Visiting Amsterdam

When I went to Amsterdam for the first time, I went in March and the weather was decent enough in a warm coat to walk. I walked everywhere for a couple of reasons. It was my first time traveling alone and I didn’t particularly know if transportation would be simple or not and because I wanted to actually see the city in case I never got to come back. I was only there for five days so I needed to be strategic.

First of all, most of the museums are in the “Museumplein” which is Museum Square which is where the I Amsterdam sign is located. Super touristy area but beautiful and a great place to just sit and hang out or walk around the museums.

Rijksmuseum

This museum is beautiful and very large. It will take a couple of hours to go through. Tickets are 17.50 euro and you can buy them online or at the Rijksmuseum. I would suggest doing it online, as you have to go into one side of the museum to get the tickets then come back outside to the other side. It is not at all exhausting, just easier online. I got my ticket on Viator and used this link. I liked having the option of skipping the line though. In March, it was not worth it but, in the summer, it was. That is the same for all of the museums, in fact.

This museum was beautiful if you are super into art, or if you are just interested in seeing it and appreciating the architecture and general art of the times, it's also a cool place to be. I bought the audio guide for an extra 5 euro and really found that helped me to stop and appreciate certain pieces and rooms more. I would suggest this if you are someone that walks a bit too fast through museums not knowing what you are looking at as it helps to add some perspective.

House of Bols – The Cocktail and Genever Experience

Okay, so I just loved this place. It was super quiet when I went in March and it was a great way to get to see how Bols liqueurs and Genever was made but also getting to smell all of them in a super colourful and awesome room (seen below) which helped immerse you in it. The price is 16.00 euro and includes a cocktail of your choice at the end. The coolest part was that you choose your cocktail from this machine that has WAY too many options that it becomes so hard to choose, but its amazing.. Then you get to order it in the bar, which is completely made of mirrors and then the colourful bottles. AMAZING ending to the experience! This will take about an hour and is totally worth it.

Van Gogh Museum

This one is pretty great if you love Van Gogh or can be pretty much like any other museum where you just rush through, if you don’t. It was cool to get to see a lot of the art that I grew up learning about in school and actually get to see it in person. The building was also really cool and really enticed me into it just by its circular shape and cool design. It has a café in it that you can stop at if you would like and it serves the basics. It costs to get in. I did not get an audio guide but I think it could have been cool to do in this museum and I think it was about 2-5 euro. I tried to look into their “Friday Nights at Van Gogh” but they only seem to do it once a month from the looks of it. Essentially they throw an event in the museum on Friday night and it seems like it would be an awesome experience, so I suggest you look into it.

Stedelijk Museum

This museum was my personal favourite and had so many cool and different pieces. I am not super into paintings but I am into this modern art. There are some awesome surprises along the way that I am super glad I got to experience. This is a museum that really makes you stop and appreciate cool pieces of art. I really found this to be a unique museum in this way. This museum costs and is worth every cent. It obviously depends on the kind of art you appreciate but, I mean, just look at their website and you can get a better idea of the style.

FOAM Museum of Photography

This museum was one that I came across near the end of my trip in Amsterdam and I thought I would give it a try. It was not in the museumplein so I did not think about going but was happy that I did. This museum is much smaller than the others and contains only photography but I found the photos to be powerful and could leave a lasting effect. It is worth a see if you are in the area (closer to the train station). It did not take much time, maybe under 30 minutes, but can likely take longer for some people especially if you are into photography.

Moco Museum

This museum was great! It is in a quaint but beautiful looking home in the museumplein and is small but beautiful. When I went, the Banksy exhibit and Roy Lichtenstein which are two of my favourites and I loved it! Either way, I think it is a place worth checking out. It will not take up a lot of time, 30-45 minutes, likely but it is well worth it. It is 13.50 euros, which is lower than the others but also because it is smaller. Weirdly enough, if you go before 11 AM or after 5 PM it is only 11 euro so that is something to consider as well!

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House is a MUST see when you are here in Amsterdam, if for no other reason than to at least get a sense of what this experience was like for Anne Frank. The condition of the house remained the same and it really can make you feel connected to the situation that occurred here. The line-ups are long and were the same both in March and in the summer. The only way to get tickets is online and even still you will be waiting. Get the skip the line option if it is available as it can be a lengthy wait. The price for tickets are 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for youth 10-17. Otherwise, kids under 10 are free which is quite nice for families.