Top sights in Amsterdam

I might be biased as I used to live here, but Amsterdam really does have everything!

aMSTERDAM'S got a great mix of history, culture, entertainment, nature and all round good times. Here are some things I’d recommend seeing and doing in Amsterdam:

1. Anne Frank House

It’s so surreal that she used to live there, and that you get to stand inside a house that was raided during the holocaust. Make sure you book this in advance as they will sell out!

2. Heineken Experience

If you love beer, go and check this out. It’s a cool thing to do and they give you a couple of free beers throughout the tour. It's super interactive and you also get the chance to customise your own [for an additional cost].

3. Van Gogh Museum

I didn’t actually do this until my 5th visit to Amsterdam [I’m not overly excited about museums etc], however I did the ‘Express’ tour which shows you all of the highlights and it was great!

He made so many pieces of art it’s ridiculous, and the stories told by the audio guide are crazy!

4. Bike Hire

In the city known for its avid cycling, you can’t not hire a bike and explore Amsterdam! The bike lanes are wider than the bus lanes, and you can cover so much ground this way.

5. Vondelpark

I think Vondelpark is beautiful all year round, but in Spring/Summer it’s the best place to have a picnic, a smoke, or ride the bike that you just hired! It can get quite busy but you’ll always find a spot!

6. Boat Cruise

I personally love a good boat cruise, and with more canals than Venice, it’s such a good way of seeing Amsterdam! They last around 1 hour, however you can purchase some with a meal, or even go at night when things are lit up!

7. A'DAM Lookout

This is a relatively new building, however head north of Central Station and you will find the A’DAM Tower. At the top you will find not only 360 degree views of the city, but also Europe’s highest swing, standing at 100m above the ground. If you’re feeling adventurous, give it a go and dangle from the edge!

8. Johan Cruijff Arena

I love to watch a football game when visiting a new city, and so I’d recommend trying to catch an Ajax match if they are playing [August - April is the football season]. Alternatively, you can do a stadium tour as well and go behind the scenes - and maybe even on the pitch! For more info on getting tickets abroad, check out my 'European Football Trips' post.

9. Rijksmuseum

This beauty is the national Museum of the Netherlands, and is full of Dutch arts and history! It’s next to the Van Gogh Museum and so have a historical morning and check out both of these!

10. Red Light District

Of course no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a trip to the Red Light District. I would also go one further and advise going to a Sex Show to really get a feel for the culture and all that Amsterdam has to offer! But this is of course dependent on the experience you’re after.

11. Coffee Shops

Whilst you’re taking a walk on the wild side, you should also venture around the side streets in the city centre and head into some of the ‘Coffee’ shops that Amsterdam is so famous for!

There are many different ones to choose from, such as the very touristy ‘Bulldog’ to the smaller and less known ones. Either way, it’s an experience you can’t really get anywhere else in the world at the moment and so is definitely worth trying!