Hi guys,
Following on from my quick trip to Amsterdam last week with Heineken I thought I would share some of the things we got up to in our 24 hours there (we did a LOT!). I know Amsterdam is a very popular destination for Irish people, I’ve actually been there twice before – once on a day trip from Brussels, and once for the weekend, so I thought it would be a good time to summarise some good things to do if you plan on visiting.
What we did
- Heineken Experience Museum – this is definitely worth a visit. It’s really modern and interesting and the best part of all is you get tokens for 2 drinks at the end 😊
- Canal Boat Tour – we did the Heinken boat tour, which you add on to your ticket for the museum to get a good price (€29 for both). It’s such a nice, relaxing way to see the city.
- A’DAM Lookout – this is where the famous swinging chairs are – it also doubled up as our hotel which was very handy. It’s really modern and has a fab bar overlooking the city as well.
- Mike’s Bike Tours – we did a 30/40 min tour in the evening, just as the sun was setting and it was my favourite part of the day. Cycling is the best way to explore the city, and it was nice to have a guide show us different things around the city like famous bridges and the city’s only windmill. Cycling is also quite intense over there so it was good to have a local to help us navigate on the busy roads.
Other things to do:
- The last time I visited it was winter so we went Ice Skating at Amsterdam’s Museumplein. This is also where one of three of the big Amsterdam signs are.
- Next time I go back I have to visit Anne Frank’s house. I read that book years ago so I’d love to see it in person.
- This mightn’t be for everyone, but a stroll through the famous Red Light District can be an interesting thing to do
- And of course you’ll have to go and see one of their famous coffee shops.
Where we ate
- Restaurant C – we enjoyed an amazing 6 course meal here which in my opinion was of Michelin star standard. They mainly serve fish but do other dishes too. They also do amazing cocktails. It would be the perfect spot for a lovely romantic dinner.
- The Butcher – This restaurant in the A’DAM hotel did the best selection of burgers I’ve seen in a long time! Definitely worth a visit if you are a burger lover.
- Mook Pancakes – The best pancake menu I’ve ever seen! The decor is very cute too – a great spot for some brunch.
Where we stayed
- Sir Adam Hotel – This time we stayed in the STUNNING Sir Adam Hotel. The views are amazing, the location is a little bit out from the city centre, and prices start at about €279.
- Inntel Hotel – The last time I visited, I booked on Hotwire (meaning I didn’t know what hotel we had until after we booked). I got a good price (I think I paid around €125 a night) and it was very central, but the rooms and hotel in general was a bit old. I’m not sure I’d recommend it, but then again you don’t spend very much time there when you have so much to see and do in Amsterdam. If location is the most important thing for you, then this hotel would be a good option.
Other things to note:
- Getting from the airport to the city is really easy and inexpensive on the train
- Amsterdam in general can be quite expensive to eat and drink in. Do some research and plan your budget before you travel
- Most Dutch people speak really good, clear english so you won’t have to worry about the language barrier too much
The reason for our visit
The reason for my visit to Amsterdam with Heineken last week, was to launch their new 0.0 Heineken beer. It’s a new non-alcoholic beer that tastes just as good as regular beer. The bottles look the same, and it will be stocked everywhere that Heineken beer is stocked. It was all top secret while we were there but I’m so happy to be able to share it with you now. Make sure you pick up a bottle and try it – I promise you’ll be surprised at how good it tastes.
Anyway, that is all of my Amsterdam tips. Hopefully you found them helpful if you are planning a trip there,
Back soon with more travel tips,
Lou xx
