Age is no barrier when it comes to travel
The lively and engaging city of Amsterdam is one of the traditional tourist destinations in Europe. People continue to swarm to the Dutch capital in record numbers because it appeals to visitors regardless of their interests. It's an intriguing spot where you can get waffles, lovely canal scenery, cannabis-selling coffee shops, and the Red Light District.
Three days in Netherlands are an excellent place to start for a first trip because they give you enough time to see the city's highlights and get into the regional area. Here, though, is our comprehensive Netherlands itinerary including our Visit to Keukenhof to make sure you don't miss any of the city's top attractions.
Things to Know before you Go
Visa (for Indian Passport holders): For holders of Indian passports travelling to Netherlands, a prior visa must be arranged. You can travel without a visa if you have a Schengen visa or are a resident of one of the EU/Schengen nations.
Currency: Dutch currency is Euros. 1 Euro~ 80 INR
Best way to travel : Most of the time, walking is your best bet, especially in the City Centre. Buses, Trams & metro make up Amsterdam's public transportation system. It is also the best place to ride a bicycle
Accommodation : Hotels range from cheap to luxurious, and it will cost more to stay close to the City Centre & old city. If you need some room and will need to cook, Airbnb's are a possibility.
Language : Dutch & English are widely spoken. There shouldn't be a problem when you are in the tourist places where you can find English Boards & Signs. People I interacted spoke good English
Food: A basic slice of bread or bread roll with butter, a slice of cheese or ham, and a glass of milk or Dutch coffee make up a classic Dutch breakfast or lunch (dark, high caffeine grounds, traditionally brewed). Meat, potatoes, and a side vegetable are the staples of a typical Dutch lunch. Your best value dining options in Amsterdam will be Asian restaurants and Middle Eastern shawarma.
Water:Tap water is safe to drink. We didn't have the necessity to buy bottled water.
Wifi & Mobile data: Most popular tourist destinations, hostels and restaurants offered free Wi-Fi. Therefore, there was no need for us to buy a sim.
Credit Cards and ATMs: It was easy paying by card and didn't feel the need to use Cash. Do keep some change if you are traveling by public transport.
Safety: Amsterdam is a safe destination. Always be mindful of your surroundings & stick to your instincts. If you feel something is not right, don't do it. Keep your wallets & passports safe. Too much of tourist crowds will attract pickpockets and petty thieves.
Best time to Visit
Understanding Geography
Amsterdam is currently one of many European towns dealing with excess tourism, which peaks during the summer months of June through August. When travelling during peak season, there will be a lot of tourists in the area, which will cause long queues at tourist attractions, higher hotel rates, and fewer availability for excursions and accommodation.
Instead, April and May are the finest months to travel to Amsterdam since they coincide with the height of the Keukenhof. The amount of tourists is considerably more tolerable at this time of year, and the weather is still fairly pleasant (although you should still wear a jacket).
One of the nations with the densest populations in the world is the Netherlands. You are never really far from civilisation, wherever you go. Even though the country has some stunning locations, travellers expecting to find picturesque villages, tulips, and windmills in the countryside would be in for a surprise. Villages, tulips, and windmills can all be found; you only need to know where to look (for instance, in the Waterland and Zaan Region). It would be beneficial to ask a Dutch person for recommendations on what to visit.
Water features dominate the Netherlands' topography. Rivers, canals, and dikes crisscross the nation, and the beach is never far away.
How to get to Amsterdam
Our Budget
Amsterdam Schiphol airport is where majority of the Airlines fly into. One of he busiest airport in Europe.
Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Air France, British airways, Lufthansa are some of the major airlines that fly into Amsterdam from Chennai. Dubai/Qatar is the best option for connecting.
Amsterdam is a medium to expensive destination when you compare with the other hotspot tourist destination in Europe
We stayed in an Hostel (shared dorms), which costs us 30 Euros per night /person. Medium Hotels start @ 100 Euros/nights (8000 INR) and Budget rooms @ 70 Euros (5600 INR).
The restaurants range from cheap eats to fine dining. Expect to spend around 15 Euros (INR 1200) per person per meal
If you are going around the city, it is better to get into trams or buses, has god connectivity and inexpensive
Amsterdam Schiphol airport
We found that The Schiphol Airport itself is a tourist attraction. There are plenty of places to go around. It is the first time we saw an open Balcony. You can see flight landings and take off's at ta close range. Also it has a small flight stationed where you can go inside and have a look.
Where to Stay
Even though staying near the city's Old Center may seem obvious, it can be intimidating due to its proximity to the Red Light District and much of the city's nightlife. As they are close to attractions and a little more laid back, neighbourhoods like the Museum Quarter and Grachtengordel-Zuid are ideal choices in this situation. Jordaan is a different neighbourhood to take into account when deciding where to stay in Amsterdam, especially if you want to experience more of the lively local atmosphere.
3 Days in Amsterdam !!What to Do?
You won't have any trouble spending a few days in Amsterdam touring. Trying to figure out how to see the finest of Amsterdam in a short amount of time is challenging. Unfortunately, the city's top attractions are not all conveniently crammed into one area. Travel from the city centre to areas like Jordaan, the Museum Quarter, and the Red Light District in order to truly maximise your time in Amsterdam.
