I always wanted to go to Amsterdam to see the beautiful canal and the stunning buildings. We did quite a lot of things, during the stay. Unfortunately, we have not done the Anne Frank Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, as you do need to book in advance. Therefore, I will be returning to this fantastic place.
Attractions
1. Amsterdam Zoo
The Artis zoo has got to be one of the best zoos in Europe to visit. The donkeys were fantastic, and so were the elephants, and not to mention the zebras. The best experience was watching the sea lions perform.
2. The Cat Boat
The Cat Boat was a great experience. There were a variety of cat breeds, and some of them were quite entertaining, whereas others decided to have a lazy day.
3. Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam. It is beautiful to see so many art and history in the museum.
5. Canal Walk
If ever you wanted to have a long walk and feel the Amsterdam surroundings, walking by the canal with the splendid architecture is fantastic. The lovely weather made it perfect too.
6. Canal Cruise
The canal cruise was brilliant. The driver even talked about the history of buildings that are surrounding the canal. I would recommend this to get to know Amsterdam more.
7. A'DAM Lookout
I do recommend heading to the A'DAM lookout. You will have amazing views, so you would want to take a lot of photos. You can also go on the 'Over the Edge' Swing, which is Europe's highest swing. Unfortunately, it wasn't open when I went as it was under refurbishment. Therefore I can't tell whether the experience is good or not. However, from what I heard, it is meant to be a great experience. So I will be returning to go on the swing.
Food and Drink
The food and drink in Amsterdam are fantastic. There is a wide range of restaurants and pubs. If you wanted to have a casual drink, there is plenty of beers or ciders. I tend to go for Somersby Cider - they are delicious. I would also recommend having Amsterdam's Stroopwafels.
Accommodation and transport
Amsterdam has a wide range of affordable hotels. We stayed at the Bastion Hotel, which was lovely. Most of these hotels are by a metro or tram station. Therefore, there is no need to hire a car. Everywhere is nearby and it would only take about 10 - 15 minutes on a metro to get to Amsterdam Centraal.