Tips For Backpacking Amsterdam

Colorful and crazy houses. Canals and heaps of bicycles. Open minds and unusual realities. Open your eyes. You’re in Amsterdam.

Lots of people (and many backpackers) stop in Amsterdam during their European travels. What is well known for its vivacity especially at night is actually a very cute place to discover.

If you’re planning on backpacking Amsterdam, you should know that it’s quite an expensive city. To give you a rough idea, it was more expensive than Paris and Brussels (which are considered expensive for most backpackers).

Good news – there are ways to do it on a budget.

Where To Stay In Amsterdam

If you’re staying at least one night, you should pick a smart location. If your accommodation is located around Central Station, it would be a great spot! This means you can walk around easily without having to spend money on transportation.

Please note that if you’re coming by bus, you will probably arrive at Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station, which is located in the Western part of the city.

I was there during the winter, which isn’t the most popular time of the year for travelers. Accommodation (even hostels) was quite expensive if you’re booking last minute. I’d suggest you book your accommodation well in advance to avoid having a little surprise later. 

BROWSE HOSTELS ON HOSTELWORLD
 

How To Get Around Amsterdam

There are many different ways to get around Amsterdam; trams, buses, and metros.

As mentioned above, if you pick the right location for your accommodation, you won’t have to use transportation during your stay. I’d recommend you walk around (or hire a bicycle).

Transportation In Amsterdam

You could get the “I Amsterdam City Card” which gives you free entry to the most popular attractions of the city and access to public transport. This is available for 24, 48, and 72 hours.

You could also get GBV day passes or a 24-hour public transportation pass.

Or simply buy the ticket you need for your journey as you go.

Make The Most Of Amsterdam In One Day

Are you ready for the harsh truth? Amsterdam is all about being outside… which means that it’s totally acceptable to muck around and enjoy the prettiest views. Amsterdam has a unique architecture.

Houses are unequal and you might even think that there are about to fall. That’s the beauty of it. That’s what makes Amsterdam….Amsterdam.

As you walk around, keep an eye out for these little hipster cafés (here, I’m not talking about the Dutch coffee shops).

You need to keep in mind that every season will bring you a whole new atmosphere as you walk around the city.

Get A Mini Cultural Shock In Amsterdam

The coffee shop culture isn’t the one I know. I love coffee shops.You know; the ones where they sell coffee (coffee addict here!). The Netherlands is a pretty open-minded country.

Yes, you can buy drugs. You can even buy sex. Everybody knows about it. It’s obvious that I totally forgot about it.

I was walking down the street when I saw those famous windows (you know the ones I’m talking about, don’t you?). I felt very uncomfortable. It felt so wrong. Between the different smells and a few churches, it was all out there.

Would I recommend it? Let’s say I found it by surprise while I was trying to get a shot of one of those little twisty streets.

This is Amsterdam.

What To Do In Amsterdam

Discover how long you should stay in Amsterdam.

Here’s an overview of the best activities to do in Amsterdam – they are all under EUR 20:

• Evening Canal Cruise – Book now!
• Cheese tasting with wine – Book now!
• Heineken Experience – Book now!
• Moco Museum (including Bansky exposition) – Book now!

Traveling In Europe By Bus

There are many different ways to travel across Europe. Here’s why you should consider doing it by bus.

1. It’s quick. You don’t need to show up too far in advance. It’s efficient!
2. It’s budget-friendly. Most of the time, traveling by bus is the most affordable option.
3. You can stay connected. Wi-Fi is free and you can even use power sockets!
4. You can travel with your luggage. No need to worry about liquids, gels, or the weight of your luggage. Pack that bag and go!
5. It’s eco-friendly. The environmental impact is minimal compared to the other transport options.

Busbud is the best way to book bus tickets as it’s all in one place. You can search, compare, and book your bus tickets from hundreds of bus companies in 10,000 cities across 63 countries. They propose 500,000 routes and that makes them the biggest bus travel booking website. Their goal is to make travel accessible for everyone by giving travelers clear and accurate bus travel information such as schedules and fares. Find and book your perfect bus trip now!