When is the best time to go to Amsterdam? “There are no abandoned cats, dogs or people in Amsterdam” - an essay about the freest city in Europe When is the best time to visit Amsterdam
Amsterdam dirty city. But the mess is somehow familiar, homely. I don’t want to check every shop and the cleanliness of forks in establishments. You know that everything is not very sterile, but somehow you take it calmly. And this is true for everyone. Even those who are used to constantly wiping their hands with antiseptic. Such magic.
What happens with famous houses is very unusual - at first they seem the same, like a solid chocolate bar with a fancy pattern, and then you begin to see the differences: the size and shape of the windows, shutters, the design of the door and porch, the tiles on the roofs and even the degree of inclination of the building itself.
By the way, about the porch. The Dutch take special care of their porch. Required attributes:
- many different bushes;
- a bench so you can go out for a smoke in the evening;
- something on the windowsill (from eccentric porcelain pugs to a touching collection of vintage mini bottles);
- and an Instagrammable parked bike, of course.
At first you want to constantly take pictures and photograph every porch, but then the obsession goes away and you start to just enjoy it.
During sunset, the city is incredibly warm. Regardless of the time of year. The canals, bridges and alco-boats acquire such beautiful color and light that it seems as if you are inside a film photo.
About people
Very beautiful. Tall, stately and, how can I describe it, healthy, or something. Shiny hair, muscles, a white smile - as if they were all from a poster about healthy lifestyle.
There are no abandoned cats, dogs or people in Amsterdam. Only bicycles that can sit and rust for years are abandoned here. You won’t see a single animal on the street without a collar and an owner nearby. Even cats have their own little collars. There are no homeless people here either.
This is how they solve the problem. Let's play out a scene:
Social worker: Hire this wonderful man, he is left on the street.
Dutch entrepreneur: No, I don’t want to.
Social worker: If you hire him, you will not pay tax on him, which you pay for all your employees.
Dutch entrepreneur: But he doesn’t know how to do anything!
Social worker: Okay, you are exempt from taxes and will receive additional compensation for a while.
Dutch entrepreneur: Ok, I'll take it.
The waiters and sellers always smile and are sincerely interested in where you come from and how you like the local food. By the way, this is noticeable in few European cities, but in Amsterdam, before asking for coffee at the bar or starting to voice your order to the waiter, it is customary to ask “How are you doing?”
When is the best time to fly to Amsterdam?
The best months to visit are April and November (according to someone who has been to the Netherlands more than 40 times).
In April, everything around blooms, smells and the air is fresh and ringing. Such beauty that even those who are always dissatisfied with everything will not be able to resist (if you have such a friend, advise him to go to Amsterdam in mid-April).
In November, you can find yourself in a Christmas fairy tale ahead of time. It gets dark quickly, hundreds of lights come on and are reflected in the canals. Sometimes snowflakes can come down from the sky and dance with you to the nearest pub. By the way, there are no drunk people on the streets at this time. And in general there are few people - the autumn holidaymakers have already left, and the New Year's revelers are just buying their tickets.
Summer in Amsterdam is also very pleasant. There is no heat, there is a light breeze, but there are a lot of tourists.
Think twice before heading to the Dutch capital on the Queen's birthday (April 30). On this day, all of Europe comes to Amsterdam. It’s very festive and fun, but if you don’t like crowds and crowds, it’s not worth it.
The same applies to the January holidays. Everyone is drunk on the streets. Of course, people are kind and there is no aggression, but you quickly get tired of the eternal party.
In September-October it is rainy and cloudy in Amsterdam. You might as well go to St. Petersburg.
How to choose tickets
It is better to choose direct flights, although they are more expensive. It's only once, when you miss your plane during an hour-long layover in Frankfurt, that you realize what it's all about. Only after 9 hours at Munich Airport will you realize the value of this advice.
As an option, you can deliberately fly to Munich, eat sausages there and relax, and a day or two later fly to Amsterdam.
It is better to look for tickets for direct flights in advance, taking advantage of all the features of our website.
What to take with you
You can only truly enjoy Amsterdam if you have the right equipment.
Be sure to take with you:
- A waterproof and windproof jacket (even in summer).
- Thin but warm sweater.
- Comfortable waterproof boots (rubber boots are not suitable).
