7 Tips For a Sweet Time in Amsterdam

Hire a bike.

Rated the most bicycle friendly city in the world, Amsterdam is well renown for its great network of bike paths. Hire a bike from one of the many rental places around the city to discover the city’s many hidden gems. It’s by far the quickest way to get around allowing you to explore places inaccessible by car, tram or metro.  ​

Download an offline map.

It’s easy (especially when you’re spaced out) to get lost in the cities network of canal rings which can prove both exciting but also frustrating. Make sure to have an offline map downloaded to your phone for when you have no data and need to make your way back to your hotel.

Avoid Tourist Traps.

In a city that plays host to over nine million visitors each year, there are a few that’ll be out to snatch your hard earned dollars. Be especially weary of pub crawls with watered down alcohol and food vendors short changing you.  Do your research before arriving and speak to those that’ve visited Amsterdam before to whittle out the good from the bad. ​

Try the weed.

With up to 300 coffee shops dotted about the city, there’s an insane selection of quality ganja to choose from; and quality people to laugh with! Make sure however that you start off with the lower strength stuff, the strong stuff will have you zombie out and not know what’s going on (seriously, it’s strong shit).​

Be considerate of the locals.

Remember that you’re in their city! The locals are more than happy to host you as long as you’re respectful which means avoiding pissing into the canals, walking on the busy bike lanes and screaming on the streets. It’s no problem to get loose, just treat the city how you’d like yours to be treated.

Don't buy drugs off the street.

The night time streets of Amsterdam have no shortage of street dealers offering you “high quality” coke and MDMA. Avoid this! They’re known to sell dental numbing agents and white heroin which has in the past led to deaths. Check out the cities many ‘smart shops’ for legal alternatives like 4FMP that’ll have you charging like a rhino.  

Get a public transport card.

From one of the many GVB machines located at most of the tram/metro stops around the city, you’ll be able to buy day passes that give you unlimited access to the many public transport networks of the city. Trams and metros usually run every ten minutes and will take you within 10 minutes walk of any location. If you want to get home late however, take note that they stop running at 00:30 (this is where a bike is better).