Amsterdam in All Cases: The Ultimate Guide to visiting Amsterdam like a local

Today's guide is brought to you by the one and only... the mastermind behind the scenes... my copywriter, brainstorming buddy, co-strategist and unofficial therapist: my husband Reid. Honestly, this blog wouldn’t even exist without his support, so let’s give him a big round of applause!

Just like me, Reid has a passion for everything travel - as well as travel planning. I guess that's what brought us together... and eventually led to our marriage! We absolutely love organizing our trips together, always with a perfectly tidy Excel sheet for every trip we do.

And Reid also loves to give travel advice. Long before this blog was even conceived, he had already written a guide of Amsterdam which he called "Amsterdam in All Cases". If you've heard anything about the Dutch weather, you probably know that it is quite unpredictable: one moment you're cycling in glorious sunshine, the next you find yourself under the most hideous downpour and even your underwear is soaked. During our years in Amsterdam, we've really been through it all.

Reid's guide to Amsterdam is a truly comprehensive, detailed handbook for enjoying the canal city in any situation: when it's sunny, when it's rainy, when it's brunch time, when it's party time. As an Amsterdammer by adoption for more than 5 years, I can guarantee his tips are super spot-on and very much from a local's point of view.

So, if you're planning to visit Amsterdam any time soon, you've landed in the right place. In this post, we will share some practical tips and authentic local advice to make your visit to this beautiful city unforgettable: whether it's hot or cold, sunny or rainy, day or night, or not even in Amsterdam at all, you will be covered.

Amsterdam in All Cases

After 5+ years of living in Amsterdam, I decided it would be helpful to distill my experiences into a handy guide for visitors to this lovely city. I hope these tips prove useful and you have a great time exploring.

Practical Tips

• The red path between the street and the sidewalk is for bicyclers. Be very vigilant when crossing the street and never expect a bicycler to stop for you - even in crosswalks. 

• If you have experience bicycling in a city and feel a little adventurous, I recommend renting bicycles for transiting. 

• There’s no need to buy single or day-use transit passes. Recently NS (the Dutch transit system) began accepting credit cards as methods of payment when boarding trains, metro, trams and buses. Tap Apple Pay (or your credit card) when entering and also when you disembark - this way you’re charged correctly for the trip.

• Servers don’t expect any tips. If you’re feeling particularly generous, you may round up your bill by 2-3eu, but don’t ever feel obligated. [Update 2025: based on our most recent visit to Amsterdam, it seems that waiters have enjoyed getting tipped so much that they now automatically add it as an option on the pay machine. You will find options such as 5%, 10%, 15%. Unless you're totally mindblown by the service, you should be fine with a 5% tip - as again, tips are technically not expected.]

Amsterdam in the sun

Amsterdam is an entirely different city when the sun is out. That’s likely due to the fact that we’re a very rainy and dark climate for many months of the year. If you’re here on a sunny day, embrace it by exploring the city on foot or by bicycle. If it’s sunny and hot (this is exceedingly rare), you might even take a dip in the IJ (the river running east-west behind Centraal station) or in the Amstel river! More on that below.

• Weesperplein (Oost)

  Enjoy the sunny evening with a snack and drink next to the Amstel.

  • Buy snacks/drinks from a Dutch supermarket such as Albert Heijn (AH), take a seat at the water’s edge and enjoy

  • Enjoy simple eats and drinks at Bam Boa for sunset

• Parks

  Pack a picnic and head to one of Amsterdam’s many parks. 

  • Vondelpark is the largest and most popular park in Amsterdam. It’s outfitted with a nice brewery called the Blauwe Theehuis. I like to sit near the south end (52.354816, 4.859635) and admire the mansions across the water, but there’s really no bad place in the entire park.

  • Oosterpark is another great option for a picnic. It’s smaller than Vondelpark, but very popular for barbecues, lawn games, etc.

  • Saphartipark is small and charming and right in the midst of popular neighborhood De Pijp. 

• Terrasing

  Amsterdam’s restaurant terraces are lively in the sun. While any terrace with sunshine and a view will suffice, these are some of my favorites. If you’re lucky enough to find a seat, take it! 

  • The aptly named Waterkant means “waterfront” in Dutch/Afrikaans. This bar is often crowded during the day/evening and turns more lively with some dancing by night.

  • Hanneke’s Boom is right near Centraal (and right outside my office) and offers drinks and simple eats at its many picnic tables overlooking the IJ. 

  • Mossels and Gin is a nice option if you’re nearby Westerpark. As the name suggests, they focus on mussels and gin.

• Just wandering around

  • If you’d like some gelato, Massimo is by far the best in the city.

  • Visit the Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) section of beautiful neighborhood the Jordaan for shopping, cafes and gifts. 

Amsterdam in the rain

I know, this is not Amsterdam in the rain, but I couldn't find a better picture!

I should probably put this section first because if you’re here more than a couple days, it’s likely you’ll experience some light rain. While it makes bicycling and wandering the city a little less fun, you can still find many things to do that keep you out of the storm.

• Museums

  • The Anne Frank House is a top recommendation for me - the home has turned into a very well done museum which chronicles her life before and during Nazi Occupation. While it’s not a particularly cheery excursion, I think it’s worth your time. Book in advance.