- Spare shoes (when you walk a lot you need to change your shoes, otherwise even your slippers will start to chafe).
- Quick-drying pants (linen is also suitable for summer).
Where to live
Don't rush to rent a house on the central canal. It is absolutely certain that there will be a Coffeeshop or bar under your windows (not everyone likes this). Plus, such housing is 2 times more expensive.
Take a closer look at the areas of Pijp Oud-Zuid and The Plantage (closer to Oosterpark). It’s very cozy there, there are no crowds of tourists, there are many more cute establishments where locals hang out, and adequate grocery stores (the Dirk chain is very cool).
How to get to the city
Taxis, buses, horse-drawn carriages - forget it. Only the train.
A ticket costs up to 4.1 euros (the amount depends on the payment method) and you can buy it on the way to the exit from the airport - in yellow machines, which are located like daisies in the center of the hall. The machine accepts cards and coins. You can buy a ticket for paper euros at the ticket office, but it is more difficult to find.
Trains depart from platforms 1 and 2, travel with stops and arrive at the Central Station. The journey takes 15-20 minutes.
There is only one airport in Amsterdam, so it is quite busy. Be prepared for the fact that you may not be able to get on the train. Fortunately, they run every 15 minutes. At night - every hour.
Things to do?
You should not constantly walk along the red light district, Dam Square and other tourist places. Walk through once, check the box and move further away - beyond the Old Town area. This is where Amsterdam will cover you without any grass.
You need to walk through all the parks while lazily drinking Grolsh or munching on waffles. Amsterdam is very green and the air is rich and tasty.
If you want fashion photographs, go to museums of modern art: Moco Museum (12.50 euros per ticket), Stedelijk Museum (18 euros) or gallery W139 (payment optional).
Here are a few more places.
- Huis Marseille, Museum for Photography - oldest museum photos on Keizersgracht 401.
- Canvas used to be a canteen for workers of the newspaper De Volkskrant. Now it's a cute rooftop bar with restaurant and club. Head to Wibautstraat 150.
- Cinemacenter- a cinema in retro-modern style, very beautiful. Movies in English. Ticket price: 9.50 euros. Search at Lijnbaansgracht, 236.
In general, Amsterdam is not the kind of city where you just want to run through all the sights and add the Netherlands to your boastful list of countries. Here you just need to walk - on foot, by bike, by boat. And this “must do” list only spoils everything, makes you fuss and run somewhere again. Isn’t that why we go on a trip?
Souvenirs
Chocolate Tony's Chocolonely
The bar is simply huge and catastrophically delicious. There are options with salted caramel and all sorts of coconuts. There are people who, for the sake of this chocolate, went on another Amsterdam trip. The packaging, by the way, is amazing.
A large tile costs 3.5 euros and can be found in almost any supermarket.
Monkey
You can buy this cutie at the souvenir shop. Central Station in the IJ-hal pavilion, and it costs a little more than 6 euros. The origin of this monkey is unknown and why it was given the honor of being included in the souvenir collection is also unknown. If you find out, tell us.
Duck
Rubber duck in an unpredictable costume from the Amsterdam Duck Store - great option souvenir. There are also small keychains in the store - but what's the point of them? You need to take a full duck for 25 euros. Collectible options (like Darth Vader, who glows when in contact with water) will cost more. By the way, the store does not accept cash, payment is only by card. You need to look for a duck's nest at Oude Leliestraat, 16.
It is better to buy all kinds of standard magnets, tulip bulbs and porcelain figurines (if you need them) in the Pijp Oud-Zuid area. On a secret street somewhere between the Heineken factory and Sarphatipark there is a market where you can buy watermelon smoothies, fresh fish, a leather belt, mini pasta and traditional souvenirs. They will be no different from magnets from the famous 100% Holland store.
You can also buy a cool set of house magnets at the Flower Market - 10 pieces for 12 euros.
If you think that you will get high from chocolate, tea or lollipop with cannabis, this is not so. Although it depends on the strength of self-hypnosis.
At Waterlooplein Market you can also find souvenirs, clothes and even antiques. The market is open every day, except Sunday, from 9:00 to 16:00.
