Amsterdam in October

[bingohandjob]

Please share your tips for long weekend - where to stay, eat, drink, what to take/wear, buy there. Two of us friends going (female) - smoking not our thing. Love walking, sightseeing, galleries/museums, live music. Thank you!

It will be chilly and possibly wet.

Buy your tickets to the Van Gogh Museum in advance - queues are looooong.

Rijksmuseum is a must do.

We loved the Portuguese Synagogue - fascinating and very moving. Also Ons lieve heer op solder - a church hidden in an attic.

Food wise - Johannes is prob the best meal I've ever eaten. And have a rijstaffel - Blau is superb. Make sure you are hungry when you go.

It will be damp and cold. I have been there in Oct the past 2 years. But still a beautiful city nevertheless
Pulitzer Hotel for a drink - glass of champagne, get a window seat and people watch. It is a beautiful bar.

We ate at Envy one night and had a fabulous meal - a sort of taster menu.

It has a wine bar next door which is gorgeous.

Anne Frank house, & Reijksmuseum both worth a visit.

Wander around the 9 streets area - loads of cool bars, cafes and shops

De pijp is worth a nosey around too

Go on a free tour by foot.

We went to Amsterdam many years ago and just wandered, we missed so much.

Last summer we took a 'free tour' - these are conducted by locals who take groups round the sights and give the history and local inside knowledge and some great stories. You pay what you think the tour was worth at the end, so it is in the guide's interest to make the tour great.

www.neweuropetours.eu/amsterdam/en/home

cityfreetour.com/amsterdam/

We went in the october half term 2 years ago and got sunburnt.
I've got some gorgeous photos of DS in the bright sunshine at NEMO.
DS was 7 and loved the boat tours round the canals, day and night.
He was too young for Anne Franks house, but just loved wandering round looking at things.
I'd go back tomorrow, it was a gorgeous city, and I'd definitely try Oldowls walking tour :)

Thanks for all your tips...really helpful.

Foodhallen has a cinema (called Filmhallen) attached to it so you can combine the two.
(and a market outside which is nice for a wander).

Check out this website for visitor info on Amsterdam:

www.iamsterdam.com/en/

The church in the attic was fab, and not too busy.

Take a bicycle tour. Very good fun! Much of Amsterdam is bike friendly.

Go to the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum.

I knew Amsterdam well, about 20 years ago and if you are up for it the Sex museum in the Red Light district is, um, educational .

Book your tickets for Anne Frank House online before you go!
You get a designated time slot and guaranteed entry, the queue on the day ticket queue was literally about 1 mile long
We felt quite rockstarish walking past them to the front.
The architecture there is unbelievable.
We aren't big smokers either and had the best time ever.
Fuming with myself for not going years ago as I assumed it was all just about sitting getting stoned.
I can't wait to go back.

Useful tips here- I am going on Friday.

My DDs always stay in the Westcord, they always travel in an all female group.

It's clean, safe (Amsterdam is generally safe) and the Staff are really helpful. Good location.