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Unforgettable Amsterdam Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Eat & See (2025 Edition)
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items Planning a trip to Amsterdam? This list is packed with experiences that make your visit unforgettable fun, easy to book, and full of local flavor. From cruising the canals with unlimited drinks to tasting Dutch cheese, these picks help you see, sip, ...
Map
Sections
6
Winter in Amsterdam
Foodies
Things to Do
Where to Stay (Budget & Luxury)
Local Favorites & Community Picks
Connectivity
Winter in Amsterdam
Amsterdam in winter is all about cozy vibes and festive fun. Glide across the Museumplein ice rink with the Rijksmuseum as your backdrop, sip hot chocolate or mulled wine, and soak up the holiday atmosphere. Pair it with the Amsterdam Light Festival ...
Seriously, this is a must-do if you're in Amsterdam during the winter. Skating here is straight out of a movie, you're gliding right in front of the majestic Rijksmuseum! It’s incredibly atmospheric, especially as the sun sets and the lights come on....
Museumplein Ice Rink
If you want a huge blast of holiday cheer all in one place, this is it! Think massive indoor Christmas market meets carnival meets après-ski party. It's the biggest winter experience in the Netherlands and the perfect way to spend a chilly day. I abs...
Tickets for Amsterdam Winter Paradise | Tiqets
This pass is basically the 'easy button' for your trip! It bundles the Light Festival Cruise and Ice Skating (the two big winter must-dos) together, but the real lifesaver here is the included GVB Public Transport pass. Being able to just hop on and ...
Amsterdam Winter Festival Card
Foodies
You are going to be doing a lot of walking, so you need good fuel. These are my personal go-to spots, from the famous sweet treats you have to try at least once, to the warm comfort food that saved me on a freezing afternoon. 🍜🧇
This little kiosk is my personal nostalgia spot! I stumbled upon it years ago right in between the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, and I still dream about that simple lunch. It’s not fancy, but eating a fresh broodje (sandwich) or a hot dog on a...
Kiosk Rembrandt Van Gogh
We ended up here right after the Heineken Experience. It was technically summer, but honestly freezing outside, and we were starving for something hot. This spot is close by and the ramen was exactly what we needed to warm up. It’s busy and loud in a...
Takumi Ramen Kitchen
You literally can't miss this place, there is always a line and you can smell the fries from down the street! 🍟 It is super central (right on Damrak), so it's the perfect snack while you're shopping. The fries are thick and crispy, but the real high...
Manneken Pis
My date surprised me with lunch here at the station. He’s vegetarian, but I’m not, so this Surinamese spot was the perfect compromise. He ordered for me (I honestly forget the exact name of the food!), but it was spicy, flavorful. Great pick if you h...
TokoMan
Things to Do
Amsterdam has a mix of huge tourist attractions and hidden local gems. This list is a blend of both! I’ve included the big famous spots that I think are actually fun (even if they are crowded), plus the 'real' local experiences you shouldn't miss.
I paid for the 'Heineken Experience + Canal Cruise' combo ticket.
It saves you money compared to booking them separately, and the boat drops you off right near the brewery. If you plan to do both, definitely get the bundle!
Heineken® Experience
If you only book one paid thing from this list, make it this. It’s an open bar canal cruise (yes, unlimited wine, beer, and sodas) for basically the price of two cocktails in the city center. We went with this one because it uses the smaller, cuter e...
Amsterdam Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks
A follower on Threads dropped a genius hack for this place. It’s already a fun interactive cocktail tour (drinks included!), but here is the secret: Apparently, if you chat up the staff and casually mention you are a 'bartender back home' looking to ...
Bols Cocktail Experience
Okay, yes, it is on Dam Square and yes, it is touristy. 🙈 But honestly? When it’s pouring rain (which is 50% of the time here), this place is a lifesaver. It’s huge, weird, and actually really entertaining, especially the moving 5D theater. Pro Move...
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Where to Stay (Budget & Luxury)
Accommodation is the most expensive part of Amsterdam. Prices in the city center are honestly shocking (and the rooms are tiny). My strategy? Save on the sleep so you can splurge on the fun. Here is the specific 'hack' spot we found that saved us hun...
I refused to pay €300+ a night for a tiny room in the city center. So I found this 'hack' instead. It’s an airport hotel, yes, but for around €70, it is a total steal. The rooms are huge (way better than the old city hotels), and getting to the cente...
Best Western Plus Amsterdam Airport Hotel
This was my secret weapon for staying on budget. Every room has a kitchen, so I saved a fortune by making my own breakfast instead of paying €15 at cafes every morning. It's at Sloterdijk (literally one stop from Central), so you zip into the city in...
Hotel2Stay: Best for Longer Trips / Saving on Food
Local Favorites & Community Picks
After my 'Girl Math' post blew up on Threads, the comment section turned into a total goldmine. 🤯 These are the specific spots recommended by locals and savvy travelers that I missed on my first trip. I haven't tried them all yet, but the community ...
A local on Threads (shoutout to Douglas!) put this on my radar. I haven't been yet, but I looked it up and it's a 17th century tasting room hidden in a tiny alley behind Ripley's on Dam Square!
They serve Dutch Genever filled to the absolute brim of...
Wynand Fockink Proeflokaal and Spirits
Patricia from Threads tipped me off about this Surinamese spot on Wibautstraat, and apparently, it's a legend.
They’ve been around since the 70s (one of the originals!) and serve authentic, huge portions. If you want the real deal Roti and all witho...
New Draver Restaurant
Okay, I just clicked the link Patricia sent for this place and I am literally drooling. 🤤
It’s a tiny bakery near Rokin and the window display of huge quiches and cakes looks insane. Apparently, there is a small balcony out back that hangs right o...
De Laatste Kruimel
A reader recommended this as the perfect antidote to the busy city center. It’s a cocktail bar right near Central Station, but the vibe is private and quiet (unlike the chaotic tourist bars nearby). If you want a properly made cocktail in a chill atm...
Super Lyan
Connectivity
You literally cannot do this itinerary without Google Maps (good luck finding that hidden alley bar or the Roti spot without it! ). I refuse to pay crazy roaming fees to my home carrier, so here is the simple setup I used to get online the second I l...
I honestly don't know how I traveled before eSims.
I used Airalo for this trip and it was zero effort. I literally bought it while sitting on the plane, and by the time we landed, I had 5G instantly. No hunting for a sim card shop at the airport, n...
Airalo