Amsterdam was the beginning of this crazy adventure around the world, and I don’t think I could have picked a better place to start! After a brief panic attack at the Minnesota airport where I was second guessing this inane plan to leave everything I know and all my responsibilities behind, I instantly felt at home once I landed and began exploring, as always. Of course, I don’t want responsibility! Who does?

Amsterdam was a great city to start in, because number one, everyone speaks English, so even though all 

the signs were in Dutch, my jet-lagged, sleep deprived brain was still able to ask for guidance if I needed it. I definitely did when I first stepped off the plane. My first task was simple: Get to the hostel. It involved a train to Amsterdam Centraal, and then a tram to Museumsquare, then a short walk. No problem, I knew where I was going! However, as I buy my train ticket, I soon realize that due to construction there are no 

direct trains to Amsterdam Centraal. Well, crap. I beelined to the information desk and was given directions to take a train from that station, walk to another building and then take another train which would get me to Amsterdam Centraal. Eventually, I made my way to my hostel: Cosmos Amsterdam. My two cents on the hostel: it was cheap, and not too bad for how much I paid. The wifi was great, and it was in a good location! However, there were only four bathrooms for the entire building, and no common area. One night I was there the entire building was so hot that no one, no one in my room slept a wink until the wee hours of the night.

Beyond my lodging, my time in Amsterdam was incredible! The city is so walkable, which makes it very easy to get to know well. After a couple days I was able to easily navigate around without any maps or GPS. The museum square has a market that it puts on every weekend, so I was able to try a stroopwafel for the first time, which is a Netherland delicacy. It was a thin warm waffle-like cookie filled with salted caramel. Absolutely heavenly. I spent the evening walking around Vondelpark, which is an enormous park where many locals and tourists, alike, go to relax on sunny afternoons. It’s filled with bikes, roller skaters, ponds, and live music! The live music playing that day was a young, all-male, shirtless brass ensemble, playing some very lively music!

The next day was a busy one where I ended up walking over 10 miles all over the city, so be sure you bring comfy shoes! One of the most memorable things that Amsterdam has to offer are the gorgeous canal 

cruises. The entire city has over 1,500 bridges, so definitely take your time and meander around. The flower markets are beautiful and a great place to buy gifts to take back home. I also made sure to visit the A’DAM lookout, which provides a beautiful view of the city. It also has the highest swing in Europe, which is well worth the extra 5 euros to go on. I paid for the premium entrance, which meant that I was able to go up once during the day and once later on at night, to watch the sunset. It was beautiful, so definitely make time for that. A’DAM is a free ferry ride away from Amsterdam Centraal, well worth the visit.  

Of course the Red Light District is an iconic area you should visit at least once. I took the time to visit the Red Light Secrets Museum, which proved very informative about prostitution and what goes on in the red light district after dark, because as a young solo female I was not about to find that out on my own! Your trip to Amsterdam will be what you want, whether that’s drugs, sex and booze, or museums and a cultural experience. I personally loved all the cheese shops in Amsterdam! I didn’t have lunch a couple times, because I had enough cheese samples to keep me content. Whether you want some delicious aged Gouda, pesto cheese, wasabi cheese, or honey goat cheese, Amsterdam has it all, and more. Jordaan is a neighborhood well worth visiting, filled with cheese (including the cheese museum) and tons of authentic shops. It’s right by the Anne Frank House, so it’s an easy half-day. If you want tickets to the Anne Frank House I would strongly recommend booking it months in advance, the earliest you can book it is three months prior, because they sell out very quickly. If you can’t get advance tickets, it is still possible to see the Anne Frank House, since it’s open admission after 3pm, but it will be a long line, so be prepared.

There are 75 museums in Amsterdam, so needless to say, there is a lot to see. He most famous are the Van Gogh, and Rijksmuseum, but there are numerous small ones that are wonderful to see. I didn’t spend that much time in the museums, but I did tremendously enjoy going to the MOCO (modern contemporary) museum, where they had a Banksy and Dali art exhibits. Take your time and research the museums in Amsterdam to be sure you’re not missing out on a subject that is important to you!

I spent four days in Amsterdam, which in my opinion was perfect to see everything I really wanted to see without rushing. Then I spent two days by Amsterdam Sloterdijk, the next train station from Amsterdam Centraal, and it was perfect for the day trips I made to the beach and Zaanse Schans. It was much cheaper than being in the heart of the city, and much more convenient. No matter what you do, Amsterdam is a wonderful city to explore. It’s safe, beautiful and very friendly. Try out biking like the locals as well, just follow the rules of the road!

Xoxo,

Lexi