Don't waste your time when you're on holiday in Amsterdam. Find out the over-hyped spots to avoid (and where to go instead).
Streets, parks and squares
Damrak is the ugliest main street in Amsterdam, full of horrid souvenir shops, dodgy hotels and crap eateries. The only place recommended here is
Manneken Pis. They have some of the best
frites (hot chips) in town. Take the
Spuistraat instead of Damrak; there are lots of laneways that run off it with great bars, cafes and shops.
Except for the small clubs, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are tacky and touristy, drinks are expensive and there's no vibe. Instead, go to the Nieuwmarkt where there are good terraces for summer and great bars and restaurants.
Kalverstraat is the main shopping street in town and basically has all the shops you could find in any major European city. It's terribly crowded, especially on weekends, and is not a particularly attractive area. For funkier, alternative shops head to Haarlemmerstraat, Utrechtsestraat or 9 Straatjes where you'll find the shops you want but also good cafes, bars and restaurants.
Too many stoners make the top end of Vondelpark too skanky to enjoy. If you explore the southern and outer parts of the park, it's quieter and the grass is greener. At the southern entrance you can hire rollerblades at the cafe/bar Vondeltuin, where there's also a good summer terrace. If you want to escape the city altogether, the Amsterdamse Bos is a big, lovely forest which is accessible by tram.
Touristy things (toking, titties and tulips)
There are "coffee shops" (of the non-caffeine variety) everywhere in Amsterdam, so go to the smaller, funkier ones if you're after a toke. Some include
Kandinsky, Rokerij, Dampkring (made famous in
Ocean's Twelve),
Abraxas or
Amnesia. There are also some new coffee shops on
Haarlemmerstraat. If there's no designated terrace, there's no smoking cigarettes or tobacco joints. Go figure!
Magic mushrooms have been recently banned, however the Smart Shops which used to sell them still stock more than sufficient alternatives of natural and herbal highs.
The newly renovated Heineken Experience is a beer temple, but if you're serious about your brew head to boutique breweries like Brouwerij aan 't IJ, which is next to a windmill (quaint!) or De Prael, which is a socially operated brewery run by people with mental disabilities.
Big sex shows can be expensive and have long queues, so to watch some action skip these and instead opt for a €2 peep show.
What is the fuss about the Flower Market? For good cut flowers, head to a market or florist in town, or for a serious botanical collection look no further than the Hortus. It's one of the oldest botanic gardens in Europe. To truly experience the Dutch flower trade, the auction market in Aalsmeer is where the real action happens.
Got any more places to avoid? Have your say using the comments form below.
Next: Near the beaten track
