30 Travel Tips for Visiting Amsterdam (First-Time Visitors Guide)

Look at you all on top of your game to make sure you learn all the travel tips for visiting Amsterdam! Just by being here, you will be 100 times more prepared than most travelers on their first trip! So, without further ado, in this travel guide, you will learn all my top travel tips for visiting Amsterdam, including practical information, common questions, and more!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Basic Travel Tips
• 6. Booking in Advance – One of the Most Important Travel Tips for Visiting Amsterdam
• 7. Amsterdam Passes
• 8. Plan on Walking A LOT
• 9. Using Public Transportation
• 10. Watch Out for the Bike Lane
• 11. Lock Up Your Bikes
• 12. Don’t Forget to See the City by Boat
• 13. Carry Your Passport
• 14. Popular Food
• 15. Know the Difference Between Coffee Shops
• 16. Don’t Buy Drugs
• 17. Best Time to Visit
• 18. Popular Day Trips
• 19. Weather in Amsterdam
• 20. Apps to Have for Your First Time Visiting Amsterdam
• 21. Drinking the Water
• 22. Getting to Amsterdam From the Airport
• 23. Where to Stay
• 24. No Pictures in the Red Light District
• 25. Popular Experiences in Amsterdam
• 26. Watch Out for Public Urinals
• 27. Tulip Season
• 28. Visa For Visiting Amsterdam ETIAS
• 29. Safety in Amsterdam
• 30. The Party City
• Travel Tips for Visiting Amsterdam Wrap-up

Basic Travel Tips

Let’s start these travel tips with some of the most basic information you need to know to start your trip off right!

1. Geography

Amsterdam is the Capital City of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is located in Northwest Europe, with Germany on its right border and Belgium on its southern border.

Amsterdam is located on the west coast of the Netherlands and is a part of the North Holland Providence.

2. Language

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. However, most Dutch people speak English. While having Google Translate will be helpful in translating menus, you should have no problem getting around speaking English.

3. Currency

As a part of the European Union, Amsterdam uses the Euro as their currency. Visa and Mastercard credit cards are widely accepted. Not many establishments accept American Express or Discover. Cash is rarely needed in Amsterdam, but it doesn’t hurt to have some spare coins.

4. Power Outlets

Amsterdam uses the 2 prong types C & F and has a standard voltage of 230V with a standard frequency of 50Hz. I use this universal travel converter, which has worked in every country I have visited.

5. Tipping

This is among the most common questions people ask Google when visiting Amsterdam. Tipping is unnecessary, as it is not a part of the culture. There might even be a service charge in the bill. However, for excellent service at a restaurant, you can tip 5-10% if you feel inclined.

Most locals do not tip. If they do, they round up and leave some change. Waitstaff in the Netherlands does not work on tips. Additionally, there is no need to tip at the hotel or taxis.

6. Booking in Advance – One of the Most Important Travel Tips for Visiting Amsterdam

One of the most important travel tips you need to know – especially first-timers, is to book in advance. If you don’t, there is a good chance you may not be able to visit some of your planned Amsterdam attractions.

For example, the Anne Frank House must be booked EXACTLY 6 weeks before your trip because this is how they release tickets.

The Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and specialized tours are other things you will need to book in advance. If you decide to use a city pass, which I will discuss below, you will have specific instructions on booking – it’s easy.

Read More: Ultimate 3 Days in Amsterdam Itinerary

7. Amsterdam Passes

Like most major cities, Amsterdam has specialized tourist passes. These passes are designed to help save money if you plan on visiting a lot of attractions. The two main tourist passes to consider for Amsterdam are the GoCity Pass and the Amsterdam City Card.

Both include a ton of museums and attractions. What sets them apart, in my option, is that the GoCity Pass offers additional excursions (day trips), whereas the Amsterdam City Card does not.

However, the Amsterdam City Card offers free transportation on the inner cities buses, Metro, and Tram, which is not available on the GoCity Pass.

It will be different for everyone, but after evaluating the costs for the attractions we wanted to visit, the All-Inclusive 3 Day Pass with GoCity was the best option for us, since we wanted to utilize the day trip options. We also spent so little on the metro (15 Euros in 4 days).

