The wonderful thing about spending the summer in Europe is the walking. In Amsterdam, the sun warms your face as you peruse the fun and sometimes oddball shops, and the cobblestones massage your feet meandering over quaint canal bridges. What a lovely thought.
Sure, Amsterdam is crowded during the summer, but that just means you’ll be able to save more money by avoiding the tourist mobs and seeking out the city’s unique, less-travelled corners. Contrary to popular belief, Western Europe doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a plethora of affordable hotels in Amsterdam, as well as great, cheap shopping in the city’s many unusual stores and, of course, fantastic activities that will keep you out in the sunshine all summer.
Hotels
While Amsterdam is home to some of the loveliest expensive hotels in Europe, there are also plenty of cheap hotels in Amsterdam, not to mention youth hostels and other budget options, to cater to tourists of every budget. Many of the city’s accommodation options are situated in the Old Center, where it is possible to book a budget bed for only around £15. Prices go up from there, with a number of cute boutique hotels in Amsterdam’s Grachtengordel neighbourhood, also known as the Canal Belt, offering clean, 3-star accommodation for £50-85 a night. This area represents a great option for those interested in staying in the heart of Amsterdam’s architectural district, with beautiful 19th century buildings and scenic flowing canals right on your doorstep.
Shopping
In contrast to London and Paris, Amsterdam is not known for upmarket shopping. Instead, the city is home to several streets lined with funky boutiques and interesting small shops. Amsterdam has always been an artistic centre, so naturally there are plenty of artisans here selling their handmade wares and knickknacks. Secondhand clothing, sculpture, jewellery and local fashion are the specialties here.
To begin your Amsterdam shopping adventure, you should start in the Leidseplein, a 17th square with cafes, nightlife and entertainment. There is plenty of shopping along the streets that branch off from here, heading into the Old Center toward the Centraal Railway Station. In particular, a group of streets that weave in between the main canals, known as the 9 Streets, are popular shopping areas filled with adorable boutiques, cafes and galleries.
Activities
If there is any city in Europe that should be easy on your pocketbook, activity-wise, it is Amsterdam. Topping the agenda for many visiting the Dutch capital should be enjoying the city’s beautiful 19th century buildings, which include stately architectural jewels that overlook the glorious canals that divide the Old Center into some 90 islands connected by more than 400 bridges.
With that in mind, the best activity in Amsterdam is both free and delightful: meandering! There are two ways to do this: on your own two feet (my preferred method) or on a bicycle (most Amsterdammers’ preferred method). Popular myth suggests that there are almost as many bikes in the city as there are people – a notion you can well-believe when perusing Amsterdam for the first time. The city is extremely bike-friendly, with cycle lanes and laws that encourage people to get on two wheels.
Whether you prefer the breeze of a bicycle or the stability of your own two feet, simply wandering through Amsterdam, admiring the collections of ancient buildings that stand crookedly over peaceful canals, is surely the only activity you’ll need. If you find yourself with extra time, though, be sure to check out the city’s more than 50 museums. From Van Gogh to fluorescent art to Anne Frank to Heineken, there is a museum for just about everyone in Amsterdam.
Image by Mike McHolm.
