7 Tips for a Trip to Amsterdam for First Timers to The Netherlands!
Updated: April 2024
Before you visit one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, read this post for my top 7 tips for a trip to Amsterdam for first timers!
I’ve visited Amsterdam in The Netherlands three times. Twice with my partner and another time with my friends. I used my trips to sightsee, try famous things known to Amsterdam, learn about its history, drink Dutch beer and embrace this wonderful city. Amsterdam is one of those cities you can visit over and over again. It doesn’t get old.
I learned a few things when visiting the city and these are my top Amsterdam tips for first timers!
Contents
Contents (jump to)
Tips for a Trip to Amsterdam for First Timers
- Get the train from airport to centre
- Stay near to the train station
- Eat a speciality
- Anne Frank House
- Take a canal cruise
- Watch out for the bikes
- Adam tower for a lookout of the wonderful city
1. Get the Train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal
When you arrive at the huge Schiphol Airport, no doubt you’ll feel a little overwhelmed. When you walk out of arrivals, you’ll be hounded and possibly ripped off by taxi firms. You need to make your way to the bottom level of the airport where the train station is located. Firstly, find a ticket booth to buy your train ticket in advance (it costs around €6 one way) from the airport to ‘Amsterdam Centraal’. Then, follow other passengers going to the platform bound for Amsterdam Centraal. Find your train and hop on and it’s a smooth ride all the way to your destination.
2. Stay in Accommodation near Amsterdam Centraal
When looking for Amsterdam accommodation, I always get up the map in Google Maps, find Amsterdam Central and look at the prices of places on booking.com to stay near to the train station. It is so convenient. Although Amsterdam has a great public transport system, if you stay near Amsterdam Centraal, you will be in the heart of everything happening. Also, it’ll be a short walk from your arrival to the station after the airport! One place I can personally recommend located near Amsterdam Central is:
This was, no lie, about a 3 minute walk from the station. It was a clean, convenient hotel but easily missed with its narrow door. Inside, the rooms have been designed by local Art students and all have different themes. It’s a cool way to sleep in the city.
Book Hotel the Exchange here.
Or use this map to find accommodation near the station.
Try a Speciality
One of the easiest things to do in Amsterdam is eat chips (fries) and garlic mayo. It’s so simple yet SO GOOD. Order them from any stall along the canals or side streets and make sure they come in a cone for a nicer experience. Yummy. I had a delicious cone of chips and garlic mayo just a few doors down from Hotel the Exchange.
Amsterdam actually has some real culinary treasures and one of the best ways is to do a food tour in the city.
Check out my review of Eating Amsterdam tour here.
Amsterdam is well catered for vegetarians and vegans. Check out this vegan guide to Amsterdam eating!
Another obvious treasure in Amsterdam is the way they make crepes. Every single one melts in your mouth. When I visited Amsterdam with my friends on a girls trip I think we had about 3 different crepes over the weekend!
Don’t Leave Anne Frank House to the Last Minute
For a visit to a famous museum in Amsterdam, visit the Anne Frank house. It costs €11 for entry. It was a humbling experience and something informative to do while in Amsterdam for learning through travel. It’s a remarkable story and this is one of the best, most accessible places to visit in Amsterdam!
The queue is always long and we waited over 2 hours in the queue before we got to the museum. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time and be prepared for a long wait.
Read Next: A London Museum to Visit, The V&A
Take a Cruise down the Famous Canals
Taking a canal is one of the best ways to explore the city of Amsterdam. There are all sorts of packages and you can book a canal cruise as easy as certain other things in Amsterdam.
When you’re cruising through Amsterdam, you can marvel at tulips on the banks, people-watch and soak up the sun all while enjoying a beer on the river.
Also, look at the architecture and notice how narrow the houses are.
Fact: The hooks at the top of buildings are to get furniture in and out the houses!
Canals are the make-up of the city.
For Another European Post: What to do in Berlin
Mind the Bikes!
Bikes take precedent over all other transport and pedestrians in Amsterdam. Bike lanes are everywhere…just like bikes. Seriously, you will understand when you get there how many bikes there actually are. It’s a great initiative, very green and eco-friendly but beware because they could knock you over at any given time.
I had so many bells rang at me and had to swerve out the way on my first time because I’m just not used to it. The bikers are usually experienced though and let you know in advance they are coming. But I’m also letting you know. When you walk out of Amsterdam Central to get to your accommodation, keep your eyes out for the bicycles.
Amsterdam Aerial View
Going to ADAM Tower is one of the things to do in Amsterdam at night. When you climb your way to the top, you can look out over the skyline of the gorgeous city and reflect on what a wonderful time you’ve had in Amsterdam.
Most importantly though, enjoy your time in this great city!
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