In general, don’t be afraid to feel somehow uncomfortable in Amsterdam because of the embodiment of imposed stereotypes. Yes, the smell of grass is permanent. Yes, the Red Light District starts working in the evening. Yes, you can meet a grown man at a bar with makeup and a dress a la “Captain Sequin.” But there is no feeling that there is only debauchery around, everyone is stoned and insane. Amsterdam is not about that at all.
When you come to Amsterdam, you notice that the city has a certain elusive charm, no matter if you are walking around and looking at the blue sky, if it is drizzling or even when Amsterdam is flooded with crowds of tourists during the high season.
So you shouldn't choose best time for travel, when you can, then come. If you can easily rearrange your plans, here are some tips.
Typically, most tourists visit Amsterdam between April and September, when the days are long and the temperatures are milder than other months.
The only constant in Amsterdam is the unpredictable weather. There is no guarantee that good or bad weather. The Dutch plan their day and don't look at the weather forecast - do the same.
When is the cheapest time to visit Amsterdam?
The cheapest tickets and low prices in hotels - from late October to early March. The only exception is winter holidays.
Amsterdam in spring
Spring is superb - the city is covered in snow, but the crocus and hyacinths are already blooming, and people take off their winter clothes and change into lighter ones, celebrating spring.
Below is given detailed information on weather, holidays and events during the spring months in Amsterdam.
March. Festive lights are switched on to celebrate the opening of the famous Keukenhof royal flower park.
April. Get on your bike and ride around Amsterdam. A whole field of lanterns lights up. And also join the Dutch in celebrating the biggest event of the year - Queen's Day.
May. Enjoy long and warm days. Walk around Amsterdam and remember that summer is coming - the peak tourist season.
Amsterdam in summer
Endless cultural festivals open, concerts on outdoors and 16 hours of sun and warm air. Despite the large crowd of tourists, summer is the most wonderful time to relax in Amsterdam.
Below is detailed information on the weather, holidays and events during the summer months in Amsterdam.
June. Visit Amsterdam's two main summer festivals - the Flower Festival and the Roots Festival.
July. This is the time for outdoor dining, outdoor movie watching and shopping during seasonal discounts. July is also the hottest month of the year.
August. On the first Saturday in August, a gay pride parade takes place on the canals of Amsterdam. Take part in the classical music festival on the canals.
Amsterdam in autumn
The colder weather is coming, and with it the season of discounts on air tickets. The Dutch celebrate autumn and have a cozy lunch in their favorite cafes and restaurants.
September. Take advantage of the fact that the crowd of tourists has subsided and stroll through the warm streets of Amsterdam. The weather is just perfect!
October. Run the Amsterdam Marathon, go dancing at the Dance Festival, which takes place on ocher-painted water canals.
November. Visit the Night of Museums and the festival of local children - Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas).
Amsterdam in winter
Amsterdam is best visited in winter if you are not afraid of the cold and want to celebrate the New Year! The holiday is simply amazing!
Below is detailed information on the weather, holidays and events during the winter months in Amsterdam.
December. Celebrate Christmas and winter holidays according to all holiday canons. You can meet him on boats - admiring the fireworks is the best way - drink champagne there and wish Happy New Year to everyone, everyone, everyone, it’s also very convenient, but you don’t have to stand out.
January. It's best to go shopping in January - there are unprecedented promotions, huge discounts, and air tickets are cheaper than ever!
February. Treat your partner to a trip to romantic Amsterdam. I assure you, she will not be disappointed!
Amsterdam is an ideal city for walking. Even if you only have three or four days, don’t miss the moment to breathe in the aroma of this city. Guide to Amsterdam
The best day of the week to travel to Amsterdam is Thursday. From Thursday to Saturday in the city until late at night bars and clubs are open, and even museums and shops remain open a couple of hours longer than usual. In a week-end in Amsterdam you can do everything that even a week would not be enough to do in another city. Book a ticket with an early flight to Amsterdam on Thursday and a maximum late return on Sunday, then you will have exactly 4 days left to travel to all the sights of the city: from banal, but so attractive for millions of tourists, walks through the Red Light District with visits to coffee shops, to attending floristry courses and studying Dutch Art Deco or Renaissance architecture. And don’t be surprised if the city seems a little Russian: St. Petersburg retains the features of Amsterdam, Tsar Peter the Great did not hide his love for the capital of the Netherlands, and the daughter of Emperor Paul I, Grand Duchess Anna, was Queen of the Netherlands for 9 years after getting married for the Prince of Orange, the future Willem II, the city of Anna Pavlovna was named in her honor in the province of North Holland, and the queen herself was called by her subjects “The Russian Flower of Holland.”
