My Top 11 Essential Amsterdam Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors

Amsterdam has everything you could wish for in an awesome capital city!

With world-class museums, quaint neighborhoods, postcard-perfect canals, yummy Dutch snacks galore (yes, I’m looking at you, stroopwafels!), convenient public transport, and loads of exciting day trip opportunities close by, there’s a lot to look forward to!

However, like any other big city, planning a trip to Amsterdam can be a little overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time visiting. So being prepared can make all the difference!

To help you enjoy your trip to the fullest, I’ve compiled all my essential Amsterdam travel tips. I’ll walk you through some of the most common mistakes travelers make (and how to avoid them), important things to remember, and how to make the most of your time in this beautiful city!

Sound good? Then, let’s dive into the top things you need to know before visiting Amsterdam!

My Top 11 Things to Know Before Visiting Amsterdam

Choose Your Base Wisely

Accommodation in Amsterdam’s city center is convenient but also expensive. Prices often start around EUR 150-200 a night. While finding cheaper alternatives is possible, you need to consider how cringe-worthy you are willing to go.

As a result, many travelers opt to stay outside Amsterdam and commute into town each day. Places like Zaandam, Haarlem, and even Utrecht are often cheaper alternatives.

However, if that’s not your vibe, I totally get it. Staying right in the middle of all the action certainly has its benefits. A big one; you won’t need to spend so much time traveling! And secondly, you’ll have easy access to the city’s top sights and key attractions during your Amsterdam itinerary.

My go-to picks for the best places to stay in Amsterdam are INK Hotel, Eden Hotel, or Hotel Estherea. But you can also find more affordable accommodation options in neighborhoods like De Pijp, Oud-West, or even Amsterdam Noord. Check out Tribe or XO Hotels Park West.

Getting to Amsterdam from the Airport

If I had a penny for every time I’ve heard about someone being ripped off by a taxi driver from Schiphol to Amsterdam, I’d be living the life of a true lady of leisure by now!

Taxi fares can easily reach EUR 60 or more, so it’s best to avoid them unless necessary. Uber and Bolt are good alternatives since you can see the price before confirming your ride—and they’re often cheaper! However, they will still be pricey and are not necessarily the best way to get to the city center. So what is? I hear you asking.

The most cost-effective and easiest way to get to Amsterdam’s city center from Schiphol is by train.

Trains run every 10-15 minutes and take 15-20 minutes. The tickets are super affordable, too, only costing around EUR 5.20. Another perk is that contactless bank cards work with the system, too. And since the train station is right underneath the airport, it’s very convenient, so you won’t need to worry about getting lost or leaving the airport.

Just follow the signs to ‘train to Amsterdam Central.’ Direct trains run frequently throughout the day and usually depart from Platform 1 or 2. Make sure you download the NS app and Google Maps. Both are great and can help you plan your route and check schedules. For more tips, see my favorite tools and resources or read my guide on the best Netherlands travel apps.

Always Be Prepared for Rain

Like elsewhere in the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s weather is unpredictable. And rain is possible even on sunny days!

Therefore, my biggest tip is always to be prepared! 

Having a weather app on your phone, like Buienradar or Weeronline, can help with real-time rain forecasts. And while I’m not a huge fan of carrying things around, a small lightweight umbrella that can fit in your bag is a good option.

If you are okay with carrying things around or used to taking a backpack with you when you’re out and about, a lightweight wind-resistant jacket will be a lifesaver, especially since the wind can be chilly, even in summer.

I’ll be writing a post covering more tips on what to pack for Amsterdam weather soon, so remember to check back in for that or subscribe to my newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox!

Book Museum Tickets in Advance

One of the biggest letdowns for newbies to the city is finding out that they can’t get into an attraction because they didn’t book tickets in advance. Trust me, it’s a real bummer to arrive at a popular spot only to discover that tickets are sold out or that you can only enter on a pre-booked time-slot!

Thankfully, you’ve stumbled upon my blog, so you’re now in the know: it’s super important to book those attraction tickets ahead of time!

While you don’t need to book ahead for every single museum you want to see, it’s a huge must for the most famous ones, like the Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh Museum. Both work on a time-slot basis, and tickets often sell out weeks in advance!

You can grab Anne Frank House tickets directly on their official website. Note that new tickets are available every Tuesday, six weeks in advance. Make sure to set a reminder, or you might miss out! For Van Gogh, booking a time slot earlier in the morning is usually best to skip most crowds.

Is the I Amsterdam Card Worth It?

This may be somewhat controversial, but city passes aren’t usually worth the hype, IMHO. Sure, they have all kinds of benefits, and you may save some money.

But if you’re traveling to Amsterdam (a very expensive city to visit already), investing in a pass like the I Amsterdam City Card is only really worth getting if you make good use of it.

While the card has many perks (think unlimited access to public transport, entry to more than 70 attractions, a canal cruise, and even bike rental), prices start at EUR 65 for a day pass and go up to EUR 135 for a 120-hr pass.

My advice?

Do your research! 

