Emma’s guide to Amsterdam
City/town information
Amsterdam is a really amazing, charming, romantic and accessible city that has something for everyone. From the charming canals, to the large parks, museums and night clubs, it's really worth a visit.
109 locals recommend
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a really amazing, charming, romantic and accessible city that has something for everyone. From the charming canals, to the large parks, museums and night clubs, it's really worth a visit.
Neighborhoods
Amsterdam Oost is a really nice neighbourhood with a unique vibe to it. In certain parts it's influenced by the local North African communities which you can recognize in the type of small grocery shops or food shops.
It feels very local and vibrant, and a tad less touristy and over-crowded than the Pijp which is nice. There are plenty of nice bars, lots of parks, local grocery stores, and more. Check out my recommendations!
29 locals recommend
Amsterdam-Oost
Amsterdam Oost is a really nice neighbourhood with a unique vibe to it. In certain parts it's influenced by the local North African communities which you can recognize in the type of small grocery shops or food shops.
It feels very local and vibrant, and a tad less touristy and over-crowded than the Pijp which is nice. There are plenty of nice bars, lots of parks, local grocery stores, and more. Check out my recommendations!
Food scene
A great pizzeria in Amsterdam Oost. Delicious pizzas for takeaway or to eat in the restaurant made by Italian staff. One of the best!
17 locals recommend
Mama Dough
21 BeukenpleinA great pizzeria in Amsterdam Oost. Delicious pizzas for takeaway or to eat in the restaurant made by Italian staff. One of the best!
Delicious local cafe making speciality coffee and serving delicious cakes. To drink in (small café) or takeaway for a walk around the neighbourhood.
164 locals recommend
Coffee Bru
14 BeukenpleinDelicious local cafe making speciality coffee and serving delicious cakes. To drink in (small café) or takeaway for a walk around the neighbourhood.
Another great local café making speciality coffee. The café actually has two areas to it - one for take away and one to sit in. It's got a great friendly and local vibe to it, serving tasty coffee and good cakes.
96 locals recommend
Rum Baba Bakery and Roastery
15 PretoriusstraatAnother great local café making speciality coffee. The café actually has two areas to it - one for take away and one to sit in. It's got a great friendly and local vibe to it, serving tasty coffee and good cakes.
Another great local café, famous for its cinnamon buns! It's tiny and cute on the inside but also right next to Sarphatipark and the neighbourhood the Pijp. Grab your coffee to go and have a walk around this vibrant neighbourhood.
172 locals recommend
Scandinavian Embassy
34 SarphatiparkAnother great local café, famous for its cinnamon buns! It's tiny and cute on the inside but also right next to Sarphatipark and the neighbourhood the Pijp. Grab your coffee to go and have a walk around this vibrant neighbourhood.
The most amazing Hot Pot you will eat in Amsterdam! Delicious, great for going with a group of friends... an authentic Chinese experience. Not much more to add, you have to check it out!
Yuan’s Hot Pot Amsterdam De Pijp袁记串串香阿姆喜力博物馆店
18 Ferdinand BolstraatThe most amazing Hot Pot you will eat in Amsterdam! Delicious, great for going with a group of friends... an authentic Chinese experience. Not much more to add, you have to check it out!
A really nice bar on the rooftop of the Volkshotel! Good drinks, nice view, and also stays open late. Highly recommended!
346 locals recommend
Canvas
150 WibautstraatA really nice bar on the rooftop of the Volkshotel! Good drinks, nice view, and also stays open late. Highly recommended!
Really good Chinese food, loads of space on the inside (don't be fooled by the outside) and open late.
59 locals recommend
New King
115-117 ZeedijkReally good Chinese food, loads of space on the inside (don't be fooled by the outside) and open late.
Great bar with a really nice outdoor area for the summer time. Also has a small indoor dancefloor with a club vibe - great fun on the weekend.
436 locals recommend
Waterkant
55 KapelwegGreat bar with a really nice outdoor area for the summer time. Also has a small indoor dancefloor with a club vibe - great fun on the weekend.
