Amsterdam Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, Shop + the Best Spring Day Trips
Amsterdam is elegant without trying, historic without feeling stuck, and local in a way many European capitals aren’t. We visited in April — peak tulip season — and based ourselves in the Canal Ring, walking or biking nearly everywhere.
This guide is for travelers who want culture without chaos, great food without hype lines, and day trips that actually justify leaving the city.
Fast Facts
Best time to visit: April–May
Ideal stay: 4–6 nights
Where to stay: Canal Ring (Nine Streets/Jordaan edge)
Must-do: Evening canal cruise + private walking tour
Best day trip: Keukenhof (April only)
Trains worth it? Yes — effortless and fast
Where We Stayed
Canal Ring (Grachtengordel)
Best for: First-timers, walkers, boutique-hotel lovers
Vibe: Refined, quiet, central
Hotel: The Dylan Amsterdam
A true boutique hotel on Keizersgracht, perfectly positioned between Nine Streets and Jordaan. Calm, discreet luxury and an ideal base for walking everywhere that matters.
How to Get Around
Walking: Primary mode — everything central is 15–25 minutes
Trams: Useful when tired, not essential
Trains: Amsterdam Centraal connects you to the entire country
Best tip: Stay central and leave the city by train, not taxi
The Best Things to Do in Amsterdam
First-Visit Essentials
Evening canal cruise (we booked 5:15 pm — perfect light)
Private walking tour starting at your hotel to get the lay of the land
Rijksmuseum + Van Gogh Museum (same afternoon works as they are located quite close to each other)
Local Favorites
Morning coffee walks in Nine Streets
Dinner on the Canals
Browsing Jordaan boutiques late afternoon
If You Love Slow Travel
Late breakfasts + yoga mornings
No-agenda canal wandering
Afternoon museum or venture outside of the city
Day Trips We Took from Amsterdam
Keukenhof Gardens (April Only)
Why: Peak tulips, no comparison
How: Private driver, 8:30 am pickup
Tips:
Go early and leave before the afternoon crowds.
Private driver takes you to the entrance and picks you up there, getting you in and out quickly.
Get ready, the tulips are not in bloom long, so the crowds will be plentiful!
Zaanse Schans + Haarlem
Why: Windmills + medieval charm
How: E-bike + train
Do first: Windmills, then breweries in Haarlem
Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague
Why: See modern + historic Netherlands in one day
How: Train
Highlight: Markthal + Mauritshuis
Where to Eat
Toos Roos- local breakfast and lunch spot in the Nine Streets area
Ceconni’s Amsterdam - modern Italian dinner set in a gorgeous 1930’s space
Fabel Friet - real Dutch fries, worth the really long wait
Little Bonfire - our best dinner in Amsterdam…request a table on the canal for the perfect view
Kinnaree Thai Cuisine - authentic Thai in the middle of Jordaan
Cafe de Jaren - perfect lunch spot on the water and an easy stopping point between a tour and the museums
Where to Shop
The place to shop in Amsterdam is De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets). Luckily, our hotel was in the middle of Nine Streets, so we could shop at any time.
Streets to focus on:
Berenstraat
Wolvenstraat
Reestraat
These are tight, charming, and packed with the kind of brands you actually want to discover.
Must-stop boutiques
A French boutique that I specifically look for in every European city that we visit
Boho-chic aesthetic, blending natural fabrics, earthy tones, and feminine tailoring
Smaller, under-the-radar boutique
Great for unique finds you won’t see again, like the raccoon hair sweater I purchased
Another European shop that is always on my list
Solid basics that vary from tanks to sweaters to sweats and linen trousers
Slow fashion + lifestyle
Think sustainable clothing, lotions, and shoes
