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Amsterdam is one of the Netherlands’ most vibrant cities, known for its canals, quirky museums, bustling markets, and lively neighborhoods. On our short trip to celebrate my 40th, we explored neighborhoods like De Pijp, wandered canal streets, discovered cozy bars, and got a taste of the city’s charm, even in the rain. This post shares our real experience exploring Amsterdam from a traveler’s perspective and serves as a travel guide for a short weekend trip.

Why Amsterdam for my birthday?

A few months ago, I decided I wanted to celebrate my 40th birthday with a trip to Amsterdam. A few days later, my favorite band, Yellowcard, announced they were doing a European tour and would be playing in Utrecht, 30 minutes away from Amsterdam. The concert was a few weeks after my birthday so I decided I could wait a couple of weeks to turn 40 and celebrate at the concert!

I had never been to Amsterdam, so I originally intended to stay there for the whole trip, but then I kept seeing Utrecht all over Instagram and so many people saying how cool a place it was, so we decided to split the trip between the 2 cities. We also invited some friends to come along. They had been to Amsterdam many times, but never Utrecht, so they were also excited to check it out.

For all my gluten-free Amsterdam recommendations, read this post.

Where We Stayed

We flew in to Amsterdam and spent our first 2 nights at Hotel NewKit. It was a comfortable and clean place. The decor was very modern and nice. The room was pretty small compared to other hotel rooms, however that seemed to be the norm for all the hotels I was looking at. It was located near a train station and bus stops, however there wasn’t a ton in the general area of the hotel so we did end up taking a couple Ubers to get to other places. It was a bit far from the city center. But it was nice and there wasn’t a lot of noise at night, whereas if we had stayed closer to the city center it may have been a lot louder. The hotel offered a daily breakfast for an additional charge. We didn’t get it because there are rarely gluten-free options but to be fair, I didn’t look at it to check. The front desk staff was very nice. They also offer bikes that you can rent. Had it not been raining our entire trip, we would have rented some to go to the Street Art Museum area. I really wanted to do that, but the rain crushed that plan. 

Exploring Amsterdam: Exploring De Pijp and the Canals

There are so many things to do in Amsterdamn but since we were only there for a short time, we didn’t really do anything specific or hit any of the major tourist attractions. We went to a few different areas to explore though. On our first day, after checking in, we headed to the De Pijp area and attempted to get a gluten-free croissant. I saw a few YouTube videos that claimed that these were amazing croissants, and after trying every single gluten-free croissant in Paris and being disappointed in all of them, I was excited to try it. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, they had sold out for the day and they were going to be closed the rest of the time we were there. I was super bummed. We wandered around the area for a bit though and checked out a street market. 

From De Pijp we went towards the city center and canal area and met up with my high school friend. We went to some bars, had a delicious dinner, and walked around, exploring a bunch of the random souvenir shops and admiring all the sights and lights. There were so many cool shops, one of the best was a Rubber Ducky store!

Getting Around Amsterdam by Tram and the Westerpark Neighborhood

The next day, we grabbed some breakfast and then caught the tram to the Westerpark neighborhood. We aren’t great at public transportation, since it’s still a relatively new thing for us, so that was a little bit complicated. We didn’t know you had to push the stop button, so we went a few stops past where we wanted to go. Later that day, we didn’t know you had to put your hand up for the bus to stop, so it pulled up and then promptly drove away from us, even though we were standing at the curb and it was raining and freezing cold, so that was fun. So anyways, in Westerpark, we explored the park and hung out at a bar-arcade place for a while where we had a very intense Jenga game.

CoffeeShops with Gluten-Free Options

From Westerpark we went to another part of Central Amsterdam, near Central Station to go to Popeyes CoffeeShop, which was the only coffeeshop that had gluten-free treats. We met up with our cousin there and hit up a few more stores as we made our way to meet our other friends who had just arrived. We spent the evening in Central Amsterdam, getting dinner and hitting different bars.  

Quick Travel Tips:

• Amsterdam’s canal ring and historic center are best explored on foot or by bike.
• Book major museums like the Rijksmuseum or Anne Frank House in advance.
• The city has great trams, but walking between areas like De Pijp, the canal district, and central museums is part of the experience.
• The weather can be unpredictable, so pack layers and comfortable shoes.
• Bikes have priority everywhere

Other Amsterdam Highlights

• Rijksmuseum, one of the Netherlands’ most recognizable museums with Dutch art and history
• Stedelijk Museum, modern and contemporary art for design lovers
• Dam Square and Damrak, a lively central area with shops, street energy, and historic buildings
• Amstelpark, a scenic park with gardens and a mellow vibe
• Hash and Hemp Museum, a quirky spot covering cannabis culture and history

Amsterdam FAQ’s

Is Amsterdam bike-friendly?
Yes. Bikes rule the roads here, so if you rent one, just stay in the bike lanes and watch for cyclists who move like silent ninjas.

Is Amsterdam safe for tourists?
Generally yes. Pickpockets can happen in crowded areas and at night, but basic travel awareness goes a long way.

When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Spring and early summer for tulips and good weather. Fall is cozy and less crowded. Winter is cold but still pretty and festive.

Is Amsterdam expensive?
It can be. Accommodation and sit-down restaurants add up, but trams, street food, parks, and markets help balance the budget.

Do people speak English in Amsterdam?
Yes. Most locals speak excellent English, which makes ordering food, asking directions, and navigating super easy.

When We Go Back to Amsterdam

While we didn’t hit the museums this trip, Amsterdam’s canal neighborhoods, parks, and local bars made our visit feel memorable and worth returning to. When I got back, I want to go to the Anne Frank house and check out some of the museums. Whether it’s your first visit or another trip, Amsterdam has immense charm and plenty of experiences worth planning around

Off To Utrecht…

The next morning, we had a nice breakfast with our friends and caught the intercity train to Utrecht. Stay tuned for part 2 of my Netherlands trip to read about Utrecht. Spoiler, I think I passed out and ended up in a Hallmark movie. 

Also, be sure to check out my post about the Amsterdam Airport! Its one of the coolest airports I’ve ever been to.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to follow along on my Instagram @vegas.to.portugal to see more of my Amsterdam adventures and my life as an expat in Portugal. 💙

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