When to go? Best time to visit Amsterdam
You can come to the capital of the Netherlands all year round. But the best time to visit Amsterdam is starting from the end of March to mid-September. As soon as the flower park announces its opening ( end of March) - Can book flights to Amsterdam. At this time people go to the city to enjoy the tulips blooming, then admire the largest flower parade in Europe Bloemencorso (end of April – beginning of May) and celebrate Queen's Birthday (April 30), a little later, overeat on herring in Flag Day (first Saturday in June) and sunbathe on city beaches ( all summer). The so-called “high season” for some ends in September, again the guideline is Flower Festival, other flora lovers prefer to come to Amsterdam at the end of November to visit International festival hemp. And, of course, at the end of December, you need to go to Amsterdam for Christmas, when the whole city resembles illustrations from a children’s fairy tale, and to believe in miracles you don’t need to resort to an additional change of consciousness.
How to get to Amsterdam
By plane from Moscow to Amsterdam in 3 hours 30 minutes with direct airline flights Aeroflot And KLM(there is also flights St. Petersburg - Amsterdam). They fly to Amsterdam with transfers in Prague, Riga or Tallinn Czech Airlines, AirBaltic And Estonian Air.
SEARCH FOR AIR TICKETS TO AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is also easily accessible by train from Paris. If you suddenly want to change the romance of the city of love to equally romantic walks along the canals of Amsterdam, then you can easily get to the capital of the Netherlands in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Trains run almost every hour (the first train from Paris leaves at 6.22, the last train from Amsterdam at 19.19), one-way ticket prices start from €35. The same trip can be made by plane. KLM flight Paris-Amsterdam will take you to your destination in 1 hour 15 minutes ( very convenient if you want to visit Keukenhof park, where bus No. 858 runs from Schiphol airport).
From Amsterdam Airport getting to the city center (Amsterdam Centraal) is the easiest by train. Trains depart from the airport every 10 minutes, one-way ticket costs €3.90. The first train leaves at 00.13, the last at 23.58.
If you plan to dedicate most time of travel to Amsterdam, trips to museums - purchase the I Amsterdam card, which entitles you to an unlimited number of trips to public transport, one canal tour and entry to 38 of Amsterdam's main museums. The card costs 42 euros for 24 hours, 52 euros for 48 hours or 62 euros for 72 hours.
Where to live? Best hotels in Amsterdam
Many hotels in Amsterdam have not escaped the pan-European scourge and the traveler has to choose between beauty and comfort, that is, either historical interiors, or the hotel will have a fitness center and swimming pool. But still there is a golden mean. These are hotels of famous international hotel brands, for example, DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station And Radisson Blu Hotel Amsterdam, and 5* hotels, such as De L"Europe Amsterdam And Conservatorium Hotel. If a few days without exercise equipment don't seem like a disaster to you, then you should pay attention to the hotel The Toren, located in a 17th-century house located on one of the most picturesque Amsterdam canals. A little further on the same canal there is a hotel similar to The Toren Sebastian's. For fans of painting and the bohemian lifestyle, the magnificent building was built in 1882 and has since become one of the favorite places of painters Georg Hendrik Breitner, Isaac Israels and many others.
Or you might find yourself in the same boat as local residents by booking a room in an authentic houseboat. A couple of nights in Hotelboat IDEAAL or The Guest-Houseboat- an excellent choice for those who want to be “like the locals” in everything during their trip.
- DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ACCOMMODATION IN AMSTERDAM HOTELS
Meal'n'Real. Sights of Amsterdam
First, see the city from the water: take a boat tour Holland International (departure from the pier, Prins Hendrikkade 33a, every 30 minutes from 10.00 to 21.00; excursion cost €14). Alternatively, you can buy a ticket for an unlimited number of trips during the day on a shuttle boat for €22 Canal Bus with a glass roof, and then you can stop in any place you like. 
The center of medieval Amsterdam is located in the southwest of the confluence of the rivers IJ and Amstel. On artificial island north of the old city lies Centraal station, the point where most tourists arrive to transfer to the city's trams, buses and boats. Old city framed by a semicircle of canals; to the east of it the port docks begin, and on the opposite bank of the canal Singelgracht located museum district; lies in the west Jordan area, gaining popularity among artists and students.
