Guidebook for Amsterdam
Arts & Culture
Van Gogh Museum • Other • 7 Paulus Potterstraat
If you go to either Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum, make sure you book tickets in advance. It will save you standing in line for hours. The Modern Art
2485 locals recommend
Van Gogh Museum
6 MuseumpleinVan Gogh Museum • Other • 7 Paulus Potterstraat
If you go to either Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum, make sure you book tickets in advance. It will save you standing in line for hours. The Modern Art
The public library is huge and still a hidden gem. It's a beautiful building with a great view. Go to the top floor and go out on the balcony. You see the centre of Amsterdam and it's stunning.
188 locals recommend
OBA Library of Amsterdam
143 OosterdokskadeThe public library is huge and still a hidden gem. It's a beautiful building with a great view. Go to the top floor and go out on the balcony. You see the centre of Amsterdam and it's stunning.
Go to Central Station, take the ferry and visit the Eye Film Museum: cinema, cafe, great place to hang around on summer's night.
1109 locals recommend
Eye Film Museum
1 IJpromenadeGo to Central Station, take the ferry and visit the Eye Film Museum: cinema, cafe, great place to hang around on summer's night.
The most beautiful cinema in town. Built in the 1910's for the poor people, because they couldn't afford a real theatre. Absolutely amazing. Just walk in to see the main hallway. Or watch a film in 1.
340 locals recommend
Pathé Tuschinski
26-34 ReguliersbreestraatThe most beautiful cinema in town. Built in the 1910's for the poor people, because they couldn't afford a real theatre. Absolutely amazing. Just walk in to see the main hallway. Or watch a film in 1.
This museum is worth going to just to see the building. It's amazing. If you like oriental stuff, do go there.
628 locals recommend
Tropenmuseum
2 LinnaeusstraatThis museum is worth going to just to see the building. It's amazing. If you like oriental stuff, do go there.
Sightseeing
The red light district is very popular. If you go there, go there at night. That's when the lights are really beautiful. It's nice to just walk around, careful with your wallet and camera though.
636 locals recommend
De Wallen
The red light district is very popular. If you go there, go there at night. That's when the lights are really beautiful. It's nice to just walk around, careful with your wallet and camera though.
Drinks & Nightlife
This cafe is a bit of an acquired taste. It's really over the top, old fashioned Amsterdam burlesque place. Take a look and if you are brave enough go inside and order a beer.
43 locals recommend
Cafe Ruk & Pluk
48 LinnaeusstraatThis cafe is a bit of an acquired taste. It's really over the top, old fashioned Amsterdam burlesque place. Take a look and if you are brave enough go inside and order a beer.
It’s our local bar. Especially on a warm day it's a perfect place to sit outside.
57 locals recommend
Bar Restaurant 1900
48 Hogeweg It’s our local bar. Especially on a warm day it's a perfect place to sit outside.
I shouldn't list my old time favourite as it is so well hidden that no tourist would find it. Go there and see for yourself, place looks like straight from a movie in the 20's. Opens at 4 pm.
36 locals recommend
Schiller
24-A RembrandtpleinI shouldn't list my old time favourite as it is so well hidden that no tourist would find it. Go there and see for yourself, place looks like straight from a movie in the 20's. Opens at 4 pm.
A bit of a young (smoking) crowd so I never go there, but it's supposed to be real nice and they have great cocktails.
549 locals recommend
bar Bukowski
10 OosterparkA bit of a young (smoking) crowd so I never go there, but it's supposed to be real nice and they have great cocktails.
This is where our main newspaper was housed once. The paper is gone and the turned the building into an amazing place to hang around and have coffee. Best roof terrace in town!
261 locals recommend
Volkshotel
150 WibautstraatThis is where our main newspaper was housed once. The paper is gone and the turned the building into an amazing place to hang around and have coffee. Best roof terrace in town!
This is the old newspaper cafe. JOurnalists used to get here together. The newspapers are gone but the place looks amazing and a 100 years old. Highly recommended.
218 locals recommend
Café Hesp
130-131 WeesperzijdeThis is the old newspaper cafe. JOurnalists used to get here together. The newspapers are gone but the place looks amazing and a 100 years old. Highly recommended.
Old brewery in an old wind mill. You can do a tour as well. They are only open in the afternoon untill 7 pm I think.
1100 locals recommend
Brouwerij 't IJ
7 FunenkadeOld brewery in an old wind mill. You can do a tour as well. They are only open in the afternoon untill 7 pm I think.
