Many people often choose Amsterdam as a brief destination for a day or two.
If this is your case, we leave you an express guide:
DAY 1
From wherever you are, take the tram to Leidseplein, a very cool neighborhood.
While walking through this neighborhood you'll reach Vondelpark, a very nice narrow long park, which is worth visiting by bicycle if possible.
In Amsterdam almost everyone moves by bike. The streets are mostly narrow, and it's full of bikes everywhere. All the streets have a lane for a car and another for a bike/motorbike, and the traffic lights are also settled for both car and bike. We recommend renting one for a whole day.
All the houses have the same Dutch style, true to their roots. They are surrounded by water and bridges. You will see many boats of all kinds and sizes go by.
Another recommended square is Dam Square, the nerve center of Amsterdam. Here you can find some of the most important monuments that must be seen:
-The National Monument, a 22-meter obelisk built in homage to the Dutch soldiers killed in World War II.
-The Royal Palace, neoclassical in style and built between 1648 and 1655.
-The Niewekerk or New Church, built in the 15th century, where the coronations of the Dutch kings took place since 1814.
Another of Amsterdam's trade mark is its street art, which can occupy entire facades. The Spuistraat, near Dam Square, is one of the places with the highest concentration of these art works.
A must do: visit Anne Frank's house, she was one of the many victims that Nazism and the Holocaust had. She was born in Frankfurt and had to escape with her family to Amsterdam, where she hid in a house for over two years, which she called The Secret Annex. In that house, Otto leaves a letter saying that they went to Switzerland, but behind a library there is a staircase that takes you to another part of the house where they hid for a long time without seeing the sun.
You enter the house and there are photos and parts of Anna's diary; you can see some extracts on different spots showcasing what she actually felt in those places. There are also documented moments that show testimonial videos of friends who survived and one of her father, Otto Frank, who tells what he felt when they showed him her rescued diary. The Frank family, along with some other people (a total of 8) hid in that house until they found them; They were betrayed, but it was not known by whom. They were transported to the concentration camp and died, except for Otto. Two months after Anne died, the liberation took place; only two months later...
The night in Amsterdam is very famous and worth visiting. Do not stay in just one bar, we recommend to pub crawl.
DAY 2
You can start the day at the Flowers Market. You'll find this 1862 market located in one of the arms of the Grachtengordel. It is the place where the citizens fed one of their great passions: flowers; tulips being the main objects of desire.
If you want a different experience, you can go to the Condomerie. You can't take pictures from inside.
For peanut butter lovers, be sure to go to the specialists: De Pindakaaswinkel.
For art lovers, something interesting is to visit the Van Gogh Museum, where you can enjoy more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and hundreds of letters from the Dutch painter.
The Rijksmuseum is, without a doubt, one of the great essentials that must also be visited. Among its walls you'll see paintings such as Rembrandt's Night Watch or Vermeer's Milkmaid, belonging to the collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings. There are also pieces of Asian and Egyptian art.
If you are a Rembrandt lover, you can also do a tour of his house.
If you have time you can do a tour to the Heineken factory! You'll learn everything about the manufacturing process and the history of this Dutch beer. It is located in the first factory the brand used and is made up of different interactive activities.
EXTRA PLACES: If you still have more time and want to do something different outside of Amsterdam, you can visit the Waterland Route. An area of small towns to the north including the famous Volendam, Edamy Marken, and lesser known ones such as Monnickedam, Broek in Waterland, Purmerend.
The cheapest way is to buy the daily bus ticket, which costs 10 euros and with which you can get on and off as many times as you want.
AMSTERDAM #GUESTBITES:
OFICINA: Canteen, food design studio and shop.
SOTTO Pizza
GLOU GLOU: Wine Bar
MIKKELLERBEER: Beer
SJEFIETSHE: Cevichería (try the octopus hotdog!)
FABEL FRIET: Amazing fries with truffle mayo and also try the "croquetas" (the cheese ones and shrimp ones)
JWO LEKKERNIJEN: Deli & sandwiches
BÁNH MÌ DELI (Vietnamit, Handmade Asian Baguettes, Spring Rolls & Coffee. Also veggie options)
VAN STAPELE: Most famous cookie
UNCOMMON: Coffee Shop
TOKI TIMES: Coffee shop with an industrial environment that offers specialty coffee, bakery products and brunch.
YUSU: Breakfast
GOOD BEANS COFFEE
ARKET COFFEE
SAINT-JEAN (Vegan bakery)
BAKKERIJ WOLF (Bakery)
BOX SOCIAAL (Coffee shop)
KINTO JAPAN (Coffee shop)
CAFECITO (Coffee & matcha)
SCREAMING BEANS (Coffee roasters)
BOCCA (Coffee shop)
GOOD BEANS (Coffee shop)
DROOG (Gallery, coffee and events)
VAN WONDEREN (Stroop waffles)
#GuestTravelTips: If you like the cinamonn rolls try the Kanel Bullar. Also try the Stroop Waffle.