8. Plan on Walking A LOT

This is a very walkable city, therefore, make sure to pack those comfortable walking shoes. You know, the ones you’ve worn several times and know they don’t give you blisters!

If you’re in the market to test new shoes, I’ve personally walked miles in these Converse sneakers, which are slightly different from the regular Converse. For me, they are comfy, yet cute. I have a narrow foot. I pair them with my favorite cushiony Darn Tough socks. My Other go-tos are these Chelsea Boots, and my Birkenstock Sandals, which I have been fine walking over 7 miles daily in.

9. Using Public Transportation

Now that we’ve discussed walking, the next way you will likely be getting around is by public transportation. It is not worth renting/hiring a car when visiting Amsterdam.

If you have a tap credit card, that is all you will need to use public transport. You can walk right up to the entrance and tap your card or mobile wallet to pay for transportation.

You must also tap out upon leaving. This is how they calculate the cost. This is especially important on the trams and buses since it is easy to walk on and off, whereas the metro will not let you leave without tapping out.

Transportation is very easy to use, and Google Maps works great and will tell you the platforms and departure and arrival times.

All public transport inside the city (Buses, Trams, Metro) is a part of the GVB. The tap-and-go with your credit card will work on all of these.

Trains used outside the city, like the train from the airport to the city center, are a part of the NS, which is the Netherlands train system. Separate tickets will have to be purchased when traveling outside the city.

Tickets can be purchased at the train station or use the NS app to buy a ticket. These trains usually come up as Inter-City or Sprinter trains.

Metro & Tram Travel Tip: The doors have little buttons to make them open. They will not open up automatically.

10. Watch Out for the Bike Lane

If there is one essential thing to know for visiting Amsterdam, it is to stay out of the bike lane! The bike culture in Amsterdam is STRONG. That is why they have dedicated bike lanes around the entire city and the country, for that matter.

The bike lane is a reddish color, and if you’re walking in the bike lane, don’t be surprised if someone runs you right over. I personally witnessed this happen!

Notice a lot of little bell noises? Get out of the way fast, because the Dutch don’t mess around.

If you decide you want to join in on the bike culture, also make sure not to bike on the walkway. Another big NO, NO! Also, stay to the right side of the lane so the locals can pass you to the left side. Again, you hear a bell; watch out!

11. Lock Up Your Bikes

This is a pretty safe city, however, bikes getting stolen is a common theme. Our boat guide even mentioned that Amsterdam works on the “borrow” each other’s bike system. A nice way of saying everyone steals each other’s bikes.

Therefore, it is very important to lock your bike if you decide to rent one!

Amsterdam Fun Fact: Nearly 15,000 bikes are fished out of the canals annually.

12. Don’t Forget to See the City by Boat

With 165 canals and over 1,700 bridges, seeing the city by boat is a must! Many go as far as to say Amsterdam is the Venice of the North. But for real, you really shouldn’t miss a canal cruise. Most tours last about 1 hour and provide a lot of information about the city.

In fact, I would suggest doing a boat tour as one of the first things you. This way, you can learn more about the city before jumping into attractions. Boat tours are usually included in the Amsterdam Passes, or you can find canal tours here.

13. Carry Your Passport

I am not one to walk around carrying my passport. In fact, I always lock it up in the room and have a picture of it if I ever run into an issue. However, the Netherlands requires all non-EU citizens to carry their passports. If, for some reason, you get asked for it and don’t have it, you can be heavily fined.

14. Popular Food

When visiting, trying some of the local foods and drinks is a great way to be immersed in the culture. Therefore, here are some of the things you should try when visiting.

• Dutch Pancakes: Unlike American pancakes, the pancakes in the Netherlands are flat, like a crepe, but not folded. These pancakes can be topped with savory or sweet additions.
• Poffertjes: Mini fluffy Pancakes usually served with powdered sugar and butter.
• Stroopwafels: 2 thin waffles shaped like a cookie with caramel in between.
• Fluffy Fries the Dutch way with mayo sauces.
• New Dutch herring – Raw herring, which is a Dutch delicacy.
• Dutch Apple Pie
• Gouda Cheese, which is from the Netherlands.
• The Netherlands brews a lot of different beers.

