Amsterdam: A City Guide For Couples

March 11, 2020

A city break in Amsterdam gives you plenty of options to keep you busy, from museum hopping, to bike riding, cocktail sipping to food tasting. The vibrant European city is a great option for a short break but if you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our handy guide.

Sunset spotting

Amsterdam isn’t known for its skyscrapers but there are a handful of places across the city where you can spot a beautiful sunset, over dinner, over drinks or on a swing over 100 metres above the city!

The W Hotel Terrace, just next to Dam Square, offers great views of the Royal Palace, Westerkerk and the grand rooftop of the Magna Plaza shopping centre. It also has a rooftop pool which is open over the summer months.

You could watch the sun set behind the half-timbered houses lining the Oosterdok from the Sky Lounge at the Hilton Hotel or sip a cocktail or two at Twenty Third Bar at the top of the Okura Hotel.

For the daredevils among you, head to Amsterdam Lookout for a 360 degree view of Holland’s capital where you also have the option to swing back and forth over the edge on Europe’s highest swing with Amsterdam over 100 metres beneath you.

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Museum hopping

With 44 museums across the city you’re spoilt for choice and if the weather isn’t kind to you there are lots of places to keep warm and dry while enjoying some amazing exhibitions. Amsterdam even has its own island of museums, known as Museumplein. Whether you want to see world famous art at the Rijksmuseum, marvel at scientific exhibitions at the NEMO Science Museum, discover Holland’s seafaring past at the Maritime Museum or visit the hiding place of Anne Frank, you can do all of that and more in Amsterdam.

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A cocktail or two

As night falls it would be rude not to try a cocktail or two in a city known for its spirits. Head to a 17th century tasting tavern and sample some authentic Dutch jenever at Wynand Fockink or stop by Tales & Spirits to enjoy unusual cocktails such as Drop or Art, a homage to Vincent Van Gogh, with edible paints and liqueurs you can actually draw with. Sip champagne amid classy, art deco design at Pulitzer’s Bar or become an expert mixologist at House of Bols – the choice is yours!

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Photo Credit: NBTC

Food tasting

One of the best things about visiting anywhere is arguably the food and in Amsterdam you have the chance to sample some fantastic dishes! For breakfast, Dutch pancakes are a must and for an afternoon pick me up, coffee and apple pie at Winkels will do the job nicely! For dinner, enjoy a Rice Table or Rijsttafel, a selection of small dishes available at Indonesian restaurants across the city. Another option for dinner is a trip to seafood restaurant Pesca, in the Jordaan area, where you can experience the ‘theatre of fish’, selecting your own from the catches of the day, from salmon to octopus. The sommelier will then match your chosen fish to a specially selected wine and you can enjoy a delicious meal with a difference. If you’re looking for something more relaxed, head to Foodhallen, in the Jordaan area for a wide selection of street food and drink.

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A spot of shopping

In the centre of the city, just off Dam Square, sits the city’s most famous department store, De Bijenkorf and the Magna Plaza shopping centre. The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat are great for high street shops such as H&M, Zara and Pull & Bear and the 9 Streets area has a range of special boutiques where you can pick up some unique finds.

Or why not browse the Albert Cuyp market in the Pijp district? The market is over 100 years old and is one of the largest daily markets in Europe. It’s a great place to sample local delicacies such as poffertjes, cheese and herring, and there are also stalls selling flowers, clothing, fruit and veg…the list goes on!

After you’ve been to the market, head to Brouwerij Troost, a monastery turned brewery which serves the beer onsite.

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Photo Credit: NBTC

Canal cruises

Amsterdam has over 160 canals winding through it so it would be a shame not to sail through some of them. There are loads of companies across the city offering a range of canal cruises, some with food, some with music, some with candlelit tables too. Whichever kind of cruise you opt for, you will see historic merchant buildings lining the waterways and learn all about the history of the city and how the canals have been used over time. Plus, it is pretty romantic!

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Cycle the city

With over 50% of locals cycling daily, why not blend in and hire bikes to get around? You could even hire a tandem and enjoy a romantic bike ride through the city’s parks. While Vondelpark in the south is one of the most popular, Westerpark is less busy and an ideal place for a picnic. At night, it comes alive as the Westergasfabriek – a former gasworks – opens up its creative hub with bars, restaurants and cultural venues. In the summer you can sit outside on the terrace by the lake and enjoy a drink or two.

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So there you have it, a short city guide to Amsterdam! Take a look at our latest offers and book your crossing now.

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