Things not to miss in Amsterdam

[crewsin250]

We are sailing out of Amsterdam on 5/17/07 and we will be arriving 2 days early. We are staying at the NH City Centre Hotel is this a nice hotel and is the location good for walking to attractions. Also could someone tell me the best way to get from airport to hotel and from hotel to cruise ship and a round a bout price.

 

I kind of got off my main question about best attractions to not miss, you will have to excuse me but I am just a little excited about this trip its mine and wife 25th ann. and I won't her to see it all, ok I want to see everything also.(LOL)

 

Thanks

Paul

[ab0si]

I'd suggest the KLM bus if you don't want to splurge on a taxi (rather expensive in Amseterdam). The KLM bus will take you right to your hotel.

 

NH is a chain of vanilla business-class hotels. Perfectly acceptable; nother memorable. The City Center one (they have multiple properties in Amseterdam) is a good location. Multiple restaurants, bars, etc. right outsie the door in the square. Walking distance to the museums.

 

Note that historic Amsterdam is a compact city with good public transportation, so where you stay is less important than in many cities.

 

Two of the three main art museums are undergoing massive work. TWhey are still open, but with reduced displays. Still worthwhile (very). The Jewish Museum is fascinating -- not just for Jews either. It gives a good feel of the city in its Golden Age. The Historical Museum is excellent. The Anne Frank House has never "captured" me -- your milage may vary, of course. There are 18 zillion museums in town if you are into that. Close and easy to get to other cities, towns and villages (I love Haarlem, for example -- 15 minutes by train).

 

Take a canal boat ride -- or, use the hop on/hop off canal bus to get around.

 

A good Botanical Gardens, a nice large urban park to walk and people watch. Interesting and unique canal houses to see while wandering. On and on and on.

 

I would assume - only assume -- a taxi would be best to the ship. Sorry, I ahv e never cruised in or out of Amsterdam -- just spent lots of time there,

 

Paul

[Ine]

We are sailing out of Amsterdam on 5/17/07 and we will be arriving 2 days early. We are staying at the NH City Centre Hotel is this a nice hotel and is the location good for walking to attractions. Also could someone tell me the best way to get from airport to hotel and from hotel to cruise ship and a round a bout price.

 

I kind of got off my main question about best attractions to not miss, you will have to excuse me but I am just a little excited about this trip its mine and wife 25th ann. and I won't her to see it all, ok I want to see everything also.(LOL)

 

From citycentre to the cruiseterminal runs tramnr. 25. However with luggage it will be more convenient to take a cab for that short ride. From the airport the easiest way is to take the connexxion special bus (NO more KLM buses), that runs to various hotels. Check their schedules and hotels on:http://www.schipholhotelshuttle.nl/site/home.asp

 

Map of Amsterdam: http://www.amsterdam.info/map/

Amsterdam is a walkable city with good public transport.

 

In Amsterdam visit Rijksmuseum (Rembrandt), Van Goghmuseum and make a canalboatride or take the Museumboat.

Ann Frank house is very interesting, but go either early or late to avoid long lines. All details can be found on the site of the Amsterdam Tourist board:http://www.vvvamsterdam.nl/ and also on:

http://www.simplyamsterdam.nl/sights.htm

 

As May is still (but almost at the end of) Tuliptime, make a visit to Keukenhof.http://www.keukenhof.nl/

Either by public transport (train to Haarlem, bus to Lisse_ or book an organised tour:http://www.keytours.nl/

 

If you need more info or help, let me know.

[DonLou]

Ine,

I hope your feeling better. It's nice to see that you are posting. But getting back to the topic...

 

My wife and I were in Amsterdam in September and right next to the Rijksmuseum are diamond merchants. We went to the first store and were given a "free" tour of how diamonds are processed. At the end, we bought a nice stone at a good price. It was an expensive "free" tour but it was worth it. We only had time to go to this one merchant but Ine do you have any recommendations for buying diamonds?

[Junta123]

Amsterdam is amazing. I spent a week there last year.

 

Don't miss the

-Anne Frank House

- Rembrandt museum

- Heineken Brewery

-Indonesian food

- Pickled Herring

- Falafels at Maoz

- Schwarma at one of the Turkish stores

- The Red Light District

- Take a walk inside a Brown Cafe, and a quick exit or you might feel the effects

- Catch a "live show" if you know what I mean

- GET Tickets to Boom Chicago, great play!

-Walk, walk, and did I say walk until you can't move anymore

- Canal rides

- Flower market

[Ine]

Ine,

I hope your feeling better. It's nice to see that you are posting. But getting back to the topic...

 

My wife and I were in Amsterdam in September and right next to the Rijksmuseum are diamond merchants. We went to the first store and were given a "free" tour of how diamonds are processed. At the end, we bought a nice stone at a good price. It was an expensive "free" tour but it was worth it. We only had time to go to this one merchant but Ine do you have any recommendations for buying diamonds?

 

I am doing rather well, but still some pains and feel tired rather quick. It takes time, but I am impatient.....