Across the road where the tram stops (near the Zoo) you will find a café called ‘Eik en Linde’. It’s very old fashioned Dutch stuff and not many tourists will walk in but it’s worth visiting.
15 locals recommend
Cafe Eik en Linde
22A Plantage MiddenlaanAcross the road where the tram stops (near the Zoo) you will find a café called ‘Eik en Linde’. It’s very old fashioned Dutch stuff and not many tourists will walk in but it’s worth visiting.
Food Scene
This is my favourite cafe. Good coffee, free wifi, lovely hipsters working there, great lunch, good value for money.
94 locals recommend
Bedford - Stuyvesant
55 JavastraatThis is my favourite cafe. Good coffee, free wifi, lovely hipsters working there, great lunch, good value for money.
It's not the restaurant that is so special but the ferry trip to get there. Go to Central Station, go to the back and take the ferry to NDSM. The ferry is free and it's a magical boat trip!
1052 locals recommend
Pllek
59 T.T. NeveritawegIt's not the restaurant that is so special but the ferry trip to get there. Go to Central Station, go to the back and take the ferry to NDSM. The ferry is free and it's a magical boat trip!
The Jordaan, a trendy former blue-collar neighbourhood, is home to one of the best markets in town: Noordermarkt. Bric&brac on monday mornings. Eat the best apple pie at cafe Winkel, on the corner.
506 locals recommend
Winkel 43
43 NoordermarktThe Jordaan, a trendy former blue-collar neighbourhood, is home to one of the best markets in town: Noordermarkt. Bric&brac on monday mornings. Eat the best apple pie at cafe Winkel, on the corner.
Old villa turned into a cafe/restaurant/ jazz on a sunday afternoon place. Best view on the river, great great place. If I would recommend just one this would be it.
105 locals recommend
tHUIS aan de AMSTEL
45 Korte OuderkerkerdijkOld villa turned into a cafe/restaurant/ jazz on a sunday afternoon place. Best view on the river, great great place. If I would recommend just one this would be it.
The best french fries in this area. Can be a very busy place on a sunday.
18 locals recommend
't Wethoudertje
11 Wethouder FrankewegThe best french fries in this area. Can be a very busy place on a sunday.
If you feel like eating out and looking for the best Italian around, this is the one. You'll be the only tourist probably.
17 locals recommend
La Teatina
40 HS HogewegIf you feel like eating out and looking for the best Italian around, this is the one. You'll be the only tourist probably.
This place was a dump untill someone turned it into the hippest place around. You can sit outside and eat burgers and fries, with lots of beer and you'll meet great people.
523 locals recommend
de Biertuin
29 LinnaeusstraatThis place was a dump untill someone turned it into the hippest place around. You can sit outside and eat burgers and fries, with lots of beer and you'll meet great people.
Great place to sit outside on a sunny day. Friendly staff and the bagels are sublime.
411 locals recommend
Bagels & Beans
52 RuyschstraatGreat place to sit outside on a sunny day. Friendly staff and the bagels are sublime.
My favourite restaurant. Do'nt know why, it's just quaint and I love the interior design. Walking distance from here.
25 locals recommend
Boom Eten & Drinken
63 LinnaeusstraatMy favourite restaurant. Do'nt know why, it's just quaint and I love the interior design. Walking distance from here.
This is one of the oldest cafes in Amsterdam, looking brand new though. On the Amstel river, great coffee, good wine, beautiful view.
399 locals recommend
Café Restaurant De Ysbreeker
23 WeesperzijdeThis is one of the oldest cafes in Amsterdam, looking brand new though. On the Amstel river, great coffee, good wine, beautiful view.
The café/restaurant next to the Zoo (De Plantage) opened recently and is gorgeous. It's absolutely worth going to. Tram 9 will take you there, but it's also a nice walk from here.
14 locals recommend
Hotel Plantage
25 Plantage KerklaanThe café/restaurant next to the Zoo (De Plantage) opened recently and is gorgeous. It's absolutely worth going to. Tram 9 will take you there, but it's also a nice walk from here.
The true gem (foodwise) in this area is this place called La Vallade. They have the best food in town. It’s a small place so make sure you call beforehand to make reservations (020 665 2025)
116 locals recommend
La Vallade
23 RingdijkThe true gem (foodwise) in this area is this place called La Vallade. They have the best food in town. It’s a small place so make sure you call beforehand to make reservations (020 665 2025)
This neighbourhood used to be a rough sea. In 1629 rich people started to build their country houses on the reclaimed land. Restaurant Merkelbach is the only one that is still standing. Great food!
