Amsterdam- where to stay and what are some must sees?

TL_time

Hi all, I'm going to Amsterdam from 25th to 29th August with a friend and we are travelling from London. I'm wondering where a good area to stay in terms of being cheap (but not a hostel) annd near transport links (we will have no car) and embarrassingly can't cycle

Also - are there any must sees anyone can recommend, some that are a bit off the beaten track?

DomRavioli

There's some decent hotels in the centre - travelodge type ones that are basic but comfy.

I'd avoid the Anne Frank Museum (waste of money) but I loved the beer factory tours, as well as a river cruise.

Alan_Bowen

This is the Bank Holiday weekend and prices are not cheap, even the Ibis beside the Central Station works out at 150 Euro a night. You need to get on to something like Trivago and set your parameters as to how much you want to spend, the transport system is easy to use, agree a canal trip, especially after dark with cheese and wine is a good way to see the city but it won't be cheap for 4 nights at this time of the month.

carolbee

Any recommendations for a particular river cruise? With or without cheese and wine!

eDicky

A couple of recent threads about Amsterdam:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5497112

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5481276

Ballard

I really like the Rijksmuseum and if you've got a passing interest in art it's well worth a visit. I also went to the Anne Frank museum and thought it worthwhile but I was dating a Jewish girl at the time which gave it more poignancy.

hollydays

I'll second the rijksmuseum , they have the painting " the night watch" there, stunning.

izzy65

Picking a hotel will be price dependant at that particular time so you will have to do some checking, trip advisor can indicate good bad or indifferent. I think the Anne France house is very interesting and cannot understand how someone cannot be moved by what is shown in there, prefer the Van Gogh museum though as not so dark as the rijksmuseum, Rembrandt house is also a good visit and you can actually have hands on go at printing and possibly painting , as for transport the tram system is great, get a daily ticket as works out more economical if doing a couple of trips a day but a lot of it is walkable, a day trip out to Zaanse Schans by train is fun, working windmills a lovely original area.

agrinnall

I stayed at the Motel One when I was there in April, it's out of the city centre, and cheaper because of that, but there is a tram stop outside and a railway station just down the road.

Sicard

The coffee shops are great, man, really cool...

Watch out for the millions of cyclists if you're stoned though.

Alan_Bowen

carolbee, the best cruise we found was with these people http://www.rederijkooij.nl/en and the worst by far was Holland International which is based right outside Central Station and lives on the fact that they are the first to be found and are operated by those who know they don't have to try to succeed