25 Useful Amsterdam Travel Tips for First Time Visitors

Are you planning your first ever trip to Amsterdam and feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! Here we will go through 25 useful travel tips for visiting Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in the world (it ranks 26th). And for good reason, it’s simply beautiful with its canals and narrow old brick houses. It also has world-class museums, stunning old cathedrals, amazing nightlife, and endless day trip opportunities.

But the city can be quite overwhelming for some. That’s why I’ve created this post. You’ll be adequately prepared for an amazing trip to Amsterdam after reading this article!

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I called Amsterdam home for about three years, so these Amsterdam travel tips come from the standpoint of an American expat living in the Dutch capital. They are meant to prepare a non-Dutch visitor for Amsterdam and traveling in the Netherlands. 

What this post is not is a full guide to Amsterdam. For that you can refer to my Local’s Guide to Amsterdam, which goes through this amazing city in detail. Or maybe you’re considering a life in Amsterdam? If so, check out my pros and cons of living in Amsterdam. 

Want to get outside of the city? I’ve got you covered with my Top 10 Day Trips from Amsterdam article. Or even better set out on a 7-day travel itinerary across the Netherlands for a chance to experience Dutch culture in full swing.  

Before you set out on your journey, consider purchasing travel insurance so that you’re protected for the unexpected. We use World Nomads and had a good experience the one time we unfortunately had to actually use it. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.

Alright, let’s get to it now. Here are my top travel tips for Amsterdam first time visitors. 

1: The Bicycle is King

If there’s one thing that defines modern day Netherlands more than anything else it’s quite possibly the prevalence of the bicycle as a mode of transportation. Bikes are not just common in Amsterdam, they are an absolute necessity. While most residents do not have cars, they all have bikes. In fact, many have multiple bikes (I had two myself). 

Riding a bike is the most common way to get from any point in the city to any other point in the city. Amsterdam has an extensive bike path network. The bike lanes are brick-red colored and they flank almost every road in the city. With so many trips being made by bike, the bike lanes can get very crowded, especially at morning and evening rush hour time. 

Whatever you do, do not walk in a bike lane! You will get run over and cursed out by the locals. Stay on designated sidewalks while walking and do not cross streets when there is a red do not walk signal.

You never know where a bike might be coming from and cyclists run red lights literally all the time in Amsterdam. I can’t even count the number of times I witnessed an idiotic cyclist almost get hit by a car. 

Rent a bike

You want to rent a bike now, don’t you? Well, you definitely should! What better way to blend in with the locals than riding a bike through Amsterdam. Well, other than your clearly marked rental bike that will stand out like a sore thumb. There are tons of agencies in Amsterdam that rent bikes to tourists.

Check out the Iamsterdam website for more info on bike rental companies. If you’ve purchased the I Amsterdam city card (see Tip #6) you’ll get a free bike rental included. 

As you cruise the bike paths, just be sure to pay attention to the traffic signals and don’t run red lights like the locals do. When the bike paths are busy they can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it, so just keep that in mind.

The locals also hate it when tourists stop on the bike trails to take photos. So don’t do that. I’d also recommend not renting a bike if the weather is awful. Nothing is as miserable as cycling in the rain and wind (see Tip #14)!

2: Get an OV Chipkaart from the Airport

The best way to get around Amsterdam and the Netherlands is by public transportation. If you’re going to be in Amsterdam for more than a day and you plan on doing some day trips, then I suggest investing in an OV Chipkaart. This is the card that is used for all public transportation throughout the country. It has a tap-on-tap-off system and it’s super easy. 

When you arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport you’ll find a train station within the airport. From the big kiosks you should purchase a blue OV Chipkaart. The card costs 7.50 euros (as of 2023) but you can use it indefinitely (and I’m sure you’ll want to return to Amsterdam again one day) or give it to a friend visiting Amsterdam in the future. 

If you just plan on staying in Amsterdam and not getting outside the city a GVB Day Pass, which is sold at kiosks just like the OV Chipkaart, is another option. This is a card that costs 9 euros/day but does not work on trains – i.e. only trams/buses/metro in Amsterdam only). Note that it will not cover the train to and from the airport, which you’d have to buy an individual ticket for. 

You might also spend the day doing so much walking that you never even get on public transport, which is another reason why I like the OV Chipkaart option. You can also load day passes onto your OV Chipkaart if you think you’ll be doing a ton of tram, metro, and bus riding.

