Last Updated on July 8, 2019

Amsterdam is a beautiful city to visit as it has many incredible attractions, the breathtaking scenery made up of romantic canals and vibrant streets and amazing nearby area to explore and discover even the hidden and more traditional side of the Dutch culture. I’ve been there and I know how expensive a trip to Amsterdam could be. Today I am here to give you my best top 7 tips.

Here’s how to explore Amsterdam on a budget!

1. Renting a car to optimise your time and explore nearby areas too

If you don’t want to spend all your money on costly public transportation then hire a car.  The bonus is you could visit some nearby areas such as Haarlem and Zandvoort. For a beach break you can visit the beach and historic city of The Hague. There’s plenty of great things to do in the Hague and it’s only a 45 min drive. You can find great deals on holidayautos.com to book the car in advance and choose when and where to pick it up and return it too. It is a lot easier than you may expect and,  best of all, it is a real investment and can save you a lot of money.

2. Relying on street food to eat something typical (and cheaper)

Amsterdam is famous for its street food: you will find the most delicious fries in every corner of the city, fantastic little chart with herrings vendors and sweet treats too to eat something traditional, typical but saving money also. This is the best option to keep exploring while having a snack too.

3. Booking a hotel outside the city centre

Hotels in Amsterdam are expensive but if you book in advance (at least three months ahead of your trip), you can grab a great hotel just outside the city’s borders for a reasonable price. As you will have a rented car, it isn’t such a big deal to stay a little bit away from the centre!

check out the best accommodation in Amsterdam here

4. Skip the expensive guided tours

Amsterdam has some of the most interesting museums to visit such as Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anna Frank House. These places are well structured and offer exciting panels with tons of information for you so you can skip the sometimes too expensive guided tours.  This is a great tip for exploring Amsterdam on a budget.

5. Avoid tourist traps and keep it authentic

You will find tourist traps all over the city and you just have to skip them as many times you will have bad surprises in a matter of quality and a exaggerate bill. Avoid, for example, the Argentinian steakhouses as they won’t give you something typically Dutch and you will spend useless money into this!

Visiting the markets is a great way to explore Amsterdam on a budget!

6. Shop at the local markets first

Amsterdam is full of incredible markets where you can buy everything! Even if you are just looking for some typical memorabilia of your travel experience, these markets will give you so much to consider and, most of all; prices are convenient too! I definitely recommend this!

7. Book online some of the attractions

If you want to explore Amsterdam on a budget and keep your travel well organised you should book online the entrance to the attractions you want to visit. You will save money (as the online prices are almost always discounted) and you will have a priority access too. You can book your Heineken Experience and Van Gogh Museum visits ahead and save a little cash.

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