Hey everyone!! I hope you enjoy this week's video all about Amsterdam travel tips and must-knows. Let me know in the comments if there's any others you'd add, and thanks again to Airalo for sponsoring this week's video. You can try them here & use the code WANDER3 for a discount! go.airalo.com/HappytoWander
Your video was incredibly helpful! Amsterdam has always been on my bucket list, and your tips will definitely come in handy. One suggestion I have is to explore the lesser-known neighborhoods like De Pijp for a more local experience. Thanks for the discount code and the great content!
At 21:50 min.: Dutch cheeses are world famous and very well known. The Netherlands are the second largest exporter of cheese in Europe, and the second largest exporter of agricultural produce in the world!
Where were all these videos when we took our european trip 4 years ago? Not here! We went there as part of a Gate1 group tour and were booked into a hotel in the center city. We found out about the constant flow of bicycles the hard way since a main path went right in front of our hotel. It was a long way to get to the museums. All in all the portion of our stay in Amsterdam was okay but not exceptional.
Hi Ms Christina, thank you so much for these helpful tips. Excited for my tour in Amsterdam next month. ❤️ Will see if i can use the esim in my iphone. Been wondering what data i can use in Europe. Hopefully esim will work ☺️
You’re very welcome!! I think most new phones are compatible with eSIMS so long as they’re unlocked. I hope it works out for you - it’s so much easier than switching out a physical SIM card. Safe travels 🫶
Well the only reason I can imagine going to Amsterdam for myself is because I love biking. I don't know how competent I am in comparison, I bike 30 to 40 mi everyday and I'm very aggressive about my biking.
8:13 love this video but disagree with this point. You don’t have to be a bike expert to ride one in Amsterdam, the signs and infrastructure makes it super easy to ride one anywhere.
Absolutely positively steer clear of the I Amsterdam card! It is virtually worthless and is very confusing / difficult to use. They promise so much and make it so complicated to redeem / use. TRUST ME! I’ve been there
I've lived in Amsterdam for 9 years. American expat working for a large multinational. I do NOT recommend visiting in winter, as the days are short. The sun rises late and sets as soon as 4:15 pm. It's also cold, gray and dreary. Best to visit in late March thru May before schools let out, or Sept.-October to avoid the massive tourist crowds. Also- get a hotel OUTSIDE Amsterdam. Less expensive, less crowded...I suggest Haarlem, Utrecht, Delft- all have good/frequent direct trains to Amsterdam.
My tip is to book a hotel in nearby Haarlem, a beautiful quit city just 18 min by train from Amsterdam central station. Cheaper and beter hotel accommodation, great restaurants and even close to the dunes and beach.
@on-the-pitch-p3w Do you own a hotel in Amsterdam? Why are you afraid of competition? Plus, how much impact do you think my post here has on the toerism industry in Amsterdam? The reason I post this is to tip people on the great option to stay in Haarlem and get a less toeristic and more dutch experience. While paying a bit less for accommodation and being able to visit the beach and another dutch town.
No way GET THE BIKES! I’m not a cyclist but I got the bikes and it was the best part of the trip! Get the bikes and see the entire city. It was such a blast - you won’t regret.
I would say Amsterdam is compact, not small. In terms of population, it would be the 10th largest city if it were located in the USA. And yes, the center is easily walkable, but don't expect that if you have found something on the outskirts of Amsterdam you can just walk to the city center in 15 minutes if you do not want to use (the very good) public transport because you heard here that it is a small city.
I'll be visiting Amsterdam at the end of August for the first time. Your video has great information and I feel it has been so helpful. I'm so excited 😆😆😆😆. Thank you 🇨🇦
I am living in Nederland Amsterdam 15 year.your information very helpful tourist almost everything your telling good🌷I Love Amsterdam ❤🎉 I from srilanka I am living Amsterdam.
Such an informative video! I’m traveling to Amsterdam next month and might consider the eSIM now thanks to you. I’m also excited to pre book my cookies lol😂 I refuse to wait on long lines for instagram foods.
Please look into getting a hotel in nearby Haarlem, which is only 18 minutes away by train from Amsterdam CS. Cheaper an better accommodation, and a chance to experience one of the best cities in the Netherlands. Utrecht is also an option, but 30 minutes by train.