Related: Best Instagram Spots in Amsterdam

15. Know the Difference Between Coffee Shops

If you didn’t already know, Amsterdam has a lot of leniency regarding soft drugs. You will find stores everywhere selling space cakes, shroom cookies, weed lollipops, and more.

There are also “Coffeeshops,” where you can enjoy smoking and doing these soft drugs. So, if you see Coffeeshops as one word, these are the smoke shops.

“Coffee Shop” as two words is the normal coffee shops you’re used to!

16. Don’t Buy Drugs

I mean, this should go without saying, but you should not buy drugs from people on the street. Since they have legal places to purchase soft drugs, they are strict about deals done with random people on the street.

The Red Light District, in particular, has a lot of people who are trying to sell drugs. They walk by and kind of whisper in your ear, “Drugs.” Just ignore these people, and if you are going to try something, do it legally.

17. Best Time to Visit

On a lighter note, another travel tip to know for visiting Amsterdam is the best time to visit.

April and May are extremely popular months to visit Amsterdam for tulip season. There are festivals and rows upon rows of tulips just outside Amsterdam. The end of May is also King’s Day, which is a huge party and celebration in the canals.

The Summer months are the most popular time to visit. This is when prices will be at an all-time high, so booking in advance is important. During the summer, you will have great weather and long summer days.

But, if you’re someone who want’s to avoid crowds, the Spring and Fall will be better times to visit.

September and October can also be nice times to visit Amsterdam since there will be fewer crowds and fall weather. The prices will also be better during these months.

Finally, if you’re looking for somewhere to ring in the New Year, heading to this party city can be really fun despite the cold weather.

18. Popular Day Trips

Day trips are very popular to do when visiting Amsterdam. The country itself is not terribly large, making it easy to access most cities and towns by train. Some of the most popular day trips you can add to your itinerary include:

• Delft
• Zaanse Schanse
• Haarlem
• Rotterdam
• The Hague
• Utrecht
• Keukenhof (Lisse)
• Giethoorn
• Leiden

Related: Seeing Windmills in Zaanse Schanse

19. Weather in Amsterdam

As we learned pretty quickly from our trip to Amsterdam, you can experience all the seasons in one day, making packing a little difficult.

You should always expect rain and be happy if you don’t get any during your trip. The Dutchies embrace the weather, so you should, too!

During the Winter, Spring, and Fall, trench coats are very popular. I was one of the only people in a true raincoat, but I didn’t care at the time, lol.

If it is raining, usually, your hotel can give you an umbrella. From our experience, it doesn’t rain all day.

Overall, pack layers – even in the summer. Having a light jacket or a sweater is never a bad idea.

20. Apps to Have for Your First Time Visiting Amsterdam

In a digital world, these apps should help you when visiting Amsterdam for the first time.

•  9292 – A popular app for planning public transportation travel in Amsterdam (GVB).
• NS App – For trains outside of Amsterdam.
• Google Maps for Navigation. If you don’t get an International Data plan or E-sim, download the offline maps to your phone, so you still have access on airplane mode. Google Maps was my go-to for all navigation personally.
• Buienradar– Weather app that locals find to be more accurate.
• Your Airlines App – which should make checking in to your flight easier.
• Google Translate – If you don’t have cell service, download the language before leaving.
• Not an app, but if you don’t have an International phone plan, I would recommend getting an E-sim. You need a smartphone that has an e-sim to do this. I have an iPhone 13. I use Holafly for my E-sims.

21. Drinking the Water

Did you know the Netherlands has some of the cleanest water in the World? It is right up there with Scandinavian Countries. So, feel confident bringing your reusable water bottle and filling it up because the water is safe to drink in Amsterdam.

Our hotel even had a water station to fill up your bottles.

22. Getting to Amsterdam From the Airport

The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is about 30-40 minutes outside the city center and there are several ways you can get to the city center.

The two easiest ways to get to Amsterdam from the Airport are by taking a taxi or taking the train. A taxi will be around 70 Euros and up, whereas the train will be closer to 10 Euros.

After leaving baggage claim, you will see signs for taxis, buses, and trains. All you have to do is follow the signs. If you decide to take the train, as we did, you will get your ticket for Amsterdam Centraal train station. From Amsterdam Centraal Station, you may need to take the tram or metro. You can also get an Uber from here, which should be less.

