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Our tips for a budget trip to Amsterdam
The NEMO Science Museum
Walking and boat tours
- It won’t come as a surprise that a walk in the UNESCO protected Canal Belt will provide you with many of the city’s most beautiful views. Let your stroll take you along the Bridge of 15 Bridges, a bridge from which you can see no less than 14 bridges in different directions… while you’re on the 15th. This unusual view is especially romantic in the evening, when the bridges are lit up. You’ll find this lovely spot at the crossing of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht.
- A great way to get to know the inner city and learn a bit more about Amsterdam’s history is to take a free guided tour. You’ll be taken on a 2.5-hour walk along some of the city’s best sights, including the Royal Palace, the Red Light District, the Anne Frank House and the Jewish Quarter. Our favourite stop is the Beguinage, a peaceful hidden courtyard in the bustling city. The free tour of Amsterdam starts in front of the National Moment at Dam Square.
- A visit to Amsterdam isn’t complete without a boat trip. If you’re not ready to pay €15 (or more) for a canal cruise ticket, there is another way to still experience the city from the water – albeit shorter. Directly behind Amsterdam Centraal train station, you’ll find the city’s blue-and-white ferries, which carries passengers across the river IJ free of charge.
Not expensive: culture and architecture
- Not far from the entrance to the Vondelpark is the Roemer Visscherstraat, where you’ll find the “Houses of seven countries”, a row of seven houses designed by the Dutch architect T. Kuipers. Each of the houses was built in an architectural style representing a different European country, namely Russia, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
- The NEMO Science Museum is housed in an eye-catching building along the IJ. While there’s an entrance fee to visit the museum, the roof terrace is freely accessible to everyone. Here, you’ll enjoy beautiful city views from a spacious terrace.
- From September to June, you can enjoy free lunchtime concerts at the Concertgebouw once a week. The concerts, which last around 30 minutes, are usually held on Wednesdays and they’re quite popular so booking a (free) ticket in advance is necessary.
Free visits
- Free and iconic: the Flower Market on the Singel in Amsterdam. A cheerful, colourful, floating flower market where you can enjoy lovely walks and take stunning pictures.
- You don’t necessarily have to be a bookworm to pay a visit to the Amsterdam Public Library (OBA). The building itself will amaze you, not to mention the panoramic view of the city and the River IJ from the top floor. This tip, however, is one for the book lovers amongst us: throughout the city, you’ll find various mini-libraries or small public bookcases. These are stocked with older books from the OBA.
- Finally, here’s another trendy spot to add to your list: the old NDSM shipyard. Take the ferry behind Amsterdam Central Station to Amsterdam-Noord. Entry to this hub of music and street art is completely free. If you’re a fan of unique spots, you could easily spend a few hours here: have a wander around, enjoy the music and art, or have a chat with one of the local artists.
Seasonal free activities
- Two extra tips for anyone travelling to Amsterdam during the winter months.
- Since 2012, the Amsterdam Light Festival Foundation has been installing free (light) art installations in the city centre every year around New Year's (December/January). A real festive atmosphere!
- On the third Sunday in January, the Museumplein is covered with as many as 200,000 tulips. From 1 pm, you can pick a bunch of tulips completely free of charge. This marks the festive opening of the (cut) tulip season for everyone!
- On King’s Day, the national holiday celebrating the monarch of the Netherlands, you can enjoy free concerts and events at numerous venues. Great if you like a lively atmosphere, but not recommended if you prefer peace and quiet.
- A free and unmissable festival at the end of summer in Amsterdam Nieuw-West is the Sloterplas Festival. Discover the diversity of nationalities and cultures there. Get ready for a day full of music, culture, sport and experiences!
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Delicious food at a great price
- Street food is a great way to fill your stomach without spending too much. Pop into Vleminckx de Sausmeester and try some authentic Flemish fries with masterfully crafted sauces. ‘Beste Döner’ might sound a bit pretentious as a name for a kebab shop, but it’s certainly no exaggeration. Pull up a chair for a delicious döner kebab roll.
- Every neighbourhood in Amsterdam has its own market, from flea markets to organic markets. The daily Albert Cuyp Market is the best known. Pop along and put together a tasty lunch with fresh produce. Other ideas: Amstel1, Dappermarkt, Noordermarkt, …
- There’s no better place to enjoy your lunch than in a lovely spot surrounded by nature. Amsterdam’s premier park is the Vondelpark, but the Westerpark and Amsterdamse Bos are certainly worth a mention too.
Affordable transport
- Hire a bike to explore the Dutch capital. Here are a few options for you:
- Discount Bike Rental: bike hire at low rates, close to Dam Square.
- MacBike: perhaps the most popular, with several branches across the city.
- Local bike shops: if you’d like to support small, independent businesses.
- Amsterdam has a well-developed public transport network: trams, metro, buses and even ferries – there’s plenty of choice. Thanks to the latest ‘GVB Max’ pass, you can travel as much as you like on all GVB lines for a maximum of €10.50 a day.
Affordable accommodation
- Some neighbourhoods in Amsterdam are more expensive than others. The Grachtengordel and De Pijp neighbourhoods offer a number of affordable places to stay.
- If you want to save even more on your accommodation whilst visiting Amsterdam, choose somewhere to stay just outside the city centre. Zaandam and Haarlem, for example, are easily accessible by public transport.
- The Stayokay hostel chain offers accommodation throughout the Netherlands in unique locations. There are three branches in Amsterdam: Amsterdam Oost, Amsterdam Stadsdoelen and Amsterdam Vondelpark.
