Ultimate Amsterdam Travel Guide For Solo Travelers

Well-known for its stunning architecture, picturesque canals, and vibrant nightlife, Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. If you are planning to visit the capital of the Netherlands as a solo traveler, you will be happy to hear that Amsterdam is an excellent place for adventurous individuals who wish to explore the city on their own.

So are you going to Amsterdam alone? This ultimate Amsterdam travel guide for solo travelers to get all the useful tips for making the first visit. Amsterdam solo travel guide will take you to some of the best destinations in the city to hang out alone. Moreover, it will allow you to experience Amsterdam from a unique perspective.

Why Amsterdam is Great for Solo Travelers

Amsterdam is one of the best places to travel alone in Europe. The public transportation is fantastic, the Dutch people are open-minded, and English is well-spoken by the majority of the city residents. Amsterdam also offers plenty of excellent accommodation options for solo travelers and has many walking tours that you can join and meet fellow single travelers.

Is Amsterdam a Safe City

Safety is usually one of the main concerns for people who are traveling alone; that is why it is best to have travelers insurance. Fortunately, Amsterdam is one of the safest destinations to visit in Europe. Whether you are staying in a hostel by yourself, visiting the city museums, markets, and other sightseeing attractions or exploring beautiful parks of Amsterdam, you will feel safe wherever you go. However, taking necessary precautions as you would do in any other city is recommended.

Many thought if the infamous Red Light District is a safe place to visit on your own or not. Yes, it is. The whole area pretty much covered in CCTV and petty crime is rare.

Practical Information for Solo Travelers Visiting Amsterdam

Best Time to Visit

Amsterdam is a great destination to visit year-round, but the winter months are not ideal for outdoor activities like cycling around the city and exploring the city parks. It is best to visit Amsterdam in late April or May when the weather is beautiful and when good deals on accommodation can found. The highest months for tourism in Amsterdam are June, July, and August.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Languages

Dutch is the official language in Amsterdam. However, English is widely spoken by the locals.

Getting to the City from the Airport

The cheapest and fastest way to reach the city center from Schiphol Airport is by using the train, which runs every 10 minutes. A one-way ticket will set you back EUR 4.50, and the train stops at Amsterdam Centraal (or Amsterdam Zuid). There are also shuttle runs by Connexxion that depart every 10 minutes and cost EUR 15.50 one way per person. You can also get a taxi, but that will set you back at least EUR 45.

Every hotel/restaurant in Amsterdam accept the card. You can pay with your credit/debit card. You can even purchase public transportation tickets with the card. However, it is good to have some cash in your pocket in case you are planning to visit the local markets.

Getting Around Amsterdam

Amsterdam has excellent public transportation that includes metros, buses, ferries, trains, and bicycles. Getting around the city is not expensive, and GVB offers daily transportation passes, which are available for one day to one week. The good news is that many exciting sites can found around the center of the city, which means that you do not have to spend much time commuting from one place to another.

Amsterdam is also known as one of the Europes most bike-friendly cities, and most locals use bicycles to get around. Bicycle rentals can be found almost on every corner of the street.

Where to Stay in Amsterdam when Traveling Solo

Amsterdam is home to many hotels and hostels that are designed to accommodate solo travelers. There are many best hostels in Amsterdam for solo travelers. Therefore, finding an excellent place to stay in Amsterdam is quite easy.

Whether you are interested in spending a few nights in a hotel that has socially driven facilities or you prefer hostels with a party-vibe where you can meet other people traveling solo. For example, the famous Flying Pig Downtown is a great place to stay if you are looking to party, while Cocomama and Max Brown offer a calmer vibe.

Best Things to do in Amsterdam on a Solo Trip

Check out a Museum

There is no shortage of cool things to do in Amsterdam that you can explore as a solo traveler, and the world-renowned city museums fall into this category. Museumplein is an area where you will find plenty of options. There is the Rijksmuseum, which dedicated to the art and history of the Netherlands, as well as the Van Gogh museum, where single travelers can admire the works of Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries. No visit to Amsterdam is complete without paying a visit to the Anne Frank House, where little Anne spends her days and keeps writing her journals during the Nazi occupation of Europe. Stedelijk Museum and Moco Museum are also popular places worth going to explore.

If you prefer to skip the typical tourist must-sees and instead wish to visit the lesser-known museums, you will get plenty of options to do so. Amsterdam is home to many small museums and independent art galleries. Located close to the Red Light District, Our Lord in the Attic is situated at the top of a historic canal house and used to serve as a hidden church that operated in the 17th century. Not to be missed is Rembrandt House Museum, where the artist himself lived and worked for about 20 years.

