{"id":684682,"date":"2024-12-06T07:30:35","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T07:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/684682\/"},"modified":"2024-12-06T07:30:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T07:30:35","slug":"first-time-in-amsterdam-wish-i-knew-must-see-tips-traps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/684682\/","title":{"rendered":"First Time in AMSTERDAM? Wish I Knew! (Must-See, Tips &#038; Traps)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title = \"First Time in AMSTERDAM? Wish I Knew! (Must-See, Tips &amp; Traps)\"   width=\"580\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QpU1W4gG9oU\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<br \/>\nFirst Time in AMSTERDAM? Wish I Knew! (Must-See, Tips &#038; Traps)<br \/>\n<br \/>\nFirst time in Amsterdam? Oh, you\u2019re in for a treat\u00a0<br \/>\n\u2014but it\u2019s not just tulips and canals. Watch out for scams, tourist traps, and even hefty fines.<br \/>\nThis no-nonsense guide will help you avoid 3 BIG mistakes, skip 5 tourist\u00a0<br \/>\ntraps, discover 2 hidden gems, and explore Amsterdam\u2019s 10 must-see attractions\u00a0<br \/>\nwith tips from my 13 years as a tour guide. Plus, I\u2019ll share how to navigate the city like a local.<br \/>\nLet\u2019s get you ready by diving straight into Amsterdam\u2019s famous Red Light District. Yeah,\u00a0<br \/>\nit\u2019s famous for all the wild reasons, but it\u2019s so much more than cannabis and red-lit windows. For\u00a0<br \/>\nexample, it\u2019s home to Amsterdam\u2019s oldest building, De Oude Kerk. It\u2019s wild to see these iconic\u00a0<br \/>\nred-lit windows next to schools and churches\u2014 but hey, this is Amsterdam. If you\u2019re curious,\u00a0<br \/>\nyou can visit the Erotic Museum, the Red Light Secrets Museum, or even a Marihuana Museum.<br \/>\nBut here\u2019s a BIG no-no that gets many first timers in big trouble: taking photos of the\u00a0<br \/>\nred-lit windows. It\u2019s absolutely forbidden. Keep your phone or camera deep in your\u00a0<br \/>\npocket, or you\u2019ll risk a run-in with angry security. Best case? You get yelled at.\u00a0<br \/>\nWorst case? Your phone gets smashed. Trust me, it\u2019s not worth it. But Beer is worth it!<br \/>\nAmsterdam is home to one of the world\u2019s most famous beer brands: Heineken. The original\u00a0<br \/>\nbrewery, built over 160 years ago, now hosts the super popular Heineken Experience Tour. Heads up:\u00a0<br \/>\nIt\u2019s more Heineken commercial than history lesson, but the modern, interactive exhibits are a\u00a0<br \/>\nblast. You can even bottle your own custom beer and finish off with a tasting session. But\u00a0<br \/>\nbefore you head out to explore, there\u2019s something you need to know about Amsterdam\u2019s streets.<br \/>\nIf you\u2019re arriving via Central Station, you\u2019ll quickly notice bicycles everywhere. They\u2019re fast,\u00a0<br \/>\nquiet, and often catch unaware tourists off guard, leading to serious accidents.The golden rule is\u00a0<br \/>\nto stay alert and never ever stand or walk in the bike lane. Seriously, I can\u2019t stress this enough.\u00a0<br \/>\nAlways make sure to look both ways before crossing street as these accidents can happen in a flash.<br \/>\nNow that you\u2019ve mastered the art of bike dodging, take a short stroll down Damrak Boulevard, which\u00a0<br \/>\nleads you straight to the heart of Amsterdam: Dam Square. On one side, you\u2019ll see the\u00a0<br \/>\nRoyal Palace; on the other, the magnificent Gothic-style church, which hosts royal weddings\u00a0<br \/>\nand unique exhibitions. From here, the streets branch out in every direction, making this the\u00a0<br \/>\nperfect starting point for your exploration. But wait\u2014if you\u2019re craving some stunning views,\u00a0<br \/>\nhead over to Amsterdam Noord and visit the A\u2019DAM Tower. The rooftop offers a panoramic view of the\u00a0<br \/>\nentire city, and trust me, it\u2019s a must-see for any first-time visitor. If you are feeling brave you\u00a0<br \/>\ncan even try Europe\u2019s highest swing, which lets you dangle over the tower\u2019s edge.\u2028To get there,\u00a0<br \/>\njust hop on the free ferry behind Central Station. You can easily find it by following the ferry\u00a0<br \/>\nsigns. No tickets are required\u2014just hop on like a local and enjoy the ride, taking in the views.