Amsterdam Life - PDF Guide
Quick intro
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We hope you will find it informative and helpful during
your stay. Have fun!
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Upcoming events in Amsterdam
Bad Thoughts Exhibition
From Jul 20th 2014 until Nov 9th 2014 , on
Museumplein 10 1071 DJ Amsterdam
More on www.local-life.com/amsterdam/events
Best rated restaurants in Amsterdam
Spanjer & Van Twist
Leliegracht 60
Golden Chopsticks
Oude Doelenstraat 1
Bird Snack Bar
Zeedijk 77
Manneken Pis
Damrak 41
De Balie Grand Cafe
Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10
Brix
Wolvenstraat 16
De Bolhoed
Prinsengracht 60-62
dVijff Vlieghen
Spuistraat 294-302
More on www.local-life.com/amsterdam/restaurants
Most popular pubs & clubs in Amsterdam
Supperclub
Jonge Roelensteeg 21
YoYo Coffee Shop
2e Jan van der Heijdenstraat 79
Cafe Brecht
Weteringschans 157
Paradiso
Weteringschans 6-8
Abraxas Coffee Shop
Jonge Roelensteeg 12 -14
t Smalle
Egelantiersgracht 12
Studio80
Rembrandtplein 17
More on www.local-life.com/amsterdam/pubs
Best hotels in Amsterdam
Hotel Sofitel The Grand
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197
WestCord Fashion Hotel
Hendrikje Stoffelsstraat 1
Espresso Hotel
Overtoom 27
Sunhead of 1617
Herengracht 152
Hotel Van Gogh
Van de Veldestraat 5
CitizenM
Prinses Irenestraat 30
Hotel Arena
's-Gravesandestraat 51
More on www.local-life.com/amsterdam/hotels
Essential services in Amsterdam
GVB Amsterdam
Across Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport
Evert v/d Beekstraat 202
Bike City
68-70 Bloemgracht
Amsterdam Centraal
Stationsplein 9
More on www.local-life.com/amsterdam/services
Need some culture?
Rijksmuseum
Jan Luijkenstraat 1
Anne Frank House
Prinsengracht 263-267
Royal Palace
Dam Square
Van Gogh Museum
Paulus Potterstraat 7
Oude Kerk
Oudekerksplein
Concertgebouw
Concertgebouwplein 2-6
Begijnhof
Begijnhof 30
More on www.local-life.com/amsterdam/culture
Travel tips
Safety first!
Amsterdam is a remarkably tourist-friendly and safe city - but it's always best to
stay on the safe side. Keep an eye on your belongings in busy spots like the
Centraal railway station or Dam Square. If you plan on partaking in some of the
local smokers' delights, read up in our Coffee Shop guide to make sure you stay
on the right side of the law. And if you find yourself in need of a helping hand
during your stay, you'll be happy to know that knowledge of the Dutch language
is no requisite in communicating - English is widely spoken here!
Shop 'Til You Drop
Amsterdam's locals know how to relax, and that applies to both their occasional
indulging in retail therapy ,as well as to closing their shops early to take a break.
For example, the week typically doesn't until noon for shopkeepers on Mondays,
who tend to start a bit late on this day. Thursdays are late shopping days and
most stores don't close until 9pm. Apart from the bigger chains, Sundays are
closed for business. Other than that, you can expect shops to be open from 9am
to 6pm on average.
Gay & Lesbian Travellers
With its long-held liberal attitude and commitment to equality for its LGBT citizens,
Amsterdam is a great place to visit for gay and lesbian travellers. There are plenty
of bars and clubs to visit, plus the annual Pride week, which takes place in August,
cannot be missed!
Read Up
It's a great idea to do some advance planning before arriving in any city -
particularly one as exciting as Amsterdam! For plenty of tips and information,
download our free PDF guide, perfect to print out or even load into your phone or
tablet PDF reader.
Above: HEMA: home to even a vanilla cone
Below: A classic Dutch symbol - the tulip
Getting around
Above: Using the handy
tram system Left:
Bicycles, bicycles, as far
as the eye can see
By Public Transport
Public transportation in Amsterdam is organized by GVB, which runs an efficient
system of trams, buses, a few passenger ferries, and a small metro system
throughout the city and its environs. Trams are the most commonly used by
tourists, as the other forms of transport generally cater to commuters travelling to
outer districts.
The old paper strippenkaart tickets have been now completely phased out, which
means that the only way to travel is with a PT Smart Card, more commonly known
by its Dutch name, the OV-chipkaart. Everything from singles to weekly passes
are now sold in the form of these OV-chipkaarts, which you can purchase from
GVB ticket offices or directly from conductors which are on board most trams
travelling throughout the centre. The most important thing about these cards, is
that you must remember to "check in" (by holding your card against a card reader)
upon boarding, and "check out" before leaving the tram or bus. If you forget, your
Below: Some police
choose an alternative
form of transportation
card will be no longer valid for further trips. Talk about a serious bummer.
By Taxi
If you'd prefer not to take public transportation, taxis are a decent option and very easy to hail down from major
streets. Prices are relatively steep, but with everything so close together in Amsterdam, the prices rarely reach
exorbitant levels. Just make sure the driver has got the metre turned on and you're good to go.
By Bicycle
There are few things more stereotypically Dutch than bicycles, and you'll find Amsterdam's streets teeming with
cyclists zipping from point A to point B in style. If you'd like to have a go yourself, make sure to stick to bike paths
as much as possible and be wary of pedestrians, cars, and other cyclists. Conveniently, bicycle rental shops are
everywhere - head to our services directory for a few suggestions.
By Car
Driving by car in Amsterdam is not recommended. For those unfamiliar with the city's winding, narrow streets, it
can be more of a headache than a convenience to attempt central Amsterdam by car. Parking can also be a pain,
so we'd simply recommend you park your car at your hotel and enjoy Amsterdam by foot, bicycle, or public
transportation. It's cheaper too!
