Going To Amsterdam Soon? Here's What You Need To Know
/One of my favorite cities I have been to (so far) is Amsterdam. From the unique architecture of the buildings to the canals and people, this city has so much to offer beyond its coffee shops.
If you’re jetting off to this city anytime soon or just want to know the do’s and dont’s, keep on reading.
Make Breakfast A Priority
My favorite meal to eat in Amsterdam was breakfast. It is the most important, isn’t it? From coffee to pastries and avocado toast, Amsterdam sure knows how to do it. Plus, if you don’t do Dutch pancakes, did you even go to Amsterdam? Here are some of my favorites:
Toki Cafe
Coffee & Coconuts
Benji’s
Bakers & Roasters
Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs
Good Beans
Latei
Did Someone Say Apple Pie?
When I was exploring the city on my own, I decided to make a late-night trip to Winkle 43, which I was repeatedly told had the best apple pie in the entire world. Amazing apple pie in Amsterdam, really? I don’t think I could call myself Hungry Grl if I didn’t try it. The amazing thing about this place is that they strictly serve apple pie, coffee, & hot chocolate until about 2 AM. And yes, I can confirm it is worth all of the hype.
Try The Pho
Vietnamese food in Amsterdam is some of the best I’ve ever had. O Mai and Pho 91 are just two shops that really do pho well, plus if you’re into banh mi try that too. There’s never a bad time for Vietnamese food, right?
Vintage Shopping Is On Point
Europe is one of my favorite places to thrift shop. The merchandise is A+ without the crazy NYC prices. From vintage button-up shirts to jackets and t-shirts, you’re sure to find a unique piece to bring home with you. Kiloshop and Episode are some well-known ones. Plus, explore the outdoor markets, like Albert Cuyp Market, for one-of-a-kind belts, scarves, and more.
What To See
I’m a HUGE fan of street art. From Banksy to lesser known artists, I think street art is one of the coolest art forms. So if you feel the same, make sure to get tickets to the Moco Museum. Buying tickets to all of the museums ahead of time will help you beat the lines and eliminate the stress. I also highly recommend the Van Gough Museum and doing a boat tour on a nice day (orrrr just make friends with people with boats, like I did). If you are interested in the Anne Frank Museum, be sure to get those tickets waaay ahead of time.
Take It All In
Sitting on the side of a canal or taking the time to rest in a park was one of my favorite things to do in between sight-seeing and walking the city. Each canal offers a different vantage point of the city’s buildings and life, so be sure to stop and take it all in. Also, though there is a “metro” that runs through the city, try to walk as much as you can. This way, you’ll be able to stumble upon sights and shops as you go. But if you’re a brave one, you might join the locals and bike the city.
Some other things to remember:
The ferry from the north side to the train station is free and runs 24 hours, every 5 - 10 minutes. It might be cheaper to stay on the north side and just take the ferry back and forth, like a lot of locals do.
Amsterdam is on the Euro, and most stores and restaurants accept credit cards.
One of the first coffee shops is The Bulldog, which now has various locations.
Though the main language is Dutch, many people speak English.
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This piece is written from the vantage point of my own Amsterdam experience during August. Depending on the time of year you travel, details may vary. Please share your experience with me at hungrugrlbigcity@gmail.com.