10 Best Travelling Tips to Amsterdam

These specific tips about Amsterdam will be very useful for getting the most out of your visit and avoiding any mishaps that could ruin your stay.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

7 min read

10 Best Travelling Tips to Amsterdam

View of Amsterdam | ©Javier M

Amsterdam is a charming city that sometimes seems like something out of a fairy tale. However, knowing how to enjoy it is what will make your trip complete.

The main idea behind these tips is to help you save money, avoid mistakes, eat well, and increase the chances that everything will go as planned, or even better.

1. Get a tourist pass

Amsterdam Pass| ©HappyW
Amsterdam Pass| ©HappyW

Apart from accommodation costs, where do you think you will spend most of your money during your stay in Amsterdam? I'm sure you're thinking about local transport, canal cruises, museum tickets, food, etc.

That's why I recommend booking the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass, which will save you money on all these activities. It includes:

Important details

Depending on the length of your stay, you can get a card valid for 1 to 5 days. A 24-hour card costs from $86

If you want to know more about this and other tourist passes in Amsterdam, I recommend reading the article on The best tourist passes in Amsterdam.

Book the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass

2. Visit Amsterdam's coffeeshops

Coffee shop sign| ©Hellotickets
Coffee shop sign| ©Hellotickets

A coffee shop in Amsterdam is not the same as a café; it means something completely different. I feel it is my duty to inform you so that you are not surprised.

I am sure you already know that Amsterdam is one of the few places on earth where you can legally buy and consume marijuana for personal use. This doesn't happen on the streets, but in coffeeshops where you can see various types of weed, hash, and edibles.

If you want to experience this part of Amsterdam but are a little unsure or hesitant, booking a tour of Amsterdam might clear up some of your questions.

Book a tour of Amsterdam

3. Don't take photos in the Red Light District

Amsterdam's Red Light District| ©Julian Pan
Amsterdam's Red Light District| ©Julian Pan

Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, and the red light district comes alive as soon as night falls. If you walk through the Red Light District at night, you will see prostitutes peeking out of almost every glass window in the area.

If you are visiting Amsterdam's Red Light District, do not photograph sex workers, as this is considered disrespectful.

Not only is it frowned upon, but you could also get into serious trouble with the authorities and even pay a hefty fine. You can also book tickets to the Red Light Secrets museum in Amsterdam to learn more about this area.

Book tickets to the Red Light Secrets museum

4. Save money when eating out in Amsterdam

Food truck in Amsterdam| ©Tobias Niepel
Food truck in Amsterdam| ©Tobias Niepel

Street food is a lifesaver for those looking to save money on their trip. You'll find street vendors and food trucks serving Dutch favorites such as stroop waffles, herring, fries, bitterballen, Leidse kaas, and poffertjes.

'Dagschotel' is Amsterdam's version of a dish of the day and appears on most restaurant menus. It's the cheapest dish on the menu and will help you save a few euros.

Eating where the locals eat is one of the most useful travel tips. The Dutch in Amsterdam spend their time in what they call 'bruin café' or brown cafés. These are similar to bars and serve authentic food at affordable prices. De Wetering, In 't Aepjen, Papeneiland, and Het Molenpad are some of the best.

Discover the buffets

Buffets in Amsterdam are also a great way to save money. They serve food for less than €20, but most offer Chinese or Asian specialties. Some of the best restaurants of this type are:

And if you want to treat yourself to something special on a particular day in Amsterdam at an affordable price, I recommend booking a table at the Hard Rock Café. For €22, you can enjoy several American dishes with live music.

Book a menu at the Hard Rock Café in Amsterdam

5. Avoid the tourist traps in Amsterdam

Visiting the Rijksmuseum| ©Becky Houtman
Visiting the Rijksmuseum| ©Becky Houtman

All famous cities tend to have areas and spaces that are "tourist traps." By this I mean places to eat that are expensive and of mediocre quality, spaces that don't live up to their promises, and places that take advantage of tourists' enthusiasm.

