein is another bustling square in the heart of Amsterdam. This area is known for its street performers, including fire-eaters, musicians, and mime artists, creating a carnival-like atmosphere. As night falls, Leidseplein transforms into a hotspot for party goers, with numerous bars, clubs, and restaurants lining the square and surrounding street.

Some notable cafes, bars and restaurants include:

Cafes and Bars

Café Americain: Historic art deco cafe in the American Hotel, famous for high tea and cocktails
The Bulldog Palace: Veteran coffeeshop and cocktail bar in a former police station
Café De Spuyt: Cozy bar with a wide selection of beers
Cafe De Waard: Casual pub with outdoor seating and cocktails
The Waterhole: Live music venue with daily performances and happy hour
Hoopman Irish Pub: Authentic Irish pub with outdoor seating

Restaurants

Bar-B Burgers ‘N’ Beers: Relaxed joint for burgers, grills, and specialty beers
Satellite Sportscafé: Casual sports bar serving burgers, ribs, and draft beer
Amarone: Italian restaurant and excellent pizza

Heineken Brewery

The Heineken Experience is an immersive, interactive museum located in Amsterdam’s historic first Heineken brewery, offering visitors a fascinating journey through the world-famous beer brand’s heritage. This is one of Amsterdams top attractions!

The best part of the tour was enjoying a fresh ice cold Heineken on the rooftop and indulged in some dutch foodie treats such as Bitterballen! See below for an authentic homemade Bitterballen recipe.

Take A Canal Tour

Taking a boat tour while visiting Amsterdam is a must! It is so cool to see Amsterdam from the canal! There are many canal tours throughout Amsterdam. Here are some of the most notable companies to check out. Captain Jack’s cruise emerging as the top recommendation. This 90-minute tour stands out for its intimate experience, featuring a small boat with only 20 passengers, live English commentary, and an option for unlimited food and drinks.

For those preferring a larger vessel, Lover’s Canal offers a well-heated 60-minute cruise with pre-recorded audio guides in 12 languages, perfect for winter travelers. Another excellent option is Blue Boat, which provides a 75-90 minute tour with audio guides in 19 languages and accommodates up to 55 passengers. For a more unique experience, “Those Dam Boat Guys” offers small, open boats with live commentary, though they allow passengers to bring their own drinks and potentially smoke!

Visit the Flower Market

Amsterdam’s flower market is basically a bunch of floating boats packed with crazy-colourful tulips and flowers. It’s right on the canal and totally unique – you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world. You can grab tulip bulbs as souvenirs, check out wooden clogs, and just soak in the crazy explosion of colours and smells. It’s super touristy but in the best way possible – like a living, breathing postcard of Dutch culture. Definitely worth wandering through, even if you’re not a flower fanatic.

*Pro tip: Go early in the morning when it’s less crowded and the flowers are freshest. Trust me, it beats any typical souvenir shop.

Amsterdam Festivals

Amsterdam’s Pride and King’s Day celebrations are the kind of festivals where you’ll find yourself dancing with strangers, laughing at spontaneous street performances, and stumbling into moments that feel like pure magic—all without a hint of pretension. Here’s why these events capture the city’s unapologetically real vibe:

Pride Amsterdam:

Picture this: You’re sipping a beer on a canal bridge as rainbow-decked boats glide past, their decks packed with drag queens belting out Whitney Houston and crowds cheering from houseboats. The Canal Parade is the heart of Pride—a floating party where everyone from CEOs to college students waves flags and throws confetti. We just happened to be here for the Pride fest and I will tell you it was a whole lot of fun! The canal boat parade was something magical and it was a wonderful experience to be a part of it! I still can’t believe how many people were there and all with big smiles and colourful outfits. It was totally awesome.

King’s Day:

King’s Day in Amsterdam (Koningsdag) is an exuberant citywide celebration held annually on April 27 (or April 26 if the date falls on a Sunday) to honour King Willem-Alexander’s birthday, transforming the city into a vibrant sea of orange with lively street markets, canal boat parades, open-air concerts, and spirited street parties where locals and visitors alike revel in Dutch camaraderie.

Red Light District

Stepping into Amsterdam’s Red Light District is like entering a world where the taboo meets the mainstream. As you wander through the narrow cobblestone streets, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a unique blend of history, culture, and, yes, the infamous red-lit windows. But there’s more to this area than meets the eye. Beyond the neon glow, you’ll discover charming cafes, world-class museums like the Museum of Prostitution, and some of the city’s oldest buildings.

We took a tour with WithLocals of the Red Light District that was a historical tour of the Red Light District and the city itself. We heard stories of the past, and how the Red Light District became what it is today. It was a great tour and also a nice walk!

