We traveled from Copenhagen to Amsterdam and spent about 3 days there. It was mostly cold and rainy while we were there in early May, so be sure to pack accordingly. Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capitol and is full of beautiful buildings and history. I was trying to be trendy, but was interrupted 🙂

Our Air BNB was very charming. Very clean, modern and private. We purchased bus tickets to get to downtown Amsterdam, but we did not mind it. The spiral staircase leading up the bathroom was a bit of a challenge, however, we managed just fine!

To our surprise, the day we arrived, was Liberation Day (May 5). At 8pm, everything stops. Music, service–everything. The entire city is quiet for two minutes in honor of remembrance. There were lots of festivals and activities that week, however we did not make it to any. That evening, we headed to Dam Square and saw the leftover decorations from the royals. We walked over to the W Hotel for a nightcap and the rooftop view was spectacular!

My favorite historical site we visited was the Anne Frank House. Purchase your tickets in advance (it opens approximately 2 months prior to your desired date). I advise getting an early tour time (between 8am and 9am) because it gets extremely crowded inside the home. There is an area for your to place your coats and bags. No cameras allowed. We ended up getting there a little too early, so we settled for a light breakfast with traditional dutch pancakes at a nearby pancake house. It was cold and rainy that day, so we walked around an indoor mall or grabbed a coffee to cozy up. Around lunch, we made our way to the Heineken Experience. The tour was a little cheesy, but you get to learn about the beer and have 2 free samples at the end.

There are lots of museums in Amsterdam! We opted for the Royal Palace (located in Dam Square) and enjoyed learning about the history of the building (formally serving as town hall) and the royal family. It was a fun activity to hide from the cold weather. Amsterdam is a very walkable city. It is easy to get lost down the small streets and explore the canals throughout the city. Lots of bikers, but we enjoyed getting around by foot or bus.

We visited the Rijksmuseum as well. Our biggest regret was not purchasing Van Gogh tickets in advance, but there was SO much to see! Floors and floors of historical photos, artifacts, pottery, weapons…everything. We wish we could spend a few more hours there, but we were pressed for time.

To wrap up our time in Amsterdam, we took a canal tour. Beware: there are LOTS of canal tour options (even a pizza – themed tour), but we went for a more intimate tour we booked on AIR BNB. It was 100% worth it! Wine, beer and snacks made the tour even better. Our captain was very knowledgeable and fun! There were about 3 other couples on the tour. The boat has a small bathroom on board and a covered, heated area as well. We snuggled up under a blanket to enjoy the gorgeous views!

We wish we had more time in Amsterdam. I wish we spent more time on finding better places to eat. A majority of the food options include: pizza, steak and hamburgers.