Great bar with both indoor and outdoor seating area. Has a lot of board games as well, for the rainy or winter days.
56 locals recommend
Bosco
7 Eerste Constantijn HuygensstraatGreat bar with both indoor and outdoor seating area. Has a lot of board games as well, for the rainy or winter days.
A great restaurant and café during the day. 4850 are a really great local place to visit. They do high end food for lunch and dinner and have an amazing selection of wines for the wine connaisseurs. During the day time they offer coffee and delicious cinnamon buns coupled with a lovely outdoor seating area. I would highly recommend it.
22 locals recommend
4850
48-50 CamperstraatA great restaurant and café during the day. 4850 are a really great local place to visit. They do high end food for lunch and dinner and have an amazing selection of wines for the wine connaisseurs. During the day time they offer coffee and delicious cinnamon buns coupled with a lovely outdoor seating area. I would highly recommend it.
The best ramen in Amsterdam and an authentic Japanese experience! If you're hungry and by Central Station then this is the place to go.
6 locals recommend
Ramen-Kingdom
83H Prins HendrikkadeThe best ramen in Amsterdam and an authentic Japanese experience! If you're hungry and by Central Station then this is the place to go.
Not far from the apartment at all, a really lovely local café with outdoor seating and cozy local vibe. Really recommend it to get a feel for the neighbourhood - you can walk there past local parks and playgrounds.
Oma Ietje
3 HeesterveldNot far from the apartment at all, a really lovely local café with outdoor seating and cozy local vibe. Really recommend it to get a feel for the neighbourhood - you can walk there past local parks and playgrounds.
the ijsboefje
5 BeukenpleinDelicious home made ice creams! A place to visit on a sunny day.
Really good value for money Chinese food - recommended if you want to grab a fast bite to eat in the neighbourhood.
Little Chinatown
992 BijlmerpleinReally good value for money Chinese food - recommended if you want to grab a fast bite to eat in the neighbourhood.
Lucky King En Hong
561 D BijlmerpleinAnother really good value for money place in the neighbourhood
A really great place to visit with tons of different food stalls, but also an indoor market, local shops, artists and crafts. In Amsterdam Oud-West so you will also get to walk around in this nice neighbourhood.
1500 locals recommend
Foodhallen Amsterdam
16 BellamypleinA really great place to visit with tons of different food stalls, but also an indoor market, local shops, artists and crafts. In Amsterdam Oud-West so you will also get to walk around in this nice neighbourhood.
SORA Sapporo Ramen
49 CeintuurbaanTiny restaurant in the Pijp that serves good ramen.
Sightseeing
A beautiful park on the Eastern edge of Amsterdam. It's pretty big and well hidden compared to the other more popular parks. You can go for a longer loop walk along the canal watching the ships go by, and enjoy the nature feeling as if you were no longer in Amsterdam. It's also got a decent amount of place to sit, barbecue, work out or whatever else you want to do.
398 locals recommend
Flevopark
FlevoparkA beautiful park on the Eastern edge of Amsterdam. It's pretty big and well hidden compared to the other more popular parks. You can go for a longer loop walk along the canal watching the ships go by, and enjoy the nature feeling as if you were no longer in Amsterdam. It's also got a decent amount of place to sit, barbecue, work out or whatever else you want to do.
A slightly smaller but really beautiful park that I recommend visiting. It's again a bit more quiet than the more popular parks, pretty well kept and has some nice hidden gems in it. It also has a great restaurant and is overall a really nice place to go and relax, or walk through on a tour of the Amsterdam Oost neighbourhood.
154 locals recommend
Park Frankendael
A slightly smaller but really beautiful park that I recommend visiting. It's again a bit more quiet than the more popular parks, pretty well kept and has some nice hidden gems in it. It also has a great restaurant and is overall a really nice place to go and relax, or walk through on a tour of the Amsterdam Oost neighbourhood.
