TrendyTripTricksAfter mainly traveling towards the South of Paris (Alicante, Porto, Marseille), I finally headed to the North and caught a train to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I must say that I had several biases against this city. When I heard the name ‘Amsterdam’, I could only picture a grey and cold city, full of men on fire -if you know what I mean-, alcoholics and drug addicts. Now, I just think that Amsterdam is a grey and cold city, full of men on fire, alcoholics and drug addicts, but quite cute.
So I am sharing with you a little bit of my trip to Amsterdam.
Table of contents :
- How to get to Amsterdam from Paris
- Amsterdam’s weather
- Sleep in the city center : Hotel de Gerstekorrel
- Amsterdam’s restaurants we tried
- Amsterdam’s museums
- Classic tourist activities
- Visiting Zaanse Schans
How to get to Amsterdam from Paris
Paris to Amsterdam by train
This is the most convenient way to get to Amsterdam from Paris and that is why we chose this option. However, it may not be the cheapest option. We paid 153€ per person for the round trip. We traveled with Thalys from Gare du Nord and the trip lasted 3h20.
Paris to Amsterdam by bus
You could probably say this is the most affordable alternative. I believe you could easily find tickets that are under 20€ if you plan your trip ahead.
Paris to Amsterdam by plane
A flight from Paris to Amsterdam lasts only 1h20. However, one drawback of taking the plane is that you land 20 minutes by car from the city center, a problem you would not encounter if you take the train.
Paris to Amsterdam by car
Of course, you could go to Amsterdam by car. The drive is around 5 hours long. But with the current gas prices, I’m not sure it’s worth it…
Amsterdam’s weather
I went to Amsterdam at the beginning of June, and on the first day, the sky was gray. Yet it got better, and was sunny and warm most of the time, although it was pretty cold during the evenings and at night.
Our hotel in Amsterdam : Hotel de Gerstekorrel
As it was a 4-day trip to Amsterdam, we opted for an accommodation located in the city center. We were not disappointed with the Hotel de Gerstekorrel. It is well situated, very close to Amsterdam’s central station or shops and restaurants. However, there were a few inconveniences – there was no elevator and the stairs were tiny, the bathroom was not as good as expected. Indeed, you had to shower close to the wall to avoid creating a pool from washing your body.
Moreover, the walls were really thin. So, I’d recommend this hotel if you want to be at the heart of the city, but not if you want to spend plenty of time and chill in the room with your lover.
Amsterdam’s Restaurants
For lunch/dinner
For breakfast
De Hapjeshoek
De Hapjeshoek is a Surinamese restaurant located at Waterlooplein station. I had never tried this cuisine before, but it was good. The portions were generous though, so I had to take the rest to go.
Eetcafe Rosereijn
I had the Rosereijn burger and it was delicious! The place also serves vegan dishes. The staff was very friendly.
Mcdonald’s
Perhaps not a good idea to recommend fast food. But what can I say? There are some specialties in every country.
Lagom Amsterdam
It is a very cute place to have breakfast or lunch. This restaurant was only 6 minutes from our hotel. I had the avocado toast, fresh fruits and a smoothie.
Koffiehuis De Hoek
It is a cosy café where you can eat a large variety of drinks and food. I ate grilled sandwiches because I was hungry, along with pancakes topped with strawberries. Yummy!
Amsterdam’s Museums
I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance, especially if you want to visit Van Gogh’s museum or Anne Frank Haus. I had read this information many times before the trip, yet I did not reserve in advance, and everything was booked when I finally woke up and decided to buy entries.
Fortunately, we were able to optimise our Amsterdam 3 day pass and managed to visit museums, such as :
Amsterdam museum
This is a city museum that offers a large collection of paintings and historical storytelling from the 16th century to the present.
It also offers various exhibitions throughout the year. It is included in some Amsterdam passes.
Otherwise, it costs 18€ for adults, 7,50 for students and it is free for children under 18.
Art City NSDM – The Kunstaad
This one was free. It is located at NSDM – a creative hub located in the north of the city. It is a place where you can find a mix of creative art and installations.
Moco Museum
The Moco Museum focuses on modern and contempory art, and features famous and engaging artists such as Banksy. It also has light installations that make it very instagrammable. It can be visited quickly.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is a national museum, well known for its large collection of Dutch art and its stunning architecture. There are over 8000 pieces of work so I believe it would be a good idea to visit it several times.
Amsterdam’s classic tourist attractions
Amsterdam Free Walking Tour :
I repeat myself a lot, but I do love a good walking tour, especially at the beginning of my trip. This one was, as always, interesting, although the guide was offended by a lady down the street and kept talking about her during half of our walk. He was nice though. So I guess I forgive him.
Boat Cruise :
After Porto’s bridges cruise, I harrassed my friend to do this tour. We booked the last boat to see the sunset, but unfortunately, it was cold, so the roof was closed. It was pleasant, although we were half asleep during the tour because woke up early!
Red Light District :
Remember when I mentioned men on fire? I was referring to the Red Light District, the famous place where people can pay for their pleasure. It was crowded!! I don’t know how to feel about this, because some people who entered the ‘shops’ were quite young… but let’s say I visited it for the culture.
Visiting Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is an open-air museum where you will surely appreciate the fresh air and the green landscapes of the Netherlands. It is the famous windmills place! You’ll be able to take gorgeous pictures and learn more about Dutch culture or taste delicious cheese. Mmmh!
Overall, I am glad I went to Amsterdam for the first time. My favorite activity was definitely visiting Zaanse Schans. If I ever go back, I think I will plan my trip in advance, unless I am with someone who knows the city by heart. But I do miss a sunny destination, so next time I travel, it will probably in the South again…
Thank you so much for reading! Please feel free to share your experience and comments below 🙂
