Amsterdam had been on our bucket list for a long time, it's a very long one 😅. This summer it finally got its turn, partly because we planned the trip around one of the plans we were most looking forward to this year. Five days, three hotels, a historic concert and more heat than we expected. Spoiler: the Netherlands isn't very well prepared for heat waves.
We took the flight from Valencia, it cost us around 150 euros per person with a carry-on bag included. Without further ado, we arrived in Amsterdam and everything began.
Day 1: Arrival, Red Light District and rest.
Our first hotel was the Easyhotel, near the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax's stadium. A quieter area than the center, but with the metro just steps away, so getting into the city was easy and fast. We chose this hotel for the first night, something simple but very well located and comfortable given how our trip was set up.
We got from the airport on the Intercity, we bought the ticket at the airport. Remember that in the Netherlands it's important to validate the ticket or card you use to pay for transport when you enter and exit. We arrived, dropped our things, rested for a while and headed out to explore. We met up with some friends and wandered through the center. We had dinner by one of the canals, near Central Station, and at night we ended up in the Red Light District. For Karyna it was the first time, and for our friends too. It was a Tuesday, so there were far fewer people than we expected, and that's appreciated when you want to take in the place calmly without feeling like you're in the middle of a crowd.
We didn't want to go to bed late because we had to travel the next day and we were tired after the first day of the trip, but we still went into a couple of bars in the Red Light District, had a drink, and met Hispanic people who told us what life is like in that neighborhood to give us more context. It's very interesting, and we now understood why so many people come to see it.
Day 2: From Amsterdam to Arnhem to see Bad Bunny
We checked out around 11 in the morning, had breakfast calmly and headed to the metro stop, which was literally two minutes away. We took the Intercity to Nijmegen, the city where we stayed for the concert.
Everything that happened that day, the Golden Circle VIP, the little house, Jhayco singing Holanda en Holanda, the 30 degrees inside the stadium, is told in detail on the concert blog. [→ Read the Bad Bunny blog in Arnhem]
We got back that night completely exhausted but with adrenaline and happiness through the roof from the brutal experience we had.
Days 3 and 4: Back to Amsterdam, the Leonardo Royal and the canals
On Thursday we went back to Amsterdam, but first we walked along a few streets in Nijmegen that we found very pretty and peaceful, had breakfast at our accommodation, and then had a matcha before heading back. On our return we stayed at the Leonardo Royal Hotel. The price was a bit higher than the first one, around 62 euros per person per night, but for Amsterdam it's pretty good. The service was good, the room was too, and it had a gym and sauna, which Nico (our friend who joined us on this trip) and Pedro made the most of before heading out into the city.
No specific plan. We wanted the city to surprise us. We knew about the most typical neighborhoods like Jordaan with its quiet canals, the Grachtengordel, which is basically the historic center, De Pijp for something more like a real neighborhood, and of course the Museumplein with the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, so we made our way around the area and let ourselves be surprised as we went.
The first thing we noticed was the heat. We were in the middle of a heat wave across Europe, and Amsterdam is not prepared for that. In Spain you walk into any bar and there's air conditioning. Here, not so much. Ventilated cafés were the exception, and at certain times of day getting around the city was pretty tough. Keep that in mind if you're going in summer.
Still, we wandered along the main canals and the city's best-known neighborhoods, and in the afternoon we signed up for a boat tour. An hour along the canals with an audio guide, around 15-16 euros per person (Link to book the canal boat tour). It's worth it. We learned things we didn't know: that the modern stock exchange was born in Amsterdam, that the canals were artificially built to expand the territory, and that the Herengracht, the Canal of the Gentlemen, was where the wealthiest merchants in the city lived. From the water the city looks different, and with the sunset on top it looks even better. This activity also gives you a break from walking all day.
That day we went to an English pub to watch the Ecuador vs. Germany match. All over the city there were promotions and many bars promoting tourism and also the World Cup. People wearing jerseys from their countries.
Anne Frank House: a visit that will leave you speechless
The next day we visited the Anne Frank House. You need to book well in advance, tickets are released on Tuesdays at 10am for six weeks later and they sell out fast. The price is 16 euros per person, and they're sold on the official website, or on Get Your Guide you can see different options, we've left the link too. [Anne Frank House Tour]
We're not quite sure how to describe the visit. It's intense. You're in the place where a family hid for more than two years, with the original materials and the rooms just as they were. You see the diary, you see the movie star photos Anne pinned to the wall, you see the marks where they measured the children's heights.
And as you walk through it, you inevitably think that this isn't so distant. That today there are wars just as harsh and just as unjust. Except now there are cameras and social media, and stories like Anne's repeat themselves in a different way.
We left in silence. We sat on a terrace facing the canals, near the house, ordered something and stayed for a while watching the water. Lots of people on their boats, enjoying the summer. That contrast stays with you.
Amsterdam is undoubtedly a city of contrasts: very quiet places, parks where you can spend the afternoon in the shade, terraces along the canals, and at night the Red Light District comes alive and everyone heads over there.
Saturday: last day and heading home
The weekend arrived and with it the crowds. Amsterdam on a Saturday is on another level. We stayed until Saturday, five days in total including the day we arrived, and I think it was the perfect length for what we did: city, concert, some culture and lots of relaxed wandering.
We'd do it again. Definitely.
💡 Tips
✈️ Flight from Valencia It cost us around 150 euros per person with a carry-on bag included. Book in advance and compare, prices vary a lot depending on the day.
🏨 Two hotels, two experiences The Easyhotel near the Johan Cruyff Arena is fine for a one-night stay, with good metro connections. The Leonardo Royal in the center is more expensive (around 60€ per person per night) but the quality shows: good rooms, gym, sauna and service of another level. For Amsterdam, the price is reasonable.
🚇 Metro and transport The city gets around very well by metro and tram. Buy the OV-chipkaart when you arrive or pay with your preferred card, it saves you time on every trip. To get to Arnhem or Nijmegen, the Intercity from Central Station is the most convenient option.
🎟️ Anne Frank House: book no matter what Tickets are released on Tuesdays at 10am CET for six weeks later. They sell out in hours. They're only sold on annefrank.org. 16 euros per person. Photos are not allowed inside.
⛵ Canal boat tour Totally worth it, especially at sunset. Around 15-16 euros, an hour-long cruise with an audio guide in Spanish. It departs from the pier at Prins Hendrikkade 25, next to Central Station or along the Anne Frank House. There's a variety of options, with drinks and more.
🌡️ The heat The Netherlands in summer can catch you during a heat wave, and they're not prepared for it. Few cafés have air conditioning. Light clothing, always carry water, and plan your activities for the coolest hours of the day.
🎵 The Bad Bunny concert If you're going to an event at the Gelredome in Arnhem, using Nijmegen as a base is a better option than Arnhem. Cheaper and quieter. All the details about the concert in [→ our Bad Bunny blog in Arnhem].
Have you been to Amsterdam? Any hidden gems we shouldn't miss on our next visit? Remember you can see more content on our social media 😉