So in general, I recommend putting down the 7.50 for the OV Chipkaart when you land in Amsterdam. The only exception being if you are purchasing an I Amsterdam city card (see Tip #6) and do not plan to leave the city limits, in which case the I Amsterdam city card is all you need. 

3: Make Use of Public Transportation

Building onto #2 above, the Netherlands has top notch public transportation. In Amsterdam there are trains, trams, buses and an underground metro system. There is literally not a single spot in the city that is not easily accessible on public transport. And by that I mean like within a 2-3 block walk. 

Of course often it might be advisable to walk a bit more to get to a train station or a subway station and avoid the bus or tram. But you get the point. The Amsterdam public transport network is wonderful. It’s also affordable.

With the OV Chipkaart discussed above you just have to tap on and tap off and you can ride with ease. All modes of public transport throughout the entire country use the OV Chipkaart, so Utrecht and Rotterdam trams/buses run in the same system. It’s brilliant. 

4: Avoid Visiting in August

If you can, avoid visiting Amsterdam in the month of August. That can really be said about anywhere in Europe. Many people in Europe literally take the entire month of august off work. This makes pretty much every popular European travel destination ridiculously crowded in August, and Amsterdam is no exception. 

I hated going into the city center in August. The increase in the number of pedestrians on the sidewalks and streets was very noticeable. Even one month earlier in July is very different, so if you need to visit during school holidays opt for July.

If you’re not limited by your children’s school schedule, May and June are the best months to visit Amsterdam. However, if you want to see the famous Dutch tulip fields, you’ll have to visit in April. 

5: You Don’t Have to Tip

We can’t talk about Amsterdam travel tips without talking about tipping. Americans sometimes forget that tipping for everything is literally an American invention. Restaurant and service industry workers are paid fairly in the Netherlands and do not expect tips.

While in some European countries it is customary to leave maybe 10% or tip a tour guide, it’s not in the Netherlands. If you want to tip someone they’ll happily take it though.

Now, I mention this here because there are some restaurants in central Amsterdam that will print out a recipe with a line for tip – similar to a restaurant bill in the United States – if you pay with an American credit card. I’ve been to places where I’ve paid with my American credit card and had the tip line, whereas when I paid with my local Dutch card there was no tip line.

Not every restaurant in the city does this, but many do. They’re looking to get extra money from American tourists who might think they have to tip. And you know what? It works. Just know that you are not expected to tip in Amsterdam. 

6: Get the I Amsterdam City Card or the GoCity Card

If you plan on going to more than one museum, it’s worth it to purchase an I Amsterdam city card. This is basically a travel pass for the city that gets you into almost all the museums (though not Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House), as well as gives notable discounts on many other things like Zaanse Schans, the zoo, the Heineken Experience. It also includes a free canal cruise, a free bike rental, and unlimited access to metro, bus, and tram (not train). 

Alternatively, the GoCity Amsterdam Card includes all museums and attractions in the city in an all-inclusive pass. This option is better for those wishing to visit all the attractions and not just museums. You can save about 50% using the GoCity card in lieu of purchasing individual tickets. 

Essentially, if you’re planning on being a typical tourist it’s worth the money to buy one of these cards. The IAmsterdam car is 60 euros for 24 hours, 85 euros for 48 hours, 100 euros for 72 hours, or 115 euros for 96 hours. You can purchase the card online before your trip or pick one up at the I Amsterdam store at Amsterdam Central Station. If you purchase the IAmsterdam card and you don’t plan on making any day trip, it’s probably not worth it to get the OV Chipkaart as well. 

The GoCity Amsterdam Card is 114 euros for two days, 139 euros for three days, and 189 euros for 5 days. Check out their website for more info on just exactly what is covered.

I’ll add here that it’s important to book the popular museums and attractions in advance. This is especially important for places like the Anne Frank House, which has limited space and books out months in advance. It’s also recommended to book places like the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in advance too. Basically, it doesn’t hurt to book in advance.

7: Expect Lackluster Customer Service

If you’re an American you might be surprised by the lackluster customer service in the Netherlands. Even if you’re from elsewhere in Europe it can still be quite a shock. You know that mantra that the customer is always right? Well that doesn’t exist here. Things are very processed in the Netherlands and if something doesn’t go right, well, tough. Deal with it. 

I’ve left restaurants before because the service was just so bad and didn’t even get an apology. If your food takes an hour longer to come out than expected you’re not gonna get a free appetizer or anything. What does this look like? Outback Steakhouse?

