Over the course of my travels I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons. Double check your dates before pressing book on plane flights. If the Airbnb you are looking at has less than 2 photos and no reviews, be aware. I’m at the point where I can pack up for a trip in 45 minutes flat. The new thing I’ve learned is that no matter how much I prepare myself, I will never figure out public transit in a new city on my first try. I’m assuming its most likely my fault and something about public transportation just doesn’t click with me, but google maps said it should have taken 25 minutes to get from the airport to my Airbnb but I clocked in at an hour and a half. Most of that time was spent wondering around the airport and train stations second guessing myself on whether I was about to get on the right train/trolly/metro.

After I figured it out, Amsterdam’s public transit system is much less intimidating than I originally made it out to be. But what I also figured out is the best way to see Amsterdam is by foot or by bike. The city feels a bit like Copenhagen and Venice were mashed together. The rows of locks that extend out from the city center make the city easy to navigate by foot, but also breathtakingly beautiful. You can lose many hours simply wandering along the canals as I did. Night is perhaps the most beautiful time for the city as the lights beneath the bridges along with the warm orange glow from the buildings make for quiet and peaceful evening strolls.

What makes Amsterdam so unique apart from the canals is the architecture. The city feels as though it was frozen in time during the 1800’s. Many of the building in the canal districts were built as early as the 1600’s. They are vertical and thin buildings, each with its own quirks and style that set them apart. Before the advent of addresses, each house had its own name to help identify it and many of these names can still be seen today. Because the city was built upon marsh-like area with little solid foundation, the houses are supported by logs that have been sunk into the ground. Over time, many of the buildings have shifted making them appear crooked or leaning to the side. All of this adds to the feel of the city.

The buildings are also designed with a slight purposeful lean forward over the streets in front of them. Because of the small doorways, the buildings were fitted with a reinforced hook at the top which are still used today to hoist heavy objects like furniture up and then through the windows of the upper floors. If you do end up staying in an Airbnb somewhere in the center of the city, be prepared for lots of staircases as many of the houses are four or five stories tall.

Apart from the actual look and feel of the city itself, Amsterdam has an incredible amount to offer with respect to culture and specifically art. Many famous artists called the Netherlands home, the most well-known of which are Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The city also boasts a great deal of history. With only a three day stay, I can say that I certainly needed another three days to truly appreciate everything the city has to offer.

One thing that many cities in Europe offer is a tourist city card. Usually these cards offer an up-front fee in exchange for access to a long list of tourist attractions, museums and sights along with access to the public transportation system within the city. I decided to grab one to test out if that is a worthwhile investment. Obviously, whether the card is worth it to you depends on what you want to do with your time in any city. If you want to bar hop then this isn’t the card for you. There probably isn’t a card for you actually. But if you love art and history than you will likely find these to be a worthy investment. Additionally, for larger cities where walking is more difficult, then public transit will obviously be more useful. In Amsterdam I would say that walking or biking can get you to just about any place you may want to be within a reasonable amount of time.

One caveat of these cards is they may not cover some of the most popular sites and attractions. You may be able to get a discount on admission which should be factored in, but the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam will not be on the list of places that allow admission with the city card. With that in mind, I ended up purchasing a 48-hour Amsterdam card for 74 euros. Using that card I managed to see all of the below locations in that allotted time span meaning that I managed to save around 17 euros with the purchase of the card. (Also please notice that I went to the diamond museum which I hope will be appreciated by some special someone in the future. I know my cuts and settings.)

As mentioned previously, the art on display in Amsterdam is one of many reasons to visit. The Rijksmuseum has a plethora of Rembrandt paintings on display including The Night Watch which is perhaps one of the most recognized paintings in the world. It is awe inspiring to see in person as it is massive and has such detail. The painting displays Rembrandt’s mastery of the manipulation of light, choosing carefully where to draw the viewer’s eye with the use of light and shadow. The museum has three floors of artwork from numerous periods, with an emphasis on Dutch paintings which has quite a rich history. Near the Rijksmuseum you will find numerous other interesting places to see including the Moco museum which has a rotating gallery. While I visited they featured a Banksy and Lichtenstein exhibit which was spectacular.

The Van Gogh museum is also a must see. It is unique in that the collection on display tells the story of Van Gogh’s life and his evolution as an artist. With massive art museums, you may be able to see the most famous works of the respective artists. However, you will likely not see a complete illustration of the development of the artist over time. The Van Gogh museum offers some of Van Gogh’s earliest works which were heavily influenced by the Dutch masters such as Rembrandt. It is fascinating to see Van Gogh works that you would never guess as Van Gogh as he is rightly associated with the impressionist period. The exhibit itself also is very emotional and somber as it tells the story of his life and death and his troubled and difficult journey as an artist. This combined with the artwork itself makes for a unique art experience.

One important thing to keep in mind is that many of the most popular locations are moving towards an appointment only model to help restrict foot traffic. This is great because it removes the need to wait in long lines, but difficult because the Anne Frank house as an example must be booked weeks if not months in advance of your trip. I was not aware of this and was completely unable to find an open slot so I missed that experience. The Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank house both require appointments so go ahead and book those dates and times along with your plane flights to make sure you do not miss out.

One thing I do wish I had more time for was exploring the area around Amsterdam which is famous for its windmills and tulip fields. Especially during the periods between March and early May, Amsterdam is surrounded by tulip farms with color curated rows of tulips. Holland is also synonymous with its idyllic windmills which can be seen with a short bus ride outside of the city. With that said, you would likely need a bit more time there to take a day to explore the Dutch countryside.

If you are visiting Europe, Amsterdam is a truly unique addition to the list of places to go. In total, I would plan on 3 days at minimum with enough to keep you busy for 4 to 5 days. Plan your tours and attractions ahead of time to make sure you get a chance to see them. But most importantly, take time tow simply walk through the city and enjoy the sights and sounds this place has to offer.