Amsterdam Travel Tips
Read these 14 Amsterdam Travel Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Europe Travel tips and hundreds of other topics.
Amsterdam Travel Tips
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Should I go on a Keukenhof Garden Tour?
If you are planning your Amsterdam trip between the months of March and May then you should plan a Keukenhof Garden tour. The Keukenhof Garden has one of the most extensive collections of flowers in the world, with over 80 acres of flowers and is a “must-see” as far as Amsterdam tours and attractions go.
Keukenhof Garden tours are done only during the spring months while the flowers are in bloom. The gardens feature flowering shrubs and bulbs, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and ancient trees. In addition to its extensive outdoor flower collection the Keukenhof Gardens also have indoor flower exhibitions.
With tons of paths to explore you can easily spend an entire on a Keukenhof Garden tour. Keukenhof Garden tours are child friendly and there is a special route through the gardens for children where they can learn about the flowers and plants.
The gardens offer several tour options you can choose from. The full day tour runs seven hours, with a shorter three quarter day tour running five hours. The shortest Keukenhof Garden tour is the half day tour which takes two and a half hours..
What are Amsterdam canal cruises?
Amsterdam canal cruises can be a great way to tour the city. Canal cruises give you a unique look at the city from the water and are particularly popular with those who want to see the city but who may not be able to walk the canal. If you're only in Amsterdam for a short period of time, a canal cruise can be a great way to get a quick look at the city.
Most tour boats hold close to 40 people and will provide a guided tour of the area in several different languages. Amsterdam canal cruises leave throughout the day every half hour to every hour and will typically cost around 8 euros. Cruises will have a specified route that covers a particular area of town or neighborhood, though you won't be able to get off the boat and explore on foot.
If you are traveling to Amsterdam with a significant other a night canal cruise may be a romantic way to spend an evening. There are a variety of evening canal cruises available, many of which will provide you and your loved ones with a lovely dinner as you travel the scenic canal.
How do I get around in Amsterdam?
The best way for you to travel in Amsterdam is by foot. Amsterdam is a beautiful city and walking to your destination will allow you to see other things around the city. If you're traveling a short distance in Amsterdam, but one too far to walk you may want to travel by bike. Bikes are a popular way for locals to get around, so you'll see a great deal of them as you travel about the city. Bikes can often be rented for a small fee or can even be purchased.
Amsterdam also has a very good Tram system for traveling around the center of the city. Trams run a variety of different routes and will usually leave every ten to fifteen minutes. If you're traveling outside of the center or the city then you may want to take a bus. Buses don't run with the same frequency as the Trams inside the city but will usually depart at least every half hour. Busses also run late at night so you can travel easily to your after dark destinations.
Due to limited and expensive parking you want to steer away from driving a car while you travel in Amsterdam. The subway is also not the best choice for tourists and is typically only used by local commuters to get to and from work.
Where can I stay in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam hotels book up pretty quickly, especially during the summer months. So when planning an Amsterdam vacation the earlier you can book your hotel the better.
Amsterdam has a large variety of hotels available, from affordable hostels to luxury five star hotels. One unique option is Amsterdam's small boat hotels. The boat hotels allow you to stay on the canal, an experience you won't likely get in many places.
If you're on a budget, or want to meet some interesting people during your stay then one of the city's hostels might be for you. If you don't book ahead many Amsterdam hostels won't take your reservations until mid-day which can make touring the city difficult it you have a lot of luggage. Hostels can also sometime be as expensive as staying a comparable hotel. Research prices and book your hotel or hostel early to make sure you get the best rate, and the rest accommodations possible.
If you're feeling very adventurous there are also a good amount of camping options available in Amsterdam. Camping will be the cheapest way to stay in in the capital, but will also require that you bring your own gear with you.
What is at the Van Gough museum?
The Van Gough Museum is one of the most famous museums and a must-see on your Amsterdam trip. The museum opened in 1973 and currently houses the largest collection of Van Gough's paintings in the world. The museum also houses the works of several other 19th century painters who were painting at the same time as Van Gough. In addition to an extensive collection of paintings the museum also houses a reading room that is filled with resources about Van Gough and has access to internet sites where you can learn more about the artist's life and work.