I once had a burger that took 45 minutes to come out and it came out raw. It was a weekday lunch and I had a meeting to get back to. I ate the fries and told them the burger was not edible and I had to get back to work. In true Dutch style they charged me for the entire meal because “you ate the fries.”

Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m not saying you’re guaranteed to get bad service in Amsterdam. Quite the opposite. Most places have perfectly fine customer service with friendly and helpful employees. It’s just that god awful service is more common than you might be used to and you might be thrown off by their lack of remorse for their awful service. 

8: Attend a Local Street Market

Street markets are scattered around Amsterdam. Most sell fresh produce, cheese, baked goods and seafood. Some also sell handmade goods and gifts like sweaters, scarfs, etc. The most famous market is the Albert Cuyptmarkt in the de Pijp neighborhood, just south of the city center. 

Dutch markets are fun to go to even if you don’t buy anything. Just walking around can be entertaining itself. But the best thing about the markets are the free samples. You can try as many bite size pieces of Dutch cheese as your heart desires. A lot of other food vendors will offer free samples too. Why even have a proper lunch? 

9. Lunch is… Different 

Lunch in the Netherlands is pretty unique. Traditionally, the Dutch don’t really eat what other cultures might consider a proper lunch. Lunch is not to be a warm meal.

Typically, lunch consists of bread and cheese or dip or simple cold sandwiches with cold cut meats. If you are traveling to Amsterdam for work and you have a lunch meeting, prepare for simple sandwiches that you probably will not find too enticing. 

Because of this, it’s common for restaurants in the Netherlands not to be open for lunch. In the touristy city center there are plenty of lunch options so it’s not like you’re going to struggle to find a place to eat.

I’d wager that most restaurants in the city center are open for lunch. But many are not, so if you have a bunch of restaurants pegged to try, just check their hours first to make sure they are open.

10: Don’t Get Obnoxiously Drunk in the Red Light District

This goes without saying. Every night plenty of dumb tourists have a few too many drinks and make fools of themselves in the Red Light District. This manifests itself in getting arrested, falling in a canal (which happens more than you’d think), or giving all your money to a sex worker. 

While most of Amsterdam is lax on open container laws, there is a strict no alcohol on the street policy in the Red Light District. This was started in 2019 as a way to discourage obnoxious drunk behavior from tourists. Police do maintain a presence in the area and you will get into trouble if you act like a moron and break the law. 

So just do yourself a favor and stay out of the Red Light District if you’re looking to get sloshed. 

11: Don’t Take Photos of the Girls in the Red Light District

You’re not supposed to take photos of the women working in the windows in the Red Light District. While it’s not technically against the law, it is forbidden and considered extremely rude to the sex workers. If you are caught taking photos of the women don’t be surprised if they come out from behind their window to kick your butt.

You can take photos of the general area, the canals, the streets, and the sex theaters. That’s all fine, so long as it’s not focused on the windows with the women. How would you feel if someone showed up to your office and started taking photos of you working? 

12. Don’t Drive Unless You Absolutely Have To

Hopefully you weren’t thinking of driving a rental car around Amsterdam. If you have a car, leave it parked at your hotel and only use it to get out of town on a day trip to one of the nearby tourist attractions.

Driving in Amsterdam can be downright terrifying if you’re not used to European city driving. The city streets were not designed for cars. They are narrow, crowded, and full of numerous obstacles like trams, buses and street sweepers. On top of that, cyclists love to run red lights and unsuspecting tourists are jaywalking all the time. 

I had a car my final year in Amsterdam and avoided the city center like the plague. Driving in the city requires laser sharp focus. So don’t do it unless you really have to. 

13: The Dutch Can and Will Be Direct

Maybe you’ve heard this before, but the Dutch are known for being direct and getting straight to the point, regardless of how that might make you feel. They’re not trying to be rude, they just don’t like to beat around the bush. Many people misconstrue Dutch directness as them being mean, but they don’t see it that way at all. They see it as more polite than avoiding the subject or lying to someone. 

Consider this hypothetical: you ask your American friend and your Dutch friend if they like your new dress. Your American friend smiles and says you look fabulous. Your Dutch friend tells you that it’s not a pretty dress and it doesn’t fit your style. Is your Dutch friend being rude, or just being brutally honest? And does your American friend really think it’s a pretty dress!? 

