The Best Life Hacks for Traveling to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most charming and free cities. Don’t get confused by the network of canals and bicycle lanes: we’ve gathered together all the important tips on transportation, food, lodging, and communicating with locals to make your trip go smoothly. Also, read our guide on traveling to Amsterdam if you have not already. 

Visa and Entry Requirements

The Netherlands is part of the Schengen Area, so entry rules depend on your nationality.

• EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: No visa required. A valid national ID card or passport is sufficient.
• Visa-exempt nationalities (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Australia): No visa required for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, the EU’s ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is expected to launch in 2026. Once active, travelers from visa-exempt countries will need to register online before arrival — the process is straightforward and the authorisation is valid for three years or until your passport expires.
• Travelers who require a Schengen visa: Apply at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country well in advance. Processing times vary, so don’t leave it to the last minute.

Regardless of nationality, you should carry a valid passport (or ID card for EU citizens) at all times. Border checks within Schengen are rare but do occur. Check the current ETIAS launch status and your own country’s requirements at the official EU ETIAS portal before you book.

Transport

Amsterdam = bicycles. Yes, it really is the most convenient transportation in the city in any season. Navigation is maximized, and every traffic light has a separate button to turn on the green light, which is specifically for cyclists. Having a car in the city is a luxury because of taxes and expensive maintenance.

If you decide to get a bike, be prepared to ride it responsibly. Raise your hand depending on which way you’re turning, so the cyclists behind you understand where you’re going. It’s really important for traffic.

You only realize the problems of Amsterdamers when you try to park your bike—all the spaces are usually full. Be patient and don’t strap your transportation in the wrong place—for example, to the bridge. There are multi-story free parking lots in the city that you can safely use (one of them is by Centraal Station). Be sure to check that your bike’s wheel is secured with a lock and the bike itself is buckled—they are very often stolen.

For everyone else, there are streetcars. They, like the trains, are very stable. Each stop has a scoreboard with the remaining waiting time. It never fails. Inside each streetcar, in addition to the driver, there is a conductor who will give directions, sell a ticket, or keep an interesting dialog going. Important: All GVB transport and NS trains now use OV-pay. This means you can simply tap your contactless debit card, credit card, or phone (Apple/Google Pay) to check in and out. No more searching for specific travel cards.

If you prefer a flat rate, you can buy 24-hour to 168-hour GVB tickets, with prices depending on the duration, for unlimited transfers on streetcars, metros, and buses. Important: Only cards are accepted for any on-board purchases; cash is no longer used.

If a payment terminal on the streetcar doesn’t work, try another terminal or ask a member of staff for help. You still need a valid ticket or check-in for the journey.

Important: Bicycles are not allowed on streetcars and buses. You can take bicycles on the subway, but you have to buy an extra bicycle supplement ticket and keep track of the time—you can’t take them during rush hour (07:00–09:00 and 16:00–18:30), otherwise passengers will be inconvenienced. But you can go down or up the subway in a comfortable and spacious elevator.

If you walk, don’t step on the bike lanes. Cyclists are the main people on the road. You have to let them pass and stay out of the way; otherwise, there’s a chance you could get hit. And, by the way, there’s a cool separate button at the traffic light for you to change to a green light, too.

Traveling to another city can be done by train. You can plot a route on the NS transportation company’s website so you know exactly what time and where the train leaves from, as well as how much the ticket costs. The country is quite small, so the journey will not take long.

Don’t overlook the free GVB ferries departing from behind Centraal Station. They cross the IJ river to Amsterdam Noord and run around the clock, with departures every few minutes during the day. No ticket or card tap required — just walk on. The ferries are the quickest way to reach Noord’s growing food and culture scene, and cyclists are welcome on board.

Food

Coffee lovers rejoice. Almost everywhere it is brewed perfectly, and there are plenty of coffee shops (not to be confused with coffee shops).

Don’t forget to try the famous apple pie (appeltaart). The most famous place is Winkel 43.

On Sundays, you can find street markets (for example, Albert Cuypstraat in De Pijp) where you can buy not only clothes but also local street food, which is definitely worth trying. In small stalls, look for herring with onions, fries (frietjes), the famous waffles with hot syrup (stroopwafels), and small airy pancakes with powdered sugar (poffertjes).

The Dutch love to deep-fry everything. For example, for a budget snack, look for FEBO stores, a place with vending machines where you can buy all kinds of croquettes, as well as burgers, fries, and bitterballen meatballs.

In many cafés, menus are time-based: you can’t come at 2 p.m. and order soup if it’s in the “dinner” section. You have to wait until 6 p.m.

If you come to the café to work and take out a laptop, you are very likely to be moved to a common “work” table. On the plus side, there are bound to be plenty of outlets and nice people around.

Portions are often very large. You can order one dish for two and save money.

