7 Things to do in Amsterdam!

Welcome back to my Europe travel series! Today I am going to be talking about our first stop on our trip which was Amsterdam, Netherlands. This is a place that I completely fell in love with, because I did not really care about it at first. However, the vibes in Amsterdam were great and the people there were super nice. It was a great start to the trip, and I’ll definitely be going back in the future.

The list below will discuss all the amazing things we did in Amsterdam, and some tips if your heading out there.

1. I Amsterdam card 
This card gives you access to a lot of the attractions Amsterdam has to offer. If I am being honest we did not use it enough, because we only went to two things on theist of offerings. The good thing about the card is that you get free transportation. However, I would take a look at all the excursions the card offers, and choose which ones you would really want to see and based on that you can decide if the card is worth it to grab. I do think that you get a lot for the price of the card, considering admission to these places can get quite expensive. I will leave a link below if your interested In the places the I Amsterdam card has to offer.

2. Madam Tussaud 
With the I Amsterdam card you get a discounted entrance free to Madam Trousseau. If your unfamiliar of what this is, its a wax figure museum of all your favourite celebrities. Its pretty cool to check out if your in Amsterdam. We spent a good couple hours there, because there is so many wax figures to see and of course we have to stop and get photos as well. The only downfall I would say is that it was crazy busy and theres not really any organization, so some places were very crowded. Therefore, I would be prepared for that but still go and check it out. 
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3. Canal Tour 
The Canal tours take you through the rich history of Amsterdam where you listen on their special audio system and learn about all the special landmarks that made the city what it is today. Plus, I found it quite relaxing and fun. The total ride I would say was about 30-45 minutes and something enjoyable, and  relatively affordable to do. I believe we went with the Lovers Canal Cruises which costed around €16 each person. 

4. Rijks Museum
If you love art museums, the Rijks museum is a place you definitely want to check out. Its a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam. With the I Amsterdam card you get free admission to this museum, which is great because admission is expensive. This museum is one of the most popular museums in Amsterdam, and one of the biggest. You can easily spend half a day here, especially if you love and have a passion for art. Even if your not that artsy, like me, this is still something cool to check out! 
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5. Smullers & Febo 
​Problaly one of our favourite things in Amsterdam as a group was Smullers and Fibos. These two places offered many traditional dutch favourites out of a type of vending machine. Everything from Croquettes, Frikandel, to Kaassoufflés,  and others food such as burgers. It was great because they were always opened late, and always tasted fresh. We snacked countless times in Amsterdam at Smullers and Febos, and it just got better every time we did. Also, make sure you put in exact change because the machines don’t dispense the difference. Don’t worry theres a sign, but if your like me and don’t read things, then I am telling you now. Your welcome. 

6. Shopping/ exploring 
​Make sure you bring your wallets with you because there is tons of shops to check out in Amsterdam, and many places to eat. You can easily spend a day shopping and enjoy all different kinds of cuisine. In addition, there are some cool street performances that happen during the day. 
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7. Red Light District
​The Red Light District is an interesting place to walk through if your in Amsterdam. Due to the legalization of prostitution and sex oriented businesses, you’ll find many adult activities there. Of course, if your just an observer like me, it can be quite interesting to see and learn about the history of the Red Light District and see how different things are around the world. Its not for everybody, but its a very touristy place and just something cool to check out during the day or evening. 

If you haven't seen my first blog post in this series I will link it dow below. Its all about the planning process that went into this five week adventure across Europe. There is a lot of tips and advice if you are planning a trip yourself. I hope you enjoyed reading about the experiences in Amsterdam and found them helpful. Next post is all about Berlin. Stay tuned! <3

Travelling Across Europe Blog Post