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Plan Your Amsterdam City Trip Without Worrying About Rain

Cold and Rainy Amsterdam: What to do? Imagine this: you booked a fun city trip to Amsterdam. Flights are confirmed, and your stay at Amsterdam Teleport Hotel is booked! Now the excitement begins. In the evenings, you sit on the couch, browsing the internet, and check all the places you want to visit. The list of must-see spots can quickly feel overwhelming. There is so much to do and see!

Check the Weather Before You Go

Then you realize one thing: the weather! You add Amsterdam to your favorite weather app. You refresh the page a few times. Can it be true? Every day of your trip will be gray and rainy! Don’t worry. Amsterdam has a mild sea climate with warm winters and cool summers. The city gets around 800mm of rain a year, spread over 184 days. Locals are used to this. Even in the rain, there is so much to do!

Cultural Hotspots Near Teleport Hotel

First, check out Westergasfabriek and De (Food) Hallen, both not far from the hotel. These are popular cultural hotspots with activities all year round. Westergasfabriek has shops, cafés, galleries, restaurants, and bars. Additionally, they organize a large indoor fashion, design, and art market once a month. Definitely worth a visit!

If you go a bit further by tram, you reach De Hallen. This former tram depot is now a cultural complex. Here you will find one of Amsterdam’s largest food courts, galleries, and unique shops. Film lovers will enjoy the largest independent cinema in the Netherlands. One hall, Hall 7, is even on the UNESCO heritage list because of its historical art-deco interior.

Activities in the Historic Center

Even in the old city, there is plenty to do in the rain. In the Red Light District, check out TonTon Club, a retro arcade with pinball machines and classic racing and shooting games. After playing, enjoy local beer at Brouwerij de Prael, or for a more touristy experience, visit Brouwerij ’t IJ, located in a classic Dutch windmill.

For a relaxing activity, take a canal cruise. You stay dry and hear interesting historical facts. In winter, you can enjoy a special Amsterdam Light Festival cruise at night

Museums and Cultural Trips

After the cruise, visit one of Amsterdam’s many museums. Get a skip-the-line ticket at the hotel desk and go straight in while others wait outside. Some options include: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Eye Filmmuseum, Nemo Science Museum, Anne Frank House, Tropenmuseum, Hermitage, and Foam Photo Museum.

Fun Indoor Activities

Escape rooms are also perfect for a rainy day. Sherlocked is under the Beurs van Berlage in the city center. Other great options are Claustrophobia and Zombie Escape.

Spots a Bit Further Away

Across the IJ river, behind Amsterdam Central, you’ll find the IJ-hallen, Europe’s largest flea market. Be careful—it only opens once a month. Another great spot is The World of Food in the Bijlmer (Amsterdam Zuidoost). Here you can try dishes from around the world at affordable prices.

Cold and Rainy Amsterdam: What to do? No problem! All in all, there is always something to do in Amsterdam, even when it rains. And if you are still worried, Teleport Hotel provides free umbrellas for guests!

Alternative Amsterdam: Off the Beaten Tourist Track

If you are staying at Teleport Hotel, Amsterdam is famous for its canals, museums, coffee shops, and red light district. There is so much to see and do. Get beyond the usual sights!

Even after a few days exploring, you might feel you didn’t see it all. And that’s true! Although Amsterdam is smaller than cities like Paris or Berlin, it offers more than the usual tourist spots. While the classics are great, you really get to know the city once you go off the beaten path. This guide will help make your trip more unique, local, and interesting.

NDSM

NDSM is a former wharf on the other side of the IJ river, behind the central station. Getting there is already an adventure. Free ferries connect the city centre to Amsterdam North. Take the ferry on the left side of the station to reach NDSM in about 10 minutes.

Once there, you’ll see the iconic crane and an old submarine in the water. Since the wharf went bankrupt in 1984, creative people have transformed it. Today, NDSM is full of street art, small workshops, galleries, and cool bars like Noorderlicht, Plekk, and KEBEC.

Ruigoord

Ruigoord is a small artistic village about 8 km from Teleport Hotel. In 1973, squatters turned it into a free haven for artists. Surrounded by greenery, it’s a peaceful place to work and live creatively. The village hosts big art projects and communal events. Many parties and festivals happen in the old church, making it a unique cultural spot.

Westergasfabriek

Westergasfabriek is an old gas factory in Westerpark. It closed in 1967 but was transformed into a popular cultural hub. Here, creativity and innovation thrive. The best way to experience it is by bike or on foot from the hotel, just 3 km away.

You can enjoy a coffee at Espressofabriek, a candy bar at Tony Chocolonely, a sandwich at Bakkerswinkel, or a local beer at Brouwerij Troost. Eat at Pacific Parc, dance, and try old-school arcade games at TonTon club. There is truly something for everyone.

Amsterdamse Bos

Many tourists don’t know Amsterdam has a beautiful forest. Locals walk their dogs, swim, attend concerts, festivals, or go for a run here. Visit the forest’s centre first to get maps of all trails and learn more about the area. Kids will love the educational centre on the second floor.

Other Local Gems

Even in autumn or winter, there are great local spots. Enjoy a drink at Hanneke’s Boom, Café Sound Garden, or Waterkant.

Markets like Albert Cuypstraat, Dapperstraat, and Noordermarkt are perfect for tasting local treats, including stroopwafels or herring.

For an even more local experience, try DinewithDutch, where you can have dinner at a Dutch family’s home. It doesn’t get more authentic than that!

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