“I have 3 days off? Let’s fly somewhere!” This seems to be a recurring phrase in our household. With no prior knowledge of the Netherlands, no plans, and no reservations made, we decided to fly to Amsterdam solely to see the Christmas lights. Now, armed with the knowledge we’ve gained, I’ve created an overview for you to experience the best of what Amsterdam has to offer!
What You Need to Know:
Language: The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, but almost everyone speaks English fluently.
Currency: The official currency is the Euro. Although, credit cards are widely accepted throughout Amsterdam and we never needed cash!
Transportation: Biking, walking, and public transport are all great forms of transportation in Amsterdam. While the city is fairly walkable, public transportation can be quicker and is relatively inexpensive.
Weather: The warmest seasons are from June through September (tourist season), while the coldest seasons are from November through March. If you travel during the latter period, make sure to be well-prepared – it can get very cold in December.
Getting There:
Getting around Amsterdam was super easy. We flew directly from JFK to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and headed to the train platform. We purchased one-way tickets for the NS Intercity Direct train, which took us to Amsterdam Central. These tickets were quite affordable, totaling just under $11 for both of us.
Pro tip: Keep in mind that you must scan your ticket above the train platform and then scan again when you exit (if you don’t scan in and scan out they charge a flat rate of something like $20 for the ticket).
The ride from the airport was quick, lasting only about 14 minutes. We opted to walk to our hotel since it wasn’t far, allowing us to explore the city along the way. When returning to the airport, we followed the same route. We walked to Amsterdam Central station and took the train to Rotterdam Central via Airport, which cost us about $11.
Where we stayed:
As non rev travel goes, we didn’t book our hotel until we actually sat down on the flight. After comparing hotels and Airbnb options, we found that Airbnb was the more affordable choice. We decided to stay at the Melrose Hotel for $200 a night. While it might seem expensive, it was the most budget-friendly option we could find. The hotel was situated in the Jordaan neighborhood, offering a perfect location for easy access to everything in Amsterdam. Despite ending up with a basement room, it was quite nice and we had a good stay.
What we did:
- Walked all the canal streets and took so many pictures!!!
- So many buildings/ clock towers/ churches everywhere that we decided to walk to.
- We went to the Anne Frank house museum to look at the outside. We booked way too last minute to get tickets which I was bummed about.
Pro tip: Book Anne Frank house tickets ASAP. If you truly want to go to the museum I recommend just buying tickets in advance and crossing your fingers you get on the flight OR buying them the minute you get a seat.
- Begjinhof had a cute little church and inner courts to explore.
- The flower markets were amazing!!! These are right next to Begjinhof. I was obsessed with the markets.
- The Dam Center was beautiful! The Royal Palace, National Monument, and tons of Christmas decorations were very fun.
- We took a canal cruise on Lovers Boat Cruises and it was fun! We learned so much about the history of Amsterdam. I recommend arriving early if you want a window seat. I think it would have been even more amazing if it was warmer outside so the roof could have been off.
- De Gooyer windmill- We took the bus closest to our hotel at Elandsgracht. We took the 7 tram towards Azertplein and departed at Hoogte Kadijk. On the way home we took the 7 tram towards Slotermeer and got off at Elandsgracht. This public transportation is cost-effective, with fares being less than $2. Remember to properly scan in (credit card payment is an option) when you board and scan out to ensure you’re charged the correct timed rate instead of a flat rate for the entire tram ride.
- Rijksmuseum- Amazing! The building itself is so cool. The Christmas markets are set up right behind the museum and are so so so fun. They have a huge Christmas tree, ice skating rink, tons of shops, and the yummiest food markets.
What we ate:
- Pancakes- Oh my heavens get pancakes. We ate the poffertjes (Dutch baby pancakes) with Nutella and powdered sugar. I almost died they were so good. Pretty much any breakfast place has these. We ate at Sweet Tree near Dam Center.
- Traditional Dutch breakfast- This consisted of eggs, bacon, toast, and cheese. So yummy!!!
- Cheese- Must try the testers at any of the cheese places.
- Fish and chips at the Christmas market called Rook Spakenburg. Best fish and chips I have ever eaten in my life.
- Apple strudel !!!
- Frites from Manneken Pis Damrak- The best fries I’ve ever had and the sauce omg. I had mannekenpis sauce and andalousesaus (spicy sauce).
- Bitterballen- We tried Bitterballen from a random pub and it was not our fav. But it was really fun to try.
Overall:
We loved Amsterdam. It was an easy place to travel to and last minute accommodations were quite easy. We can’t wait to go back. Excited for warmer weather, flower fields, more windmills, riding bikes, and green trees!!!! Would highly recommend a quick trip to Amsterdam during Christmas time. You might even get first class on the way home! 😉
Non Rev Roamer 