  • The Rijksmuseum is the most popular museum in the Netherlands and is home to many Dutch classics. It’s expansive- you could end up spending many days here just going through the various collections.

  • The Stedelijk is actually my favorite art museum in the city - it’s Amsterdam’s home for contemporary art and design.

  • The Van Gogh Museum is a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh’s life and works. You will admire his art and get to know who he was personally. It’s very well done.

  
  

• Assorted others

  • Lab111 is a hip, colorful multipurpose theater, gallery and cafe in the Oud West neighborhood. It’s a wonderful spot to chat, write, or enjoy a movie - they often show art-house classics.

Amsterdam by night

• Casual and hip cafes

  • Preflokaal Arendsnest for Dutch and Belgian beers alongside the canal. Nice neighborhood feeling here.

  • Five Brothers Fat Zuid for bubbles. If you’re outside, you’ll notice there’s a small redlight district across the street.

  • Enjoy live music and pool at The Waterhole on Leidseplein. 

    • Leidseplein is one of three top areas for partying - the others are Rembrandtplein and the red light district. Personally, I prefer the first two as the red light district can get a bit crowded with the bumbling drunk and high tourists.

  • Cafe Brecht is a super cozy living-room style bar.

  • Skatecafe is a top recommendation for hip Amsterdam techno. There’s a full-pipe inside the bar/club.

• Cocktails

  • Pulitzer is my favorite. You may want to reserve in advance.

  • Panache is a lot of fun and has great drinks nearby Foodhallen.

  • The Hoxton is actually a hotel, but it has a really nice open lounge area upfront. 

  • Hiding in Plain Sight is a small and top-notch cocktail bar.

Amsterdam morning and brunch

The Dutch start their day slowly, but there are still plenty of things to do in the morning and midday. I like the following.

• Markets

  • The Albert Cuyp Market is a fantastic option for sampling Dutch specialties. To complete the “When in Netherlands” starter pack, eat some pickled herring (slimy) and a fresh stroopwaffle (very sweet). 

    
    

• Brunch

  • My favorite option is Little Collins in De Pijp. They have a nice terrace and surprisingly good food in a quieter and charming location in the neighborhood. 

  • For a croissant, cookie or other delicious baked good, try Fort Negen, Ulma’s, or De laatste Kruimel

Amsterdam dinners

Every 5 years or so, winters get so cold that the canals freeze. So unique!

Have you ever been to a Dutch restaurant? I assume the answer is no - and from the perspective of foreigners here, the Netherlands is not a food country. Still, we have some truly top-notch international (non-Dutch) kitchens that are definitely worth your time. Those are below.

• Ramen

  • Right near Centraal, get your ramen fix at Ramen Kingdom. Usually there’s a line outside, but I’m convinced it’s the best ramen I’ve ever had. [Update 2025: unfortunately Ramen Kingdom has sadly permanently closed. RIP. As an alternative, I recommend my next Amsterdam favorite: Ramen-Ya in the Red Light District.]

    
    

• Pizza

  • NNea is usually heralded as #1 pizza place in the city. It’s fantastic.

  • Pizzeria da Michele is Napoli’s most famous pizzeria and they’ve recently opened a spot in De Pijp. It’s legit.

• Sushi

  • Sushi Fanatics has a wonderful Japanese atmosphere. They serve a wide array of Japanese teas and good quality sushi.

• When visiting Noord

  • Pllek has a great vibe - it’s spacious, uniquely designed and offers a little “beach” area.

  • Cafe de Ceuvel is a charming cafe on the waterside. They offer a mostly (or completely?) vegetarian menu and have a fireplace inside. I also really like the service here, they’re very down-to-earth.

  • Stork is right near Pllek and is similarly large, open and hip. 

  • Hotel de Goudfazant is my favorite option for a romantic dinner. It’s somewhat fancy but also unique and lively. Great for sunsets too.

  • Brewery Oedipus is a popular brewery with some fantastic beers in a colorful, fun, and casual setting. 

  • Fromagerie Kef is a cheese shop that also offers a tasting of several cheeses, paired with a glass of wine.

• Others!

  • Foodhallen is an aptly named food hall. It’s often busy on Thur/Fri/Sat, but there are plenty of food options and a movie theater (named Filmhallen) as well. 

  • Lumbini for amazing Nepalese food, and The Madras Diaries is arguably the best Indian in town.

  • Kantijl De Tijger is an institution for Indonesian food in the city.

  • Balthazar's Keuken for a delicious and intimate dinner.

Outside of Amsterdam - Day trips

Historic windmills in Zaanse Schans

• Take the train to Utrecht, a nearby student-town and Netherlands’ 4th largest city. It’s very charming and has many unique and independent shops and eateries. 

  
  

• Haarlem is even closer than Utrecht, but smaller. You might visit here to check out a church-turned-brewery (named Jopen) or to wander its narrow neighborhood streets.

  
  

• The Nieuwendammerdijk is actually a part of Amsterdam, but it’s somewhat off the beaten path. Take a stroll down this beautiful old street and admire the 18th century homes and quiet village life.

• Zaanse Schans is a picturesque town just north of Amsterdam where you can visit its historic windmills. It doesn't get more Dutch than this!

If you found this guide useful, please let us know! I'm sure Reid will appreciate.

(also I'm subtly hoping he will start to write more articles for me in the future if he sees how successful he could be as a blogger.)

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