1. GET A TICKET
If you are arriving and departing at Schiphol airport and are staying in Amsterdam for 3 days; I suggest you pick up the Amsterdam Travel Tickets in Holland Tourist Information near arrival haul 2 in Schiphol airport. For €25 it will give you unlimited travel across Amsterdam including a second class return train ticket to and from Schiphol Amsterdam airport by NS train. By buying this 3 days(72 hours) ticket, this will save you €2.20 as the GVB tickets for 72 hours cost €16.50 + €10.70 for second class return ticket to Schiphol airport. For more detailed information go to:
http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/arrange-and-buy/tickets-and-passes/amsterdam-travel-tickets.html
here
http://en.gvb.nl/gvb-dag-meerdagenkaart
here
Another option is to pick up the I Amsterdam City Card in the Holland Tourist Information in Schiphol airport. We bought the 48hours for €58 and it gave us unlimited public transport on the GVB network, a free canal cruise, free entrance to museums and major attractions. We saved quite a lot by buying this card as we wanted to see a few museums that are included free on this card. Just for reference we went to Amsterdam Museum(€12), Van Gogh Museum(€15), Jewish Cultural Quarter(€15), Dutch Resistance Museum(€10), Houseboat Museum(€4.50) and The Eye Film Museum Exhibition(€11); a total of €67.50! So really our transport for 2 days(€12) and canal cruise(€16) were already free by buying this card. For more information just go to:
http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/i-amsterdam-city-card
here
2. TAKE THE TRAM LINE 2 FROM AMSTERDAM CENTRAL STATION
National Geographic designated this as one of the top 10 best trolley rides in the world! The first part of the route from Central Station to Hoofddorpplein travels past many of Amsterdam's famous tourist attractions and landmarks. Here are the stops of interest and brief information.
* Dam stop for Magna Plaza(A former Amsterdam main post office currently a shopping mall is part of the top 100 Dutch heritage sites).
* Spui stop for Amsterdam Museum, Civic Guards Gallery (Schuttersgalerij), Begijnhof, Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx (best fries), Cafe Luxembourg (best veal croquettes), Van Stapele Koekmakerij(best Valrhona cookies) and for the Nine Little Streets (De Negen Straatjes)
* Koningsplein stop for the Flower Market(Bloemenmarkt)
* Hobbemastraat stop for Rijksmuseum
* Van Baerlestraat stop for Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Museumplein, Concertgebouw and Vondelpark
3. DOWNLOAD RICK STEVE'S AUDIO EUROPE GUIDE FOR FREE
If you have a smartphone this app is absolutely amazing! There are self-guided tours to great sights and historic walks all for free. We downloaded the Amsterdam City Walk and it comes with a handy map(PDF) that can be viewed on our smartphone or printed from any computer. What's great about this app is it doesn't require WiFi or cellphone connection.
4. REMBRANDTPLEIN FOR THE BRONZE SCULPTURE OF THE NIGHT WATCH.
Rembrandtplein (Rembrandt square) is one of the major square in Amsterdam, named after the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn. Apart from Rembrandt's statue you can also see on display a bronze-cast representation of his most famous painting, The Night Watch. Coming from Central Station, tram 4 or 9 will take you straight to Rembrandtplein (4 stops). From the west of the city (Flevopark), tram 14 passes through Rembrandtlein on it's way east (Slotermeer).
5. AMSTERDAM MUSEUM AND THE CIVIC GUARDS GALLERY (SCHUTTERSGALERIJ)
Amsterdam Museum building was originally constructed in 1580 as Amsterdam's orphanage. At no. 92 Kalverstraat entrance, on the slumping archway are Amsterdam's coat of arms, Habsburg crown and a relief above the door, dated 1581 that shows boys around a dove, asking for charity reminding all who enters this museum that this was once an orphanage. Inside, there's a shaded courtyard lined by old lockers for the orphan's uniforms; which is now a free exhibit about the history of the old orphanage. Next to the Amsterdam museum entrance, is a free, glassed-in passageway, called the Civic Guards Gallery, or Schuttersgalerij. This hall features group of portraits from Amsterdam's Golden Age and a giant statue of Goliath and a knee high David.
6. THE BEGIJNHOF
The Begijnhof is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam. It is a group of historic houses around a church, that has sheltered women called the Beguines (a pious catholic single women) since 1346. There are two entrances to the Begijnhof, one through the Civic Guards Gallery and the other is along Spui.
7. DAM SQUARE
Just a five minute down the Damrak from Central Station, Dam square is home to the Royal Palace, New Church (Nieuwe Kerk), an old department store called De Bijenkorf (The Beehive), NH Amsterdam Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, The National Monument and Madame Tussauds.
8. EYE FILM INSTITUTE NETHERLANDS
This impressive building with its bar-restaurant offers a panoramic view of the river and city and can be visited free of charge. Entrance to the Panorama, the permanent display of Eye's collection, is also free. From Central Station, take the exit on the north side, where you can see the Eye building. Then take the free ferry ride that is labelled "Buiksloterweg" to the other side of the Ij Harbour. The ferry runs 24 hours a day and the ride takes 3 minutes.
9. STROLLING DE NEGEN STRAATJES
A shopper's paradise, De Negen straatjes or the nine little streets, are actually three small streets crossing two canals: Keizersgracht and Herengracht, which makes up for nine little streets. Filled with specialty stores and boutiques these days, many street names still bear witness to the artisans who were active here in past centuries. Rees-(Roe Deer), Beren-(Bears), Wolven-(Wolves) and Huidenstraat(Hides streets) are a remnant of a trade in animal hides for the leather industry. Even if you do not intend to buy anything, just take a stroll through 9 streets, enjoy the ambience, marvel at the architecture; it's a fabulous place for window shopping!
Tips: Thursday night is shopping night in Amsterdam and most shops are open late from 11am to 9pm, so take this into account when planning your visit.
Points of Interest: Alfons de Letter; Chocolaterie Pompadour; De Kaaskamer; Eddy Varekamp Prints; Hartenkaas; Koan Float; La Savonnerie; Marqt; Pancakes! Amsterdam; etc.
10. MUSEUMPLEIN
Amsterdam's museum quarter, as the name suggests, is surrounded by Amsterdam's three major and important museums(Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum & Stedelijk Museum). While overlooking Museumplein is the Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam's most important orchestral concert venue and is home to the famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. For many years now, free Lunchtime concerts (usually on Wednesday) are sometimes have been held in the main hall and recital hall. Please check their websites for concert schedule and for more information. Also the I amsterdam letters in front of the Rijksmuseum have become Amsterdam's most photographed attraction.
I hope my top 10 helps you on your planning. Happy travels everyone!