It is not necessary to tip the waiters—they are already included in the price of the bill.

Another way to eat on a budget is to go to the supermarket. Luckily, they are great in the Netherlands: lots of salads of all kinds, cut, and clean vegetables and fruits, assembled smoothie mixes—in general, everything for convenient living. You can make a salad at home in a couple of moments because they’ve already done all the work for you. Even chicken can be prepped and cut up in about five different spice options. Important: Have access to a translator with you because all products are labeled in Dutch. Food utensils, microwaves, and hot water can also be found in the store.

You can feel like a Dutch child by trying a traditional breakfast food—toast with butter and chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag). You can find this dish in some cafés, or you can make it yourself; you can buy the sprinkles in the supermarket. You’d be surprised how many types of hagelslag there are.

Accommodation

It is very expensive to live in Amsterdam. A bed in a hostel costs about €60–90 per night, and even more on weekends. Apartments start at €180 per night; closer to the center, they become more expensive. Keep in mind that as of 2026, the city has a high tourist tax (12.5%), which is often not included in the initial booking price. It’s best to stay a little further away from Amsterdam—it’s quieter and cheaper. You can get to the city fairly quickly by the same means: bicycle, streetcar, and train.

The stairs in the houses are sloped at a very large angle. Be careful, especially at night.

When you leave the apartment, the door does not need to be closed with a key—it closes by itself.

Don’t forget to sort your garbage! If you don’t live in the center, look for underground bins near your house; there are four of them: paper and cardboard, plastic, glass, and non-recyclable garbage. There is also an underground textile recycling bin if you look for it.

Other stuff

Before you go to any store, café, or museum, study their opening hours. Popular non-working days: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Check carefully what payment methods are available where you’re going. Most places have shifted to PIN-only (cards), and the old reliance on Maestro is gone; Visa and Mastercard are now widely accepted. However, some smaller local shops and Albert Heijn supermarkets still occasionally struggle with non-EU credit cards. It’s best to ask the cashier or waiter in advance so you don’t get into trouble.

English is almost as important here as the local language, Dutch. In schools, they start teaching it at the age of 4, so everyone speaks it very fluently. There will definitely be no problems with communication.

Although the Netherlands is a very free country, respect the signs in the city center. Not everywhere you can drink alcohol and smoke.

If you need help, feel free to go to the police officers. They are kind, polite, and ready to answer all questions.

Don’t be frightened by the straightforwardness of the Dutch; it is their special trait.

Take a reusable water bottle with you on your walk. There are water fountains in the park, and you can also ask a café to fill them for you. It’s free if you ask nicely.

In April and October, in the heart of the city, Dam Square, you can ride rides, taste local sweets, and just have a great time.

Dress warmly; the weather is very changeable.

Prebook museums that you want to visit; otherwise, with the highest level of probability, you couldn’t catch a slot. For the Anne Frank House, tickets are released every Tuesday for a visit six weeks later and sell out instantly. The Van Gogh Museum also requires booking weeks in advance as there are no walk-in tickets available.

Also, In Amsterdam, you can visit some museums for free. For example, in the free Cheese Museum, in addition to an interesting tour, tourists are often offered a tasting of Dutch specialties. Free one-hour guided tours are organized at the oldest Dutch diamond factory, “Gassan.” Here, you’ll be told about the diamond industry and shown different beautiful stones. But the most interesting thing is the opportunity to visit the workshop and learn some subtleties of the art of working with stones yourself. Just don’t forget to register for the tour in advance.

Despite its name, the Amsterdam Cheese Museum is not a traditional museum. It is primarily a cheese shop with a small free exhibit in the basement, where displays cover Dutch cheesemaking and visitors can see some historic equipment. It can be a quick, interesting stop, but don’t expect the scale or depth of a full museum.

Safety in the Red Light District

The Red Light District is busy and heavily visited, but tourists should pay attention to local rules and avoid anyone offering drugs on the street.

• Do not smoke cannabis in public: Smoking cannabis on the streets of the Red Light District is prohibited. The rule applies even if cannabis was legally purchased from a coffeeshop, so use it only where consumption is expressly permitted.
• Ignore street dealers: Buying drugs from street dealers is illegal and unsafe. Substances sold as cocaine, ecstasy, or cannabis may be fake or contain dangerous ingredients. Do not follow a dealer, enter into an argument, or hand over money.
• Keep valuables secure: Crowded lanes create opportunities for pickpocketing. Keep phones, wallets, and bags close, especially late at night.
• Get help when necessary: Call 112 if there is an immediate threat or medical emergency. For a non-emergency police matter, contact the nearest police station or speak to an officer in the area.

Police and municipal enforcement officers patrol the district regularly. Follow posted signs, and leave any situation that feels aggressive or suspicious.