Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport, AMS, features 322 direct worldwide destinations offered by 108 airlines. It is the world’s oldest international Airport.
Schiphol International Airport Attractions: Airport library, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, interior park, located 5.5 miles to city center with easy train and bus access.
Amsterdam Travel Tips
Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe with its magnificent range of attractions, cultural sites, and landmarks that can be visited all year. The city is filled with plenty of top-shelf activities that take in historical architecture, quality museums, beautiful public parks and great shopping.
Getting around Amsterdam
It is easy to explore Amsterdam as most attractions are within easy reach by foot. You can also use the GVB network which is well integrated and you can buy a ticket to travel across any train, bus, metro, or tram, but you can only use the metro if you are traveling to the suburbs. Hop-on-hop-off trams provide easy access through this walkable city for a couple of Euros. Or pay a few more and get a one- to seven-day GVB pass.
Best time to visit Amsterdam
The best time to see Amsterdam is between mid-April to mid-October with the tourist peak season in July and August when the weather is dry and mild. The city is also gorgeous during the offseason with the benefit of cheaper hotels and restaurants and fewer crowds.
Top things to do in Amsterdam
Heineken Brewery Tour
One of the top things to do in Amsterdam is to get the Heineken experience with the chance to learn about the brewing process and also enjoy some great beers on tap. Browse through cool historical artifacts displaying the history of the Heineken name, brew and brand — there is even a 3D ride that runs through the creation process and adding new dimensions to the Heineken experience. The highlight of the brewery is the lounge that is decorated with the widely recognizable beer bottles and cans with a section that allows visitors to create their own Heineken bottle.
Go on a canal cruise
Amsterdam canal has played an important part in the daily life of Amsterdam for centuries and is surrounded by other iconic landmarks, such as the Westerkerk, Hermitage Museum. One of the best things to do in Amsterdam is to go on a boat tour along the canal where to learn about the history of Amsterdam and get a comfortable orientation to the city. Try the candlelight excursion along the canal where Amsterdam’s history comes with dinner and drinks.
Vondelpark
This is a wonderful urban park to wonder and is just outside Amsterdam’s inner canal belt. The park features lakes and small woodlands, an open-air theatre where many performances happen during the warmer months, plus numerous bars with huge terraces to people watch and savor cult brews. The park is filled with numerous spots for picnicking, Frisbee games and watching the diurnal life of the city.
The Rijksmuseum
This is a magnificent building of similar design and style to the Centraal station (the primary train station in the Netherlands) with huge collections of art and crafts and history dating back to 1200. The Rijksmuseum is where to go to see rare Rembrandts and the works of other Dutch artists and prized collections of Northern European periods of great creativity. The museum houses more than a million paintings and sculptures and rotates a display of some 8000 pieces at a time, so it is possible to spend a day and not see all and then come back regularly for more engagement. For those who have little time or cannot visit the museum, Schiphol International Airport operates a satellite museum to the delight of international flyers with time between flights.
Body Worlds
This is another stunning museum in the heart of Amsterdam and it features an exciting revealing display of the human anatomy that sheds light on how our bodies work — why are they are fragile and how they are resilient.
Travel tips when visiting Amsterdam
Mind the cyclists
One of the top travel tips in Amsterdam is to be extra careful and double check when you want to cross the road as people in Amsterdam pedal through the city at a great speed. Consider renting a bicycle and joining the crowds, or taking a guided cycling tour through Amsterdam. It may turn out to be the highlight of your trip.
From coffee shops to cafés
In Amsterdam, there is a difference between coffee shops and cafés as a café is where you can get your regular latte, but a coffee shop is where you can buy and smoke weed.
Take your camera
You are going to find numerous storybook houses and mesmerizing settings for taking Instagram-worthy photos.
Beer by the half pint
In Amsterdam, local brews are often served by half-pint throughout the city – a benefit for visitors who want to taste the local beer but do not want to get so intoxicated that they will miss the Amsterdam experience.
