24 Hours in Amsterdam

© Flying Pig Downtown Hostel

Known for its canals, museums, red light district, and marijuana culture, there's a lot to experience in Amsterdam. While spending a few days is ideal, not all travelers have that kind of time. For those who have only a day to spend in this unique city, follow the itinerary below to help you see the highlights of Amsterdam in the shortest amount of time.

The Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is notorious among backpackers for its social, party atmosphere, helpful staff, and hearty (free!) breakfasts. It’s also in a great location, within walking distance from the Sex Museum, the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace, the main shopping street, and the infamous Red Light District. Staying at the Flying Pig ensures home is only a short stumble away (when you are, indeed, stumbling home.)

© Flying Pig7:30 AM: Load up on the hostel’s free buffet-style breakfast. You will need the energy for the jam-packed day ahead of you.

8:45 AM: No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a visit to the Anne Frank House. Unfortunately, many people agree and you will need to get there very early to avoid the line. Walk through the rooms of the house while seeing furniture, wall paper, photos, and diary entries from the time. You will also see videos of Frank Otto talking about how hard he searched for his family and his efforts to get his daughter Anne’s diary published. While hard to digest, it is a must-see when you're in Amsterdam.

© Flickr / Kent Wang11 AM: Later in the day, you might not be coherent enough to fully grasp any type of art or culture, so continue your morning with more of Amsterdam's educational offerings. If you’re an art lover, visit the Vincent van Gogh Museum, where you can find the largest collection of the artist’s work in existence. Take your time as you explore more than 200 paintings, 437 drawings, and 31 prints. While tickets are a bit pricey at 14 Euros, it is worth it as the museum is extensive, not only housing works by van Gogh but also offering exhibitions on various art history subjects from the 19th century.

If you’re on a budget and want to get right to the baudy side of Amsterdam, skip the art and visit the Sex Museum. The entrance fee is only 4 Euros and the exhibits here are fun and educational. Look at erotic pictures, paintings, objects, recordings, photographs, and attractions while learning the history of sex and how it’s changed over time. Hint: Porn stars did not always have flat stomachs and giant mustaches were once the sexy equivalent of the stiletto.

2 PM: Now that you’ve gotten a dose of art and history, it’s time to relax and enjoy Amsterdam’s biggest pastime: cannabis. You can literally walk down the street and pass hundreds of coffeeshops, which are not really known for their coffee, but are where you can buy pre-rolled joints or bags of weed.

So how do you choo© Kashmir Loungese which coffeeshop to visit?

If you want hash, visit Bluebird, a coffeeshop with 2 large showcases of product, and especially high quality hash. You can sit upstairs and get a view of the city or relax on the couches downstairs.

• If you’re looking for a novelty, visit Dampkring, which was featured in the movie Ocean's Twelve. The shop has a funky vibe and you can literally get anything you want here, from weed and hash, bongs and scales, to books on how to make your own hashish.

If you want a place that screams Zen, visit Kashmir Lounge. This place is extremely chill with tons of colored pillows and cushions to lay on. The interior has an Indian vibe, with beads, statues, candles, furniture, and colors that will transport you to another part of the world. I’m sure the weed will help with that, too.

And if you want the good stuff and don’t mind paying, visit Green House, a coffeeshop that serves expensive but high quality weed. Celebrities have been known to frequent this venue, which has won several High Times Cannibus Cup awards and has its own seed company.

4 PM: If it’s a nice day out, head over to Vondelpark. This massive outdoor park is an adventure to walk through, with so many twists, turns, and areas to explore. There are often BBQ’s, live music, and people playing catch and frisbee, so it can be a great way to have a social experience in a beautiful outdoor space. 

© Moeder's7 PM: Grab some home cooked Dutch cuisine at Moeders.The name literally means “Mothers,” and who cooks better than mom? The ambiance of the place makes you feel like you’re relaxing in an old school living room. Even better, photos of mothers from all over the world make up the wallpaper. Some menu options include spare ribs, stew, hash, summers chicken stuffed with goat cheese, lamb skewers, market fish, and more. Main courses range from 15-19 Euros while 3-course dinners running from 26-30 Euros.

If you’re looking for something fast and cheap, Wok to Walk is a great fast food franchise that is affordable yet serves filling food you can feel good about. You choose your ingredients, literally from your base (rice, noodles, or vegetables, and there are wholegrain options), your meat and veggie add-ons, and your sauces. No MSG and very little oil is used, and all sauces are prepared using original house recipes.

9 PM: Head to the hostel bar to pre-game, mingle with the staff, meet other travelers, and drink for cheap. It is almost always busy, and you will have no problem striking up a conversation with a stranger. Chill out and play some pool, listen to the resident DJ, or take a puff in the adjoining smoke room.

© Flickr / Sebastian Anthony10 PM: It’s time to experience the nightlife of Amsterdam. Start your night out by walking through the nearby Red Light District. Walking down the street you will see the many shop windows with prostitutes, which is legal in Amsterdam, poising and beckoning passersby. While it may sound seedy, the area for the most part is actually clean and safe.

10:45 PM: Now it’s time to find the perfect venue to spend the rest of your night. Here are some suggestions:

If you want someplace artsy, try Cafe de Buurvrouw, a bar that features DJs and other live musical acts. Located within walking distance of the hostel, there is also an art wall w© Studio kith revolving installations.

If you’re a fan of blues and rock music, visit Maloe Melo, which features a mix of local and international talent.

And, if you want a cultural club experience, check out Studio K, a bar/restaurant/cinema/cultural center/club all in one. Locals love this student-run venue, as it is one of the nicer clubs in Amsterdam and throws great parties.