The most popular park of Amsterdam Oost, right next to the hospital and connecting the various different parts of East. It's big and is always full of people working out or dancing. It's a park with a very social vibe, also has a café in it and the Tropen Museum.
841 locals recommend
Oosterpark
OosterparkThe most popular park of Amsterdam Oost, right next to the hospital and connecting the various different parts of East. It's big and is always full of people working out or dancing. It's a park with a very social vibe, also has a café in it and the Tropen Museum.
A great place to go, not just for the swings but for the view over the city and of central station. The swings are an added bonus if you're feeling in the mood for a bit of adrenaline. In the building there are also several restaurants and a bar, and in the basement there is a nightclub. All in all a great place to visit if you want to check out the North of Amsterdam - which is a 5 min free ferry ride away from Central Station.
603 locals recommend
A'dam Lookout
5 OverhoekspleinA great place to go, not just for the swings but for the view over the city and of central station. The swings are an added bonus if you're feeling in the mood for a bit of adrenaline. In the building there are also several restaurants and a bar, and in the basement there is a nightclub. All in all a great place to visit if you want to check out the North of Amsterdam - which is a 5 min free ferry ride away from Central Station.
My favourite park in Amsterdam, Westerpark has a wonderful wide open area to play games, relax and barebecue. It also has a mix of bars and restaurants, and a wilder part - giving it really everything you might need. Great for a walk and connects to the Oud-West/Haarlemmerstraat
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 HaarlemmerwegMy favourite park in Amsterdam, Westerpark has a wonderful wide open area to play games, relax and barebecue. It also has a mix of bars and restaurants, and a wilder part - giving it really everything you might need. Great for a walk and connects to the Oud-West/Haarlemmerstraat
Another beautiful park in Amsterdam, a little less well known and well hidden away, an oasis in the middle of the financial district and the RAI convention centre. Really recommend it!
167 locals recommend
Beatrixpark
21 DiepenbrockstraatAnother beautiful park in Amsterdam, a little less well known and well hidden away, an oasis in the middle of the financial district and the RAI convention centre. Really recommend it!
A really interesting museum to understand the history of the Jews who lived in Amsterdam and how they contributed to the city's population and culture. Also interesting to understand how they were forced to flee and how it changed the culture make up of the city.
151 locals recommend
Jewish Historical Museum
1 Nieuwe AmstelstraatA really interesting museum to understand the history of the Jews who lived in Amsterdam and how they contributed to the city's population and culture. Also interesting to understand how they were forced to flee and how it changed the culture make up of the city.
A really fun day out for adults and kids! A classic science museum full of things you can interact and play with in order to learn. Probably takes about 3h if not more to do the whole thing, and you can finish with a coffee on the stunning roof top terrace!
603 locals recommend
NEMO Science Center
2 OosterdokA really fun day out for adults and kids! A classic science museum full of things you can interact and play with in order to learn. Probably takes about 3h if not more to do the whole thing, and you can finish with a coffee on the stunning roof top terrace!
Right next to the apartment for the rainy days, a large movie theatre with an iMax cinema. Definitely worth visiting and only 10 mins walk away.
70 locals recommend
Pathe Arena
600 Johan Cruijff BoulevardRight next to the apartment for the rainy days, a large movie theatre with an iMax cinema. Definitely worth visiting and only 10 mins walk away.
There are many different Mokumboot rental locations across Amsterdam and I definitely recommend renting your own boat and driving down the canals as a great way to visit the city.
54 locals recommend
Mokum Boot Huren Amsterdam
351 NassaukadeThere are many different Mokumboot rental locations across Amsterdam and I definitely recommend renting your own boat and driving down the canals as a great way to visit the city.
Marc Bike Shop Hoekenrode
10-A HoekenrodeA local place to rent bikes for your stay in Amsterdam
A really nice park right next door to where the apartment is situated. It's got workout areas, a playground and huge open areas of grass for chilling, barbecuing and whatever else you might want to do on a nice day.
