Day 1
After a short, 15 minute train ride from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Central Station, check in and drop your bags at one of the StayOkay hostels in the city. First things first, so get your Iamsterdam Card at one of the local tourist information offices (VVV’s) to get the most out of your trip to Amsterdam. It offers free admission to some of the most important museums, free public transportation, 25% discount on various attractions and more!

Amsterdam is best viewed from the water. On your first day, cruise the canals on a Canal Bike and see Europe’s largest historic city center, with nearly 7000 monuments, from a different perspective. After biking on the canals, stop at the famous Heineken brewery for a Heineken Experience. Make sure you get your free beers offered on the tour!

After the Heineken tour, walk over to Museum Square and buy some lunch at the local supermarket, Albert Heijn. Enjoy your lunch sitting on the grass covered roof deck, overlooking the square. After lunch spend your afternoon visiting the two most popular Dutch museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, located right next to each other on Museum Square.
After dark head over to the famous Red Light District and see what all the fuss is about. Make sure you explore the area around the Oude Kerk (Old Church). For the Dutch experience try the French fries with Dutch mayonnaise and kroket or cheese soufflé in one of the FEBO outlets in the area.
Afterwards head over to Lokaal ‘t Loosje (Nieuwmarkt 32-34) and check out the interior of this very old brown pub. End the night at Meander (Voetboogstraat 5) with some live music.

Day 2
Do like the locals, rent a bike and head over to the Koningsplein to see the floating flower market. Pick up some souvenirs and continue to the Vondelpark and spend the rest of the morning and your lunchtime in the park. Hang out with the locals in the park or relax on the balcony or terrace at the Blue Teahouse. Climb on your bike again and explore the city. Bike to the Leidseplein, from there to Rembrandtplein and on to Waterlooplein, the city’s largest flea market, and look for great bargains. After shopping, get back on your bike and continue to Brouwerij ‘t IJ where you can sit on the terrace at the foot of a windmill and enjoy some beers at this micro-brewery.
Check in at the Ibis Hotel and get ready for another night out. Catch a comedy show at Boom Chicago over dinner and afterwards head over to music venue Paradiso, located in a former church with the best acoustics and ambience of the city. Enjoy breakfast in the morning at the hotel before heading back to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Before catching a low cost airline to another destination within Europe, check out Schiphol’s brown pub for that last kroket or Dutch beer, hang in the cool Big Mama chairs or shop at Europe’s best airport shops!

Visit www.trippist.com for more local & budget info on Amsterdam.