Global Staci

Taking advantage of a cheaper flight from the east coast of the USA to get me across the pond, I opted to spend two jampacked days in Amsterdam on my way to Cluj, Romania to meet my volunteer team to build houses with the Fuller Center Romania. Plus, it helped me begin to get over the jetlag a little earlier. PLUS, I’d never visited this charmingly cosmopolitan and unique city on the water.

Here’s my worth-stealing itinerary.

DAY 1 | Vincent & The Blue Boat

Check in wasn’t until 2pm, but I headed straight to my hotel, Hotel La Boheme [Marnixstraat 415] because I knew I could check my bags so I could go out and make the most of my time. [PRO TIP: If you want access to your room right away, an option is to book the night before.]

I booked a single room with a shared bath which was on the bottom floor. If I stayed again, I’d pay a little more for a room on the upper floor with a view and private bath (although I never saw anyone using the shared bath). The hotel is small, homey (no elevator), comes with breakfast, and was within walking distance to nearly everything I wanted to do.

I was content to wander toward the Van Gogh Museum [Museumplein 6] knowing I had to be there at 12:45pm for my timed entry. You have to buy your ticket in advance online; you cannot buy it at the museum. I happened upon the flower market and many lovely shops, especially along Leidsestraat. Once I got close, I chose to have lunch at Blushing [Paulus Potterstraat 30A]. I loved the menu and the bright and cheery interior. My quinoa salad and fresh mint tea hit the spot!

I spent at least two hours in the museum, taking in the breadth of Van Gogh’s body of work and all of the history associated with his life and time. Definitely use the audio self-guided tour. Afterward I decided to head back to the hotel for a rest and shower before my evening canal cruise at 8pm. I pre-booked with the Blue Boat Company. The dock is located at Stadhouderskade 501 opposite the Hard Rock Cafe. Another must-do!

That evening I happened upon the Vegan Temple Bar [Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 17] and enjoyed the truffle delight burger with a local beer. Getting to sleep was going to be the biggest challenge of the day with jetlag so I wandered, something that is super fun to do in Amsterdam.

DAY 2 | More Museums & Wandering

The biggest challenge of day two presented itself straight away. Waking for my 11:00am timed entry to one of Amsterdam’s most fascinating yet little-known museums, the Museum of our Lord in the Attic [Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38-40]. I set my alarm for PM rather than AM (duh!) and overslept, so I Ubered to the museum rather than walking. Luckily when I arrived and hour late it wasn’t an issue at all.

I had read about this place in advance, and like all the other tickets, I purchased online in advance. Not only do you save time, but you eliminate the risk of not getting in. The museum is in the heart of the old city, hidden in a 17th century canal house, on a largely pedestrian street. This could be the reason why it is not so easy to find. My driver dropped me nearby and I used a walking nav-app on my phone to find the street.

On my way, I passed something totally unexpected and made a mental note to check out the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution a few doors down [Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60]. It was quite funny to go from learning about the underground city churches of the 1660’s to the history of the world’s oldest profession, now totally legal in Amsterdam.

By the way, you aren’t far from the famous Red Light District. I wandered around for a bit, trying not to make direct eye contact with the topless women in the windows. Voyeurism at its best. I decided on a late lunch overlooking the canal at Vatten Ramen [Zeedijk 18].

I continued my walk back to the hotel via Jordaan, the charming neighborhood billed as Amsterdam’s Greenwich Village, with its narrow alleys, leafy canals lined with 17th-century houses, quirky specialty shops, cafes and designer boutiques. The residential area is near the Anne Frank House (PRO TIP: Tickets to this famed museum are only sold up to 30 days in advance of the day you want to visit; they were sold out the first day I tried to buy them online].

Because I was less than tired when I should have been, I enjoyed a late dinner at Kop Van Jut [Leidsekruisstraat 24] with local food, beer and super friendly service.

DAY 3 | Depart Amsterdam 10:25am

This meant catching an early morning Uber to the airport, easy enough. However, if you stay at La Boheme, you’ll have to walk down and across the street and find the Hard Rock Hotel (now called Clayton Hotel American) at Leidsekade 97 for your pickup, since cars cannot stop on Marnixstraat. Just ask someone at La Boheme to direct you once you are ordering your Uber.

Sad to leave. Will return.