Blue Boat CompanyAs soon as we arrived we hoped on a 9:00 boat cruise that took us through the gorgeous winding canals of Amsterdam. The price of the trip was -// which included an English so raking guide, light snacks, and (of course) a free glass of Rosé! The cruise was about an hour and a half and brought you through all the major canals in the city as well as the main post of Amsterdam. The guide explained Amsterdam's history while still throwing in some great dinning recommendations!
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Heineken Experience TourThis is another must do in Amsterdam. For 15 euros you get a full tour of the original Heineken brewery and 3 free beers. The tour brings you through the whole brewery and explains the whole process of beer brewing from start to finish. You can even engrave your own Heineken glasses!
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ARK16 Houseboat I cannot say enough great things about this property! The owner of the boat, Annette, gave us a map of the city with recommendations on the best places to eat and drink. Ark16 is a unit in Annette's houseboat that is big enough to fot four comfortably. We had a full kitchen, living space, bathroom, and small deck, all on board a floating houseboat! The houseboat was perfectly located on a quit side canal right near the center of town.
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Door 72 (not pictured but worth the read!) Now THIS is a true hidden gem. If you are reading this you are one of the few that will learn of Amsterdam's most well kept secret. This speakeasy bar is hidden behind a small black door tucked away on the corner of the --- district. You have to knock on the door and make a reservation for after midnight. Once the clock strikes 12 (literally) you arrive once again and are guided down a set of stairs into an underground high end bar joined by 20-30 other people. The drinks were some of the most intricateflavor drinks I've ever had (and trust me, I've had a lot). The bar gives you a map of all the hidden gems of Amsterdam with various bars, restaurants, and tourist attractions. If you cannot get a reservation, or worse, cannot find the entrance, then there are a whole slew of other fun bars and clubs right in the surrounding Rembrantplein neighborhood.
Cafe de JarenThis was a great three story restaurant serving upscale local food. We made a rookie mistake and got there before 10:00 and the places was empty (we later found out Dutch people do not eat until 10:30 or 11:00. However, the food was amazing and the view was amazing from the third floor!
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Red light districtThis area of town is what Amsterdam is most well known for. Here, prostitution is legal and naked women are dancing in window s on just about every street corner. The origin of the Red Light Districts comes from the notion that bars/pubs would hang a red light out front if there were working prostitute inside -hmm.
Morgan & MeesWe actually just stumbled upon this restaurant while walking to our canal tour. Morgan & Mees is an upscale modern American restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio overlooking a major canal. We had an amazing area of small dishes and a great bottle of wine (I definitely recommend the mango crab dish as well as the beet goat cheese salad - both to die for)!
Leidseplein squareThis area of town is perfect for an outside chill night out. There are dozens of outdoor bars lining the square that sell a range of local beers and wines. Right next to this square in the infamous Milkweg night club. This nightclub consists of 5 stories all with a different themed band or DJ. Although we ultimately chose to have a more relaxed night, we heard from many locals that this is the place to be on a Saturday night!
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