March 26-28, 2016

Day 1

  • Train from airport to city
  • Drop off baggage in lockers – these are so handy! But also quite pricey…
  • Explore the city by foot
    • Chinatown
    • Buddha’s Light Temple
    • Nieuwmarkt
    • Royal Palace/New Church
    • Anne Frank House
      • Long lines outside so we didn’t go in but I hear it’s better to go before they open and spend 1.5 hours in line then rather than go once it’s open and spend 3 hours in line…
    • Flower Market
      • Lots of flower vendors in a row by the water surrounded by cheese shops; worth a walk through but not much else unless you want to buy tulip bulbs
  • Take subway and bus to hotel in Abcoude, a small town outside of Amsterdam (only place with affordable hotels!)
    • Quaint little town worth an hour’s walk around

Day 2

  • Breakfast buffet at hotel and then walk around town
  • Bus and subway to our hotel for the next night (saving money is time intensive)
  • Check in, drop off baggage
  • Subway and tram into the city to Rijksmuseum
    • Buy tickets for the museum at the second hand sellers (e.g. tour companies) because it costs the same but there’s no line
    • For Rijksmuseum you can go in whenever once you have a ticket but for Van Gogh, definitely buy in advance since they’re timed tickets and often sell out for the day-of
  • Pancake restaurant for local pancakes (thick crepes, really) and traditional Dutch pea soup (very ordinary)
  • Red Light District
    • Fascinating to walk around and see the women in the windows – it’s all really quite dignified
    • Easy to miss during the day time
    • Red lights and blue lights signal different things – I believe blue is for transvestites
  • Bubbles & Wines
    • Apparently one of the best wine bars – I’d believe it
    • Pricey but lots of wine choices, intimate atmosphere, great service, and great food

Day 3

  • Check out of hotel and go into town
  • Attempt to go to Van Gogh museum whereby we learned that they have timed tickets and usually sell out for the day of
  • Walk through Vondelpark (park lined with beautiful houses on both sides)
  • Lunch at Rijksmuseum cafe
    • Lovely, lovely food and open atrium dining space
    • A bit crowded and loud and waiters are very busy so it can be hard to get their attention
    • Brightly lit from natural light and pleasant
  • Bagel shop! (Just a random pit stop)
  • Train to airport