This amazing blog is for you if you’ve ever wanted to visit Holland and experience the Dutch culture firsthand! Keep in mind that Holland is a small country and its capital, Amsterdam, is a popular tourist destination. It’s important to plan your trip well in advance to secure accommodations.
In this post, we’ll cover how much it costs to visit Holland and what unique aspects of Dutch culture you should take the time to explore while there.
Amsterdam
The first thing to consider is how many days you want to spend in Amsterdam. I recommend no less than 3 days and no more than 7 days. Many people will travel to Amsterdam for a weekend trip, but I feel that a 3-day minimum allows you to explore the city without feeling rushed fully.
If your sole focus is Amsterdam, remember that some tourists might want a longer trip, including other cities in Holland like The Hague or possibly Rotterdam. Below is a chart with some sample budgets for Amsterdam.
- 3-Day Trip Budget: EUR400-500/USD500-650/GBP350-450
- 4-Day Trip Budget: EUR480/USD600/GBP450
- 5-Day Trip Budget: EUR600/USD750/GBP550
- 6-Day Trip Budget: EUR720/USD900/GBP650
Amsterdam is one of the more expensive cities in Europe, so keep this in mind when setting your budget. Prices will vary depending on the time of year you visit but remember that June and July are very expensive. It’s important to note that the January-March timeframe is also very expensive.
Accommodations
If you aren’t searching for a place to live while you’re in Holland, then I recommend staying at an Airbnb or shared living space. If you do want to stay right in the heart of Amsterdam, there are plenty of options for accommodations ranging from hotels and hostels to B&Bs.
I recommend staying at a place that is in the red light district. This is the most popular area in Amsterdam, where most of the activities are located. This is also where most of the tourists are. However, you should be aware that things can get out of hand in the red light district. There’s a lot of prostitution and drugs (both legal and illegal), so be careful when walking around.
The most popular place to stay is in the Jordaan or Canal Belt areas. Many hostels and B&Bs are found in these areas, as well as restaurants and bars. The most popular neighborhood to stay in is just outside the red light district. It’s called the Jordaan, where you’ll find a lot of clean, nice, quiet streets filled with restaurants and shops.
The Canal Belt area is right next to the red light district, so it will still be busy with tourists but not as crazy as the center of Amsterdam. You’ll find fewer tourists but more luxury shops and restaurants. It’s a nice place to walk around.
Food And Drinks
Now that your accommodations are set, you’ll need to plan where to eat and drink for the rest of your trip. This can be the most expensive part of your trip. It’s recommended that you avoid pubs and restaurants in the red light district since they tend to be the most expensive places in Amsterdam.
One of the best places to eat food is on the street. Many street vendors and stands in Amsterdam offer Dutch specialties like bitterballen, croquettes, kroketten, etc. The cost will vary depending on what you order, but generally, it’s very affordable.
You can also visit a local supermarket and buy pre-made sandwiches or other snacks to take when you’re sightseeing or going on a day trip outside of Amsterdam. You can find sandwiches for less than EUR3/USD3.50 and drinks for less than EUR1/USD1.50.
Transportation
Now that you know where you’re staying and what you want to eat and drink, it’s time to find out how you’ll get around the city. I highly recommend using public transportation while in Amsterdam. This will save you money and a lot of hassle trying to find parking spots in a busy city like Amsterdam.
There’s a lot of public transportation in Amsterdam. It’s similar to the subway system in NYC. You can take the train and tram system (called the “Oude Lijn” or brown line) from the airport to downtown Amsterdam then switch to another transportation system called the “Nieuwe Lijn” or new line while you’re downtown.
Bring a helmet and comfortable shoes if you want to get around by bike or on foot.
Museums and Places
If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam and have some time, then it’s important to plan your itinerary. This will help you get the most bang for your buck on your trip. Here are some of the best places to visit in Amsterdam.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is a great place to visit in Amsterdam. It houses many of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings and some of his personal belongings. I wouldn’t recommend spending the entire day here since it will be crowded and the Museum is large. However, it’s worth checking out if you have a couple of hours to spare.
If you have limited time to explore the Museum, you should book your Van Gogh Museum Tickets in advance.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is another great place to visit in Amsterdam. It houses various artists over the centuries, along with some architectural pieces. This is a great museum to check out if you have more than three days in Amsterdam. You’ll need to purchase your Rijksmuseum Tour in advance.
I hope you enjoy reading this article and have found some helpful information. If you have questions about this article or anything else, I invite you to drop them in the comments below. I’m also looking forward to your comments and suggestions on future articles.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about my personal experience as an ex-pat in Amsterdam, check out my other blog post – The Expat Experience In Amsterdam: A Day By Day Account of My Life in Holland.
