A Glimpse of Amsterdam

Take a private boat cruise up and down the canals with Rederij de Jordaan. Skip the crowded general cruises and opt for a private one. Learn about the history of the city and unique facts about different buildings while sipping wine.

Visit the Anne Frank House. This is just a must. It is tearjerking and inspirational all at the same time. Anne Frank, her life, her diary and the Secret Annex is mind-blowing.

Be amazed at Fabrique des Lumiere. This is an immersive art center where digital and immersive art comes to life through captivating exhibitions exposed on the walls, ceiling and floor and put to music. It changes artists and themes, so check the schedule but it was awesome!

Van Gogh Museum. To learn more about his life made this is worth a visit.

Spend some time and hire a docent at the Rijksmuseum. This is the Netherlands' national museum, and the building itself is a masterpiece and a historical landmark. It is so big…you could spend days here and not see everything. A docent really helped in narrowing down the vast collections by Rembradt, Vermeer and Frans Hals.

Take a bike ride around the Dutch Windmills and see the tulips in bloom (if visiting in Spring!)

Stroll around the Jordaan District, a charming neighborhood with narrow streets, quaint cafes and unique boutiques.

Shop in the De 9 Straatjes. This is a canal-district area featuring vintage and designer boutiques plus cozy cafes.

Take a short train ride from Amsterdam to Haarlem, a tiny city in Netherlands often called “little Amsterdam.” It is a super-charming town with a rich history and a lively market scene. The shops, museums and historical landmarks make this a worthwhile visit!

Restaurant de Kas for the Michelin Star experience! Everything from the building, the garden to the plated dishes was visually stunning.

Restaurant Zaza’s. A small, intimate restaurant that serves delicious food in a relaxed and beautiful atmosphere.

Manneken Pis for Amsterdam’s famous fries, topped with just about everything!

Winkel 43 for the best slice of apple pie ever!!! Just do it. They also have a good lunch and dinner menu.

Coffee Tales. There are tons of coffee shops and truly, all the coffee I consumed was amazing. But Coffee Tales might have the best Italian focaccia sandwiches ever. Plus, they also make acai bowls if you are craving some fruit.

De Kaaskamer Cheese Shop. Visually, just being surrounded by cheese is something special. But this cheese shop truly had all the cheese, all delicious. They also made homemade pesto and sandwiches. Prepare a picnic from this shop.

Flying Dutchman for drinks! This tiny cocktail bar, located in a characteristic building along a canal, provides a warm and inviting ambiance.

Lotti’s in the Hoxton, Amsterdam for breakfast. We stayed at the Hoxton, so ate breakfast here most mornings before we headed out to explore. You cannot go wrong with the overnight oats or the avocado toast and a latte.