If you're traveling to the Van Gough museum with children, they can be provided with a brochure of things to search for within the paintings. The scavenger hunt will make the museum an enjoyable experience for children and adults alike.
Unlike most museums, the Van Gough museum does not provide any of their
own tour guides. For a small fee you can rent a set of headphones that
will provide you with an audio tour of the museum.
The Van Gough museum is easy to get to via tram from wherever you are staying in the city. The museum does not have a group discount, but does offer discounted tickets for children under the age of seventeen. Tickets can be purchased at the door or through the museums website.
How should I travel to Amsterdam?
Amsterdam flights can be found at an affordable rate, especially if you are traveling from another area in Europe. If you're arriving from another country in Europe you may want to consider travelling by rail. Rail passes can typically be purchased at a rate much lower than plane tickets. In many cases you can purchase a rail pass good for as many trips on the train as you want for a certain period of time (for instance, a month). With a rail pass you would be able to not only travel to Amsterdam, but also travel to your next destination for the same fee.
If possible, avoid driving a car to Amsterdam. The streets are very narrow and there isn't a great deal of parking available within the city. The parking that is available for the public is usually very expensive which can add a great deal of cost to your Amsterdam trip. If you do drive a car to Amsterdam you should consider parking it in a long term lot at the airport or the Amsterdam arena and then taking the bus or walking around the city.
How do I get around in Amsterdam?
The best way for you to travel in Amsterdam is by foot. Amsterdam is a beautiful city and walking to your destination will allow you to see other things around the city. If you're traveling a short distance in Amsterdam, but one too far to walk you may want to travel by bike. Bikes are a popular way for locals to get around, so you'll see a great deal of them as you travel about the city. Bikes can often be rented for a small fee, or you can usually purchase a bike rather inexpensively to use during your stay.
Amsterdam also has a very good Tram system for traveling around the center of the city. Trams run a variety of different routes and will usually leave every ten to fifteen minutes. If you're traveling outside of the center or the city then you may want to take a bus. Buses don't run with the same frequency as the Trams inside the city but will usually depart at least every half hour. Busses also run late at night so you can travel easily to your after dark destinations.
Due to limited and expensive parking you want to steer away from driving a car while you travel in Amsterdam. The subway is also not the best choice for tourists and is typically only used by local commuters to get to and from work.
Where can I stay in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam hotels book up pretty quickly, especially during the summer months. If you are planning an Amsterdam vacation then the earlier you can book your hotel the better.
Amsterdam has a large variety of hotels available, from cheap hole in the wall options to luxury five star hotels. One unique Amsterdam hotel option is Amsterdam's small boat hotels. The boat hotels allow you to stay on the canal, an experience you can't get very many other places.
If you're on a budget, or want to meet some interesting people during your stay then one of Amsterdam's hostels might be for you. If you don't book ahead many Amsterdam hostels won't take your reservations until mid-day which can make touring the city difficult it you have a lot of luggage. Hostels can also sometime be as expensive as staying a comparable hotel. Research prices and book your hotel or hostel early to make sure you get the best rate, and the rest accommodations possible.
If you're feeling very adventurous there are also a good amount of camping options available in Amsterdam. Camping will be the cheapest way to stay in Amsterdam, but will also requires that you bring your own gear with you.
What is at the Van Gough museum?
The Van Gough Museum is one of the most famous Amsterdam museums and a must-see on your amsterdam trip. The museum opened in 1973 and is currently the largest collection of Van Gough's paintings in the world. The museum also houses the works of several other 19th century painters who were painting at the same time as Van Gough. In addition to an extensive collection of paintings the museum also houses a reading room. The reading room is filled with resources about Van Gough and has access to internet sites where you can learn more about the artist's life and paintings.
Unlike most museums, the Van Gough museum does not provide any of their own tour guides. For a small fee you can rent a set of headphones that will provide you with an audio tour of the museum.
If you're traveling to the Van Gough museum with children the museum provides children with a brochure of things to search for within the paintings. The scavenger hunt will make the museum an enjoyable experience for children and adults alike.
The Van Gough museum is easy to get to via tram from wherever you are staying in the city. The museum does not have a group discount, but does offer discounted tickets for children under the age of seventeen. Tickets can be purchased at the door or through the museums website.