107 locals recommend
Huize Frankendael / restaurant Merkelbach
72 MiddenwegThis neighbourhood used to be a rough sea. In 1629 rich people started to build their country houses on the reclaimed land. Restaurant Merkelbach is the only one that is still standing. Great food!
The Dinner (novel) Inside the park there is another (famous) restaurant, called De Kas. If you want to eat there make sure you make reservations and beware, it’s expensive, but the food is very good.
267 locals recommend
De Kast
3 Kamerlingh OnneslaanThe Dinner (novel) Inside the park there is another (famous) restaurant, called De Kas. If you want to eat there make sure you make reservations and beware, it’s expensive, but the food is very good.
Everything Else
This street is about 10-15 minutes walk from here and it's a very lively street with cheap Turkish and Iranian restaurants, little shops and just a great atmosphere.
161 locals recommend
Javastraat
JavastraatThis street is about 10-15 minutes walk from here and it's a very lively street with cheap Turkish and Iranian restaurants, little shops and just a great atmosphere.
Take your bike or a tram from the central station and head to IJburg, a newly built area with a beach. Blijburg is a cool place to go to on a summer day.
150 locals recommend
Strand Blijburg
Take your bike or a tram from the central station and head to IJburg, a newly built area with a beach. Blijburg is a cool place to go to on a summer day.
Try to find the website (black-bikes dot com) to reserve a rental bike. They just opened a new store on Linnaeusstraat (Land van Cocagneplein 1E), 5 minutes walk from here, next to the Hema.
21 locals recommend
Black Bikes City Centre
146 Nieuwezijds VoorburgwalTry to find the website (black-bikes dot com) to reserve a rental bike. They just opened a new store on Linnaeusstraat (Land van Cocagneplein 1E), 5 minutes walk from here, next to the Hema.
There's a big swimming pool around the corner. Old fashioned but nice. There is a H & M nearby if you need swimming gear.
21 locals recommend
Sportfondsenbad Amsterdam-Oost
44 Land van CocagnepleinThere's a big swimming pool around the corner. Old fashioned but nice. There is a H & M nearby if you need swimming gear.
Muiderpoort Station at the end of the street has trains leaving for the Central Station every 5 or 6 minutes. Tickets are cheap and it's the quickest way to get to the very centre of town.
207 locals recommend
Amsterdam Muiderpoort station
Muiderpoort Station at the end of the street has trains leaving for the Central Station every 5 or 6 minutes. Tickets are cheap and it's the quickest way to get to the very centre of town.
A local market that is well known by the Amsterdammers but you won't find tourists. They have a stall halfway that sells the best french fries in town.
673 locals recommend
Dappermarkt
383 Eerste Van SwindenstraatA local market that is well known by the Amsterdammers but you won't find tourists. They have a stall halfway that sells the best french fries in town.
Waterlooplein Market is our big flea market. It’s a bit of a tourist trap these days but you can still find some real gems there. Tram 9 will also take you there.
282 locals recommend
Waterlooplein
WaterloopleinWaterlooplein Market is our big flea market. It’s a bit of a tourist trap these days but you can still find some real gems there. Tram 9 will also take you there.
This is my favourite super market. They sell loads of organic stuff and everything looks so yummy and healthy! The Vomar supermarket around the corner is much cheaper, but this one is just very nice!
857 locals recommend
Marqt
402 CeintuurbaanThis is my favourite super market. They sell loads of organic stuff and everything looks so yummy and healthy! The Vomar supermarket around the corner is much cheaper, but this one is just very nice!
This place is famous. Prince, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain they all played here. Check the website for gigs. They also have club nights.
937 locals recommend
Paradiso
6-8 WeteringschansThis place is famous. Prince, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain they all played here. Check the website for gigs. They also have club nights.
Shopping
You will find Hema stores all over town but this one is so nearby you just can not not go. You'll love the shop, guaranteed. I once wrote a book called I only miss the Hema (Dutch people abroad).
157 locals recommend
Hema
313 KinkerstraatYou will find Hema stores all over town but this one is so nearby you just can not not go. You'll love the shop, guaranteed. I once wrote a book called I only miss the Hema (Dutch people abroad).
Entertainment & Activities
If you are heading into town you will find Artis, the zoo, on your right hand. It’s worth getting off the tram right there. Walk to the corner and you will find a hidden square that is part of the zoo
1622 locals recommend
ARTIS
38-40 Plantage KerklaanIf you are heading into town you will find Artis, the zoo, on your right hand. It’s worth getting off the tram right there. Walk to the corner and you will find a hidden square that is part of the zoo