How to Experience Amsterdam Without Breaking the Bank

Photo by Liam Gant from Pexels

You have lots of European city breaks on your bucket list, but this year you definitely want to squeeze in a trip to Amsterdam. In fact, it’s exactly where we have chosen to go to for my friend Michele’s hen party this coming May! You have seen pictures in magazines and on blog posts; the entire city looks absolutely stunning. The last thing you want to suffer from is travel stress, so it’s time to plan out every aspect of your trip to Amsterdam. Like many, you’re probably worried about spending too much money on your trip, but there are so many ways to experience Amsterdam without breaking the bank.

Time Your Trip Wisely

The last thing you want to do is is visit Amsterdam during peak season. You will be surprised at how expensive the coffee shops, restaurants and tourists attractions are in general, so you want to travel at a cheaper time to save money. Avoid summer as much as possible and book for the autumn or spring if you can. It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit this gorgeous city, you will be blown away by the weather. The crowds will be much smaller at this time of year and your travel and accommodation will also be reduced.

Pick Your Accommodation

When travelling to Amsterdam, you want to make sure that you can make the most out of your stay. This may mean booking a hotel for two or three nights, but arriving early in the morning and leaving later in the evening. If your accommodation has strict check in times you could look into luggage storage in Amsterdam. You don’t want to be dragging your bags around on your first or last day of sight seeing, so make sure you look into a safe spot to leave them for the day. You don’t need to choose a hotel that is in the centre of the city, as getting around is very easy. You will find very affordable hotels and air BnBs in Jordaan or De Pijp. Hostels are another great way to save money whilst travelling.

Hire a Bike

One of the best ways to get around Amsterdam without breaking the bike is by hiring a bike. It’s much easier to see the sights in this way and you will get around much more quickly. Other public transport in Amsterdam is also very cheap; use trams and buses whenever possible. You can also purchase unlimited tickets for the trams which will be a huge saver for a day of sight seeing.

Eat and See

One of the best places to grab a cheap bite are the Amsterdam food markets, such as Noordermarkt or Nieuwmarkt Market. Find an inexpensive and delicious dish and take it to Vondelpark. This is one of the biggest parks in the whole city and it a must see if you’re visiting Amsterdam for the first time.

It is totally possible to experience the joys of Amsterdam without breaking your budget. All you need to do is plan ahead and be prepared to travel during the off peak season.