There are cities you visit once, enjoy, and move on from. Then there are places you return to because something about them stays with you long after you leave. Amsterdam is exactly that for me. This was my second time in the city and somehow it felt even better than the first. I love coming back here. I love the vibe, the people, the culture, the design. Everything feels so curated, stylish and carefully considered. Amsterdam is one of those places where every corner seems to be designed with intention.
It ended up being one of my favourite holidays I have ever been on. We didn’t plan a single thing. No strict schedule, no list of must do spots. We just landed, dropped our bags at the hotel and decided to explore the city as we went. And honestly, that became the best part of the trip. Amsterdam rewards wandering. You simply follow the streets, cross a canal, turn left instead of right, and suddenly you’re somewhere unexpected and wonderful.
Amsterdam is dangerous in the best way for someone who loves food as much as I do. The cafés and brunch spots are on another level. Every morning I woke up excited to try a new place. I tried a different coffee shop every single day and loved every moment of it. Some days we walked for hours, letting the smell of freshly ground beans guide us. Other days it was a pretty façade or a cosy little window seat that pulled us in.
What I loved most was the freedom. Whenever we spotted something that caught our eye, we changed our direction completely. A musician playing live on the street. A crowd gathering for a pop up event. A cute store tucked between two canal houses. That is our favourite way to explore a city, letting curiosity take the lead.
I’m also slightly obsessive with saving places on my Google Maps. Whenever I see something nice on Instagram, I save it. Over time I’ve created a map full of colourful pins. And suddenly when I walk around a new city, I’m surrounded by things to see. Coffee shops, flower studios, art galleries, boutiques, vintage stores. It turns wandering into a treasure hunt. Amsterdam feels made for this.
We also visited the Banksy Museum, which was such a cool experience. It has this raw, rebellious energy that matches the creative spirit of Amsterdam. Seeing so many of his iconic works in one place was unforgettable.
But the place that truly made me happy was the Van Gogh Museum. I found it inspiring, emotional and incredibly interesting, especially seeing how his self portraits changed through the years. There is something so powerful about witnessing an artist evolve right in front of you.
My favourite discovery from the entire trip came from this visit. There is a painting called the C. Atlas Saint Marie de la Mer. I had no idea that Van Gogh painted it directly on the beach, on a windy day. They found this out because, when they zoomed into the painting with a microscope, they saw tiny grains of sand sealed into the paint. He wasn’t painting it from memory. He was literally standing on the beach, painting in the wind, with the sand landing on the canvas and becoming part of the artwork.
And the best part is that anyone can zoom in on the digital version and see the sand themselves. It feels like a secret detail hidden in plain sight.
One of the unexpected highlights was watching Indiana Jones at the legendary Tuschinski cinema. I had pulled up some information about it beforehand and honestly, I think it is one of the most beautiful cinemas in Europe, and probably the world. The moment you step inside, you feel like you have entered another era.
The architecture mixes Art Deco with Art Nouveau in the most dramatic and theatrical way. Velvet seats, warm lighting, ornate detailing everywhere and a sense of glamour that modern cinemas simply don’t have anymore. Watching a film there feels like an event. It made the whole experience unforgettable and I loved that we decided to do something so simple yet so special.
I’m also a little obsessive with saving places on my Google Maps. Whenever I scroll Instagram and see something that looks interesting, I save it. Over time I’ve created a map full of colourful pins. And suddenly, when I’m walking around a new place, I’m surrounded by things to see. Coffee shops, flower studios, boutiques, art galleries, vintage stores. It makes wandering feel like a treasure hunt. Amsterdam was filled with these little discoveries.
One of the best surprises of the trip happened when we crossed to the lesser known side of Amsterdam. Most visitors don’t think of going there, but I highly recommend it. This part of the city has a more local, industrial feel. It is less crowded, more relaxed and filled with creative spaces.
That is where we found the famous Pink Beach. It is a playful bar and restaurant dipped in Barbie pink. You can even rent roller skates. We arrived during a hen do party and it honestly added to the charm. The place wasn’t even on my saved Google Maps list. We simply bumped into it while riding our bikes.
Our hotel offered bicycles, so we rented them every day. It became our favourite way to move around. Cycling through quieter neighbourhoods and discovering local gems felt like being part of the city instead of just passing through.
Later that day, we had dinner at a very cool restaurant where classic vintage cars are displayed inside. You can sit next to a perfectly polished retro car and enjoy your meal. The place is known for seafood, so if you love seafood, this one should be on your list.
Amsterdam has some of the most beautiful parks. We spent long afternoons strolling through them, coffee in hand, taking in the calm atmosphere. There is something so peaceful about those green spaces surrounded by canals.
One of the highlights was taking an evening boat ride through the city. Amsterdam transforms completely at night. The lights shimmer in the water, the windows glow softly and everything feels calm and dreamlike. I love Amsterdam during the day, but I think I love it even more after dark. It becomes softer, quieter and beautifully cinematic.
Looking back, the beauty of this Amsterdam trip was in the simplicity. No strict schedule, no pressure to see everything. Just exploring, eating, cycling and enjoying whatever appeared in front of us. It reminded me how good it feels to travel slowly and let a place reveal itself naturally.
Amsterdam will always be a city I return to. It has style, energy and a warmth that makes you feel at home even when you are far away. And I already know this will not be my last visit.
