Vacation days have run out, but your desire to travel has not. Sound familiar? Well, do not worry, you can visit a new place and do a ton of awesome things all in 24hrs. That even leaves Sunday for a little rest and recovery at home. Amsterdam is super reachable from European countries and can offer lots of excitement. Check them out below.
Cheese tasting
The main streets have branded cheese boutiques every few shops. If you go into them all, you can try over 20 varieties and find yourself too full for lunch. If you’re feeling creative, take a notebook, rate them and compare notes. You could try blind tasting with your friends, give them a stick and get them to guess which one it was. See more FREE Amsterdam attractions HERE.
Sex museum
One of the most taken pictures in Amsterdam lies inside the sex museum. Now, what is great about this attraction is you can pre purchase your tickets and go at any time during the day, which gives you extra flexibility. However, the museum felt like tourists in a sardine can. You almost walk the whole museum in single file with your face in the next persons head. It felt rushed and pressured and I felt I did not have the opportunity to stop and learn about the exhibits. But, of course, we also got the picture.
Anne Frank Museum
A historic staple attraction of the city. You will be given an earpiece to hear Anne Frank’s story and will see the real annex she hid in. Be aware that they will not let you inside the building early, there is no waiting area. Therefore, only arrive 15 minutes before your ticket time.
Red Light District
We found this hard to find with google maps, so resorted to asking a local. There are lots of shops with photo opportunities, clubs and bars.
Pink Light District
This is known as the gay strip of Amsterdam, with rainbow lights and gay bars. However, it was a little underwhelming with only 4 open establishments.
Diamond Tour
This experience shows you the process of diamond production and teaches you how to distinguish between different types of diamonds and recognize their authenticity. An awesome perk of this tour is they have an extensive list of languages you can choose and they will provide you with a corresponding guide. On the way out, you can also grab a free hot drink.
Nemo Science Museum
Head over to the science museum and up to the free NEMO rooftop for spectacular views of Amsterdam’s architecture. There are spinning chairs, water features and places for a picnic. This area is free to the public and open everyday, providing there are no high winds. Head inside for floors of science experiments, demonstrations and even silent discos.
The Wondr Experience
An influencer’s picture paradise, but also a super cool adult play area for anyone. Each room is filled with unique creativity and some with accompanying immersive costumes. You can take your own pictures, but also use the professional cameras around the area by scanning your QR code. Additionally, there are seasonal pop ups. When we visited, there was a frozen section with really nice lighting.
Shanni’s Top Tips
- It is super hot, so remove all your layers and put them in the free lockers
- Spend lots of time in each room, as you cannot go back into a previous area
- The arrival time is flexible by an hour. However, we arrived 2.5 hrs early and they still let us in
They also have a disco roller-skating ring that you can add to your ticket.
Not to Plan
The rain poured down throughout our whole 24hrs and public transport route from the airport was suspended, meaning we did not quite complete our crazy schedule. So, here are the stops we missed.
DePoezenboat
You have probably heard of Cat cafes but in true Amsterdam style, why not take it onto the canal. The Poezenboat is a rescue shelter for stray cats and they invite 2 or 3 people each 30 minutes to come and give the residents some love. Check your dates as it is only open 3 days a week and between the hours of 1-3pm. You will need to book online HERE
A’dam Lookout
Across the other side of Amsterdam you can find a viewpoint with a twist…A rooftop swing! Pay for your entry and then it is 6 Euros for the swing. You will need to select a time slot.
All this was very doable with intense planning and time keeping. However if you’re looking for a more leisurely trip, consider taking some activities out or stay more days as there’s even more to do in Amsterdam.