Day 1: Amsterdam City Tour
Damrak Avenue
Take a stroll down Damrak Avenue, which passes through the heart of Amsterdam, to start your trip. You can get to the Damrak Waterfront, which has a row of beautiful homes that nearly resemble gingerbread houses, by walking from Centraal Station. You may view more beautiful landscapes across the city, but this will definitely get you in the mood to go sightseeing.
Dam Square
After a short distance of following the Damrak, you will arrive at the spacious Dam Square. Dam Square, which serves as the city's central gathering place, is home to a number of noteworthy landmarks and is frequently used for events. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam, a massive palace of the Dutch Royal Family, is the city's most prominent monument.
The National Monument, which honours those who died in World War II, may be seen from the opposite side of the square facing the palace. The Nieuwe Kerk, a Gothic church built in the 15th century, is located across a narrow side street from the palace.
Amsterdam Canals & Boat cruise
You can choose how you wish to view Amsterdam's canals as well. Whether you're taking a boat tour or zipping around in a pedal boat, experiencing the city while you're actually on the canals has to be the most memorable.
Another choice is to hire a bicycle so you can make as many stops in attractive locations as you wish. Your legs may have gotten tired from walking all day, but there is still much to see at night. I do not, therefore, favour the option of walking along the lanes.
Red Light District
The Red Light District, usually referred to as De Wallen, is arguably the most well-known location in Amsterdam. You can find peep shows, sex shops, brothels, and museums with a similar purpose here. Even while it might not appeal to everyone, it's worth looking into to at least find out what the hype is about. If you go early in the day, it probably won't be too crowded. Go for a stroll, and then return around dusk to witness it in action if you want to.
Day 2: Keukenhof & Tulip Gardnes
How to Reach Keukenhof?
The Netherlands' Keukenhof is situated in Lisse, about 30 minutes' drive from Amsterdam. The largest flower garden in the world, it spans 32 hectares, and each year, gardeners plant 7 million bulbs from 800 different tulip species. The planting process takes around three months, which is longer than the park's operating season, and Dutch bulb farmers provide free delivery of all the bulbs.
Best Time to Visit?
Depending on the weather, different years have different prime blooming periods. The end of April is the ideal time to visit Keukenhof as there is a greater likelihood of full bloom at this time.
How Long can we be inside Keukenhof?
The flower garden should be explored for at least 3 to 4 hours. Given how big Keukenhof is, one might easily spend an entire day admiring all the flowers' exquisite beauty.
Tickets & Prices?
In addition, we recommend getting the Combi Ticket, which includes both your skip-the-line admission to Keukenhof and transportation to and from Amsterdam. It is especially useful because the garden is frequently crowded and you risk wasting a lot of time waiting in line for tickets.
Combi Tickets - Approx 30 Euros per person (INR 2400)
and if you are self driving , tickets will cost Euros 19 per person (INR 1500)
Tips & Tricks(Based on our Experience)
Hire a Bike
Because the Keukenhof is so large, you could easily spend hours strolling through it and shooting hundreds of pictures. Do not walk inside the park all day. Visit your points of interest and return tot eh entrance. Hire a bicycle for couple of hours and go visit the actual Tulip fields (free to visit). Please be mindful not to damage the flowers.
Go prepared with enough packed lunch, snacks and Water
If you're looking for food or snacks, there are several benches to sit on inside the garden as well as cafes & food vendors. But we advise you to have something ready. At peak season, your food will be delayed by more than 45 minutes.
Get your jackets & expect a rainy day/shower
Weather is unpredictable. Hope it doesn't rain and to be sunny. If not be well prepared. Goin without suitable clothing will spoil your entire day.
Nightlife
You want to go out in the city even though it's still early in the evening? You can choose from a wide range of locations, including the well-known clubs at City center and the Red light District. The City never sleeps and after an exhausting day at Keukenhof, you might want to get loose and enjoy the evening.
Day 3: Additional Time? Visit Giethoorn or Rotterdam
Giethoorn
Wait until you see the village of Giethoorn if you think Amsterdam's canals are breathtakingly beautiful. Giethoorn is one of the most well-known day trips from Amsterdam and is frequently referred to as the "Venice of the Netherlands" because of its fantastical canals.
Giethoorn doesn't really have any roads because its network of canals connects all of the charming dwellings in this picturesque community. Naturally, all of this indicates that the best method to visit Giethoorn is via boat. You can take in all the lovely ancient cottages with their distinctive thatched roofs while relaxing on the boat.
Rotterdam
After seeing all of Amsterdam, do you want to explore more of Holland?
Take a full day trip to Rotterdam. The Fast trains will take you there in 40 minutes.
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Watch the blue-and-white Delft pottery being created as you visit The Hague
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Admire Rotterdam's innovative architecture
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Visit the Market and Try out the local cuisines, Visit the Cube houses
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Embark on a Rotterdam Cruise for breathtaking city views, and explore Madurodam's tiny park.
Conclusion & Our Recommendation
Amsterdam continues to have a lot to offer. For this trip, we choose to omit the Museum, History & Cultural section in favour of a more tailored agenda. There are many museums in Amsterdam if you are interested in history.
Yes, it is a tourist destination and will be crowded with visitors (that includes us as well). Therefore, be ready for massive crowds to appear all across the country. Even so, the Tulip Gardens are one of our favourite locations to visit and a must-see place.
Our Recommendation
Bucket list Destination
