(updated 29 April 2026)
I love Amsterdam. Full stop. The people are amazing and helpful, the food divine, and there is a tranquility about the city that keeps me coming back as often as I can.
Nites
If you want a truly wonderful and homey experience, you must try and book a room at the Hotel Seven Bridges (http://www.sevenbridgeshotel.nl/cms/). I tried for years to get in here and when I finally did, I wasn’t disapointed. The staff is great and the rooms really quite cool and filled with antiques. (They even include information on the antiques in your room so you know what you are living with.) The owners live on the ground floor and it’s really quite interesting in that the “reception” is closed at night so you pretty much come and go as you please, just as if it were your own house.
My other favourite hotel in Amsterdam is the Hotel Pullitzer (http://www.pulitzeramsterdam.com/) which is just amazing. It’s a bit more upscale the Seven Bridges, but doesn’t have as much individual charm so take your pick. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Bites
De Vijff Vlieghen (https://www.vijffvlieghen.nl/en/) is a classic restaurant with out of this world food. And it’s not pretensious, even if it is one of the standard restaurants in the city.
Restaurant Bussia (http://www.bussia.nl/) I can’t go anywhere without finding good Italian food and this was it for me!
Sites
It sounds cliche, I know, and perhaps it is, but a visit to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to the Rijksmuseum (https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl). It is truly one of the most sublime museums in the world and you could easily spend half of your day here.
Another museum worth the visit is the Van Gogh Museum (https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en). Even if you’re not a major fan, which I admittedly am not, being able to see the largest collection of Van Gogh’s works in one place is truly impressive and give the best overview of the artist’s development as a painter.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t implore you to go to the Anne Frank House (https://www.annefrank.org/nl/). There are no words for the experienced which should never be missed.