A Dam good time in Amsterdam

We were so lucky to have gotten the last few days free, and we took full advantage by travelling to Amsterdam. It was on our travel list, and we are running out of breaks to fit it in. Since it is a bit out of the way of our other travel plans, and we only wanted a few days here, it seemed as good of time as any.

We flew in late Sunday night to be greeted by this view outside of the central station, after taking a train from the airport. We were all pretty tired, but arriving an extra night before was definitely worth it, and gave us two full days to explore the city. We grabbed some food and few drinks at a nearby cafe called Lux, and called it a relatively early night.

The next morning, we roamed around the area near our hotel to find some breakfast. Our intention was to find some waffles like it was suggested online, but the locals didn't seem to think it was a common thing here. We were starving when we stumbled upon this little corner cafe that served breakfast all day.

After filling up, we were off to a bike rental shop. You can find them all over the city, and honestly I have no idea on the best place to go or comparable prices. This was the most last minute trip we have taken, and I wasn't able to plan everything out like I normally do. The bikes costed us 12.50 euros each for 24 hours. It was so worth it and so fun!

I was pretty nervous as its been years since I've rode a bike, and had no idea what the rules were here. You catch on really quick, as there are bikes everywhere and we mostly followed the crowd.

Because there are so many bikes (around 881,000) in Amsterdam, its pretty easy to get around. The city isn't really that big in size, so biking was a great way to explore and get a lay of the land. We chose to rent bikes the first day because the weather was nicer, and I wouldn't recommend anyone going to Amsterdam without trying it, at least for a day.

With no plans, or any idea of the direction we were heading, we started riding around town. We came across the floating flower market. Even though its not the season for tulips, it was fun to walk around and see the stands. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be with all the fresh flowers in the spring and summer.

We had a few things in mind on what we wanted to do, but no plans on when or in what order. After the flower market, we headed in the opposite direction we intended, and found the Heineken Brewery/Tour.

Although it is on all the "must-see" lists and brochures of Amsterdam, we all thought this tour was very underrated. First off, its huge! Even considering the fact that it was a brewery, it still seemed so big and was so full of things to do and see. They have done such a great job at making this a fun experience.

The beginning of the tour was a overview of the history, development and the brewing process of Heineken. The next part was a virtual reality experience that was recently opened, and really added to the tour, and finished with a taste-test. When you thought it would be done, you continued onto another area that is filled with interactive photo booths, games and simulations. At the end of the tour, you get to enjoy two free drinks in the lively tap room.

After the tour, we biked towards the IAMsterdam sign, and I somehow ended up with a flat tire on my bike. I ended up pushing it back to bike shop and getting a bit lost on the way, so it took up a couple hours of our afternoon.

We spent the rest of the evening getting dinner at a restaurant and hitting the town. During the week, it was a bit hard to find food late at night, but we were able to find a good spot and hit the town later. Even on a Monday night, you can find someplace fun to go!

The next morning, we got breakfast and returned our bikes. Because it was calling for rain later in the day, we decided to get passes for the hop-on, hop-off tour. Here in Amsterdam they have a bus route and a boat tour. It might make me a classic tourist, but I becoming a big fan of these tours. They are a great and easy way to make sure you get to all the attractions, and are great when you only have a short amount of time. They would also be great at the beginning of a longer trip to get a lay of the land.

Our first stop was at Amsterdam's last windmill that has been converted to a brewery. It was nothing overly exciting as we stopped for coffee at the cafe outside, but was a good photo op nonetheless. If I get the chance to come back, I will definitely take a trip to visit the countryside and see more.

We then got on the boat route that stopped at a tour of a diamond factory. We then went for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, because I had never been. The combo ticket was a great way to combine the bus tour with a boat, but either way you should take a trip on the canal. Its nothing overly exciting, but it provides a great view from the water.

Afterwards, we walked around some of the side streets, explored some shops and took some pictures of the canals.

We booked tickets to the Anne Frank house online. This was the only way to get tickets due to construction at the house, however it is a good idea to do ahead of time either way According to some of the locals, the wait time can be hours long.

This museum/house was a great experience. Its amazing how well preserved how it has stayed, and provided a great audio tour that leads you through. It was super interesting and can't be missed if you're here. Even if you are not into museums or history, this is a must do. You're not allowed to take pictures of the inside, but you can see the outside above. Below, is the church Anne talked about in her diary.

Of course, we took a stroll through the red light district. I'm sure its not a favourite area for the locals, but if you're here you should really see this side of the city's culture. It definitely has the potential to make you uncomfortable, but it should be something you see.

The sunsets over the canals are incredible. Actually, everything about the canals are amazing. I loved Amsterdam, it was one of the first places that feels completely different than where we've been before. If I ever go back, I would love to go in the summer and see how beautiful the city is in bloom. Although, no matter when you go, you're sure to have a good time.

+Kahli