1. Start with a free map

Free maps are available at the tourist information office, as well as the blue kiosks at Central Station.

2. Food Markets

Stroll along and fill your senses with sight, sound and smell at one of the many outdoor food markets like Albert Cuypstraat and Dapper markets. Go for free samples of cheeses and produce!

3. Free coffee

Some Albert Hein grocery stores have a coffee machine dispensing freshly-ground cups for shoppers; follow your nose!

4. Ferry rides

All ferries behind Central Station are free; pick one and see where it leads you (the average travel time is just five to 15 minutes).

5. See street art

A walk down Spuistraat will make you feel like you’ve entered a gritty and colorful street art exhibition. Art pieces can scale entire building faces, and much of the street is lined with different works side-by-side.

6. The Wave Game

My favorite game to play on a sunny afternoon. Dangle your legs on a canal that’s busy with touristy boats. When one putts along, wave at the boaters and count how many wave back (a good way to measure which boats are the most fun!).

7. Hang at the Dam

Spend time under the National Monument (you know, that tall, phallic-looking statue at Dam Square) and watch the many street performers and gathering crowds come and go.

8. Free jazz

There are quite a few free jazz nights at cafes like Jazz Café Alto and Chet’s. See what’s on when you’re in town. (Check out our previous post on free jazz performances for every night of the week.)

9. Free jigs

Mulligan’s Irish Bar, just off Rembrandtplein, hosts free live Irish music every night in its cozy and cheerful pub.

10. Flower power

Have you seen the floating flower market? It’s better to look and not buy the overly-priced souvenirs anyway, so have at it!

11. Jumping Jordaan

Walking the streets of the Jordaan district is a must for every visitor in Amsterdam. It was once an area for blue-collar workers during the 1600s, but now the quaint and cute streets and alleys have been gentrified and host a number of small art galleries.

12. Nose around Noordermarkt

On Saturdays there is a Farmers market, while Mondays are a mix of vintage clothing and antiques.

13. Nieuwmarkt is neat-o

The giant weigh station in the center of the square, De Waag, is often mistaken for a castle. However, this was the main entrance to old Amsterdam before the Golden Ages; then the square continued to lure locals interested in their main 17th-century attraction – public beheadings.

14. Free internet at the library

The public library (OBA) is right next to Central Station. It’s new and boasts a sleek modern look, with seven floors and the latest computers with free internet, free wireless, and even a free piano for tickling the ivory.

15. Priceless (and free) rooftop view

Also at the OBA is one of the best views of the Dam. Head to the top floor where café La Place is located, and outside there is a roof terrace overlooking the entire city.

16. Park it

Warm weather sends locals out to the parks. Spending the day in the sun with a good book and good company at hotspots like Vondelpark and Westerpark is one of the best ways to pass time in Amsterdam.

17. Naked ladies

Visiting the Red Light District is free, and safe! It’s the most visited part of the city, but hold off until dark when the red lights are glowing and swans gracefully float along the city’s oldest canals.

18. Free peace

In the heart of Spui square is the Begijnhof, a place where French nuns sought refuge from persecution in the 1600s. Inside this courtyard is a hidden Catholic church, a Protestant church (with services in English), and one of the two remaining wooden houses in Amsterdam.

19. Free art

Just next to Begijnhof on the left (from the exit facing the shopping street Kalverstraat ) is a hallway that’s part of the Amsterdam History Museum. It’s free to walk through, and the walls hold large portrait paintings of wealthy families and businessmen from the 1600s.

20. Beach it

A 20-minute train ride takes you to the North Sea coast town of Zandvoort. It’s the perfect place to soak up the sun with a good book.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Amsterdam right now? Check out our Amsterdam hotel guide, with reviews of budget hotels that have been visited and inspected by our editors. Read more in our Amsterdam hotel guide.

The post 20 free things to do in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

• Related: Heading to Amsterdam? Be sure to swing by our guide to the best cheap hotels in Amsterdam. Our editors have inspected, photographed and reviewed budget hotels all over the city center. Read more in our Amsterdam guide.

Here’s my plan for a perfect Cheapo-day:

Breakfast: Head to the Heijn

The local grocery store here is called Albert Heijn, and its shops are well equipped with meals “to go.” Find one with a coffee machine (sometimes free!) and grab one of the many warm, freshly-baked delights at the bakery.

While you’re there pick up a fresh, packaged sandwich and a bottled fruit smoothie for lunch. Find the drink section for a row of beers, sodas and bottled water all for under a euro each. Now you’re set for the day!

Cost: Warm ham and cheese croissant with a coffee/tea: about €2 (Tourist cafe price: €5)
Sandwich, smoothie and a drink: about €4.50 (Tourist cafe price: €12)

Transport: Rent a bike

Cycling around town is a fun way to see the city and cover lots of ground without your feet hurting from cobblestones. They’re also the quickest and cheapest way to get around. Trams cost €2.60 one way, and don’t even think about taxis.

