Going to Amsterdam for one day - suggestions?

If you go to the Anne Frank house you will spend your whole 24 hours waiting in line....I didn't do it nor did I want too. I heard the wait wasn't worth it from locals. I've been there 3 times mind you. I enjoyed the main park. Although not sure this time of year. The modern art museum is totally worth it. It's on the water if I remember correctly. And of course Vincent Van Gogh is worth it. Really I'd take the train 30 minutes south to the town of Utrecht and go into a brown cafe. There is no music and if your alone the locals will come right up to you to have a discussion about just about anything. This is a real way to know the people and the culture. It's hard to explain but it is also the only place with "double" layer canals. You'll understand when you see it. Utrecht is the real Netherlands. Not so commercial they had some museums ..I have a pizza cooking gotta go...but I'd take the half hour ride down there drink some nice beer or coffee and talk to a local. The city is beautiful and real.not a tourist trap like Amsterdam.

Quote from grasshopper12 : If you go to the Anne Frank house you will spend your whole 24 hours waiting in line....I didn't do it nor did I want too. I heard the wait wasn't worth it from locals. I've been there 3 times mind you. I enjoyed the main park. Although not sure this time of year. The modern art museum is totally worth it. It's on the water if I remember correctly. And of course Vincent Van Gogh is worth it. Really I'd take the train 30 minutes south to the town of Utrecht and go into a brown cafe. There is no music and if your alone the locals will come right up to you to have a discussion about just about anything. This is a real way to know the people and the culture. It's hard to explain but it is also the only place with "double" layer canals. You'll understand when you see it. Utrecht is the real Netherlands. Not so commercial they had some museums ..I have a pizza cooking gotta go...but I'd take the half hour ride down there drink some nice beer or coffee and talk to a local. The city is beautiful and real.not a tourist trap like Amsterdam.

I disagree. I went to the Anne Frank house and didn't hardly have to wait at all. It's not the middle of spring or summer so I can't imagine there being a huge line but then again you never know. I will agree however that it wasn't really anything special to see, but to know what they went through and to see in person what so many of us read about growing up was pretty cool.

The main park is great, although I don't know this time of year. Isn't exactly warm

The Heineken brewery is pretty close to the center of town but honestly if you've been to one brewery you've been to them all and last I recall they haven't actually made beer at the facility for quite a number of years so it's all about the tourists. Still, when I went we got to sit and drink as much beer in the end as we wanted to. Definitely worth the price of admission...

If you're a bit of a perv there is always the sex museums, sex shows, or ya know

Either way, have fun!

Quote from w3kn : I'm doing a 24 hour stopover in Amsterdam while traveling for work. I get in at 6 AM on a Saturday and leave 10:30 Sunday morning. What are the best things to see in a day? I've already marked the Anne Frank house and some of the beer gardens. I'm staying at a hotel near the airport and will be using public transit only. Also, any experiences with WiFi?

You can get tickets to Anne Frank online with a specific time and then there's no waiting at all! It's worth it!. Also, the Van Gogh house is fabulous. I would definitely do those 2 things. Amsterdam is beautiful so you would want to take a canal trip. Have a great time.

I had an 18 hour lay over there and just wandered around the city center and went to a few bars....Also make sure you know the bus times going back to the airport, since a bus ride is like 4 euro and a taxi is something stupid like 40 euro!

You could go find some prostitutes or get high.....

Van Gogh

weed & hookers

Anne Frank house. I went in January and had no wait. Just plan on getting there first thing. Its was the most touching and emotional experience of the trip, if not my life.

Take a boat ride through the canals. Take the tour at the Heiniken factory, there are free beers at the end of the tour. Eat a space cake at one of the many cafes then just take a walk and explore Amsterdam. Cap it off with a stroll through the red light disitrict.

Thanks all. Definitely want to do the Anne Frank house and the Heiniken factory.

No, I'm not looking for hookers or to get high - just enjoy a day in a city I've never been to.

Quote from w3kn : No, I'm not looking for hookers or to get high - just enjoy a day in a city I've never been to.

Taking a walk through the red light district doesn't mean you have to get a hooker. It's pretty interesting to just check out. It's really touristy with loads of good pubs.

Quote from danieloguinness : Taking a walk through the red light district doesn't mean you have to get a hooker. It's pretty interesting to just check out. It's really touristy with loads of good pubs.

I had a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam once and walked through the RLD, but it was 7 AM and nothing was happening. I'll probably walk through it before I head to the train station and back to my hotel.

But I was merely stating that I wasn't looking to find a hooker.

do some shrooms and do everything mentioned above.

Quote from w3kn : Thanks all. Definitely want to do the Anne Frank house and the Heiniken factory. No, I'm not looking for hookers or to get high - just enjoy a day in a city I've never been to.

Not trying to talk you out of the Heineken brewery as I did it and had a good time but to my knowledge it isn't a working brewery anymore (wasn't when I went). The beer at the end is a good time however and I met some nice people there when I went.

If you've been to the Guinness brewery the Heineken brewery is nowhere near as cool, assuming they haven't gone through some major renovation since I've been. Just want to set your expectations as I've been to quite a few working breweries and there is a lot more to see in general.