explore it yourself:
The journey and accomModations:
We arrived by train from Bruges on the afternoon of June 13th and stayed until the morning of June 16th. Arriving into and departing from Amsterdam Centraal Station. We used the tram system to go back and forth from our Hostel, Google or Apple maps will indicate what number to take then it is a simple tap to pay. Note: You have to tap when you get on and off, if you don’t tap to pay to get off they will charge more than your ride costs.
Below is what AI recommended for accommodations:
1. MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam Amstel
2. ClinkNOORD Hostel (Private Room)
3. Hotel Not Hotel
4. Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South
5. Stayokay Amsterdam Oost
We ended up selecting an The Bee Hostel, which we found on Tiktok because of the price, location, and vibe. This slept more people to a room, but had bunk beds with curtains that made it feel surprisingly private. They also have a partner Hostel (The Elephant Hostel) that I would recommend looking into around the corner from The Bee Hostel that may be a little nicer. We were able to walk over to that one to do laundry which was nice, but it was 5 euros per washer and dryer.
Note: * our additions to ai itinerary and exclusions are crossed out, also see our summary at the bottom.
Arrival Afternoon- Vondelpark
Vondelpark & Local Flavor
- Lunch at La Roma* near our hostel.
- The Pesto Pasta was delicious while the small pizza was the perfect size for lunch.
- Lunch at
Vondelpark3– Terrace café inside Vondelpark; there were several cool food and drink spots in the park so we highly recommend stopping at one. - Stroll or bike through Vondelpark – picnic, people-watch, relax
- Visit VondelCS (free) – cultural hub with art exhibits, café, and rooftop terrace. We went to this location on the map, and are not sure if it has been renamed, as we didn’t see what AI had described. The place that was there was Cafe Vertigo*, a lovely outdoor patio where we got drinks and watched people walk through the park.
- Leidseplein* – Lively square filled with street performers surrounded by bars and restaurants.
- Hidden Gem:
Kattencafé Kopjes(cat café in west Amsterdam); we really wanted to check this out, but found out it is closed on Monday’s and Tuesday’s.
Dinner & Canal Cruise
- Dinner at
De Kas– Fine dining in a greenhouse with ingredients grown on-site- OR
Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam– Grand industrial space with local crowd - We skipped dinner this night and just had snacks from the grocery store.
- Optional Canal Cruise: Early evening cruise with wine & cheese or open boat
- We took the Flagship Amsterdam tour, it was so nice being able to see the city from a different angle and learn a few fun facts along the way.
- Ultimately, we did not love this specific tour which we booked strictly based on the best price available. We would recommend doing a bit of research on the different routes offered by the many canal tour companies and picking based on the route that best suits you.
- We took the Flagship Amsterdam tour, it was so nice being able to see the city from a different angle and learn a few fun facts along the way.
Day 2: Historic Core, Canals, & Culture
Old Town & Canals
- Dam Square – Heart of the city, see the Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk
- Oude Kerk – Amsterdam’s oldest building in the Red Light District
- Stroll De Wallen (Red Light District) – Historic, not just risqué.
- At this point, we walked throught the area during mid-day which has a very different feel from the late-night version of the district. During the day it is much quieter and less chaotic, however, the streets were littered with trash seemingly from the night before.
- Coffee Break at De Koffieschenkerij (hidden café inside Oude Kerk courtyard); this was really cute, the cappuccino wasn’t our favorite but it is worth checking out!
Canal Belt & Hidden Gems
- Begijnhof – Serene courtyard hidden off the bustling Spui
- The American Book Center* – Large and clean bookstore near Begijnhof
- I couldn’t help but pick up a copy of Anne Frank’s ‘A Diary of a Young Girl’ which was so fascinating to read while being in Amsterdam.
- Walk the 9 Streets (De Negen Straatjes) – Boutique shopping & cafés
- Stop at
Houseboat Museum– Quirky insight into life on Amsterdam’s canals - Lunch: Pancakes Amsterdam (next to Anne Frank House) or
Pluk(Negen Straatjes)- We recommend the butter and sugar Poffertjes for a budget-friendly option! (7.50 EUR for an order of 10)
Anne Frank House & Jordaan
Anne Frank House(Book tickets weeks in advance!); we were really bummed about missing this, we went on weeks in advance and they were already sold out. Check for tickets ASAP then check back if they havent been posted yet, ~ 3 months.- Explore Jordaan neighborhood – charming canals, art galleries, indie shops
- We stopped into the Tulip Museum* to duck from the rain for a moment and they had really cool Amsterdam souvenirs.