It’s worth going for a walk around the city early to avoid queuing at museums and galleries. Although, some, in order to be able to walk nearby, even prefer to live in hotels at museums, such as the hotel Kattenkabinet V . 
But still, no matter where you live, you should start your walk around the city from the museum district, where you can get acquainted with history precious stones, films, the art of the bartender in House of Bols– the oldest distillery in the world ( Address: Paulus Potterstraat, 14. Open to the public every day from 12.00 to 18.30, on Fridays the museum is open until 22.00, on Saturdays until 20.00. Price entrance ticket, which also includes a welcome-drink - € 12.50, on Fridays after 17.00 for visitors a discount on a ticket - € 5. Persons under 18 years of age are not allowed to enter the museum.). There is even a museum. But most come to the area to spend two or three days visiting the fine arts museums. The most outstanding masterpieces of Dutch art can be seen in the museum (Address: Museumstraat, 1 The museum is open daily from 9.00 to 18.00. Entrance fee is €10, for children under 18 years old - free). The works of artists, sculptors and designers who worked in the style of modernism, pop art, expressionism and other fashionable art movements are presented in the city museum of modern art Stedelijk. (Address: Museumplein 10. The museum is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00, on Thursdays the museum is open until 22.00. Entrance fee € 15, for children from 13 to 18 years old - € 7.50, children under 12 years old - free). Next door to it is located Van Gogh Museum, which houses the world's largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh himself and other 19th-century artists. (Address: Paulus Potterstraat, 7. The museum is open daily from 9.00 to 17.00, on Fridays until 22.00. Entrance €14).
In the Protestant Church ( Address: Prinsengracht. Open to the public from 11.00 to 15.00, every day except Sunday). This is one of oldest churches in Holland, in 1966, on the walls of the Westerkerk, the former Queen of Holland Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard married Claus von Amsberg. The building was built at the beginning of the 17th century by the city architect Hendrik de Keyser from brick and stone, typical of the Dutch Renaissance. Rembrandt is buried here in a common grave for the poor, although no one knows exactly where. From the channel side Prinsengracht above the entrance to the temple there is number 279. The church clerk's house is located immediately behind the church at number 281. In the small square in front of the priest's house there is a statue of Anne Frank. Due to the fact that almost everyone who has a camera takes a photo of the statue, the clerk’s house is more often than any other building in Amsterdam caught on camera. A little further at number 263 is located Anne Frank House (Open from March 15 to September 14 from 09.00 to 21.00, on Saturdays until 22.00. From September 15 to March 14, the museum is open from 09.00 to 19.00. on Saturdays until 21.00. Entrance fee for adults is €9, children from 10-17 years old - €4.50, children under 10 years old - free).
From the church, take a walk into the area known as Grachten Gordel or the "necklace of canals", a continuation of the crowded medieval city that expanded in the 17th century. The city center is surrounded by a web of three main canals - Herengracht, Keizersgracht And Prinsengracht, a tour along which is an exciting way to get acquainted with the history of the city. Follow the flow of the canal past the house of a rich merchant (Herengracht, 170-172) made of red brick, built in the 17th century in the Dutch Renaissance style. Notice how the facade of the building curves, following the line of the canal. 
To get acquainted with everyday life local population aboard one of the canal houseboats, visit the museum ( Address: Prisengracht 296. Open from 11.00 to 17.00 from Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance €3.75), equipped in a cargo ship converted into housing.
Another beautiful example of Dutch architecture house DeBazel, extended along the canal Vijzelstraat from Herengracht to Keizersgracht is an impressive Art Deco creation that once housed the ABN-AMRO bank and now houses the city archives. Take the elevator to the third floor and then descend the staircase, decorated with stunning wood paneling, stained glass and tiles. Now compare what you saw with the interiors of the museum Van Loon Museum (Address: Keizersgracht, 672. The museum is open from 11.00 to 17.00, closed on Tuesday, entrance €8), built as a private house in the 1670s and retaining 17th-century furnishings. There is an English garden in the backyard of the museum, and further back there is a carriage house open for tours. End your walk on the Amstel River, near the bridge Magere Brug, which means “skinny bridge”, and go to a local cafe for lunch.
