Amsterdam Holidays & City Breaks

Trains and buses are the best options – it’s easy to plan your route and Amsterdam’s public transport is excellent!

By train:

• Schiphol Airport has its own railway station, and journeys to Amsterdam Central Station (Centraal) take less than 20 minutes. Then you can either walk to your hotel or switch to the metro, bus or tram.

• From Centraal it’s only 10-15 minutes to Zaandam, a popular spot for stays outside the centre.

• Make sure you check the location of your digs before you plan your journey, as it might be better to head to Amsterdam Zuid station and hop on the Noord Zuid metro line.

By bus:

• You can catch the Amsterdam Airport Express right outside Schiphol Plaza. Look for stop B17.

• Daytime services on the 397 bus are scheduled every seven and a half minutes, so you won’t have long to wait.

• At night, you’ll want the N97, which runs every half an hour.

• Both routes have a number of convenient stops around the city centre, making it easy to get to your hotel or to connect with other public transport for outlying neighbourhoods.

Not sure which fabulous hotel to choose? Let’s help you narrow it down with our guide to where to stay in Amsterdam:

• Centrum: The centre (including Jordaan and Nieuwmarkt) is perfect for canalside walks, nights out on Rembrandtplein, and hitting the Museum Quarter or the Royal Mile.

• Noord: A charming area with a quieter, more residential feel than the old centre, handy for NDSM Wharf, fantastic dining, top gig venues, and rural bike rides.

• Oost: Think street markets, lush parks and craft breweries. Amsterdam’s East district is the definition of vibrant!

• Zuidoost: More into modern style and big-name events? Zuidoost (South East) Amsterdam could be your perfect match.

• Zuid: Home to the hippyish De Pijp district and attractions like Vondelpark, Albert Cuypmarkt and the Heineken Experience.

• Zaandam: Packed with history (like Zaanse Schans living museum, windmills and the fascinating Czaar Peter House), this cultural city’s about 15 minutes from central Amsterdam by train.

Found your dream Amsterdam hotel but it’s not in your fave location? Don’t worry, wherever you stay you’ll still be in easy reach of everything this characterful city has to offer, so go ahead and book it anyway!

Yes, but only if you want to, much like in the UK! Standard tips are around 10%. It’s also common to tip 5 - 10% in Amsterdam’s bars and for taxis.

If you’ve already done the big-name museums, cruised the canals and ordered bitterballen with your beer in a cosy brown cafe, you’re going to want to check out some of Amsterdam’s more secret spots.

Our top 4 hidden gems in Amsterdam:

1. STRAAT Museum: A total must-see among the exciting cultural hubbub of arty NDSM Wharf, this huge gallery is dedicated to street art in all its gutsy glory. To get there, just hop across the River IJ on the free ferry from Centraal Station.
2. De Vergulden Eenhoorn (The Gilded Unicorn): Expect quaint 18th-century charms, a mouthwateringly eclectic menu, and leisurely games of boules at this gorgeous old pub. It's the epitome of everything there is to love about the chilled-out Amsterdam Oost district, where traditional meets modern in the most delightful way.
3. Distilleerderij ‘t Nieuwe Diep: Love gin? Get yourself over to ‘t Nieuwe Diep, a cute little waterside jenever distillery tucked away in lush Flevopark (you can get there by tram). FYI, the park’s also home to an outdoor summer swimming pool if you fancy a dip before you head to the bar.
4. Zuidoost: If you’re into vibrant up-and-coming areas, plan some time in Amsterdam’s Zuidoost district. It’s a total contrast to the city centre! Highlights include big sports and music venues like the Johan Cruyff ArenA and Ziggodome, the taste bud-tickling cooking stations of the World of Food, and the lively Heesterveld Creative Community with its colourful buildings.

Don’t worry, Amsterdam’s a really exciting and easygoing place to visit! But to get you off to the best start, here are our local expert’s top tips to help you make the most of your trip.

DO… get an OV-chipcard (chipkaart) and top it up regularly. Available from stations and in newsagents, these handy travel cards make it extra easy to get around Amsterdam and beyond via train, bus, metro and tram.
DON’T… walk on a cycle path. Just don’t! (And if you’re cycling around this famously bike-friendly city, do stay in your lane.)
DO… go to other areas outside the city centre. Districts like buzzing Zuidoost, village-like Noord and hip Oost are well worth exploring. Each has its own distinctive charms, from fantastic nightlife to laid-back parks.
DON’T… think Amsterdam represents the rest of the country. Just like London is only one piece of the UK jigsaw, there’s so much more to discover in Holland and the Netherlands than Amsterdam alone! This friendly country’s a pleasure to explore so book a longer stay and make the most of the fantastic rail links.
DO… stroll amongst the slick modern architecture of Rotterdam, explore the beautiful Peace Palace in The Hague, or check out the views from Utrecht’s Dom Tower. They’re each only around 30 to 40 minutes away by train!
DON’T… think King’s Day is on the 30th April. That’s the old date for Queen’s Day. If you’re keen to experience the city’s exuberant, orange-coloured celebrations, you’ll need to be in Amsterdam on the 27th April instead.
DO… get back to nature at the Amsterdamse Bos. The city’s park’s are lovely but this huge green area is something else entirely! With everything from woodland to waterways, salamanders to kingfishers, and boat races to al fresco theatre, it’s just the ticket for fresh air and big skies.
DON’T… expect a late-night dinner. Amsterdam’s restaurants aren’t geared up for midnight feasts, with last orders usually taken at around 9-9.30pm. But you can stretch your meal out like the locals do, with dessert and a drink.
DO… try Surinamese or Indonesian food. From the South American taste sensation that is Surinamese cooking (a multicultural explosion of flavours with European and Asian influences) to the more familiar gado gado and nasi goreng of Indonesian menus, there are plenty of mouthwatering eateries to suit all budgets in Amsterdam.
DON’T… expect to get just coffee at a coffee shop. You’ve probably heard about the liberal laws around smoking weed in the Netherlands – well, coffee shops are where it’s legal. But it’s for adults aged 18-plus only and there are other restrictions too, so make sure you check up on what to expect if you’re planning to visit these sociable hangouts. And if you’re simply after coffee and cake, you might want to find a cafe instead.