Amsterdam
Netherlands
Backpacking Amsterdam
Information on Amsterdam sights to see, nightlife, activities and more.
Amsterdam is famous for its coffee shops, the red light district, houseboats, historic architecture, and famous canals. A waterside city with one of the most relaxed vibes, Amsterdam is stylish and fun with a laid back attitude. This is the city where you can let it all go. The streets of Amsterdam constantly ring with bicycle bells and the laughter of locals & backpackers alike making their way between bars. Reclaimed from the sea in the 1275, the Dutch built Amsterdam into the European continent. A man made city from its beginning, Amsterdam is criss-crossed by a series of canals. In the 17th century, the city burst grew with importance as the Netherlands became rich with trade and wealth from the Dutch colonies. Amsterdam is one of the most bike-friendly in Europe. Rent a bike and drive around the many cycle paths, stopping off wherever you choose. Alternatively, take in the sights and sounds from a boat cruising down the canals. There is more to Amsterdam travel than viewing the sights and checking out museums. Here you’ll find over 200 coffee shops where you can purchase weed or psychedelic truffles. It makes exploring the beautiful parks and outdoor cafes, while taking in the history quite enchanting. This city is definitely one of the most beautiful in the world.
Must See
One of our favorite things to do in Amsterdam is to just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere and culture. The city has so such a cool vibe to it that you will find yourself loving to just wander the canals while popping into little coffee shops, cafes, art shops and pubs for a beer. On your walk remember to visit the Red Light District, which is actually a popular tourist attraction so you’ll see plenty of people partying and tour groups wandering through. Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest and most popular park, is also somewhere you should walk or bike to on your tour of the city. Once in the park it’s a great place to relax after a visit to a coffee shop.
If however you want to do more than just hang out, check out:
The Rijksmuseum - The museum features an extensive Rembrandt collection and as well as around 8,000 other pieces of Dutch art and history on display.
Anne Frank’s House - in WW2 Anne Frank hid here. It’s a museum of her childhood, life in the attic, as well as other information on the Holocaust. There is a display of her real handwritten diary.
Van Gogh Museum - home to hundreds of Van Gogh paintings as well as work from other contemporary painters. It’s one of the most popular museums in the Amsterdam.
Must Do
Rent a bike and explore - Amsterdam might have more bikes than people so sometimes bike lanes are as big as the car lanes. If you want to experience Amsterdam like a local, you’ll want to rent a bike and cruise down the streets and along the canals. There are bike rentals all over town
Check out the Coffee Shops - Amsterdam counts about 250 coffee shops and most of them are located near or in the Red Light District. From psychedelic to hipster and very local ones to more tourist places, each of Amsterdam coffees hops has its own atmosphere. You will definitely find one that suits you for a lovely afternoon. They are not only to smoke weed. Some are really social places where you can easily meet people and spend some good times with friends. Watching TV, playing games and much more can be done here, all while relaxing.
Nightlife
Amsterdam's nightlife is quite fluid with venues closing and new clubs opening regularly. There is always something going on and backpackers will no doubt get to enjoy some of the best parties, club nights or events going on while visiting. In general, most places close around 3am on the weekend, with some clubs staying open till 4-5am and a couple even later. Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the two major clubbing areas, with Leidseplein having several good clubs. During spring and summer there are many outdoor dance music festivals. The Amsterdam Dance Event is a five-day electronic music conference and festival held annually in mid-October.
Get started now on planning your backpacking trip with personalized recommendations from our advisors. Your plan will include: accommodation options, food/nightlife recommendations, tours or attractions to see with recommendations for best operators, 24/7 assistance with bookings, answers to any questions and more.