Amsterdam?

[n1ck31]

Who's been there, What are the best things to do?

I will be traveling this summer with 4 friends, all 18 year old males, we will be staying maybe 4 or 5 days.

Yes, we will check out the red light district and maybe eat some pot cookies or something but drugs and sex aren't really the highlight of the trip.

Basically, what are the best sites?

And what would young people most want to do in the evenings there?

[Gimli]

Ann Frank's house.
Van Gogh museum.
Heineken brewery tour.
Ferry tour.
You're done!

[jimk]

i don't remember the name of it, but be sure to go to the modern art museum. preferably on the day you try the cookies.

[sherpahigh]

mmmmm... Special cookies.

[Gimli]

Der Stedelijk Museum? There's also the museum of Marijuana, whatever they call it.

Friendliest city I've stayed at in Europe, but many of the friendlies are from other places. Relax, enjoy, and, well, enjoy. Just stay in a hostel.

[amonkie]

Just watch out for all the people on bikes/trolley/cablecar/buses!!! I was there this summer, sometims had a hard time enjoying the city because I was constantly having to move to avoid getting run over. There's a really cool flower district along the canals, if you're so inclined. And if going to the Anne Franke house, just beware there will be a long line developing early.

[mrquackers]

Tip for the Anne Frank house: Go in the evening. It's open until 9pm, IIRC. The crowds - and long lines - disperse around 6:30 or so. No waiting. Less crowded. More moving.

[powerclown]

Dude, if you are an 18 y/o male, and sex and drugs are not on your list of things to do in Amsterdam, you're wasting your money.

Find somewhere else to go, like Salt Lake City.

[Tempboy]

haha powerclown..

Yeah, the sex-attractions in Amsterdam are huge.. even if they're not 'highlights' for the trip, they're worth checking out.. just browsing through the red-light district, and visiting the sex museum.. it's something you have to experience.

And you gotta see the giant penis fountain.

[Chemical]

Stay at the Bulldog.
There's one less than a minute walk from the red light district.

when you get to the bar at the end of the Heiniken museum tour, make sure you keep your eye out for families with kids as they leave. They tend to leave extra drink tickets on the table.

[powerclown]

Being new here and all, maybe I should be more...helpful. Plus I like Amsterdam too much to mis-represent it to any here who might be searching for info regarding this cool place. So then..

1. Great food, and all kinds. Indian, Italian, Chinese, Dutch of course, Ethiopian.

2. Museums. The Rijksmuseum is the biggest, Van Gogh Museum, Steldijk Museum are all worth a look.

3. Getting around the city is simple, because first, its not a huge city, second, there is a cheap, modern and easy to use tram system that will take you wherever you want to go.

4. Boat tours of the canals.

5. As was mentioned, everyone rides bikes there. There are designated lanes for bikes all over the city.

6. If you like movies, there are many cool places that show them in english. One is the Tuschinski Theater. Great, old art deco building, and they serve beer.

7. The Leidseplein section of the city has a ton of bars, restaraunts, hotels, street performers, etc...

8. Pot info, and here.., just in case...

9. Sex info here ... (these folks have got it down to a science, there's a 'rating system' for the working girls...)

10. Great interactive map of the city, here

11. You can find some very cool apartments to stay here . Prices and locations vary, but you can find some pretty pimped out places for good prices..

12. For hotels, Ive found the best rates here . YMMV.

13. Ive seen airfare in the ranges of $200 - $800. Check the major online places like Orbitz, Expedia, etc..rates can vary from day to day even.

Amsterdam's got it all. Get there while the getting's good, before the rest of the EU turns it into a monastery. Have fun.

[bullzam]

dude, even if sex and drugs aren't your thing (thats your problem) you should stay at this place called the flying pig downtown hostel... its really awesome. about 20 euros to get a four bunk room with its own bathroom, five minute walk from center station and pretty much anywhere else in downtown, cool staff, cool hang out areas, used to be 3 star hotel etc. Its designed for 18-35 yo backpapckers or stoners or whatever the hell you want... Anyway, aside from where to stay, if you wanna party, i'd warn that everything in downtown amsterdam is pretty much closed down by 2AM all clubs and raves and everything are a bit further out

[mystix]

i'm an 18 yr old male and have gone to amsterdam =-D, don't regret it =D

[wannabenakid247]

Originally posted by powerclown
Dude, if you are an 18 y/o male, and sex and drugs are not on your list of things to do in Amsterdam, you're wasting your money.

Find somewhere else to go, like Salt Lake City.

Totally agree.

[portwineboy]

Eat the space cakes (I never saw a cookie w/MJ) AFTER you have a nice meal. They are pretty strong. I smoke MJ (BC Stuff) everyday and a spacecake still knocks me out.

Anne Franke house is not cool stoned. IMHO

Rijks, Van Gogh are.

[dylanmarsh]

It's been a few years since I was there, but the Van Gogh was amazing as was the Anne Frank House.

If you boys get low on cash and need some cheap food, there's a good falafel place just east of the Van Gogh. I lived off of the stuff for a week.

Also, check out a local paper for shows. We saw a really great Improv group.

The Flying Pig Hostel is probably the best and safest place to stay. My friends and I stayed with some lady that approached us at the train station, which was okay, but she liked to smoke rolled cigarettes in her tiny apartment which woke us up everyday --- not really pleasant. Get reservations at the Pig.

Good luck and watch out for chicks with dicks.

[-Ever-]

I spent two nights there on a recent trip. The second post in this post listed the main attractions. I'd put aside some time to pick up some legal mushrooms from a place like The Blues Brothers and take it easy on one of the beautiful canals