Travel Guide: Amsterdam Best Attractions

Dear Alice,

Today I would like to continue the series related to places that I recommend you to visit in 2016!
Next on my list is definitely Amsterdam! If you ever wonder where can you find a place full of history, unique architecture, museums, diverse entertaining places, long bicycle routes and blossoming flowers, the answer lies in one city and one city only, and that is Amsterdam.

So if you ever want to spend a weekend away from your daily routine, to experience and to get to know a diverse culture and mentality, Amsterdam is definitely your best choice. Here is my long story made short about my first visit in summer to the “Venice of the North”, as Amsterdam is nowadays called due to its enormous number of water canals and connecting bridges:

  • Inntel Hotels Amsterdam-Zaandam
    • This is a great hotel, where I enjoyed the rooms, the breakfast, the cozy swimming pool and the distinctive architecture! Since this trip was a special occasion, the welcoming package, which one gets in the room if ordered, was specially peculiar! And it adds a special fragrance to the trip!
    • Even though located in Zaandam, the city and its center are easily reachable with the tube! It takes like 15 minutes to reach the city center of Amsterdam from Zaandam, so distance should not be a problem, if you are already thinking about it!
  • Van Gogh Museum
    • Since I am an art lover and you know it, Van Gogh Museum was of course one of the main attraction I wanted to enjoy! It was a good idea to reserve the tickets to the Museum in advance like 2 weeks before the trip. This allowed us to avoid the long queuing at the entrance of the museum, and it also ensured us that we get to enjoy the lovely expositions and explanatory tour into the life of the great artist!
  • Anne Frank House
    • “No trip to Amsterdam without Anne Frank House”, this is my first piece of advice for your trip.
    • The problem is of course the availability of tickets to Anne Frank House! We tried to book the tickets 2-3 weeks in advance and it was already to late. So as a rule of thumb I guess one should try to book the tickets at least 3 months in advance. Or let’s just say it this way: the sooner, the better. Fortunately, luck was with us and 2 days before traveling to Amsterdam we found a free slot for a couple of tickets to Anne Frank House fitting our schedule and we immediately book them!
    • The experience you live in Anne Frank House is unique and it cannot be described in words! You just have to live it yourself! It is overwhelming starting with the enormous queue of visitors that want to be part of this incredible adventure and it ends with reflecting over the story concerning the destiny of a young soul trying to survive and to make the best out of it in a world full of terror and of greed, where hope and great hearts are still to be found at every corner!
    • At the end of the tour, you as a visitor are welcomed by the Anne Frank House to leave your thoughts about your visit! I find this a brilliant idea that I fully embraced and here is the outcome: My Thoughts About Anne.
  • Photography Museum
    • If you enjoy photography and everything that comes with it, this is the right place for you! The museum is medium in size, but the expositions you get to see and the cafeteria are great measurements for the success of this place!
  • Restaurant Cote Ouest
    • One of the best places I ever ate galettes! And this includes Cote d’Azur! Don’t miss it if you are ever in Amsterdam! The food can only even out the ambiance and the hospitality of the owners that provided us with one of the most enjoyable evening in Amsterdam!
  • Hard Rock Cafe
    • Well you know it by now that I am a big fan of good burgers, so I do not miss the Hard Rock Cafe whenever I have the chance to enjoy it! This time along with the tasty burgers I also enjoyed the delicious cocktails!
  • Canal Cruises
    • And last but not least, what is Amsterdam without its canal cruises? You can choose from a multitude of canal cruises out there, I would recommend that you pick out a medium size cruise. We booked in advance a big cruise, which turned out fine, but I would opt for a medium size cruise for our second trip there.

Of course there are also other magnificent places to visit in Amsterdam, as the city is full of history and of non-conformism. For me the 4 days trip to Amsterdam was amazing and I am looking forward to return to the marvelous city of freedom!

Sincerely yours,
madalina

IMG_0122
IMG_2068

IMG_2083

IMG_2087

IMG_0151

IMG_2096

IMG_0152

IMG_0158

IMG_0175

IMG_2136

IMG_0177

IMG_0194

IMG_0210

DSC_1515

DSC_1504

DSC_1507

DSC_1533

DSC_1535

DSC_1543

DSC_1560

DSC_1556

DSC_1586

DSC_1593

DSC_1599

DSC_1604

DSC_1611

DSC_1612

DSC_1617

DSC_1621

DSC_1622

DSC_1623

IMG_0238

IMG_0240

DSC_1563

IMG_2166

IMG_0262

IMG_0272

DSC_0016 2

DSC_0033 2

IMG_0275

IMG_2172 2

IMG_2182 2

Comments

comments