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We managed to hit the unthinkable jackpot! In August last year there was an auction of unprecedented generosity from UIA - literally for a day the prices for most popular destinations collapsed to obscene levels. It was impossible to resist - we bought round-trip tickets to Amsterdam for 1700 UAH. 1700 UAH, Karl! This is 3 times less than the regular price, even in such a weather-unfriendly month as November.
Such generosity of airlines happens very rarely, so I recommend to plan your trip in advance. If you buy 6-8 months in advance, you can find options from UIA for 3000-4000 UAH round trip. But if the desire to save money is great and you are not embarrassed by connections, you can fly from Poland to Eindhoven for €20-40, and from there - to the Central Station by bus.
The question with accommodation was solved in the best way possible - the hero of Expats in Amsterdam, Zhenya, came to our aid. Zhenya rents out his apartment on Airbnb in the Noord neighborhood. Living there is the best way to feel like a local for a couple of days, as Noord is a quiet and peaceful mix of private sector and 3-4-story apartment buildings. However, it won't take you more than 15 minutes to get to the city center - the area is just opposite the Central Station. Free (!) ferries to Noord depart from the back of the station - 5 minutes and you are on the other side of the canal. Even if you don't live here, you can take a drive into the neighborhood to get to know the non-tourist side of the city.
Amsterdam is a city where everyone can find something to do. Depending on the time of year and the purpose of your vacation, you can come up with an appropriate program, I'll just give you a few ideas that you can adapt to your own needs.
Yes, a corny tourist attraction, but don't be bent on doing it! It really is one of the best ways to explore Amsterdam and a way to see the city from a different angle for those who aren't first timers. There are around 200 boats from various companies plying the canals, the most popular being Holland International Cruises, Blue Boat, and Lovers. There are ride options to suit all tastes, from a standard hour-long ride to a beer cruise. I recommend taking tickets online and in advance - it's cheaper and you can combine it with tickets to one of the museums. The cost starts from €12 for a one-hour walk.
There are more than half a million bikes for every 800,000 residents, and 10,000 to 15,000 end-of-life bikes are pulled from the city's canals every year. Bikes are used by everyone from small to large, and since you are here, it would be a crime not to be a part of this "ding-ding" crowd.
In general, I think you have already caught the idea - renting a bike in Amsterdam is another step towards feeling like a local. There are plenty of rentals around the city, just google it and you'll easily find the right one. We used Mac Bike, one of which is located at Central Station. There are two bike options - foot and hand brake. If you are not completely sure of your talents in moving on a bike around the city, get one with handbrake - it is more reliable. Hourly rentals cost €7.50, 3 hours - €11, 24 hours - €14.75, every next day - €8.
An absolute must is the Van Gogh Museum. For a complete experience, I highly recommend taking an audio guide! Then you will be completely blown away for 1.5 hours - it feels like Van Gogh himself is walking with you through the museum, telling you about sunflowers, fields, his brother Theo and village life. Total immersion!
If 1.5-2 hours is enough for the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum is a bit more complicated. You can't see several centuries of Flemish painters' creations in half an hour. So choose depending on the degree of your art obsession, or better - visit both, but on different days. Tickets to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum cost €18 each.
During the warm season, don't miss the perfect lawn on the Museumplein Square, or in winter, go ice skating at the ice rink near the Rijksmuseum.
Amsterdam's largest and most popular park. Perfect lawns, filigree-cut shrubs, lush flowerbeds, and birds frolicking in the tree crowns are a perfectionist landscaper's dream, as well as a young naturalist's dream.
There's no better place for a chill, so if you're in Amster in the warm season, grab a blanket, wine, baguette (don't forget to feed it to the ducks), cheese and other ingredients for the perfect picnic and head to Vondelpark. Oh yes, be sure to try the harring, a traditional Dutch herring, also known as Vis or Verse Harring. Divine, simply divine.
And, if you have an ambitious plan to explore the entire Vondelpark area, come here on a bike, which makes it much easier to explore the entire 47 hectares of Vondelpark. By the way, sex has been officially allowed in the park since 2004.
What first came to your mind when reading this headline is probably closer to your heart. Whatever it is - you will find it in Amsterdam, the main thing is to adequately assess your strengths and approach everything with your head. Coffee shops at every turn, but in the center, which is not wise, the prices are higher.
But if you are thinking about something extreme, then you can go straight to the roof of A'DAM Lookout in the Noord district. From the 21st floor of the A'DAM Toren tower, you'll have a stunning view of the city. Here you can simply admire Amsterdam from above and have a cocktail, or for an extra €5 you can take a ride on the Over the Edge swing - the highest in Europe. Entrance to the observation deck is €15.
Another thing that was highly recommended to us by our host was This is Holland. It is an attraction where you can take a virtual flight over Holland. In flight you feel the smells, wind blowing, fog, as if you are really flying over dykes, mills and endless tulip fields. By the way, for these two attractions, A'DAM Lookout and This is Holland, you can buy a combo ticket for €25, saving you €5.
If you're planning on taking public transportation and are planning to visit more than two museums, the city pass will definitely come in handy. The main points you can count on are free public transportation, an hour-long canal cruise, discounts on bike rentals, excursions, concerts and more. There are options for a day (€60), two days (€80), three days (€93), four(€105) and five (€115). The best way to figure out if you need it is to check the list of services the map offers on the website.
This is a rather modest list of places to go when the main program is explored, but, in fact, there are dozens of such places, so you don't have to worry about the cultural and entertainment program. Amsterdam is a city of adventure, and what kind of adventure it will be depends only on you.
