Amsterdam Tips
Tourist
information and free tips for visiting Amsterdam Holland
The most important tourist information can be found on the official
website for Amsterdam tourism. However sometimes there are little practical
things that are good to know. Benefit from the knowledge of dutch locals,
international expats or the experience of other tourists to make your
stay even better and more enjoyable. Also check out the handy City Card
for discounts!
Also check out places
to visit outside Amsterdam
Public Transport in Amsterdam
One of the best ways to get around Amsterdam is by public transport,
use trams, busses or the metro. You will need to buy an OV chipcard
(OV stands for 'Openbaar Vervoer' which translates to Public Transport).
You can buy special GVB day cards from the driver or conductor too.
days / hours Prices 2012
1 day - 24 hours € 7,50
2 days - 48 hours € 12.00
3 days - 72 hours € 16,00
4 days - 96 hours € 20,50
5 days - 120 hours € 25,00
6 days - 144 hours € 28,50
7 days? - 168 hours € 31,00?
The price for a normal anonymous OV chipcard is €7,50 (non refundable)
but you will still need to put money on it in order to travel. Buying
such card and topping up with money can be done at machines near stations.
When using the card you need to check in and out. You do this by swiping
the card over a sensor in the bus or tram. The metro has booths where
you swipe it. Tip: You can also consider buying a CityCard which includes
free traveling. For more info in english on the OV chipcard you can
visit the official website here.
Shopping in Amsterdam
Kalverstraat near Dam square is the most famous shopping street. It's
very compact and has all kinds of mainstream shops. Close to the Dam
square you will also find Magna Plaza, a nice shopping mall created
in a historic post office buidling. The PC Hoofdstraat is another
famous shopping street which is more upscale. Typical dutch department
stores are Hema, V&D (Vroom & Dreesmann) and Bijenkorf. Other
streets and areas are Niewendijk, Leidse Straat and De 9 Straatjes.
Popular areas for going out in Amsterdam
Leidseplein en Rembrandtplein ('plein' in dutch means square) are
the best known places to go out with many bars, clubs and restaurants.
You can also consider the Jordaan area which is popular with students.
Tram 9 will take you from Central Station to Rembrandtplein.
Cafés / Bars on Rembrandtplein
Café / Club Nasty, Café Het Centrum, Café Los,
Café Schiller, Coco's Outback, Coco's the Mine, Eetcafé
Frame, Monico, Rembrandtbar, Royal Café de Kroon, St James
Gate, Tante Roosje, The Old Bell, Three Sisters Pub, Xtracold Icebar
Clubs on Rembrandtplein
Bastille, Bubbels, Café / Club Nasty, Cinema, Club AIR, Club
Home, Club Rain, Club Roque, Club Smokey, Cooldown Rembrandtplein,
Escape Club, Feestcafe Woody's, Jantjes Verjaardag, La Vie Deux, Prime,
Studio 80
Restaurants on Rembrandtplein
Argentijns Steakhouse Castillo, Bangkok, D'Antica Ristorante Italiano,
De Maria, De Nachtwacht, George Deli U.S.A., Indrapura, Isola Bella,
Kitchen & Bar Van Rijn, La Madonnina, La Vaca, Pelangi, Restaurant
Bankok, Szmulewicz, Tomo Sushi, Vapiano, Wagamama
Bars and clubs on Leidseplein
Hoopman Irish bar, Dan Murphy's Irish pub, Café de Waard, De
Zotte, Cafe Amsterdamned, Bulldog Palace, Melkweg, Paradiso, Sugar
Factory, Jimmy Woo club, Chicago Social Club (Boom
Chicago)
50% off on tickets for musicals and shows taking place the same day
Last minute tickets are available exclusively at the AUB
Ticket Shop on Leidseplein, at the VVV Amsterdam Tourist Office (inside
the NZH Koffiehuis opposite Central Station) and at the Public Library
(OBA) on Oosterdokskade. Website
Other Restaurants
There are not many many restaurants that serve dutch food
but here a few with a website address: hap-hmm.nl loetje.com moeders.com
haesjeclaes.nl To be in line with living on water
there is also a floating Chinese restaurant called Sea Palace near
Central Station. This little turkish restaurant had
some good reviews too restaurant.maydanoz-amsterdam.nl Another
tip is restaurant fifteen.nl from famous british chef Jamie Oliver.
Vegetarian restaurant in Jordaan with good reviews Bolhoed,
Prinsengracht 60-62. Another vegetarian diner there is vliegendeschotel.com.
Also recommended thecolourkitchen.com
@msleamichele Just
returned from Amsterdam.I highly recommend a restaurant called Moeders
(Mother).#dontmissit Awesome burger at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Amsterdam last night. After no carbs for ages...heaven! Just had michelin star quality food at #bussia in amsterdam. Cant recommend it enough.
Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Coffeeshops are places where you can buy and use soft drugs.
For now this is still legal and open to tourists but there are plans
to limit this in the future. This
map shows you all the coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Bicycling and bike tours in Amsterdam
Do as the locals and rent a bike for just 11 euro per day. You can
also do guided bike tours in a group. Places to rent a bike: www.amsterbike.nl
macbike.nl www.yellowbike.nl www.orangebike.nl www.starbikesrental.com
www.bikecity.nl
Take photos at the I AMsterdam sign
Behind the Rijksmuseum you can find the big I AMsterdam letters. I
AMsterdam is the slogan for Amsterdam and this is a great location
to take photos.
Markets in Amsterdam
Albert Cuypmarkt is a large market with over 300 stands.
Waterlooplein has market close to Rembrandtplein.
More tips and recommendations
