Amsterdam travel guide
Amsterdam Tourism | Amsterdam Guide
You're Going to Love Amsterdam
With 872,680 inhabitants, Amsterdam is the most populous city in the Netherlands. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Amsterdam has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Amsterdam
Tours
Where to Eat in Amsterdam
Centrum is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Amsterdam. These include popular favorites such as Denc, Dik & Cunningham (Kerkstraat 377), Van Speyk (Spuistraat 3a) and Singel 101 Restaurant (Singel 101). If you’re looking for affordable options, Cecconi’s Amsterdam (Spuistraat 210) and Hard Rock Cafe - Amsterdam (Max Euweplein 57-61) are great picks.
When to visit Amsterdam
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Amsterdam in July, when the average temperature is 60.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 68 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is February, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 35.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 3.9″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Amsterdam, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.
How to Get to Amsterdam
Plane
When flying to Amsterdam, you’ll arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), which is located 11 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Amsterdam include Air France, Delta and KLM. The shortest flight to Amsterdam from the United States departs from New York and takes around 7h 15m.
Train
Eurostar is the most popular train carrier serving Amsterdam, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Amsterdam to Brussels takes 1h 33m and costs around $64 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about $45 for a 2h 57m trip. Located 0.7 km from the city center, Amsterdam Centraal is the busiest station in Amsterdam. Another popular train station is Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, located 8 km from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Amsterdam is to pick up a car rental from Eindhoven, which is about 111 km from Amsterdam. You’ll find branches of Budget and Alamo, among others, in Eindhoven.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Amsterdam, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Union Ivkoni. From Eindhoven, the bus ride to Amsterdam takes 137 km and will cost you around $16. From Groningen, the ticket costs about $25 for a journey of 209 km. The most popular bus station is Amsterdam Sloterdijk, located 4 km from downtown Amsterdam. Amsterdam Bijlmer is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Amsterdam
Where to stay in Amsterdam
From 5-star hotels such as the De L'Europe Amsterdam to great affordable options like the Apple Inn Hotel, Amsterdam offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $151 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $461 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include La Boheme and Hotel Heye 130. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Amsterdam, with prices from $47 to $463 per night. Centrum is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Amsterdam are about 49% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Amsterdam-Zuidoost - In Amsterdam’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Hotel Levell, Holiday Inn Amsterdam - Arena Towers and Jaz in the City Amsterdam.
Centrum - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as The Dylan Amsterdam, Hotel Asterisk and Hotel 717. The average nightly price for a double room in Centrum is $38.
Amsterdam-Noord - NH Amsterdam Noord, Sir Adam Hotel, part of Sircle Collection and Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Amsterdam - Ndsm Wharf have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Amsterdam-Noord will cost you about $58 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Amsterdam
Most booked hotels in Amsterdam
Renting a car in Amsterdam
Renting a car in Amsterdam costs $53 per day, on average, or $160 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Avis, Thrifty and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Amsterdam is the Hertz branch at Aankomstpassage, Schiphol, which is 11 km from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 5% more expensive than at Amsterdam Schiphol.
Expect to pay $8.29 per gallon in Amsterdam (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $99.48 and $132.64. The most frequently booked car type in Amsterdam is Intermediate (Suzuki Vitara or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Peugeot 206 or similar) are, on average, 63% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.