Now of course not everyone is like this. But this is the stereotype and it does have a basis in reality. So don’t expect the Dutch to sugarcoat anything for you. They’ll tell it like it is. 

14. You Don’t Need to Know a Word of Dutch

The rate of English fluency in the Netherlands is probably better than in the United States. And by probably I mean definitely. Just about everyone in Dutch cities speaks English and most of them are fluent. When you get out into the countryside it’s more common to find people who don’t speak English, but in Amsterdam everyone you’ll be dealing with will speak English. 

If you wander into the far eastern or western suburbs where many of the immigrant communities live, English is less common, as they learned Dutch when they immigrated instead of English. But you probably won’t be going out to those neighborhoods as a tourist.

There are also people who speak enough English but aren’t necessarily fluent. They’re often not super comfortable explaining stuff to you but can have a decent conversation. These folks likely won’t work in the service sector though, so you probably won’t run into them.  

So in general, you don’t need to know any Dutch, but it is nice to be able to say thanks: dakjewel (daank-yuh-well)

15: Prepare for Rain and Wind

If you haven’t been to northern Europe before, the weather can be a bit of a shock. Didn’t think you’d need to pack a jacket in July, did you? Ha! Welcome to northern Europe. Amsterdam’s weather is notorious for being bipolar. You can be sitting out in the sun having a beer at lunch and be hiding in your room watching hail fall from the sky an hour later. 

Summer has the best weather overall, but even then you need to bring a sturdy rain jacket, as rain is common throughout the year. But don’t bother bringing an umbrella. The rain is usually accompanied by gusting winds that will rip your little umbrella to shreds. But I’ll lament that in summer the wind is not as bad as the rest of the year, so an umbrella can be useful. 

So take away from this that it will likely rain at some point on your stay in Amsterdam so don’t let it get you down. There are so many awesome indoor things to do in Amsterdam that you won’t be held back. 

16. DJs and Festivals Dominate Amsterdam 

Music in the Netherlands is sort of different. I dare you to go around Amsterdam and find a live band playing at a bar, save a few Irish pubs. You might find one or two, but you’ll see hundreds of DJs.

House music is as ingrained into Dutch society these days as cheese and bike lanes. The country is completely dominated by DJs and house music. It’s a rite of passage for a young Dutch kid to learn how to work a turntable. I’m only half kidding there. 

With DJs comes house music festivals. Summer weekends in Amsterdam all feature numerous festivals around the city. Most of these are small, with a few thousand people and maybe 10 DJs sharing the stage over the course of the day.

But there are also some major festivals in and around Amsterdam each year, like Awakenings and Amsterdam Dance Event (though ADE is more of a series of nightly festivals than a single event). If you really want to blend in with the locals there’s nothing better than attending a festival.   

Now, while the DJ is king in Amsterdam, the Dutch also love rock and metal music. Most big bands come through Amsterdam and the shows are usually sold out. I saw bands like Shinedown, Alter Bridge, Coheed and Cambria and Dream Theater in much larger venues than I saw the same bands in the US (where they are all from).

Metallica and the Backstreet Boys sold out the biggest venue in the country and Bon Jovi played the Ajax football stadium. So it’s not like the Dutch only care about house music. It sure is number one though. 

17: Coffee Shops do Not Sell Coffee

This is probably one of the first things you will learn about Amsterdam. If it says “coffee shop” outside, it sells marijuana. Weed is legal and regulated in the Netherlands. These coffee shops are all over the city. If you accidentally mistake it for a place that sells coffee you’ll realize pretty quickly once you walk inside. 

If you want coffee, you need to go to a cafe. Cafes are everywhere as well, so you won’t have a problem finding a nice cup of jo.  

18. Grocery Stores do Not Take Credit Cards

Dutch grocery stores do not accept credit cards. You’ll have to have a debit card from an EU country, which uses a system known as “Maestro”, to use a card at a supermarket like Jumbo or Albert Heijn.

If you’re an American you won’t have a Maestro enabled card, so you’ll have to pay cash if you want something from the market. Sounds odd in the 2020s to need cash in a modern country like the Netherlands, but that’s the way it is. 

The same goes for other smaller stores and places like street markets. Larger stores – like H&M – will take your credit card and just about every restaurant and bar will. Even if you don’t plan on going into a supermarket, it’s wise to carry cash when you’re in Amsterdam. You’ll likely need it at some point. 