@@ambika999 Ah, Zaandam! My hometown! Yes, great choice, only 8 minutes to Sloterdijk, 12 minutes to CS. And many hotels next to the train station. Zaandam is just not that pretty, but does have all the amenities! Hope you have a nice time here! I live next to dam square in Zaandam! Near the Tsar Peter house, which is a lot less popular since the war in Ukraine obviously.
I don't book air bnb these days unless I really have no hotel options. Just too many rules like you pointed out and I want drop off my luggage when I arrive early but air bnb doesn't allow it.
Don't overlook the possibility of doing a home exchange with somebody in Amsterdam. I did a three-week exchange with a family living in de Pijp. Fabulous! No, no, no - do not stay for only a few days. Try for a minimum of a week, if not more.
Amsterdam has way too many tourists. Stay away. Tourists are more and more hated. You are not welcome! Stay away. You spending money or thinking you are a "good" tourist doesn't justify you visiting Amsterdam. Stay away.
Every big clothing store has public toilets (sometimes you have pay 50 - 70 cent), at Bijenkorf (Dam square, city centre) its free. Almost every McDonalds / Burger Kings / KFC have payed public toilets. Restaurants / bars have toilets (but often only for their own clients). At Amsterdam Central Station (river side) you have a big public toilet (payed). There is also one called 'the restroom' in the city centre.
Thank you for the video!☺️ I have a question: which places are the most safe for tourists, especially for booking hotels? And which districts should be avoided?😅
Hi, your video is very helpful , but i am very confused about transportation card, what to get, i will be traveling to Amsterdam soon for 2 days the hotel i will be staying will be a little far from central so i will be using the tram a lot and i am planning on visiting zaandam and zaanse but i am not so much on to museums so what is the best card to get??
Why nobody talks about using cars. A train is way expensive if you travel with family traveling through Europe. With all gas , toll and parking still the car is cheaper option for families. In my case a family of 5 the train ride back and forth cost a fortune.
I (old cranky guy, born and raised, and still living in Amsterdam) hate (really hate) when people say that pedestrians don't have right of way in Amsterdam. That is NOT true. It depends on the traffic situation. Pedestrians often have right of way but will not get it. The bigger the city in the Netherlands, the more impolite the people are in traffic (especially Amsterdam). Why should I give you right of way, if I know there are no consequences for breaking the rules. Amsterdam is a 'rules are for fools' city, great for visiting as a tourist, also great for partying (e.g. during your university time), but unlivable when you start having children or get older.
At 22:57 min. Important correction: At zebra crossings in The Netherlands, pedestrians DO have right of way over cyclists, cars, and even trams (!). Furthermore, when crossing a street, pedestrians ('traffic') have right of way over 'drivers' (from the same or opposite direction) that make a left or right turn!
@@alexgee4709 Alex, I apologize! Amsterdammers are not very good at obeying the rules. Incidentally, last week, this very issue was raised in the municipality. It was even suggested to give in to the cyclists and cars and remove the right of way for pedestrians. For better or worse, this is Dutch pragmatism in action!
Dutch trains do not run all night, and stop relatively early around 0000 - 0100. So if you are planning to be out partying, staying outside Amsterdam would not be ideal for getting home.
Thank you for talking about the card! I did not know I could buy it for so many different attractions. I am travelling last minute and the Annefrank museum or Van Gogh Museum are not even options. So I do not really care if they are not in the deal (:
Great video. Question: I've heard that eSims are somewhat risky. Do you need a VPN to be on the safe side? Question: Can you please define "day bag?" What is your take on a day bag??
Hi thanks for watching! I haven’t heard of safety concerns re: eSIMS before so I’m not sure about which risks you’re referring to, but I will say I haven’t had any issues! I don’t typically use a VPN unless I’m trying to access something country specific but I suppose that couldn’t hurt for an extra layer of security. And for me my day bag is simply what I bring out with me for the day - usually this will be a cross body purse with enough space for my camera. Sometimes if I’m bringing more stuff I’ll have a small backpack but as I mentioned, in Amsterdam they often make you check larger bags into lockers so I bring a smaller one out whenever possible. Hope that helps!
