Amsterdam is a city famous for its coffee shops, canals, houseboats, historic architecture, and its Red Light District. Founded in 1275 (supposedly by two fishermen and their dog), the city grew in importance and wealth as Dutch colonies were set up around the world via the Dutch East India Company. Today, it’s one of the […]
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My Suggested 3-5 Day Itinerary for Visiting Amsterdam
Amsterdam has so much to do that, even after so many visits, I still find new things to do and see. The city deserves more than just the few days travelers give it, but if a few days is all you have and you want to make the most of it, this is the itinerary I would give you to get a good overview and feel for what makes Amsterdam so special.
The 34 Best Things to See and Do in Amsterdam
Last updated: 3/13/24 | March 13th, 2024 Amsterdam is known as a party city, full of wild nights and all kinds of questionable debauchery. It’s a fun, eclectic, and party-focused destination popular with young backpackers looking to let loose. I’ve visited Amsterdam more times than I can count (it’s one of my favorite cities in […]
The Best Walking Tours in Amsterdam
Last Updated: 9/12/2023 | September 12th, 2023 Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world. I’ve been visiting it regularly for over a decade and even spent some time living there. It’s a city with a misunderstood reputation, often glossed over as simply a place to party and partake in the illicit Red […]
The 9 Best Hostels in Amsterdam
Last Updated: 9/13/2023 | September 13th, 2023 Amsterdam will always have a special place in my heart. I spent a month there on my first trip around the world in 2006. I made friends, wandered far and wide, and really got to know the city, its neighborhoods, and its people. In fact, I fell in […]
16 Off the Beaten Track Attractions to See in Amsterdam
Most people go to Amsterdam, sit in coffeeshops, visit the red lights, and look at Van Gogh. There is a lot more to traveling in Amsterdam than just that.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit
Last Updated: 7/22/23 | July 22nd, 2023 I first went to Amsterdam in 2006 as part of my grand backpacking tour of Europe. It’s a rich, exciting, multilayered place. I fell in love with it so much that I stayed for a month. Since then, I’ve gone back dozens of times, even leading tours there […]
The 8 Best Hotels in Amsterdam
Last Updated: 12/24/23 | December 24th, 2023 One of my favorite cities in the world, Amsterdam will always hold a particularly special place in my heart. It’s one of the places I visited on my first European backpacking trip in 2006, and since then, I’ve been back countless times, exploring all the nooks and crannies […]
The Netherlands Travel Guide
When most people think of traveling in the Netherlands, they think of Amsterdam, with its semi-sleazy Red Light District, charming canals, historic windmills, and laid-back “coffee” shops where you can smoke pot. But there is much more to the country than its largest city. The Netherlands is a country filled with centuries-old brick homes, an […]
Europe Travel Guide
From beautiful Paris to smoke-filled coffeeshops in Amsterdam, Oktoberfest to La Tomatina, Europe is a massive, diverse continent with an unlimited assortment of things to see and do. You won’t have any problem filling your time, whether you’re backpacking Europe for a few months on a budget or just spending a few weeks there on […]
My 14 Favorite Cities in the World
Last Updated: 5/10/21 |May 10th, 2021 (Originally posted in 2011) When you travel for a living, you get asked a lot of questions as you bounce from one hostel to another. The top one: what’s your favorite country? The second most asked question: what’s your favorite city? I’ve spent a long time traveling the world […]
Utrecht Travel Guide
Located 45 minutes south of Amsterdam, Utrecht is an underrated city fast becoming one of the best places to visit and backpack in the Netherlands. I first ended up in Utrecht because a friend lived here. To be honest, the city wasn’t on my travel list (it often gets overshadowed by Amsterdam and Rotterdam). But […]