Cafes and restaurants in Amsterdam
The old town is full of so-called “brown cafes” - Bruin cafes- cozy bars in which the menu goes beyond the concept of “snacks”, so the problem of “where to eat” in Amsterdam never arises as an acute pain in a hungry stomach. In addition to the variety in the menu, “brown cafes” most often have original interiors, which distracts a little from plates of delicious food, but in general is good for the appetite. You can go have a look and drink a glass of wine in one of the oldest cafes in Amsterdam - Hoppe (Spui, 18-20). The first visitors stood at the bar back in 1670. Nowadays this part of the establishment (in house No. 18) is called Stand-Hoppe. The bar with seating is located at number 20.
The art deco style bar is perfect for breakfast or lunch. Bar Lempicka (Sarphatistraat, 23) near the bridge Magere Brug. And Cafe Neva (Amstel, 51) V Hermitage Museum on the banks of the Amstel River. The latter is especially good in moments of nostalgia for the Motherland; the name of the cafe “Neva” and its location in the Hermitage, albeit on the Amstel River, is not an accident; this is a branch of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, opened on June 19, 2009. The opening hours of the Hermitage in Amsterdam are from 9.00 to 17.00. The museum is closed to the public on December 25 and April 30. The entrance ticket for adults starts from € 15, for children – € 5, with an I Amsterdam card – free.
Do you want not food for the eyes, but tasty and plentiful food? Then go for lunch at ( Staalstraat, 4), the menu of which has a luxurious selection of soups, omelettes, homemade meatballs and all at very low prices. If hunger strikes while walking around the area Jordan, then it’s worth staying in the cafe "t Smalle Eten (Egelantiersstraat, 24-26). The menu here is small, preference is given to simple hearty food: soups, sausages, cheeses and “ahhh... homemade meatballs!”, but the dishes are prepared and served very stylishly. The cafe appeared on the site of a distillery opened by Peter Hoppe in 1780. After the plant moved to Schiedam, the new owners opened a bar in 1978, and then a cafe, while the interiors (for example, colored glass medallions created in 1900) and the atmosphere prevailing in the bar and cafe are to this day as close as possible to the atmosphere of their predecessor.
Evenings in Amsterdam are best spent in night bars. Two minutes walk from the square Dam Square the restaurant is located Bubbles and Wines(Address: Nes, 37. Opening hours: daily from 15.30 to 21.00, on Sundays the bar opens at 14.00) – more than 50 types of wines and champagne are served here for a reasonable fee. There is a cafe next door Nes-cafe (Address: Nes, 33. The cafe is open daily from 16.00 to 01.00, on Fridays and Saturdays the establishment is open until 03.00). Nes-cafe serves Gulpener beer and it is impossible to find instant coffee. And on Thursdays and Sundays, fans of pool games can compete in a billiards tournament.
Shopping in Amsterdam
One of best destinations for shopping in Amsterdam - quarter Negen Straatjes, which translated means “nine streets” is a charming place, sandwiched between two canals, where it is pleasant not only to shop, but also to simply wander around, window shopping. It is full of boutiques, collectors' shops, bookstores and other small establishments for every taste and budget. A unique museum open air- a daytime flower market stretching along the banks of the canal Singel. At the market you can buy bulbs of beautiful tulips - a very original souvenir from Holland that you can admire at home.
If you prefer to shop under a roof, then a modern department store is for you. De Bijenkorf (Dam Square, 1), Amsterdam's largest department store, with many stores offering fashion brands and designer homewares.
SMART note: To use the SmartTrip guide to Amsterdam while traveling, install the Foursquare app on your smartphone and simply save the list To Amsterdam with Sophie Orman. This way you definitely won’t miss the most interesting things.
Amsterdam is one of the European capitals, which is very popular among tourists from different countries, including among Russians.
Since it is not expected in Amsterdam beach holiday, then there is practically no so-called low season in the city - after all, all attractions and entertainment are available to tourists all year round (although there are periods when there are fewer tourists than usual).
Nevertheless the weather in Amsterdam varies quite a lot from season to season, Therefore, choosing the time to travel depends on your preferences and goals.
