Amsterdam is a maze of canals, historic buildings and bike lined cobblestone streets
Amsterdam is such a unique city with so much to offer. Wander the canals, eat amazing food, or find picture-perfect locations. It is high on the list of many travelers’ bucket list. I went in the fall of 2019 with some school friends on an exchange. I met some of the most amazing people and made deeper connections with my friends. This trip ignited my love for travel. I was only able to stay for one week unfortunately which was way too short. We crammed as much as we could into those seven days from football/soccer, to universities, to markets, to memorials. We had truly picture perfect moments that I will never forget. We stayed with host families with kids around our age. I loved this so much. I experienced more local Dutch culture rather than the classic tourist based itinerary. We went to a small park, the beach, and grocery stores. It was so much fun and I only regret not staying longer.
Amsterdam definitely has beautiful seasons. In the spring months you can expect the streets to be blooming with colorful tulips and flowers on window sills and market displays. However, an umbrella is important if you don’t like the rain. From February to May, it is the city’s wettest months. June to September are the warmest months averaging 10-24℃. Often times, this is the busiest time for tourists and travelers because of the beautiful weather. By the time fall rolls around, sweaters and longer clothes are heading back in. The cooler weather brings some rain, so be sure to prepare for some drizzling days. Christmas time is next! You’ll be lucky to experience a winter wonderland as the snow doesn’t stick around very long. The average temperature this time of year is around 0℃. There is really never a bad time to visit the beautiful city of Amsterdam so long as you bring some weather essentials. There’s nothing holding you back.
The Public transportation system in Amsterdam is truly amazing. You can get almost anywhere in the city extremely easily. Take the metro, a train, tram, car, or the Dutch favourite: Bikes. Canals are lined with the colourful street bikes, a picture perfect scene. One thing I found quite amazing was the underground bike parking lots for metro users. I know! I couldn’t believe it either. Living in North America, cars are our number one form of transportation. In most places there are too many hills for a breezy trip to and from work. So I am used to car parking lots. Coming down the escalator to the rows and rows of bikes was so alarming. Even if you just go look, I would definitely check this out if you are coming from abroad. As I learned from experience, be sure to be both physically and especially mentally prepared to ride a bike on the Dutch roads with locals. Make sure you know where you are going before you start pedaling. And definitely have a nice and patient friend to help you learn the ropes:) The Dutch are usually very nice people but they are set in their ways. Try to not stand out as a tourist. The streets are organized chaos with pedestrians, bikers, cars, and trams. Fit into the flow and try not to disrupt too much. The underground metro is extremely efficient and very new. Get from one side of the city to the other with no trouble at all. You can see so much of the city using the public transportation system at a minimal price.
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