For example, Amsterdam has many fake museums. Some of them are shops that claim to be museums. To name a few, there is the vodka museum, the cheese museum, the tulip museum, etc. Instead of going to these places, I recommend visiting a real museum such as the Rijksmuseum or buying a ticket to the Van Gogh Museum.

If you want to be sure of good food at a reasonable price, head to De Pijp, FoodHallen, or Noord. I also recommend avoiding "Tours and Tickets" shops, which are everywhere in tourist areas and very expensive. Instead, I recommend buying tourist passes if you're looking for savings and convenience.

Book tickets and visits to the Van Gogh Museum

6. Be careful with cyclists

Bicycles are the most common form of transportation in the Netherlands| ©Anneke Vermeulen
Bicycles are the most common form of transportation in the Netherlands| ©Anneke Vermeulen

One of the first things you'll notice in Amsterdam is the roads dominated by bicycles. The city is full of them, and locals love to travel by bike. In case you didn't know, Amsterdam has been declared the most bicycle-friendly city in the world.

Keep in mind that bike lanes in Amsterdam are usually red. They are all marked with a bicycle icon at each entry point so that the bike lane cannot be confused with a walking lane. However, many tourists don't realize this and walk on them.

If you don't want to have an accident, keep an eye out for these lanes. In some areas, they are almost more dangerous than the roads. But if you feel like becoming more Dutch, you can book a bike tour of Amsterdam and learn more about the customs.

Book a bike tour of Amsterdam

7. Always carry an umbrella with you

Person with Umbrella| ©Nayara Dinato
Person with Umbrella| ©Nayara Dinato

The weather in Amsterdam is quite unpredictable, and the city averages 200 days of rain per year, which means that the chances of getting caught in the rain are quite high.

So, regardless of what the weather app says, always have a raincoat or umbrella handy!

The oceanic climate, influenced by the North Sea, is the main reason for the heavy rainfall. However, thanks to the multitude of museums, galleries, shops, and an efficient public transportation system, there will always be something to do regardless of the weather.

8. Bring a bottle and drink tap water

Tap water| ©Steve Johnson
Tap water| ©Steve Johnson

The Netherlands is one of those countries where tap water quality is regulated and completely safe to drink; plus, it tastes great.

Buying bottled water all the time is not environmentally friendly. If you think bottled water is cleaner, let me tell you that it depends on how it is stored and transported. These bottles are made of plastic and if they are left in the sun for a long time, they will no longer be as safe.

Furthermore, bottled water is not cheap in Amsterdam and can cost up to €2.50 in some tourist areas. You will rarely get free water in restaurants, so it is a good idea to bring a bottle from home and fill it up at one of the city's public drinking fountains.

9. Park away from the center

Gasper Camping

Gasper Camping| ©Nadine S
Gasper Camping| ©Nadine S

Parking in Amsterdam is expensive, costing up to €10 per hour. Therefore, if you arrive in Amsterdam by car, I recommend parking your car away from the city center to save money.

On the highway leading to Amsterdam, pay attention to the "P + R" signs, as this is where you should park your vehicle. Parking here usually costs €1 per day, and from there you can easily take public transportation to wherever you want to go in Amsterdam.

If you arrive in Amsterdam by motorhome, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of places to park, although they are a bit far from the city center. The best ones are Gasper Camping and Camping Zeeburg.

10. Bring your photo ID

Photo ID| ©Dom J
Photo ID| ©Dom J

You don't just need photo ID if you're visiting a museum or other important site; the police may stop you on the street and ask for identification. This usually happens when people appear to be under the influence of drugs.

Sometimes it may just be because you are tired, the way you walk, or because you haven't slept well. But if you want to avoid any mishaps, keep your ID with you at all times. If you are worried about losing your passport, it would be a good idea to carry your driver's license with you.