Learn these bike safety rules, find a good bike rental store, and enjoy money well spent for your ride (and your health).

Good deal on daily rental: €7  (Typical tourist price: €12.50+)

Take in the big sights–on your bike

Between the canals and beautiful greenery, Amsterdam has endless opportunities for bicycle cruising. Start in the center and knock out the main sights: Dam Square, the Royal Palace, national monument, and Nieuwe Kerk.

Next, pedal over to Spui and peek inside the quiet walls of the Begijnhof, or follow Spuistraat and snap shots of all the funky graffiti coloring squatter residences.

Vondelpark-it

Make your way to Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest central park, and ride along the winding paths past lakes, ducks, rosebushes and weeping willows. Join the masses soaking up the sun, or follow the Amstel and Ij rivers for a canal-side break (there are plenty of benches with gorgeous views).

Munch on lunch as you people watch. Wave at the families and groups on boats cruising by.

Sunset and a free boat ride

For a unique view of the city and an ideal spot to watch a sunset, walk up the stairs of Amsterdam’s science center NEMO (the curvy green building near Amsterdam Central station).

While you’re there, why not take a free boat ride? Jump on one of the free ferries behind Centraal Station headed north. It’s only about a 10-minute walk from NEMO, and the ferry to “NDSF Werf” takes about 20 minutes each way.

Cheap dinner and a stroll

After returning your wheels for the day, split an order of the famous Dutch treat: “frites” with mayonnaise (€2 – €3). Yum.

Then treat yourself to a healthy falafel or vegetable wok (€3 to €5) at one of the many “in ‘n’ out” food shops along Zeedijk, Spui, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.

Looking for a little free romance? Couples will love strolling along the canals of the Jordaan, while others can do a bit of “window shopping” in the Red Light District.

Free concert

End the night with a bit of (free) live music at Jazz Café Alto, Mulligan’s Irish Pub or the Waterhole. And if you still have a few euros, buy yourself a drink. You successfully spent an Amsterdam day the EuroCheapo way!

The post Amsterdam: A day on less than €20 in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a few of my favorite FREE things to do in Amsterdam.

1) A walk, skate,  or museum visit, in the park…

Just south of the Leidseplein, you’ll find Vondelpark, a beautiful park nestled among the gray, towering blocks in Amsterdam’s city center.  Named for a famous poet, the space benefits from a location close to all the major museums and is a great place to stop after a busy day spent exploring the city.

Hundreds of acres of land are sprinkled with thriving greenery, colorful blooms, and the occasional wildlife (read: ducks, swans). Best of all? This urban oasis is FREE and open to the public every day of the year.

What to see and do: The National Film Museum, a treasure trove of more than 30,000 films, will wow eager art fans who will be tempted to stop and catch a screening. Playgrounds abound in Vondelpark, making it a delight for traveling family groups. You can rent a pair of skates from Snoephuisje (Vondelpark, 7) if you are up for some fun and games or just bring along a blanket and goodies for an idyllic picnic in the sun. And of course, summertime brings in numerous free concerts in the park’s quaint Open Air Theater.

Opening Hours: Daily (9 AM to 5 PM)

2) Narrowest house in the world?

Rather than visiting the high-profile tourist spots, wouldn’t it be more exciting to check out one of those little known record-breaking monuments? How about something quirky or innovative, something that made a mark above all its more glamorous peers? Well, this is one of those fascinating sites, and it’s FREE to enter and explore.

At Singel #7 (just off of the Singel Canal), barely reaching one meter in breadth, this house is definitely one of the narrowest in the world. Admittedly, it’s the entrance that boasts the most tiny proportions; the rest of the house is pretty run-of-the-mill. Nonetheless, it’s worth checking out.  And, hey, you could always stay at the Liberty Hotel (next door at #5) and snap some photos from your room.

Cheapo tip: If this topic continues to fascinate you, head over to Oude Hoogstraat, 22 which is also queuing up for the narrowest house title.

3) Statue-yes-que!

Amsterdam’s rich historical background is evident in a variety of city landmarks; no need to dish out oodles of cash for a bit of Dutch culture. Most landmarks signify amazing turning points in human history too, so catching a glimpse of them is certainly worth a jaunt. Here are three must-sees:

The Spinoza statue, located outside Amsterdam’s City Hall, is a requisite for history buffs. Dedicated to the renowned philosopher by the same name, the statue is a tribute to a great thinker of our time. Do snap a shot of the phrase near the statue: ‘The purpose of the State is freedom.’

Situated in the midst of Dam Square, the Dutch National Monument is a towering symbol dedicated to loved ones lost during World War II. A worthy testament.

Finally, in 2007, a bronze statue depicting a female prostitute was placed in Oudekerksplein, in front of the Oude Kerk.  As is the custom in Amsterdam, the sculpture aims to show respect for all those who choose prostitution as their line of work.

The post Amsterdam Tip: Free things to do appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.