 

Besides the shop you mentioned (probably Coster Diamonds? http://www.costerdiamonds.com/

) there are a few others like:

http://www.gassandiamonds.com/index_flash.html

http://www.amsterdamdiamondcenter.com/

http://www.amsteldiamonds.nl/

 

Also the taxfree shops at the airport (you can only buy before departure not upon arrival) sometimes have some good buys . Check: www.schiphol.nl

[Queenk2]

I would definately do the Anne Frank house... I found it fascinating. The Van Gogh museum is one of my favorites..You must visit the red light district for a good chuckle.I too took a diamond tour, however did not purchase any stones. I am from the NY area and have used a jeweler here for years, but it was interesting! You will love this city!

Karen

[crewsin250]

Wow I was not expecting this much info so quick, but then again that is why I love this site.

 

Ine I will enjoy going through all those links to help make the most out of our time in Amsterdam.

 

Thanks Again

 

Paul

[taxatty]

Also--the Dutch Resistance Museum, pancakes, and Rembrandt's House. Boom Chicago was hysterical!

Les

[andydee]

We also found Anne Frank House to be a very touching experience, loved the outstanding art museums and enjoyed our canal boat ride. We took a day trip to Maarken? on the Zuiderzee (Ijsselmeer

). It was like stepping back in time. You can catch a bus near the main train station.

Cheers

Andy

[Ine]

Don Lou, I just read in the newspaper that sometime next March there will be a Diamond Museum in Amsterdam. As soon as I know more details I will post it.

 

Andy, yes the combination Volendam and Marken is always very interesting and easy to do by public transport.

Also the Zuiderzeemuseum (http://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/english.aspx

is great. It tells the story of fishermans'villages in the old days. Can be reached by train to Enkhuizen and from tell the special museumboat to the Museum.

[24butterfly]

Amsterdam is amazing. I spent a week there last year.

 

Don't miss the

-Anne Frank House

- Rembrandt museum

- Heineken Brewery

-Indonesian food

- Pickled Herring

- Falafels at Maoz

- Schwarma at one of the Turkish stores

- The Red Light District

- Take a walk inside a Brown Cafe, and a quick exit or you might feel the effects

- Catch a "live show" if you know what I mean

- GET Tickets to Boom Chicago, great play!

-Walk, walk, and did I say walk until you can't move anymore

- Canal rides

- Flower market

 

Can you recommend a good Indonesian? We went to Loni's many years ago. It was recommended by Gourmet mag and it was excellent.... Also, I'm a bit of a dummy, so could you please expand a bit on the "live show" thing???

 

Also, Ine--could you pls explain how to get to Volendam and Markham by public transport? Would we need a car once there or is everything pretty much close together? Thanks!

[Junta123]

I can't recall the names of the Inodonesian restaurants, we ate at quite a few and they were all good. The live show is a sex show, interesting part of the red light district.

[Bill S]

Last April, Ine recommended several Indonesian restaurants for us during our visit to Amsterdam and we selected Indrapura on the Rembrandtplein. It was outstanding! And we were doubly blessed because gracious and lovely Ine joined us for the excellent dinner! Indrapura has a web site but I don't have the url handy.

THANKS, INE! So glad to see you back on CC! Hope you doing well! Virginia sends her regards and best wishes! Amsterdam is one our all-time favorite cities.

[Ine]

Last April, Ine recommended several Indonesian restaurants for us during our visit to Amsterdam and we selected Indrapura on the Rembrandtplein. It was outstanding! And we were doubly blessed because gracious and lovely Ine joined us for the excellent dinner! Indrapura has a web site but I don't have the url handy.

 

THANKS, INE! So glad to see you back on CC! Hope you doing well! Virginia sends her regards and best wishes! Amsterdam is one our all-time favorite cities.

 

Hi Bill and Virginia. It was a pleasure to see you and have diner with you in Amsterdam. Every day I feel a little better now.

 

Indrapura is a very good Indonesian Restaurant in city-center in Rembrandtsplein. Reservations for dinner are advised.http://www.indrapura.nl/

 

Another favorite is Sama Sebo, near Rijksmuseum at the PC Hooftstraat. This one is closed on Sundays, also reservations necessary.

Of course there are more Indonesian Restaurants serving very good Rijsttafel, but we usually stick to these two.

http://www.iens.nl/restaurantsVan/Amsterdam/?a=Amsterdam+&k=27

 

To get to Volendam by public transport is very easy. From Central Station there is a frequent busservice, check:

http://www.gvb.nl/english/travellers/touristguide/index.html

At the "dijk" in Volendam you can take a boat to ge to Marken.

[24butterfly]

Thanks, Ine!!! Glad to see you're back!! Do you know if Loni's is still around??

 

Also, how do you go see a "live sex show" and where is it?? I'd love to surprise my husband.

[patkat]

There are shows all over the Red Light District...you cannot miss them. And there is a place called "The Banana Bar". I was not in there, but I have heard it is a show...of sorts. Use your imagination from the name of the bar. :o If you want a "cultural" experience, there is a Sex Museum also in the vicinity.

[Ine]

Thanks, Ine!!! Glad to see you're back!! Do you know if Loni's is still around??

 

Also, how do you go see a "live sex show" and where is it?? I'd love to surprise my husband.

 

If I remember well Loni sold his restaurant a few years ago. He now supervises/caters indonesian food for some grocery-stores.

As mentioned already in the "Redlight District" you will find various clubs, like Banana club, Casa Rosso etc.