City Guide: Amsterdam Netherlands
I have been on the GO lately (literally speaking) but I have finally found a minute to sit down and write a post. I have been traveling just about every weekend this summer, so I thought planning a larger trip over the Holiday weekend was appropriate. Staying with the theme, Amsterdam seemed like a good place to spend the my Labor day weekend. Colin (the guy I'm dating) and I decided to book tickets and go!
AHH.. just writing this post makes me want to book my next trip there. We had such a magical time in Amsterdam and will hopefully be back sooner than later! If you haven't been to the Netherlands, I highly recommend it. Amsterdam is a gorgeous city filled with an immense amount of history, culture and SO MUCH beauty! Aside from the history of the city, Amsterdam is quite current and extremely innovative. I loved roaming around the city sight seeing and eating. Amsterdam has a wonderful selection of eateries that are unique, different and of course DELISH!
The weather is also to die for. The mornings and evenings were in the 60's and the peak of the days were in the low 70's. Everyone we met were extremely nice and spoke exceptional English. I felt very safe here too, although I made sure to always stay alert (as you should when you travel) with my head on a "swivel" as Colin would say. This vacation was just what the doctor prescribed. I have listed the highlights of my vacay below in my city guide of Amsterdam! I hope you enjoy!
GOOD THINGS TO KNOW:
They accept credit card
Their currency is Euros
They have Uber
Walking or biking is the best way to get around the city
0-10% tip is custom
Sit down restaurants tend to close around 10:00pm / 11:00pm
It feels like "Fall" in late August
They have the BEST H&M I have ever been to (6 stories)
Floor 0 is actually their 1st floor
EAT:
What we ordered:
Extra Hot Latte
Chai Latte
Small Slice of Quiche
Banana Bread
The Seafood Bar - Amazing seafood restaurant
What we ordered:
Their recommended Bottle of Sav Blanc
Seafood Platter - Fruits De Mar
George Cafe - Adorable and aesthetically pleasing cafe
What we ordered:
Lemon Sptriz (non- alcoholic)
Latte
Brioche French Toast with Colorful Fruit
Croque Monsieur
Oeuf - Cute indoor/outdoor hole in the wall
What we ordered:
Beef Tartare (haha)
Rainbowls - Wonderful place for breakfast or lunch and they have the most beautiful acai bowls I have ever seen.
What we Ordered:
Beet Latte
Cappuccino
2 Acai Bowls
Mama Kellys - Pretty & Pink restaurant that is super instagramable. "Life is better in pink".
What we ordered:
Rose
Floral Goddess
Escargot
Steak Tartare
1/2 Spicy Chicken with Corn on the Cob and French Fries
Vegan Junk Food Bar- The BEST vegan EVER! (Made me consider going vegan)
What we ordered:
Tipsy Unicorn
Gin & Tonic
The Sumo Burger (Vegan Beef and Chicken Patties)
Bitter Balls
Waffel Fries
The Avocado Show- Avocado everything!
What we ordered:
The Guaca Mary
Moscow Mule
The Avo Garden
Avocado Fries
Happy Happy Joy Joy- Asian inspired hangout with a cool vibe and yummy Asian tapas (sharing is caring).
What we ordered:
Citrus and Spicy Gin Cocktail
Pho
Steamed Dumplings
Pork Fried Rice
Pork Belly Slider
Spicy Shrimp
SWEETS:
Van Wonder Stroopwaffles
Puccini Bomboni - Chocolate Shop
TO DO:
Ride a bike
Do the Heineken Experience Tour
Canal Tour
Red Light District - Moulin Rouge Sex Show (X-Rated)
Lay in the park
SEE:
Bloemenmarkt
Moco Museum
Van Gogh Museum
Anne Frank House
Erotic Museum
Red light Museum
House of Bols Cocktail Experience
Slanted buildings
Central Train Station
STAY
Airbnb - Our Airbnb was an utter dream. Our penthouse was centrally located with stunning floor to ceiling windows, 2 rooftop terraces and an enchanting vibe that almost made leaving an impossible task.
The Dylan - Amsterdam (Luxury Hotel) - This luxury hotel is the perfect place to stay if you are celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to ball out. The rates are quite high and if you aren't planning to stay in the room a whole bunch, I would just recommend booking an Airbnb.
I hope you enjoyed my city guide of Amsterdam and this post has inspired you to travel and possibly put Amsterdam on your travel bucket list! Have you been to any countries that felt like home away from? If so, I would love to hear where you went and what made it so special. Feel free to comment below or post your response on my instagram.