I've been lucky enough to visit Amsterdam twice, and it is one of those cities that I could easily visit again.
There is something incredibly relaxed about Amsterdam. Despite being a major European capital, I never felt that exploring it required a complicated itinerary. Much of the enjoyment came from simply walking.
Narrow streets run alongside canals, bicycles seem to appear from every possible direction, and rows of distinctive buildings create one of the most recognisable cityscapes in Europe.
Both of my visits combined the obvious Amsterdam attractions with things I personally enjoy finding when travelling: vinyl stores, bookshops, comic shops, cheese shops, good food and places where I could simply wander without having a particular destination in mind.
Walking Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is an incredibly walkable city.
That was probably one of the things I enjoyed most during both visits.
Rather than constantly relying on transport, I could spend hours navigating the narrow streets and following the canals through different parts of the city.
Sometimes there wasn't even a destination involved.
Amsterdam is simply enjoyable to walk around.
The canals repeatedly change the view, bridges connect one street with another and the narrow buildings lining the water give the centre its unmistakable appearance.
The atmosphere also felt considerably more laid-back than I expected from such a popular city.
For me, some of the best parts of Amsterdam happened between the attractions rather than inside them.
Vinyl Stores, Bookshops and Comics
Whenever I travel, I enjoy finding shops connected with my own interests.
Amsterdam was particularly good for this.
I visited several vinyl stores, spending time browsing through records rather than simply concentrating on sightseeing.
Record shops are one of those places I naturally look for in a new city. Even if I don't buy anything, browsing through the collections gives me an excuse to explore streets I might otherwise never have visited.
The same applied to Amsterdam's bookshops.
I enjoy finding interesting bookstores while travelling, and Amsterdam provided plenty of opportunities to stop and browse.
Henk Comics
One shop I particularly enjoyed was Henk Comics.
For anyone interested in comics, graphic novels and collectibles, it is the kind of place where a quick visit can easily become considerably longer.
This was another good example of Amsterdam offering plenty to do beyond its major museums.
Warhammer Amsterdam
I also stopped at Warhammer Amsterdam.
Again, this was more about following my own interests rather than ticking off another traditional tourist attraction.
I always find that including places like this makes a trip feel more personal.
Museums and famous landmarks are important, but so are the smaller places connected with things you actually enjoy.
Amsterdam's Cheese Shops
Another thing that became difficult to ignore while walking around Amsterdam was cheese.
There are cheese shops everywhere.
I visited several, sampling different varieties along the way, but my favourite was Cheese & More by Henri Willig.
The sheer variety makes browsing part of the experience, particularly if you want to sample some Dutch cheeses before deciding what to take home.
It also became another one of those small experiences I associate with walking around Amsterdam.
Bloemenmarkt – Amsterdam's Flower Market
Another memorable stop while exploring the centre was the Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam's famous flower market.
The market fitted perfectly into a day of walking along the canals. Rather than being somewhere that required a major detour or several hours of sightseeing, it was somewhere I could browse before continuing my walk through the city.
Flowers and particularly tulips are naturally associated with the Netherlands, and the market was filled with colourful displays, plants, bulbs and souvenirs.
Even without specifically looking to buy anything, it was worth walking through.
I particularly liked how naturally the Flower Market fitted into the wider Amsterdam experience. Much like discovering a record shop, bookstore or cheese shop, it became another interesting stop encountered while wandering through the city.
Rijksmuseum
One of the major cultural attractions I visited was the Rijksmuseum.
This is somewhere that deserves time.
The museum is enormous, with collections covering centuries of Dutch art and history.
Rather than trying to see absolutely everything, I found it much more enjoyable to concentrate on the areas that interested me and take my time.
The building itself is also impressive, and its location makes it easy to combine with several other attractions around Amsterdam's Museum Quarter.
Van Gogh Museum
Close to the Rijksmuseum is the Van Gogh Museum.
Visiting both museums provided two very different art experiences.
The Van Gogh Museum naturally provides a much more focused journey through the work and development of Vincent van Gogh.
Even if you are already familiar with some of his famous paintings, seeing so many works together provides much more context.
Because the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are located relatively close to one another, this part of Amsterdam can easily become a museum-focused day.
I wouldn't rush either of them just to fit both into a tight schedule.
Royal Palace Amsterdam
Another major landmark I visited was the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
Its location in the heart of the city makes it difficult to miss while exploring central Amsterdam.
The grand interior is a dramatic contrast to the narrow streets and canal houses outside.
It was another opportunity to see a completely different side of Amsterdam's architecture and history before heading back out into the busy centre.
ARTIS Zoo
I also visited ARTIS Zoo.
The zoo provided a completely different experience from Amsterdam's museums and historic centre.
With animals, landscaped areas and plenty of greenery, it offered an opportunity to spend several hours away from the busiest streets.
I enjoy including wildlife attractions when travelling, so ARTIS fitted naturally into my Amsterdam experience.
Amsterdam's Parks
Although the canals dominate much of the image people have of Amsterdam, I also spent time exploring some of its parks.
Vondelpark
Vondelpark is probably Amsterdam's best-known green space.
After hours of walking through busy streets and museums, the park provided somewhere to slow down.
