Solo Female Travel & Backpacking in Amsterdam

Group travel experience

Amsterdam in December is a magical experience l, and for a long week-end there is plenty to do. The Van Gogh and Rembrandt Museums are a must and can be done together in one day with a lunch break at the Christmas Market in between.

Local experience

Museums - I highly recommend the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, Moco, Hermitage, Stedelijk, Red Light Secrets, Sex museum, Diamond museum, Van Loon museum, Anne Frank house, Body Worlds, Eye Filmmuseum and Ripley's Believe it Or Not. If you're in the mood, do check out Madame Tussauds, Wondr Experience and Heineken Experience. Walking - I recommend walking through the 9 Streets area, lots of cute shops, vintage shops, concept stores, restaurants and cafés. Also a great place to find a unique souvenir to bring back home or to treat yourself to something special. Food and drinks - Van Stapele Koekmakerij (cookies), Van Wonderen Stroopwaffels (caramel waffels), Chun (boba tea), Pluk (breakfast/brunch/lunch), De Laatste Kruimel café (breakfast/brunch/lunch), Tony's Chocolonely Bar (everything chocolate!), Polaberry (chocolate-covered strawberries), Vapiano (pasta & pizza), The Butcher (burgers), Vegan Junk Food Bar (self explanatory, but I recommend the burgers), New York Pizza (best fluffy base pizza). Try the typical Dutch food from the wall at Febo or Smuller's. Snacks - My favourite snacks are frikandel, bami and kipcorn. Get some fries with mayonnaise for the full Dutch experience. Other - If you have time and you're in the mood, check out the many concert, theater, dance or film options available at Melkweg, Carré, Het Concertgebouw, Pathé and other smaller venues throughout the city. Pathé Tuschinski is a beautiful old cinema that is well worth a visit.

Solo travel experience

I highly recommend Generator Hostel in Amsterdam. I can recommend the free walking tours. I liked the red light district one. It was really interesting. I also spent 3/4 day in Zaansee Schanse and was absolutely in love with this little windmill village. It was just 30 minutes on the train from the main station and I rented a bike at the end station to ride around. It was one of my favorite days. Dutch Resistance museum was also great in Amsterdam.

Local experience

I grew up about 15 minutes from Amsterdam, so these are my recommendations. Museums: - Fashion for Good Museum - MOCO museum - Fabrique des Lumieres - Van Gogh museum (the best) - De Nieuwe Kerk - Foam museum Other fun stuff: - Canal cruise - WONDR experience - Ice skating on Museumplein - NDSM-werf - De Negen Straatjes (the nine streets) - Albert Cuypmarkt My favorite shops: - de Bijenkorf (mostly high-end stuff) - De IJ-hallen (vintage/second hand clothing) - Zipper - Episode - Kalverstraat (shopping street with mostly high street stores) - We Are Vintage Food: - Van Wonderen Stroopwafels - Vleminckx de Sausmeesters (the best fries ever) - Morgan and Mees (fancy instagrammable brunch) - Café twee prinsen - Café de Hoppe - Café Hans & Grietje

Solo travel experience

I was in Amsterdam for 4 days and felt like it was way too long. Anne Frank's house is a must. I'd never forget my visit there. I didn't get tickets but I got lucky that I only waited for 20 minutes or so to get in just an hour before they closed. I enjoyed the museums and 9 street. Ace and Tate has fantastic, affordable eyewear. Otherwise, there wasn't much to do.

Solo travel experience

I did a free walking tour, it was an amazing way to see the city and learn so much about Amsterdam. The Anne Frank house was an incredible experience. The Van Gogh Museum was interesting but I also really liked the Rijks Museum. I've stayed at Hostelle (which Iiked a lot but it is further out of the city which I did not enjoy) and Ecomama Hostel which I absolutely loved! It was central and very nice, and the staff was helpful! It was also quiet but social so it was never an issue trying to sleep.

Local experience

There is so much to do! - Rijksmuseum (you can also just sit in the historic library) - different markets and restaurants that sell these: poffertjes, oliebollen, stroop wafels and Dutch pannekoeken and if you are feeling adventurous, fresh haring! - Markets (Albert Cuyp and Bloemen Markt) - Volendam (really cute little village 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam. Easily get there by bus, definitely worth a day trip!) - Banksy Museum - 9 straatjes - Speigelgracht (in front of the Rijksmuseum. Tons of antique stores and galleries to browse through) - Bijenkorf (high end department store) - Begijnhof (a little courtyard/ monastery in the middle of the city) - Tonton (fun arcade) - Markthallen (tons of food choices from all over) - tour over the canals - Amsterdam Eye - Jewish Quarter - Anne Frank Museum (but this can be pretty booked up, usually you have to reserve in advanced) - Tons of cozy cafes, galleries, and shops everywhere!

Local experience

Moco, NXT, STRAAT and Fabrique des lumieres are very nice museums, same vibe! For breakfast/brunch I'd say go to George, Mr. stacks, Moak, the breakfastclub, Staring at Jacobs or Teds. For dinner you have to make a reservation at Lolo's and Fiko, both italian. Cafe in the city for sushi and nice vibe. Bar rouge also for the vibe/entertainment and sushi! Bangkok for thai/asian, restaurant but not a very special place to sit but the food is great. Shisho for the best all you can eat Sushi. Monopoly burger and Artisani for fastfood/Burgers and try their wafflefries plate. Go a day to Zaandam to the Zaanse Schans. It's close to Amsterdam, Zaandam has a cute centre and the Zaanse Schans is like an old dutch village with windmills and all that, really cute. Oh and do the canalcruise in Amsterdam at the end of your day and try stroopwafels in the centre when you're there. Try out poffertjes because that's one of the best foods that the Netherlands has/

Mortimer is one of my fav breakfast/brunch places there!! I also really like the Pancake Bakery (deff worth the wait if there is one and it goes fast). Van Gogh museum is a must see but make sure to book your timed tickets ahead of time, same w Anne frank! There’s loads of thrift stores as well if you look around in the center. My all time fave thing to do there is go on a boat ride! The Dam Boat guys are great and hilarious but leemstar is amazing as well — they’re more sophisticated if you prefer that.

Couple travel experience

I went a few weeks ago and it was amazing . I definitely recommend getting a travel card there only like £15 and you can use it on the underground and the trams for a few days (don’t get taxis). The zoo was so good we was there for a few hours and there’s some really cute cafes near by. Volare is a really nice Italian restaurant not too far from the centre. Van Stapele sells the best cookies ever although you have to queue for about 20 minutes. And you should definitely do a boat tour. There’s so much to do and find in Amsterdam. We went without planning anything but managed to do loads in the end.