How should I travel to Amsterdam?
Amsterdam flights usually can be found at a relatively inexpensive rate, especially if you are traveling from another area in Europe. If you're traveling from another country in Europe you may want to consider coming by rail. Rail passes can typically be purchased at a rate much lower than plane tickets. In many cases you can purchase a rail pass good for as many trips on the train as you want for a certain period of time (for instance a month). With a rail pass you would be able to not only travel to Amsterdam, but also travel to your next destination as well for the same fee.
If at all possible you should not try to drive a car to Amsterdam. The streets in Amsterdam are very narrow and there isn't a great deal of parking available within the city. The parking that is available for the public is usually very expensive which can add a great deal of cost to your Amsterdam trip. If you do drive a car to Amsterdam you should consider parking it in a long term lot at the airport or the Amsterdam arena and then taking the bus or walking around the city.
Should I go on a Keukenhof Garden Tour?
If you are planning your Amsterdam trip between the months of March and May then you should plan a Keukenhof Garden tour. The Keukenhof Garden has one of the most extensive collections of flowers in the world with over 80 acres of flowers and is a “must-see” as far as Amsterdam tours and attractions go.
Keukenhof Garden tours are done only during the spring months while the flowers are in bloom. The gardens feature flowering shrubs and bulbs, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and ancient trees. In addition to its extensive outdoor flower collection the Keukenhof Gardens also have indoor flower exhibitions.
With tons of paths to explore you can easily spend an entire day doing a Keukenhof Garden tour. Keukenhof Garden tours are child friendly and there is a special route through the gardens for children where they can learn about the flowers and plants in the gardens
The gardens offer several tour options you can choose from. The full day tour runs seven hours, with a shorter three quarter day tour running five hours. The shortest Keukenhof Garden tour is the half day tour which takes two and a half hours..
Should I get an Amsterdam Travel Guide?
An Amsterdam travel guide can be an excellent idea if you're making your first trip to the city. There are endless opportunities for things to see and do when you travel through the largest city in the Netherlands. A travel guide can take the stress of planning your trip off you and can help plan the perfect vacation filled with the Amsterdam tours and attractions that you want to see.
A travel guide can suggest Amsterdam museums you may be interested in, make reservations at restaurants or book you a trip on a famous Amsterdam canal cruise. Travel Guides will usually have the inside track on how to get tickets to Amsterdam tours and attractions at a discount and can sometimes get you admission to attractions that may be sold out to the general public.
Having a local travel guide can be helpful if you run into difficulties while you're visiting. A guide can provide you with a wealth of information that you otherwise may not have been exposed to.
What are Amsterdam canal cruises?
Amsterdam canal cruises can be a great way to tour the city. Canal cruises give you a unique look at the city from the water and are particularly popular with those who want to see the city but who may not be able to walk the canal. If you're only in Amsterdam for a short period of time, a canal cruise can be a great way to get a quick look at the city.
Most tour boats hold close to 40 people and will provide a guided tour of the area in several different languages. Amsterdam canal cruises leave throughout the day typically every half hour to every hour and will typically cost around 8 euros. Cruises will have a specified route that covers a particular area of town or neighborhood, though you won't be able to get off the boat and explore on foot.
If you are traveling to Amsterdam with a significant other a night canal cruise may be a romantic way to spend an evening. There are a variety of evening canal cruises available, many of which will provide you and your loved one with a lovely dinner as you travel the scenic canal.
Should I get an Amsterdam Travel Guide?
An Amsterdam travel guide can be an excellent idea if you're making your first trip to the city. There are endless opportunities for things to see and do when you travel through the Netherlands' largest city. A travel guide can take the stress of planning your trip off you and can help plan the perfect vacation; filled with the Amsterdam tours and attractions that you want to see.
A travel guide can suggest Amsterdam museums you may be interested in, make reservations at restaurants or book you a trip on a famous Amsterdam canal cruise. Travel Guides will usually have the inside track on how to get tickets to Amsterdam tours and attractions at a discount and can sometimes get you admission to attractions that may be sold out to the general public.
Having a local travel guide can be helpful if you run into difficulties while you're visiting. A guide can provide you with a wealth of information that you otherwise may not have been exposed to.
