With budget flights available from most major cities for under £70 return, Amsterdam is the perfect destination for a winter mini-trip.
December temperatures average a frosty 4°C , so make sure to pack lots of layers, but winter in Amsterdam can be a truly magical experience and there are plenty of places to warm yourself up with a gluhvein or warm chocomel (that’s hot chocolate to you and me!).
The city has cleverly made use of the lower number of daylight hours by throwing an annual light festival, which as of 2017 is in it’s 6th year and keeps getting bigger and better. With some holiday still left to take I thought it would be a great time to visit.
Overview
Cost Breakdown: 2 Night Trip
Flight – £61.50
Travelcard & Trains – €22.50
B&B Accommodation– €82 (€164 split between two)
Activities – €47.50
Food – €35
Total = approx. £215
Travel & Accommodation
The cheapest way to get around Amsterdam is to purchase a GVB travelcard. These can be purchased for 1-7 days and are valid on all GVB metros, trams and buses. I purchased a 48 hour card which cost € 12.50.
I did find a kiosk selling these at the airport, but they can also be bought on the tram or at train stations from the GVB machines. You will need to pay separately for the initial train journey from the airport to Amsterdam (approx € 5).
I’m a big fan of local B&Bs (especially those with great breakfasts!), so chose to stay at the Bed and Breakfast Amsterdam West. Paying through booking.com the price for a double room came in at €164 for two off-peak nights. Sadly I didn’t have a chance to try out the sauna but that’s definitely one for next time. I happily did get to sample some traditional Dutch mini pancakes (poffertjes) – yum! After filling up on breakfast the B&B was only two minutes from the nearest tram stop and from there it was a 20-25 minute ride into the centre.
For those with a reduced budget (or keen to meet other travellers) I’d highly recommend a hostel. ClinkNOORD is a great mixed hostel with rates starting from €17. Female travellers should also check out Hostelle which has fantastic reviews and is a female only hostel with rooms starting from €14.
Free Activities in Amsterdam
Top View – For a great view I’d recommend a visit to the canteen on the 7th floor of the Central Library, where you can grab a seat by the window and watch the sunset -a handy place to retreat if your toes are starting to go numb!
Stroll around Jordaan & De Pjip – Jordaan is a very scenic area to walk around with lots of cute cafes and boutiques. Nearby De Pjip has a bohemian feel and is home to the open-air Albert Cuyp market.
Free* Walking Tour – I started the trip by locating the best budget walking tour and quickly spotted Freedam Walking Tours, who have 5/5 stars on Tripadvisor. They run trips daily at 11am, 1pm and 2pm. My 11am tour was at max capacity so reserve a spot to guarantee your place. We set off from the Old Church and including a pit-stop to warm up (or in my case eat cake) the tour lasted 3 hours. The route starts in the red light district and includes a trip through the open-walkway of the Civic Guards Gallery. This allows you a free glimpse of the Dutch culture contained within the adjoining Amsterdam Museum.
*Do make sure to tip your guide at the end based on how much you think the tour was worth.
Paid Activities
If you have a student card make sure to bring it along, as you can save up to 50% on museum entry and there’s lots to see! Top picks on Tripadvisor include the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and the fascinating Our Lord in the Attic.
Amsterdam Light Festival Water Colours Cruise – I based my trip around the start dates for the Amsterdam Light Festival so it wouldn’t have been complete without a boat tour. I booked with Boat Trips by Locals, paying €30 for a 90 minute ride. Unexpectedly. as it was the first night of the festival, we ended up with a private tour! It was a great way to see the city and view the artworks. The gluhvein, festive snacks and onboard heater also helped to make the journey rather enjoyable. In 2017/ 2018 the water exhibition runs from 30th November – 21st January, while you can check out the free land exhibition each evening between 14th December – 7th January.
Micropia – Having watched Travel Man on the plane journey over I was inspired to visit Micropia which describes itself as “The only museum of it’s kind, displaying the invisible world of micro-organisms”. Before setting foot on the first floor I was already won over by the visuals in the lift and the whole place was an example of high tech science at it’s very best. I spent far too long watching the ants farming fungi and studying the water bears under the microscope, but I’d happily do it again! Incredibly engaging and educational, I highly recommend it as the perfect rainy day activity. Adult entry is €14 but with a student card you can get in for just €7.50.
Food in Amsterdam
Second to sightseeing food is my favourite part of any holiday (ok, perhaps it is the first…) so below are some of my recommendations.
Sugo – Lovely selection of pizza slices (€3 – €4.20) with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Their €2 hazelnut cannoli (Sicilian waffle with chocolate) was my top food of the trip!
Vegan Junk Food Bar – VJFB have two venues in the city (one in De Pjip and the other in Staringplein) and both have a fantastic selection that ranges from plant-based burgers and loaded fries to shawama sandwiches. Feeling hungry I ordered a Notorious Sumo double burger (€10.95) and shared some chips with garlic sauce (€4.70). Considering it’s all vegan I do think it’s well worth the money and I’d happily go back. They only accept card, so make sure to sign up for a travel credit/debit card ahead of your visit.
Vleminckxde Sausmeesters – Amazingly crispy chips and very reasonably priced at €3.90 for a medium portion with two sauces. My personal favourites were the Oolog (mayonnaise, onions and satay sauce) and the Special Tomato Ketchup. Although there’s no seating, the restaurant opposite lets you sit inside if you buy a drink.
Original Stroopwaffles – Deliciously gooey, only €1.50 and made while you wait. What more could you want?
Jacketz – With prices starting from €7.90 for a jacket potato with one filling it’s not the cheapest, but there are a good selection of options that allow you to customise each potato to your taste. The spicy green curry was my favourite.
Daytrips: The Hague
After spending a couple of days exploring Amsterdam I headed off to The Hague to visit a friend for the weekend and it’s a brilliant place for a daytrip as it’s only around 30 minutes by train.
Scheveningen beach was lovely to visit at sunset, though in winter somewhat akin to a rainy day at Weston-Super-Mare. A ride on the Skyview ferris wheel costs €9 for 4 revolutions (approx. 15 minutes). Alternatively, you can walk up the neighbouring tower on the pier to experience some great views for free. If you’re feeling daring there’s even a zip-wire and bungee jump!
I had drinks and dinner in September which is a lovely cosy restaurant. We decided to stay for dinner spur of the moment, so I was pleasantly surprised by the range of veggie options on offer. We splashed out on vegan satay skewers (€14.50) and vegan tacos (€16.50) and I highly recommend both. For dessert I had pear ice-cream with brownie, cream and blueberries (€6.50), which was also amazing.
The Hague is also home to the Escher museum, but it’s sadly closed on Mondays, so I’ll have to save that one for my next visit.
I left Amsterdam with the feeling that I’d only just scratched the surface and I’m keen to head back in spring to see what else Holland has to offer.
It would be great to hear if anyone has any more budget recommendations for visiting Amsterdam in winter. Please share them in the comments!