Paths run through large areas of greenery, and the atmosphere is particularly relaxed.
It is somewhere I would visit without necessarily having anything planned. Just walk, sit down for a while and enjoy a quieter side of the city.
Oosterpark
I also visited Oosterpark.
Compared with constantly moving between central Amsterdam's major attractions, spending time here gave me an excuse to explore a different part of the city.
Both parks reinforced something I liked about Amsterdam generally: it was easy to alternate between sightseeing and simply relaxing.
The Heineken Experience
For something completely different from museums and parks, I visited the Heineken Experience.
The experience takes place in the former brewery and is much more interactive than a conventional museum visit.
It covers the brand and brewing process while keeping the experience entertaining rather than overly technical.
Even if you already know exactly what Heineken tastes like, visiting the brewery added another side to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam's Coffee Shops
Of course, Amsterdam also has its famous coffee-shop culture.
I stopped at places including The Bulldog and The Grasshopper during my visits.
For me, this was mainly about taking some time out and experiencing another part of Amsterdam's laid-back atmosphere.
After spending hours walking around the city, it was good to occasionally stop, sit down and simply chill out before continuing.
Amsterdam has plenty to see, but I never felt the need to spend every minute moving from one attraction to another.
Race Planet
One of the more unusual activities I tried was Race Planet.
After museums, parks, canals and historic buildings, racing provided something completely different.
It is also ideal as a group activity, for example as part of a bachelor's party, where everyone can race against each other for first place.
That variety was something I appreciated about Amsterdam.
It is very easy to build a trip around museums and sightseeing, but there are plenty of entertainment options when you want a break from the traditional attractions.
Eating Around Amsterdam
Food naturally became another important part of both visits.
Rather than sticking to one particular type of cuisine, I tried everything from breakfast and burgers to Korean BBQ, ramen and quick snacks.
A few places stood out.
Breakfast at De Bakkerswinkel Centrum
For breakfast, I visited De Bakkerswinkel Centrum.
This was the kind of place that worked perfectly before spending another day walking around Amsterdam.
A relaxed breakfast, some coffee and then back out into the city.
I particularly enjoyed having somewhere comfortable to start the day rather than immediately rushing towards the first attraction.
Burgers at De Burgerfabriek
When I wanted something straightforward, De Burgerfabriek provided a decent burger.
Not every meal while travelling needs to become a major culinary event.
Sometimes after several hours of walking, a good burger is exactly what is required.
Korean BBQ at Seoul Sista
One of the more social meals I had was at Seoul Sista Restaurant for Korean BBQ.
Cooking the food at the table naturally makes the meal more of an experience.
It also provided a complete change from the Dutch food and quick snacks I was eating elsewhere.
Amsterdam's international food scene meant there was no reason to limit myself to one cuisine during the trip.
Ramen-Ya
My favourite Japanese food stop was Ramen-Ya.
For me, this was hands down the best Japanese ramen I had during my visit.
A proper bowl of hot ramen was particularly satisfying after spending hours walking around Amsterdam.
This was one of those restaurants I would happily return to on another visit.
FEBO
For something completely different, there was FEBO.
It is quick, inexpensive and unmistakably Dutch.
Choosing a hot snack from one of the little automat doors is hardly fine dining, but that's not really the point.
It is fast food in the most literal sense and something worth trying at least once while walking around Amsterdam.
Manneken Pis
Another quick food stop was Manneken Pis for chips.
The chips themselves were good, but part of the fun was seeing the selection of sauces.
Some were familiar.
Others were considerably stranger.
Trying chips with different sauces became another simple Amsterdam food experience that didn't require sitting down for a full meal.
Why I Enjoyed Amsterdam So Much
After visiting twice, what I like most about Amsterdam isn't necessarily one particular attraction.
It is the overall experience of being there.
The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum provided the major art experiences, while the Royal Palace Amsterdam added something different to the historic centre.
ARTIS Zoo, Vondelpark and Oosterpark gave me opportunities to spend time outdoors.
The Heineken Experience and Race Planet provided entertainment completely removed from conventional sightseeing.
Then there were the places connected with my own interests.
Searching through vinyl stores and bookshops, browsing Henk Comics and Warhammer Amsterdam, stopping at Cheese & More by Henri Willig, and walking through the colourful Bloemenmarkt became just as much a part of my Amsterdam experience as visiting the famous attractions.
Food added another layer entirely.
Breakfast at De Bakkerswinkel Centrum, a burger at De Burgerfabriek, Korean BBQ at Seoul Sista, ramen at Ramen-Ya, and quick stops at FEBO and Manneken Pis meant there was always something different to try.
And when I wanted to slow things down even further, there were Amsterdam's coffee shops, including The Bulldog and The Grasshopper.
But ultimately, Amsterdam remains memorable to me because of how enjoyable it was to simply walk around.
There was no need for every hour to have a destination.
Following narrow streets beside the canals, crossing another bridge, finding a record shop, stopping for cheese, browsing through a bookstore, wandering through the Flower Market or sitting somewhere for a while was often enough.
Having been lucky enough to experience Amsterdam twice, I came away with much the same feeling on both occasions.
Amsterdam is a beautiful, walkable and laid-back city where simply exploring can be as enjoyable as the attractions themselves.