Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of those cities that’s just easy to enjoy. Walk along the canals, grab a coffee, and enjoy the atmosphere. Relaxed and full of charm, it’s the perfect city break for 2 or 3 days.
🏨 Where to Stay
Hotel Abba – good value, good breakfast, and well located enough to do everything on foot.
What to See & Do
📸 Photo spots & canals
- Leidsegracht
- Groenburgwal
- Damrak
- Oudezijds Voorburgwal
🏘️ Neighborhoods & landmarks
- Jordaan: the best neighborhood. Wander without a plan. Key spots:
- Egelantiersgracht
- Brouwersgracht
- Leliesluis
- Begijnhof – a hidden medieval courtyard
- Museumplein Park
- Bloemenmarkt – a very cute flower market
- Sint Nicholas Church
- Red Light District
🎨 Museums
Van Gogh Museum – 10/10, do not skip this one.
Moco Museum – modern and contemporary art. Honest take: too expensive for what it is and quite small. Nice but not a priority.
🌷 Day Trip: Zaandam + Zaanse Schans
Two stops easily combined in one day that I really enjoyed visiting.
Zaandam (15 minutes by train from Centraal Station), worth a quick stop for photos of the Inntel Hotel. The shopping street around it is cute but very quick to see.
Zaanse Schans (a short train ride from Zaandam, stop at Koog-Zaandijk station), a preserved village of working windmills, traditional wooden green houses, a cheese farm and a clog workshop.
🌷 Day Trip: Keukenhof
Only open mid-March to mid-May. The world’s largest tulip garden, about 45 minutes from Amsterdam by bus. Millions of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils in full bloom. If you’re visiting in spring, it’s unmissable.
🍽️ Where to Eat & Drink
- Van Stapele, one type of cookie: dark chocolate with white chocolate center, EXCELLENT.
- Tony’s Chocolonely, the famous Dutch chocolate brand.
- Stroopwafels, try a fresh one from a market stall.
- Moak Pancakes for brunch.
- Saint Jean Bakery
- Locals, good brunch spot.
- Fabel Friet, for fries, long queue but moves fast.
- Taka Ramen, on the top floor of a shop.
- Tokyo Ramen Takeichi
- Febo, vending machine wall of hot snacks.
- Chun, good brunch/café.
- Secret Garden, beautiful restaurant/bar.
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