Amsterdam was one of those cities that I wanted to explore but never committed a weekend to. For me, heading back out to Shanghai, a logical layover was Amsterdam. I opted to stay away from museums etc and just wandered around the city centre so my layover was more walking and photo taking.
I cheated in the sense that I did spend the night in Amsterdam and went straight from the airport to the hotel and started my layover the morning after.
Hotel option - Ibis Airport Hotel Amsterdam
Starting the day off by storing my luggage in the airport, I jumped on the trains from the airport to Amsterdam Central. This took about 20 minutes once the train arrived. I started by just wandering the side streets from the station.
Sight 1 - Lovers Canal Cruises
You can catch one of the all-day cruises along the main canal from this point. The cruises operate approximately every 20-30 minutes and can last up to an hour. Since I wasn't interested in joining a cruise at 9am, I decided to skip this activity, even though I usually enjoy a river cruise.
Sights 2 - Walking Streets and Canal (Oudezijds Voorburgwal)
Exploring this area of Amsterdam City Centre will lead you to the Red Light District. In the daytime, this area appears less shady and offers a unique setting for a morning stroll. The streets are lined with charming smaller canals, providing each street with an enjoyable view.
Sight 3 - Herengracht Canal
I enjoyed visiting the canals and taking photos of the houses/bikes lining the canal sides. These bikes are left here and have plant arrangements installed to add to the beauty of the spot.
Sight 4 - Unknown
I have to admit, this was something I stumbled upon while I aimlessly walked around the canal streets.
This was a recommended place to visit for brunch and I would agree. Sitting opposite the Prinsengracht Canal strip, Pancake Bakery is a small scale pancake cafe with quite an extensive menu selection. As it's small, you may need to book a table prior to arriving, especially if you plan to visit between 11am and 1pm.
Some of my other finds as I wandered around Amsterdam Central:
Comments