19: Try Some Local Dutch Food

Dutch food may not be the most sought after cuisine in the world. In fact, it’s not even really a cuisine. It’s more of an eating style. But the Dutch do have some unique culinary creations that deserve your attention while in Amsterdam. Something’s to be sure to try:

• Bitterballen – friend balls of mystery meat 
• Stroopwafel – sweet caramel waffle 
• Kibbeling – lightly fried fresh fish 
• Pannekoeken – Dutch savory pancakes 
• Stamppot – a hearty mashed potatoes with vegetables

There are plenty of other thugs to try as well, so be sure to read my full guide to Dutch food and eating in the Netherlands if you’re a foodie traveler. 

20: Skip the Heineken Experience and Visit a Craft Brewery

The Netherlands is quickly becoming one of the best counties for craft beer in the world and Amsterdam is the hub of the Dutch craft beer scene. There are over a dozen local microbreweries in Amsterdam – not including conglomerate macrobreweries like Heineken – and most of them have brewpubs where you can taste their beers with some solid Dutch bar food. 

Be sure to read my full guide to the best breweries in Amsterdam if you’re a fan of craft beer before visiting Amsterdam. 

21. Take a Day Trip

One of the best things about the Netherlands being so small is that most of the main sites in the country can be seen as day trips from Amsterdam. You can even do day trips to other countries like Atwerp, Belgium or Dusseldorf, Germany.

Within 90 minutes of Amsterdam you can learn about Dutch windmills at Zaandse Schans, visit the beach at Zaanvoort aan Zee, see the Dutch Parliament building in The Hague, drive a boat around Giethoorn, or explore the vast Dutch tulip fields in South Holland, among other things. 

No trip to Amsterdam is complete without at least one day trip from the city. I’ve covered the best day trips from Amsterdam in this post. If you’d prefer to have a local show you around, you can get a great deal on an organized tour with GetYourGuide. Check out some of the day trips from Amsterdam below for an idea of what you can do.

22.  The City Center Can Be Super Loud at Night

One thing to keep in mind if you want to stay in the heart of the city is that Amsterdam is a vibrant party city. The area in and around the red light district can be extremely loud till about 3 or 4 in the morning. There are tons of hotels in the city center and even the best soundproofing won’t keep out the yells of the drunk 19 year olds. If you are a light sleeper, it’s best to stay outside of the inner canal ring, where things are far quieter. 

There are tons of hotels and hostels in Amsterdam to choose from. If you’re wondering where to stay for your first time in Amsterdam, I definitely recommended between the inner and outer canal ring if you can afford it. If you need a cheaper place, really anywhere that is directly on a tram line will do. You can use the search box below to check out the Amsterdam listings on booking.com

Booking.com

23. You Don’t Really Have to Worry About Crime

While some American films and shows might portray Amsterdam as a hotbed of petty crime, the reality is it’s one of the safest cities in the world. You are highly unlikely to be a victim of any sort of crime as a tourist (as for locals, however, they will almost certainly be a victim of bike theft at some point; I had my bike stolen 4 times in 4 years). There are very few homicides every year for a country of over 17 million people, and things like muggings and robberies are rare. 

This is not to say that you don’t have to be careful. It’s still a big city with a slew of dubious individuals. They’re just more likely to try to sell you cocaine on the street than beat you up and steal your wallet. Just use basic common sense and you’ll be fine. 

24: You Will Have to Pay for Water at Restaurants

While this is not a universal rule, most restaurants in the city center will not give you tap water with your meal. In the local neighborhoods outside of downtown getting some ice water usually isn’t a problem. But the central restaurants are trying to get extra money from tourists by selling water for the same price as beer.

And for you Americans, as is the case in all of Europe, if you want a Coca Cola or soft drink you’ll get a tiny bottle and it will cost you like 3 euros. No free refills here.

25: Tap Beer Comes in a Half Pint Size

Another thing to be aware of at restaurants and bars is that if you order a draft beer it will be 250 mL (8.5 ounces). This is just the way it is all across the Netherlands. The Dutch prefer these half beers to a proper pint. Bottled beers are 330 mL (11.2) ounces so you’ll get a slightly bigger portion ordering in the bottle.

So don’t think you’re getting a great deal looking at the bierkaart (beer menu). You’re just getting less quantity. 

Amsterdam Travel Tips – FAQs

Amsterdam Travel Tips – Final Word

Amsterdam is an awesome city to spend a few days in. And with these Amsterdam travel tips you’ll be reading to hit the ground running once your plane lands!