Amsterdam is a big hub for many transcontinental flights which often times can leave you with a super long layover. When we were traveling to Tanzania from the States we had 24 hours to kill while we awaited our flight to Kilimanjaro and we did our damndest (get it?!) to make the most of it! Here are 5 things I recommend checking out if you only have 24 hours in Amsterdam:
#1 Canal Tour. Amsterdam is home to 165 canals that cover a combined length of 60 miles and has over 1,700 bridges so it is no surprise that this is the first thing on the list! We got into Amsterdam around 9am and snagged a taxi that drove us to the Marriott Hotel at Vondelpark in the city center which turned out to be an amazing location for us! We could walk to dozens of restaurants, museums, parks, clubs, the canals, shopping and a casino. Truly, we lucked out on this location and the staff was extremely helpful in recommending restaurants, etc. We eagerly dropped off our bags and went directly to the first canal tour operator we could find. You are allowed to bring your own beverages so what is a canal tour without some wine?
# 2 Museum Tour. There are so many fabulous museums in Amsterdam that it’s hard recommend more than one for such a short time. Most famously is the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum but honestly, each of those in itself could take an entire day. Oh, and of course, there is Anne Frank’s house which you need to purchase tickets for in advance and you could still be standing in line all morning to get in. We opted for the Banksy and Dali museum which was weird and cool and unexpected.
#3 Rent a Bike. If you dare! Bike transit here is unlike any place I have ever seen! On the plus side there are bike lanes everywhere and traffic lights for said bikes as well but if you are on foot, you better believe that they will take you out in a heartbeat! So if you are daring enough or maybe on the return leg of your journey, then this might be a fun way to get out and explore the city, visit the many parks and see the sights.
#4 Eat! Ok, so we didn’t go straight to the canal tour, first we had breakfast at a Pancake house along a canal. I am not much of a coffee drinker but I was told by my travel mates that the lattes and coffees were devine! For dinner we went to this quaint restaurant that specialized in seafood and wine and as they say, When in Amsterdam… The cool thing about Amsterdam being so far north is that in the summer it stays light out really late. We walked out of the restaurant around 9:30 and the sun did not set until after 10pm (which should have been foreshadowing for how late were were going to stay out that night)! And if you are looking for delicious beignets or other decadent breakfast treats, then you definitely have to check out De Vier Pilaren!
#5 Red Light District. I mean, what would this post be without mentioning it?! It’s not my scene certainly, but it was quite a cultural experience and totally made me count my blessings! I was shocked at what you could see from the street, which left very little to the imagination. And then of course there are the “coffee shops” for anyone who wants to partake in some herbal recreational activities. But there were also some cool pubs that seemed like places you could find anywhere in the States. We had fun hopping around and taking in the night life and witnessing the debauchery that is the Red Light District! The other mantra here is, What happens in Amsterdam, Stays in Amsterdam!