Decide which attractions you want to see and how many you could realistically see in a day without ruining your trip rushing from one spot to the next.

Then do the math—will you be saving money? If so, absolutely get the I Amsterdam City Card! If not, buying individual tickets might be a better fit for you.

Watch Out for Cyclists

Amsterdam is a biking city with bike lanes and cyclists EVERYWHERE! They go super fast, and since they often have the right of way, it can be dangerous if you get in their way.

Please don’t make the same mistake as me! I’ve gotten quite a few dagger eyes from cyclists after accidentally stepping into the bike lanes without realizing it!

So be extra cautious when crossing streets, and don’t walk in the bike lanes (they are usually a reddish-brown color).

Another tidbit of advice: I know embracing the Dutch cycling culture may seem super idyllic. It truly is a lot of fun! But if you’re not confident riding a bike, Amsterdam is really not the place to practice your cycling skills! Instead, stick to walking or using public transport.

If you still want to give cycling a go, try somewhere low-key, like cycling to De Haar Castle from Vleuten Station or around Muiden and Muiderslot Castle.

Leave Room for Spontaneity

Thankfully, my days of FOMO are long gone, but I totally understand the urge to cram in as much as possible when visiting a new city. Been there, done that. 

That’s why one of my most essential tips for traveling to Amsterdam is: don’t overplan your trip. 

Amsterdam has so many incredible things to see and do, so deciding what to visit (or even skip) can feel overwhelming.

But one of the best ways to experience the city’s true charm is to simply wander around, pop into a cozy cafe, or chill by the canals with an ice-cold beer and some delicious friet! It’s the best way to soak up the city’s vibe!

Now, I’m not saying you should skip the main touristy things altogether.

You should absolutely visit a few museums (both the well-known and the more underrated ones) and take a canal cruise — they’re an essential part of what makes the city so special. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s what to expect from an Amsterdam canal cruise, and whether it’s actually worth it.

Just be sure to leave some room to slow down, too!

Use Contactless Cards for Public Transport

If you’ve already bought the Amsterdam City Card or a regional transit pass, you have free access to most public transport, so feel free to skip this tip!

But if you haven’t, you’re probably wondering how to buy bus, train, and tram tickets.

Well, the good news is, it’s easier than you think! You don’t even need to bother with traditional tickets or an OV-chipcard anymore.

In 2023, the Netherlands rolled out an awesome nationwide contactless payment system called OVpay. And it makes getting around super simple!

So how does it work?

Instead of fumbling with ticket machines, you can tap in and out on buses, trams, and trains with your contactless debit card, credit card, and even your mobile phone or smartwatch if you’ve set up a digital wallet.

Cool right?

Just remember: you must check in and out with the same card.

If you’d like to learn more about using the contactless card system, check out the OVpay website.

Bring Some Cash, Just in Case

One of the most common questions I see in Facebook groups about traveling to Amsterdam is whether to bring cash or rely on cards.

If you’re wondering the same thing, here’s the inside scoop: Amsterdam is largely a cashless city, so you really don’t need to bring large amounts of cash or waste time (and money) withdrawing cash from ATMs. Plus, with pickpocketing becoming more of an issue on trams, it’s smarter to avoid carrying too much cash anyway.

That said, you might come across a small mom-and-pop shop that doesn’t accept cards. But honestly, I’ve never run into that. I’ve even paid for freshly roasted nuts at local weekend markets using my card with no issue. The only hiccup I’ve run into was at Albert Heijn, where they only accept Dutch debit cards (not international ones).

If you’d like to keep some cash on hand (just in case), EUR 50-100 should be more than enough for emergencies.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

While there are buses, trams, and the metro to help you cover longer distances, the city itself is very walkable. You’ll definitely want to explore the canals, cobblestone streets, and charming neighborhoods like Jordaan or De Pijp on foot.

Even though the city is quite flat, it’s surprisingly easy to rack up a lot of steps in a single day! Trust me – I know! I’m a huge fan of walking, but a few years back, I pushed myself way too hard, walking 20,000 steps a day (I’m looking at you, Uluwatu), which has led to a rather complicated lower hamstring problem.

The point is, no one wants to end up with blisters or aching feet — or, in my case, endure physio sessions, acupuncture, taking Chinese medicine (so gross), and even doing shock therapy!

That’s why wearing supportive sneakers or cushioned flats is so important, especially on all those cobblestone streets! These days, my go-to’s are my Hoka sneakers, and I can’t even tell you how much of a difference they’ve made!

Tipping in Amsterdam

I lived in Taiwan for 14 years and traveled all over Asia, where tipping is practically unheard of. That’s definitely not the case here!

While tipping isn’t required in the Netherlands, it’s certainly appreciated. In fact, the Dutch might find it a bit rude if you don’t leave a tip after receiving good service.

Thankfully, the tipping culture isn’t as intense as in the States, where you’re expected to tip for everything —even your favorite Starbies order!

So, what should you tip?

Generally, aim for 5-10% at restaurants, while rounding up your bill at casual spots like cafés or bars is perfectly acceptable.