Go on a Shopping Spree

Shopaholics will not be disappointed with what Amsterdam has to offer. Kalverstraat and the Leidsestraat are the two main shopping streets where retailers like Zara and H&M can found, while Negen Straatjes (9 Streets) is a district where single travelers can hunt for vintage goods and affordable fashion pieces. There is also the Magna Plaza Shopping Centre and the largest shopping mall in Amsterdam, the popular Bijenkorf on Dam square.

Running from Rembrandt to Frederik square, you will find Utrechtsestraat, which has a local vibe and houses many small boutique stores selling everything from retro accessories to interior design and unique fashion. Looking for luxury brands like Chanel and Prada? The P.C. Hooftstraat near Museum square is the place you will want to visit.

Pay a visit to the Floating Flower Market

Floating Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt) is the world’s only market of its kind and a great place to spend a few hours on your own while exploring the streets of Amsterdam. It has built-in the 19th century. Besides admiring a variety of colorful flowers, visitors can score some rather exciting souvenirs here. A word of advice: If you wish to snap some lovely photos of the floating flower market, try to arrive early in the day to avoid large crowds of tourists.

Rent a Bike

Did you know that in Amsterdam there are more bicycles than people? Therefore, it comes as no surprise that renting a bike is one of the must-have experiences while visiting the capital of the Netherlands. The city is home to a vast network of cycle routes and has a flat landscape, making it an ideal destination for cycling. It is the best way to see many different places in one day and make the most of your trip. What’s also great about Amsterdam is the fact that most parks here have well-maintained cycle routes.

Hop on a Canal Cruise

Going on a canal cruise is one of the best ways to experience the city and admire its charming architecture. The city is home to more than 160 canals, and the main three are Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Kaizengracht. All of them dug during the 17 century for international transport and trade. Nowadays, Amsterdam’s canal belt offers many canal cruises that you can join.

From family-friendly boat tours with entertainment for the little ones and romantic candle-lit night cruise to eco-friendly boat tours where passengers fish for discarded plastic, there are many different canal cruises you can participate to enjoy. While on a canal tour, you’ll be surrounded by some of the city’s most beautiful attractions, including Anne Frank’s House, Westerkerk, and the Rijksmuseum.

Take a Walk in the Park

Since Amsterdam is home to more than 30 parks, you are never far from a perfect picnic spot. No matter what time of year; whenever the weather is sunny in Amsterdam, you will see locals rushing outside to their favorite park. The largest and the most popular park in the city is the fantastic Vondelpark. Expect to find dozens of picturesque ponds, as well as an outdoor summer theater where you can watch live concerts and theater performances.

There are also a few lovely restaurants and bars inside the park. Located in the West district, Westerpark is also a great place to enjoy nature and have a picnic. Solo travelers who wish to escape from all the hustle and bustle of the city should pay a visit to the Amsterdam Forest where they can enjoy leisure walks, rent a pedal boat, or visit a goat farm to try homemade cheeses.

Explore the City Markets

Whether you wish to try local food delicacies or to snag a bargain, exploring Amsterdam’s markets can be an unforgettable experience. The largest and the most popular market in the city is Albert Cuypmarkt, which houses over 300 stalls offering everything from clothes and jewelry to local fresh fruit, veggies, seafood, and meats. Make sure to try the local stroopwafels and poffertjes (mini pancakes) while checking out this fabulous market. For second-hand clothing and antiques, it is recommended to stopping by the Waterlooplein flea market. Solo travelers staying in the Jordaan district should not miss the Lindengracht market, which is open every Saturday.

Going out in Amsterdam Solo

Amsterdam is a great place to go out in the evening. There are bars and restaurants on every corner, and the city boasts this unique and youthful atmosphere. However, striking up a conversation with strangers in bars can be difficult, since many people are not there to make new friends.

Thinking what to do at night in Amsterdam alone? Luckily, there are many ways to experience Amsterdam at night while traveling alone. If you are visiting Amsterdam solo and you wish to go out and enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife, there are many nightlife tours available in Amsterdam. There is even a marihuana themed tour you can join (that thing’s legal in Amsterdam). You can also ask at your accommodation if they have something organized or join a daily walking tour and meet-up later with a few members of the group.

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Have you been to Amsterdam, the Netherlands? Share your top travel tips for visiting Amsterdam as a solo traveler. 

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