Central Station!

Dating back centuries ago, Amsterdam always was a place of hustle and bustle. It was always the popular city that it is today. Many find it a point in their European travels to book a flight to Amsterdam, but are hesitant because it can be an expensive city. It is only expensive if you want it to be; get creative and explore Amsterdam on a shoestring budget and you’ll have extra cash later to visit again!

Budget Transportation: Did you know for under seven euros, you can travel all day around Amsterdam? The GVB, which is the public transportation system of Amsterdam, offers a 24-hour ticket that will let you travel around the entire city. Even the All Amsterdam Transport Pass is a steal; allowing unlimited use of the tram, night bus, metro and canal bus. Also, you can do as the Dutch and rent a bike for a day. You can always explore the city for free- often the best ways to enjoy Amsterdam. The city center is easy to navigate on foot, just make sure to have a good pair of walking shoes and a map.

Amsterdam 2013 events and iAmsterdam: The New Year will be especially important to Amsterdam as they celebrate incredible milestones and offer a year-full of exciting events. Did you know that the Canals will celebrate their 400-year anniversary in 2013? Why not visit the Amsterdam Heritage Museum for their exhibit, “Living on the Canal!” which is free if you purchase an iAmsterdam card.  The card includes free transport, a free canal cruise, free entrance to other top museums and other fantastic discounts. You can also wait until the weather warms up in June for the Open Garden Days, when gardens and canal houses open their gates to celebrate 400 years of garden history. There is no better time to visit Amsterdam than in 2013 for massive celebrations.

Flying Pig Uptown Hostel: Hostels have gotten a revitalized image since you last tried to think about those awful scary movies from a few years ago. Note: This hostel is for the under 35 crowd and for a reason. The Flying Pig Uptown Hostel is a second location to the flagship Flying Pig Downtown. You’ll feel right at home with the overfriendly guests, the superb bar and fun ambiance of the place. Starting at 24 Euros a night, you’ll also get free breakfast and linens, a walking tour, free Wi-Fi, use of the kitchen and all just a few blocks away from Amsterdam’s famous Vondelpark.

Cheap Eats: We’d like to challenge this awful rumor that Amsterdam does not have good food. We don’t know who started it, but we’re here to tell you the truth! There are lots of good and cheap eats to be found in Amsterdam and for every craving you like. Did you know you can get fresh five euro pizza all over Amsterdam? Porto Carrara is notorious for their pizza and pasta for a fiver, as long as you get a drink which is only two euros. Is it lunchtime already and you need some fuel to continue walking around the city? Get a large sandwich at Broodje Bert, for only € 6.50. And of course, the most famous cheap eat in Amsterdam is FEBO: coin operated fast food starting at €1.

People Watching in Amsterdam Central Station: Honestly, I get a kick out of people watching during all of my travels and especially at Amsterdam Central Station. It is a huge hub towards other European destinations and especially exciting during rush hour. Grab your camera and take pictures of this impressive station. Look up and find the Big A in stained glass on the ceiling on one of the tracks. Get outside and find yourself in awe of such a beautiful station and your first glimpse of the Amsterdam canals.
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photo: peterned