<br \/>\nYou\u2019ll find a popular party area on a lovely Rembrandtplein Square. Besides being one of the\u00a0<br \/>\ncity\u2019s hottest nightlife spots it is also a great daytime place for soaking up the atmosphere.\u00a0<br \/>\nNamed after the famous Dutch master painter, the square is dotted with caf\u00e9s, bars, and\u00a0<br \/>\nterraces. But before you sit down at any of these places, here\u2019s something you need to know.<br \/>\nIn most cities, caf\u00e9s and coffee shops mean the same thing\u2014but not in Amsterdam. A caf\u00e9\u00a0<br \/>\nis your go-to spot for coffee and snacks, while a coffeeshop is where you\u00a0<br \/>\ncan legally buy and enjoy Cannabis. But be aware of third surprising mistake, many\u00a0<br \/>\nfirst timers make in Amsterdam, as you may end up with a hefty fine. Smoking and drinking on\u00a0<br \/>\nthe street is strictly forbidden. Smoking is only allowed inside Coffee Shops or just in front\u00a0<br \/>\nof it. The same goes for alcohol as you can drink it only in the bar or in front of it. Break these\u00a0<br \/>\nstrict rules, and you\u2019ll be facing a \u20ac100 fine. You should also explore one of the\u00a0<br \/>\ncity\u2019s most charming neighborhoods, Jordaan district. Once a working-class area,\u00a0<br \/>\nthe Jordaan has transformed into a trendy and picturesque part of the city. Its narrow\u00a0<br \/>\nstreets and picturesque canals are lined with art galleries, quirky boutiques, and cozy caf\u00e9s.<br \/>\nAt the edge of Jordaan, you\u2019ll find another must-visit spot\u2014the Anne Frank House. This\u00a0<br \/>\nis where a young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary while hiding in the Secret Annex for 761\u00a0<br \/>\ndays during WWII. To visit, you\u2019ll need to book a timed ticket online as tickets are not sold at\u00a0<br \/>\nthe door. Pro tip: tickets for the next month go live every first Tuesday, so mark your calendar!<br \/>\nAmsterdam\u2019s compact center makes it perfect for walking, but if you need to get across the city\u00a0<br \/>\nquickly, use public transport. Simply tap you contactless debit or credit card at the reader\u00a0<br \/>\nat metro stations or inside trams and buses. Just make sure to tap your card at the start and\u00a0<br \/>\nend of each journey. Alternatively you can get a dedicated travel card called OV-Chipkaart from\u00a0<br \/>\nwending machines at Amsterdam Central Station and most metro and tram stations, but you\u2019ll\u00a0<br \/>\nstill need a debit or credit card to buy it as cash is not accepted.\u2028World\u2019s largest collection\u00a0<br \/>\nof Van Gogh\u2019s paintings and drawings is another must see. The Dutch painter, who spent much of\u00a0<br \/>\nhis life in poverty, lived in Amsterdam for a while. The museum displays over 200 paintings,\u00a0<br \/>\n500 drawings, and 700 letters\u2014a real treat for any art lover.\u2028Just on the other side of the park,\u00a0<br \/>\nyou can dive deeper into Dutch art and history at the Rijksmuseum, the most important museum in\u00a0<br \/>\nthe Netherlands. It\u2019s packed with masterpieces, including Rembrandt\u2019s legendary Night Watch.\u00a0<br \/>\nEven the building itself is a stunner, designed as a symbolic entrance to Amsterdam.\u00a0<br \/>\nAnd, in true Amsterdam fashion, there\u2019s even a bike tunnel running straight through the middle!\u00a0<br \/>\nThese museums get busy, so you have to book your tickets in advance. Check out the links below to\u00a0<br \/>\nsecure your spot!\u2028Now, you can\u2019t visit Amsterdam without experiencing the Canal District. This\u00a0<br \/>\nUNESCO-listed area is pure Amsterdam magic. The canals are the heart of the city, and\u00a0<br \/>\ncruising along them is a must. If you can, try an open-boat tour on a sunny day for the best\u00a0<br \/>\nviews. I\u2019ve included some of my favorite tours in the description below\u2014trust me, you\u2019ll thank me\u00a0<br \/>\nlater! Now let\u2019s toss in a couple of hidden gems that most tourists miss but totally shouldn\u2019t:<br \/>\nThe Nine Streets are a charming series of streets that are perfect for a leisurely\u00a0<br \/>\nstroll, shopping, or grabbing coffee. This picturesque area is full of boutique\u00a0<br \/>\nshops, vintage stores, and local caf\u00e9s, giving you a taste of Amsterdam\u2019s architectural\u00a0<br \/>\nheritage that stretches back 400 years. Just a short trip from Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans\u00a0<br \/>\nis an open-air museum showcasing the Netherlands\u2019 windmill culture. It\u2019s the oldest industrial\u00a0<br \/>\narea in Europe and offers a glimpse of working windmills, traditional crafts, and those iconic\u00a0<br \/>\ngreen-painted houses. I know it looks amazing, but before you pack your bags, let\u2019s also talk about a\u00a0<br \/>\nfew tourist traps you\u2019ll definitely want to avoid. Right after landing at Schiphol Airport,\u00a0<br \/>\navoid taxis unless you\u2019re sure about the prices. Some drivers are notorious for\u00a0<br \/>\nripping off tourists. Info about prices to the most common destinations can be found on\u00a0<br \/>\nthe airport. Uber, the bus, or the train are all very convenient alternatives without the headache.<br \/>\nAnother smart move is to avoid street dealers as they often target tourists in popular\u00a0<br \/>\nareas. They are selling drugs at an extremely low price. However, these drugs\u00a0<br \/>\nare often mixed with dangerous chemicals, causing serious health risks. And trust me,\u00a0<br \/>\nthere is no such thing as a free sample. You should also be cautious with cheese! Amsterdam\u00a0<br \/>\nis packed with cheese shops, but many of them charge inflated prices for questionable\u00a0<br \/>\nquality. If you\u2019re a cheese lover, head to local markets like Noordermarkt or specialty\u00a0<br \/>\nshops like Henri Willig for the real deal. Tulips are another tourist trap. Many end up\u00a0<br \/>\nbuying overpriced tulip bulbs that might not grow outside the Netherlands. Instead purchase\u00a0<br \/>\ncertified bulbs from reputable sellers like the Amsterdam Flower Market to avoid the scam.<br \/>\nBut scams may start even before you pack your bags, as rental scams are a big issue\u00a0<br \/>\nin the Netherlands. If a property seems too good to be true\u2014it probably is. Always use trusted\u00a0<br \/>\nwebsites and go for places with plenty of reviews. Many places in Amsterdam no longer accept cash,\u00a0<br \/>\nso be sure to bring plenty of debit or credit cards. Knowing where to go, how to get around\u00a0<br \/>\nand booking ahead is key to making the most of your time in this amazing city. That\u2019s\u00a0<br \/>\nwhy also check out a list of my favorite tickets and experiences in the description\u00a0<br \/>\nbelow. Let me know in the comments\u2014what\u2019s your favorite thing about Amsterdam? If this\u00a0<br \/>\nguide helped you out, don\u2019t forget to like, share, and subscribe. My name is Rok, thanks\u00a0<br \/>\nfor watching, and I\u2019ll see you next time!<br \/>\n<br \/>\nFirst time in Amsterdam? Oh, you\u2019re in for a treat \u2014but it\u2019s not just tulips and canals. Wish I Knew this before my visit! Watch out for big mistakes, tourist traps, and even hefty fines.<br \/>\nThis no-nonsense guide will help you avoid 3 BIG mistakes, skip 5 tourist traps, discover 2 hidden gems and explore Amsterdam\u2019s Top 10 attractions with tips from my 13 years as a tour guide. Plus, I\u2019ll share how to navigate the city like a local. Knowing where to go, how to get around and booking ahead is key to making the most of your time in this amazing city.<\/p>\n<p>Amsterdam Content:<br \/>\n00:00 What To Expect<br \/>\n00:31 Red Light District<br \/>\n00:58 Big Mistake #1<br \/>\n01:19 Heineken Experience<br \/>\n01:48 Watch Out for Bikes<br \/>\n02:19 Dam Square<br \/>\n02:44 A\u2019dam Lookout<br \/>\n03:05 Free Ferry<br \/>\n03:19 Rembrandtplein<br \/>\n03:37 Big Mistake #2<br \/>\n03:56 Big Mistake #3<br \/>\n04:20 Jordaan<br \/>\n04:40 Anne Frank House<br \/>\n05:05 Public Transport<br \/>\n05:39 Van Gogh museum<br \/>\n05:57 Rijksmuseum<br \/>\n06:26 Canal District<br \/>\n06:51 The Nine Streets<br \/>\n07:14 Zaanse Schans<br \/>\n07:38 Taxi Scams<br \/>\n07:57 Street Dangers<br \/>\n08:16 Cheese Shops<br \/>\n08:32 Tulip Scams<br \/>\n08:47 Booking Scams<\/p>\n<p>My Favorite AMSTERDAM Experiences &#038; Tickets (affiliate links):<br \/>\nENTIRE LIST: https:\/\/gyg.me\/B2AdFH34<\/p>\n<p>ENTRY TICKETS<br \/>\nRed Light Secrets Museum Entry Ticket &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/QPKOe9im<br \/>\nRoyal Palace Entry Ticket and Audio Guide &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/DDadgghC<br \/>\nHeineken Experience Ticket &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/wLdDa51E<br \/>\nVan Gogh Museum Ticket &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/dqEv7lPs<br \/>\nRijksmuseum Entry Ticket &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/3zBOdYX8<\/p>\n<p>GUIDED TOURS<br \/>\nRed Light District &#038; Coffee Shop Tour &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/K4FAj9A6<br \/>\nRed Light District Tour &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/uTB8C6Rx<br \/>\nZaanse Schans 3-Hour Small Group Tour &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/k0FKlrI0<br \/>\nGuided Bike Tour City Centre  &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/dXYSGrOK<br \/>\nLife of Anne Frank and World War II Walking Tour &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/qMF7TTfc<\/p>\n<p>WATER ACTIVITES<br \/>\nClassic Boat Cruise with Cheese &#038; Wine Option &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/5Daphz4Q<br \/>\nCity Canal Cruise with Audio Guide &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/RW4JGBSk<br \/>\nSmoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/rYUzi4MD<br \/>\nCovered Canal Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/0TMsK0nb<br \/>\nEvening Canal Cruise &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/yxoSO5am<br \/>\nHop-On Hop-Off Bus and Boat options &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/Vg24uBI7<\/p>\n<p>BUNDLE<br \/>\nCity Canal Cruise and Rijksmuseum &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/6SUkkcFR<br \/>\nCity Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience Ticket &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/TdZoYJeZ<\/p>\n<p>DAY TRIPS<br \/>\nVolendam &#038; Zaanse Schans Live Guided Tour &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/afTcSHTw<br \/>\nZaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken Day Trip &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/FCBjVL8W<br \/>\naanse Schans, Edam, Volendam &#038; Marken Bus Tour &#8211; https:\/\/gyg.me\/snvpr5Qw<\/p>\n<p>If this guide helped you out, don\u2019t forget to like, share, and subscribe. If you have any questions about Amsterdam, leave them in the comment section. Also share your thoughts, your ideas and your experience about Amsterdam.<br \/>\nThank you,<br \/>\nRok Goes Around<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First Time in AMSTERDAM? Wish I Knew! (Must-See, Tips &#038; Traps) First time in Amsterdam? Oh, you\u2019re in for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":684683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[62989,387743,387741,387738,387732,387742,387737,387730,273501,276945,387735,185029,387733,387729,50,387736,387739,142947,61004,12854,387731,387740,142941,387734,52,53,51,4896],"class_list":{"0":"post-684682","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hotels","8":"tag-amsterdam","9":"tag-amsterdam-must-see-attractions","10":"tag-amsterdam-public-transport","11":"tag-amsterdam-scams","12":"tag-amsterdam-scams-and-traps","13":"tag-amsterdam-taxi","14":"tag-amsterdam-tips","15":"tag-amsterdam-tips-and-tricks","16":"tag-amsterdam-travel","17":"tag-amsterdam-travel-guide","18":"tag-amsterdam-travel-hacks","19":"tag-amsterdam-travel-tips","20":"tag-best-things-to-do-in-amsterdam","21":"tag-first-time-in-amsterdam","22":"tag-japan-hotel-reviews","23":"tag-rok-goes-around","24":"tag-scams","25":"tag-things-to-do-in-amsterdam","26":"tag-tips","27":"tag-top-10","28":"tag-top-10-things-to-do-in-amsterdam","29":"tag-traps","30":"tag-what-to-do-in-amsterdam","31":"tag-what-to-see-in-amsterdam","32":"tag-52","33":"tag-53","34":"tag-51","35":"tag-4896"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=684682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684682\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/684683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=684682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=684682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/tour\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=684682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}