- Dinner at
D’Vijff Vlieghen– Classic Dutch cuisine in historic buildings- OR Kikkie van de Prinsensluis* – Amazing burgers and fries in a lively area that felt like a local spot
Hidden Gem: Balthazar’s Keuken– Creative menu in a casual setting
Concert & Red Light District
- We were lucky enough to be able to get tickets for Olivia Dean’s concert at the Ziggo Dome*, it was very easy to get to on the Metro and the concert was incredible.
- Getting there: From Amsterdam Centraal Station – take the M54 towards Gein and get off at the Bijlmer Arena stop.
- When we got back to the city center we walked through The Red Light District*, this was quite the culture shock so be aware.
- It was truly one of the most unique experiences we have ever had. The streets are filled with people admiring the ladies in the windows and the bars were packed as The Netherlands had their first World Cup match that evening. If you intend on coming here around midnight, brace yourself for big crowds and explicit sights.
Day 3: Day Trip & Local Markets
Day Trip Option (Pick One):
- Zaanse Schans – Windmills, clogs, cheese farms (30 min by train); tickets are only needed if you would like to go inside the museums and windmills. We also ate lunch here and had the famous dutch pancakes, pictured below.
- We had a great time, it was the first time we saw working (old) windmills. The grounds were incredible, lots of florals/greenery, cute cottages, and animals.
- Getting there: We took a train from Amsterdam Centraal Station that was headed for Uitgeest and rode for 4 stops (~20min) to Zaandjik Zaanse Schans, from there it is a ~10min walk to the windmills.
Haarlem– Quaint canal town with great shopping (15 min by train)A’DAM Lookout & Amsterdam North– If you want to stay in the city
Afternoon - Local Neighborhoods
- Albert Cuyp Market – Food stalls, souvenirs, stroopwafel
- De Pijp – Multicultural district with cool bars & Sarphatipark
- Søstrene Grene* – Cute stationary shop, very affordable.
- Walk over The Magere Brug*, or Skinny Bridge, which is one of the most famous bridges in the world. It spans the River Amstel in the heart of the city and is often regarded as the most romantic bridge in Amsterdam.
- Legend says if you kiss your partner on top of the bridge, or while passing underneath it, your love will last forever!
- Options: Visit
Heineken ExperienceorBrouwerij ‘t IJ*(windmill brewery) Dinner- Breda – Upscale Dutch cuisine
- De Poezenboot* – Cat boat; unfortunately the hours of operation didn’t align with our plans, but we would have loved to try this.
- We skipped dinner and just ate our groceries.
- Hidden Gem:
Café de Klepel– Wine bar with amazing food
final thoughts:
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Would I go again? Yes, we would love to come back during Tulip Season.
Favorite moment:
Bailey’s favorite: The Olivia Dean concert was the highlight, but eating dinner at Kikkie van de Prinsensluis for a more Amsterdam-specific experience. The neighborhood of the restaurant felt like The West Village (NYC neighborhood) equivalent. It had a very hip feeling and the food was amazing. It was fun to sit on the patio and people watch, while being along the canal.
Parker’s favorite: Sitting at Cafe Vertigo within Vondelpark was very fun. The park is very similar in feel to Central Park in New York City but contained many more bars and restaurants within which made for a more lively energy when we walked through.
Favorite meal:
Bailey’s favorite: Kikkie van de Prinsensluis – this was one of my favorite meals on the trip so far. Great food and atmosphere.
Parker’s favorite: Also Kikkie van de Prinsensluis – we shared a smash burger and fries here that were fantastic.
Any surprises? Full transparency it was a little dirtier than we expected. Nonetheless, the sights were still beautiful.
Anything we missed? We were really bummed we didn’t get to do the Anne Frank Museum. Be sure to check for tickets months in advance for a chance to do this!
Food spots AI recommended, but we didn’t have a chance to go:
AI recommended food options at times that didn’t necessarily align with our plans. We found it was more efficient to eat close to wherever we got hungry or near our hotel. With that being said, these are the restaurants we missed, Vondelpark3, Kattencafé Kopjes, De Kas, Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam, Pluk, D’Vijff Vlieghen, Balthazar’s Keuken, and Café de Klepel.
Average step count per day: 17,250 steps
How did ai do?
Nailed it: We were very happy AI suggested a day trip outside of the confines of the city and were surprised by how much we enjoyed the trip. As great as Amsterdam is, it was nice to have plans that were different from the usual inner-city exploration. Additionally, we were satisfied with the amount of neighborhoods we were able to explore and the attractions that we hit. With some more specific prompting regarding your individual preferences, we feel AI could provide a nice curation of activities in this city that fit better to your preferences.
Needs work: We felt AI could do a better job suggesting more casual dinner spots. When researching several of the options AI recommended, after being out and about all day, we felt under-dressed and often opted for a more casual and budget friendly option near our location at the time.