Good Eats And Drinks:

Great food options are everywhere in Amsterdam! Some of our favourite restaurants and cafes to recommend are here:

Casa Di David: If you want to go for a nice dinner, check out Casa Di David! Casa Di David serves up some of the most delicious Italian cuisine that I have ever had. We have eaten here every time that we visit Amsterdam! The atmosphere is cozy and the food is amazing.

Cannibale Royale: The Burgers and fries are so damn good here! They have a few locations around Amsterdam also.

Vlaams Frites: The French Fries and mayonnaise is all that I have to say! Here at Vlaams, fries are handed to you in a newspaper cone with a generous helping of the best mayonnaise you ever tasted. Vlaams has locations all throughout Amsterdam and I highly recommend trying them!

Cafe De Jaren: This gorgeous restaurant is located directly on the canal and has seating outside so you can watch the boats go by. I absolutely LOVE this place. Relax, enjoy a cocktail and order the Bitterballen! It is so good and a true dutch treat!

Bulldog Cafe: If you want to discover a real coffeeshop in Amsterdam you must visit the Bulldog Cafe! Coffeeshops are cafes that sell cannabis and allow you to smoke it inside the coffeeshop or on the patios. The original Bulldog cafe located in the Red Light District is always fun to visit and people watch primarily!

Rick’s Cafe: Rick’s cafe is located smack dab in the heart of the Red Light District and is a great place to grab a seat on the patio and a beer, relax and do some fun people watching! This place is great and always so much fun. We always tend to meet people there because the tables are all close together!

Follow My Google Maps!

Anne Frank Neighbourhood tour

You can tour the Anne Frank home in Amsterdam however it can be very busy and it is recommended buying tickets in advance. We decided to take a walking tour of Anne Franks neighbourhood in the Jewish quarter. It was a wonderful tour and highly recommend it! We got to see Anne Franks school, and favourite book store. Our guide also brought us to this small bakery that is serving up the best pastries you could imagine! It was an intimate tour off the beaten path.

Go Shopping

Amsterdam has some of the best shopping in Europe! As you wander around you will find many shops from luxury to vintage shops and outdoor markets.

1. Kalverstraat

The most popular shopping street in the Netherlands, featuring:

Over 165 shops and boutiques
International brands like H&M, ZARA, Urban Outfitters
Flagship stores and department stores like De Bijenkorf
Located near Central Station and Dam Square

2. De 9 Straatjes (The 9 Streets)

A charming shopping area known for:

Unique boutiques
Vintage stores
Local Amsterdam brands
Cozy cafes and lunch spots
Picturesque canal-side setting

3. Outdoor Markets

It is really fun to visit some of the outdoor vintage markets. Check out the Waterpoolein Market (the oldest market in the Netherlands) with over 300 stalls it is definitely something to see! Also notable outdoor markets are, Ten Katenmarkt and DeHallen located in the same area, and the Albert Cuyp Market is also great and very popular.

An Authentic recipe For Bitterballen

This article would not be complete without an authentic Dutch recipe. I just LOVED the bitterballen with a side of honey mustard dip. Oh baby, its good. So here’s an authentic Dutch recipe for homemade Bitterballen with a dip.

Homemade Bitterballen

simplywanderfull

A Dutch snack that is packed with flavour and a delicious honey mustard dip!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

For The Bitterballen

* 1 pound beef brisket finely shredded
* 1 cup beef broth
* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1 small onion finely chopped
* 2 cloves garlic minced
* 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
* Salt and black pepper to taste
* 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

For The Breading

* 3 eggs beaten
* 1 cup fine breadcrumbs
* 2 tablespoons milk
* Oil for frying

For The Honey Mustard Dip

* 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 1 teaspoon honey
* Pinch of salt

Instructions

Instructions For Bitterballen

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until soft and translucent.
Gradually stir in flour to form a roux. Slowly add beef broth, stirring continuously to prevent lumps, until the mixture thickens.
Add shredded beef, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Refrigerate the mixture for at least 3 hours until firm.
Shape the chilled mixture into small balls (about 1 tablespoon each).
In a small bowl, whisk eggs and milk together.
Dip each ball into the egg mixture, then roll in breadcrumbs to coat evenly.
Refrigerate the breaded balls for 1 hour.
Heat oil in a deep fryer or pot to 350°F (175°C).
Fry the Bitterballen in small batches for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown.
Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Instructions For The Honey Mustard Dip

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.
Serve alongside the hot Bitterballen.

Notes

Have Fun Wandering!

I hope that you enjoyed reading my article on wandering around Amsterdam! I hope that this could help you plan a visit one day. I would love to hear from you or even help you plan your visit! Drop me a line, or ask me a question! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog article and I hope that you will get a chance to wander around Amsterdam sometime soon!