Spring
Tourists who come to Amsterdam in the spring can expect good weather - already at the beginning of March, winter begins to slowly recede, and the air warms up more and more. However, I would not call March an ideal month for a trip - it is quite damp, so walking in the fresh air is not very pleasant. Average March temperatures, as a rule, do not exceed ten degrees, but precipitation is quite possible.
April and May are some of the best months to visit the city. Average monthly temperatures are already reaching 15-18 degrees, and the amount of rain is beginning to slowly decrease. The dampness is already leaving, so you can walk all day long, secondly, it becomes quite warm and sunny, and, finally, thirdly, it is at this time that flowers bloom in Amsterdam - first of all, these are, of course, tulips, which This is how the Netherlands is famous.
In general, the weather is conducive to visiting the city, and the flowers give it a special charm. Not far from Amsterdam there is Keukenhof Park, where the tulip season takes place - at this time guests come there to admire the different varieties of these magnificent flowers.
On April 30, the Birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands, tourists also come to Amsterdam to admire the festivities dedicated to this event.
Summer
Summer is the warmest and sunniest season in Amsterdam. It is in the summer that there are most clear, fine days. At the same time, in summer it is not at all hot in Amsterdam (like, for example, in the southern European city of Madrid), so the stifling heat will not prevent you from exploring the city.
I will give specific figures - in summer the daytime temperature in the city is 18 - 20 degrees, extremely rarely the thermometer creeps to 25 and above.
In my opinion ,summer is one of the best seasons to explore the Dutch capital- perfect for walking and sightseeing.
However, it is worth considering that it is possible that the temperature may drop and it will rain - it would be a good idea to take a jacket and an umbrella with you, and perhaps even some warm clothes.
In summer the city hosts the Dutch theater festival in the Vondelpark (usually takes place at the beginning of June)
and other events (there are quite a lot of them, you can choose something to suit your taste).
Autumn
Amsterdam is quite beautiful in early autumn - you can see colorful leaves and the so-called golden autumn. In September the weather is still quite warm, which is conducive to walking.
By the way, just in September the city hosts a flower parade. As I mentioned above, Amsterdam is famous for flowers, or rather tulips. A flower auction is taking place near the capital - those interested can buy potted plants there or just see what is on offer. On the first weekend of September, there is also a flower parade - fancy structures made from real fresh flowers ride through the city streets on huge mobile platforms. The whole event ends with concerts and fireworks.
But in October the picture changes dramatically - cool, rainy (and at times windy) weather awaits you.
November temperatures drop below 10 degrees, and inhospitable weather makes exploring the city difficult.
Winter
Amsterdam winter is far from the most pleasant time of year. As a rule, temperatures are not very low - they rarely drop below zero, but at this time the city is wet, damp, windy and cool. It is during this season that the city is characterized by fog and thunderstorms.
Sometimes it’s true that frosts come into the city and snow falls - but still this happens quite rarely.
From own experience I note that our trip to this city took place at the beginning of January (it just so happened) and it was far from the best time to visit the city - in all five days we never saw the sun, although it was not very cold - on average 5- 7 degrees, but it often rained, which by the way started quite suddenly, it was constantly wet and damp. Mostly we tried to be indoors - museums, restaurants, bars, but short runs between them did not bring us any joy :)
We were able to walk around the city itself only a couple of times, when it was relatively dry.
Of course, we liked the museums and others interesting places, but next time we would not go to Amsterdam in winter.
In my opinion, the best time to visit this city is from April to September, next time we will try to get tickets for this time.
Best season to visit Amsterdam
So, to summarize, I note that most best season to visit Amsterdam - these are the summer months, as well as late spring or early autumn. Of course good weather attracts other tourists to the city, so you will be surrounded by crowds almost everywhere. Hotels (especially those at low prices) sell out quite quickly, so if you are planning a visit to Amsterdam during this period, it is better to book everything in advance. For the same reasons, queues at museums and other entertainment venues are not uncommon.
Also, the flow of tourists to Amsterdam is increasing by New Year and Christmas - prices may rise during this period, although the weather leaves much to be desired.
The quietest (dead) season in the city is November, early December, late January and February- if you are prepared for cold and damp (in Amsterdam there is generally high humidity, but this is especially felt in winter) weather, then you can go there during this period. A pleasant bonus will be discounts on housing, air tickets and the absence of a large number of tourists.
In general, choose based on your preferences, because each season has both its pros and cons.