It is very easy to take the train, and there are attendants around the station if you need help. You need a physical ticket or use the app for this one.

23. Where to Stay

If this is your first time visiting Amsterdam, staying in the city center is your best bet. If you’re planning your trip for Spring, Summer, or around festivals, make sure to book well in advance.

Some hotels to consider when staying at include:

• Eden Hotel Amsterdam (We stayed here)
• Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht – a concept by Hyatt
• Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
• Mr. Jordaan
• Hotel Estheréa
• Hotel Amstelzicht

I always use Booking. com since they have a flexible cancellation policy.

Additionally, you can check vacation rentals or even consider staying on a houseboat, if you want a unique Amsterdam experience. Just make sure it is centralized in these neighborhoods; Canal Belt (Amsterdam City Center), Jordaan, the Museum Quarter, and De Pijp (Latin Quarter).

I suggest staying within 10-15 minutes of walking distance to major attractions.

24. No Pictures in the Red Light District

Another one of the most important travel tips for visiting is to know you can’t take pictures in the Red Light District. During our visit, we did see some people doing it, but it is against the law, and you will be fined if caught, especially if the women from the windows are in the photos.

25. Popular Experiences in Amsterdam

Here are some of the top attractions along with my notes of if I thought it was worth it or not. These include:

• Rembrandt House Museum (we loved it)
• Canal Tours (Can’t go wrong)
• Exploring 9 Streets (Lovely Area)
• Visiting Dam Square (Many say it’s a must, I don’t think so)
• Anne Frank House Tour (Need tickets in advance)
• Van Gogh Museum (Loved it)
• Rijksmuseum (Also loved, but arrange more than 1 hour)
• Albert Cuyp Markt (Yes – and get stroopwafels)
• Seeing the Red Light District (A classic)
• Vondelpark (can be great on a nice day)
• Royal Palace Amsterdam (We skipped this)
• Our Lord in the Attic Museum (Former Hidden Catholic Church)
• Heineken Experience (I didn’t care for this)
• A’DAM Lookout (I believe it is over-rated – go to a rooftop bar instead).

26. Watch Out for Public Urinals

The first time I saw a full-blown open urinal stand was here. Then I saw them in Belgium, but it took me back for a second. I think it is genius; this way, men aren’t peeing on every corner, but don’t walk too close to them if you don’t want a peep show.

They are a light grey structure and can be found scattered around the city.

27. Tulip Season

When you think of Amsterdam, or the Netherlands for that matter, I bet tulips come to mind! So, it only makes sense it is a part of my travel tips. And even though tulips are not native to the Netherlands, it is an important crop to the Dutch.

During mid-April – May, the tulip fields begin to bloom. During this time, people from all over the world come to visit these farms.

From Amsterdam, the most popular tulip fields to visit are in Lisse, by Keukenhof Gardens.

Do not walk in the fields unless you have the farmer’s permission. This is strictly forbidden, as it can ruin the farmer’s crops.

If you want to take pictures in tulip fields, you can visit the Tulip Experience or The Tulip Barn in the area. They both allow you to explore in their fields and set up props for photos.

Here is my ultimate guide to Seeing Tulips Near Amsterdam

28. Visa For Visiting Amsterdam ETIAS

Update: This has now been pushed til 2025, and continues to get pushed every year.

Most passport holders can enter the Netherlands without having to do any paperwork as long as they stay no longer than 90 days in Europe.

However, starting in 2025, most visitors, including US Citizens, will need to apply for ETIAS when visiting 30 different European Countries, including the Netherlands.

29. Safety in Amsterdam

Any time we think of traveling somewhere, safety always comes into mind. Amsterdam is known as a pretty safe city, and my mom and I felt completely safe during our time exploring the city. You should always practice normal precautions. Pickpocketing is common.

30. The Party City

There is no doubt Amsterdam is known as a party city with its leniency on drugs and the red light district. Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties are popular, and the electronic music scene is huge, with some of the top DJs coming from this area. Because of this, we noticed in the morning, you can find broken bottles and and debris in the streets during the early hours. However, they do have street cleaners and have been trying to become “less” of a party destination.