Amsterdam, Netherlands

North America: Round-the-World Travel Destinations

Budget Scale: 1-5

1-least expensive; 5-most expensive
4- Like all large cities in Western Europe, Amsterdam is expensive. Not quite as pricey as London, but you’re not going to find many ways to save a bunch of money while visiting Amsterdam.

Indie Travel Scale: 1-5

1-not a good Indie Travel destination; 5-a great Indie Travel destination
3- With super touristy cities like Amsterdam, it’s sometimes difficult to have an indie experience and not get caught up in all the touristy things there are to do. Many travelers complain that Amsterdam is nothing but coffee shops, red-light districts, bicycles, and museums. While a large part of Amsterdam is about those things, there are plenty of other aspects to the city that can have you coming back again and again.

Indie Travel Tips
Put down the doobie, stop ogling the prostitutes, and check out these tips for making your experience in Amsterdam more indie.

• There are tons of world class museums in Amsterdam, and just because something is popular and touristy doesn’t mean you should skip them. They are popular for a reason. But if you’re sick of all the high prices and crowds, consider heading to one of these lesser-known and less crowded museums:
  • The Jewish History Museum
  • The Tulip Museum
  • The Houseboat Museum
  • Foam Photography Museum
• Just a little ways outside of the city center is the Jordaan, a great area to just wander, hit up a cafe (not one of those cafes), eat, and shop.
• Just wander – There aren’t many better cities for simply wandering than Amsterdam. The canals and small streets make for a maze-like city, and you never know what you’re going to find around the next corner. Sometimes the best experiences happen by complete accident when you have nothing planned.

Why you should add Amsterdam to your RTW travel list

Take your pick: beer, art, history, hash…

Big-city stuff to do, friendly feel of a small town

Have fun figuring out how to get around a circular city

From city-center Dam Square, it’s easy to explore town on foot

If you’re brave enough, rent a bike and follow the locals lead.

Take in all those Van Goghs at the Rijksmuseum

Sail the lovely canals

The prettiest red-light district you’ll ever see

Ice-skate (when the canals freeze), bike, sail, even windsurf

Can anyone make beer better than monks do?

Visit one of the many beautiful parks around the city.

Why you should not add Amsterdam to your RTW travel list

• The high expense is one of the only negatives to visiting a city like Amsterdam.
• The super touristy areas – coffee shops and the Red Light District – can get annoying and tiresome after a while.

Are you heading to Amsterdam? What do you need to do?

• Buy an international plane ticket to/from Amsterdam
• Book an Amsterdam hostel
• Book an Amsterdam hotel
• Talk to travelers on the Europe message boards
• Read travel articles on Amsterdam

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