I've been wanting to go to Amsterdam with my girlfriend for a while now but the prices scare me. I've seen that hotels are crazy expensive and so is the food. Has anyone been there recently and can tell me if it's worth it or if there are any tricks to save money?
The smartest thing is to go in low season (November to March) because prices drop quite a bit and hotels aren't nearly as packed 🏨 Amsterdam is still expensive, but if you stay a little outside the center and eat at local cafés instead of tourist restaurants, the difference is huge. A typical pub or a Dutch pancake costs way less than what you see in the guidebooks. And honestly, if you both share a room and cook something at the hostel or Airbnb, the costs go down massively. It's worth it, but you gotta be strategic about where you spend your money 😄
Yes, it's still expensive, but not as much as it was a couple of years ago. What I see is that a lot of people fixate on hotels in the city center and freak out, when really there are neighborhoods like De Pijp or Oud-West where you find much more reasonable places and you're still just 10 minutes by bike or tram from the center. Food in tourist restaurants is a ripoff, obviously, but if you eat where locals eat (cafés, Dutch bakeries, your typical corner café) you spend a fraction of that.
What most people don't mention is that in Amsterdam you barely need a car or expensive taxis if you get around by bike or public transport. The bicycle is more than just a trick, it's the normal way of life there, and renting one costs almost nothing. That saves you a ton on getting around. Also, if you go in November or January, prices really drop, and plus it rains less than people think.
My take is that it's worth it, especially if you travel with the mindset to explore beyond Central Station and the red light district. The city has something that hooks you, the canals are genuinely beautiful, and if you don't fall for tourist traps, you can keep your budget pretty under control.
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