7 locals recommend
Nelson Mandelapark
ReigersbospadA really nice park right next door to where the apartment is situated. It's got workout areas, a playground and huge open areas of grass for chilling, barbecuing and whatever else you might want to do on a nice day.
It will take hours to visit so I recommend you know what you want to see, or plan half a day for it at minimum. There are loads of great things to see and it changes century or period depending on the floor you're on. It's also right next to Museumplein which is a nice place to see a hang out.
3186 locals recommend
Rijksmuseum
1 MuseumstraatIt will take hours to visit so I recommend you know what you want to see, or plan half a day for it at minimum. There are loads of great things to see and it changes century or period depending on the floor you're on. It's also right next to Museumplein which is a nice place to see a hang out.
A nice place to visit, see all the museums, and close to the Southern neighbourhood of Amsterdam as well as Vondelpark.
1480 locals recommend
Museumplein
MuseumpleinA nice place to visit, see all the museums, and close to the Southern neighbourhood of Amsterdam as well as Vondelpark.
Another great museum that will take you at least half a day to visit. Very interesting to go through all of Van Gogh's career
2485 locals recommend
Van Gogh Museum
6 MuseumpleinAnother great museum that will take you at least half a day to visit. Very interesting to go through all of Van Gogh's career
A really nice street with lots of shops, cafés, restaurants... Quintessential Amsterdam connecting Central Station to the Jordaan neighbourhood.
411 locals recommend
Haarlemmerstraat
HaarlemmerstraatA really nice street with lots of shops, cafés, restaurants... Quintessential Amsterdam connecting Central Station to the Jordaan neighbourhood.
A fun, alternative outdoor city beach. Off the beaten track and nice to visit in the summer time to experience typical Amsterdam vibes
1052 locals recommend
Pllek
59 T.T. NeveritawegA fun, alternative outdoor city beach. Off the beaten track and nice to visit in the summer time to experience typical Amsterdam vibes
If it's very hot this is a really nice outdoor swimming pool. It will likely be crowded in summer but there is enough outdoor grass space for everyone, and it will allow you to cool off!
86 locals recommend
Flevoparkbad
1002 InsulindewegIf it's very hot this is a really nice outdoor swimming pool. It will likely be crowded in summer but there is enough outdoor grass space for everyone, and it will allow you to cool off!
A nice place a little outside of Amsterdam with a lake and the possibility for swimming. Perfect on a hot summer's day!
14 locals recommend
Ouderkerkerplas
A nice place a little outside of Amsterdam with a lake and the possibility for swimming. Perfect on a hot summer's day!
Another outdoor city beach with an opportunity to swim on a hot summer's day
65 locals recommend
Gaasperplas
1001 ValburgdreefAnother outdoor city beach with an opportunity to swim on a hot summer's day
A great activity to do on a hot summer's day, SUP in the Amsterdam Amstel! You can take classes or go on your own, enjoy being on the canals away from everything and also get to see some boat houses and bits of Amsterdam.
Sup Sup Club Amsterdam Amstel
A great activity to do on a hot summer's day, SUP in the Amsterdam Amstel! You can take classes or go on your own, enjoy being on the canals away from everything and also get to see some boat houses and bits of Amsterdam.
City advice
Getting around
Metro + Train very close by
From Bijlmer Arena you can catch 2 different metro lines into central Amsterdam, or you can catch trains to and from the airport/other places around the Netherlands. It's very easy and only a 10 minute walk from the apartment.
Because it's a bit further away from the centre of town you know you always have these options easily available to you if you don't want to bike.
That being said there is a local bike shop and you bike lanes all the way in and around Amsterdam so it's always an option, and the more local way to get around.
What to pack
Rain gear + sweater
The weather is really unpredictable in the Netherlands, it can be warm one day and cold the next. It can also be really windy and rainy. Make sure you pack a raincoat and a warm sweater for in case it gets cold and/or wet, although if need be there are quite a few shops near the apartment including an H&M. And don't trust the weather forecast for a week ahead, take it day by day!