A VPN won’t affect your sim in any way, it will make your internet connection worse though and take up data! There’s no safety concerns with them, only if you use public wifi should you use a VPN, or as the channel owner says, when accessing something in a country you aren’t in eg US Netflix in UK😁
I enjoyed your video, thanks! I do wonder why you are so averse to saying marijuana, especially since the prohibition is gradually lifting. Even Germany just passed a legalization law.
What do you know about vegetarian options in Amsterdam? I'm ok living on cheese and stroopwaffels (sp?)...and no, I'm not kidding, but if there are more vegetarian options, I'd love to know. Yes, I can google them, but why not ask the pro first? 😅
Wow I feel weirdly qualified to answer this because I’ve been to Amsterdam a few times with a vegetarian friend :) you can actually get vegetarian/vegan versions of many Dutch specialties!! We had vegan Bitterballen at Cafe de Sluyswacht, I remember most of the menu at Pllek was veggie too, and we even did a vegetarian Rijstafel at Long Pura Restaurant. So yes don’t worry - lots of veggie options!
1. Is the tap in tap out capped like it is in London? 2. Does the day ticket cover areas outside of central eg: from Zaandam over to the Afas Live arena?
Haha fair enough. The cookies ARE good but I wouldn’t wait ages in line for them. They’re also quite pricey! But worth a try, I guess if you’re nearby haha
Please don't use taxi's. Very expensive. Amsterdam is a very small city, we have very good public transportation (train, bus, tram, metro/subway, pont/ferry). And Uber is cheaper.
Oof that’s a tough one! I honestly think it would depend on when your flight is. I’ve flown through there a few times and don’t recall ever waiting too long but that’ll really depend on when you go. Sorry for the vague reply haha
Some tips when visiting Amsterdam (as a single or couple) Amsterdam is a very safe city, but it slowly becomes worse. The city also slowly becomes less liberal. My rules as an (older) Dutch/Amsterdam (m) person are: - do not walk outside at night (or late in the evening) - only walk where there are other people - never walk through dark narrow streets - watch out in traffic, car's, taxies, motors, fatbikes, cyclists don't obey the traffic rules - if someone wants to ask you something, just say "Sorry" and keep walking - do not buy drugs from streetvendors - there are a lot of pickpockets and beggers - if you have just met someone in a bar/restaurant, don't go to his/her house (or even car) and other default stuff when travelling like: - your handbag needs to be closed with a zipper - coat pockets also need to be closed with a zipper - your backpack has to be locked with a small lock - keep your handbag in from of you - hide your jewelry, expensive watches - don't keep your smartphone / wallet in your backpocket - remove your airplane tags from your suitcases / backpack and bags (everybody can see you are a tourist, put the tags inside the bag) I'm sorry to say the following - if you are part of the lqbtq2+ community please watch out showing it. The city is still very liberal, but it slowly becomes less. In the evening, at night, when there are less people close by, please stop showing it. I'm really sorry to had to say this. The city is slowly becoming less liberal, and from time to time something bad happens. And also - the closer you are to the city centre the more expensive it becomes (hotel, food and drink prices can double) - please do not visit Amsterdam for the drugs - coffeeshops don't sell coffee, for coffee you go to a café, or bar, or restaurant - if you haven't used drugs in your own country please don't start using it here (you would not be the first one who jumps from his/her hotel window to his/her death under influence of drugs) - please don't eat spacecake (it's not a normal cake, you can get bad hallucinations) - if you buy some drug souvenirs, or pipes, or seeds, please watch out, what here is allowed, is probably forbidden in your own country (you don't want to be sniffed by a drug dog at arrival in your own country) I hope I haven't frightened you. (when I was younger, when travelling, I always had a pedometer with a panic alarm attached to my belt) Amsterdam is still very safe, also for singles. Great city to visit as a tourist (a few days), but not so good to live in anymore. Enjoy your stay. (this started as a 4 line reply)
HappyMyAss! At 4:30 min, To suggest that a three or four day visit (let alone one or two) is enough for a city like Amsterdam is nothing short of an insult! Not even two years are enough to discover every beautiful aspect of the most influential city in modern history. One or two days in any major American city might be enough, but don't reduce centuries old European cities to tourist attractions and theme parks that can be abused by half-witted people that happen to have the money to come to these places!
