Explore Amsterdam

Visit the red light district. Exploring this part of town made the people that I was walking the town with pretty uncomfortable. I really wanted to go and see it for myself. The locals don't like this part of town. And even most tourists are pretty uncomfortable going through the narrow side streets. What I saw was definitely not what I had expected. Maybe I'm sheltered and haven't been exposed to much, but... watching stereotypical older men negotiate with these women and then go to the back... it was super interesting to say the least. Honestly I would have loved to just people watch those streets for a couple hours. I'm interested to see how the women are treated. Many tourists who aren't interested in hiring someone just go to look, which is essentially what I did too. But it feels very much like a circus or a zoo, where these women are treated other than human. Sex tourism is a major draw for Amsterdam. And because it is so profitable, it's probably not going anywhere.

Cost: free

Swing at Adam tower. On my last day in the city, I stumbled upon the Adam tower. Taking a ride on Europe's tallest swing, worth it.

Cost: 22 EUR (entrance to the top of the tower + ticket for the swing)

Fries at Mannekinpis. I had been recommended this place from a friend. I was warned that the lines would be long and I would have to wait a while. I waited for about 30 minutes, behind at least 50 people. The fries were definitely delicious!

Cost: 3.90 EUR, for a medium fry and their signature dipping sauce. Yum!

Stroopwafels from Henri Willig Cheese. Stroopwafels... how do I explain these delicious presents from heaven? Essentially they look a giant hard cookie, but they're filled with honey. And actually the texture is soft, not crunchy. They're super deceiving. Amsterdam has a lot of things that are "stroopwafel" flavored. The best stroopwafels that I found were from this random cheese shop. I don't know if they're the best in town, but they were pretty darn good!

Cost: 3.90 EUR (1 package, like 10 stroopwafels)

Drink Heineken. I did not go to the Heineken brewery for the "Heineken Experience". I did however buy a couple Heinekens and sit with buddies sharing some good stories, sitting on the canal.

Cost: 2 EUR (per can of Heineken)

Climb on the famous sign. The "I AMSTERDAM" sign is a classic hotspot for tourists. These giant letters are nomadic and often change location. This was a spot I really enjoyed frequenting. It was a really great place to meet other travelers too.

Cost: free

Pedal-boat the canals. Instead of taking a canal tour, a friend and I rented a pedal-boat. It was really enjoyable and was a much more serene experience than sitting in a really large crowded boat.

Cost: 9 EUR (1 hour)