Karissa Key | Live the World
October 6, 2022
When you visit this country, you will see it for yourself. Bikes are such an essential part of our lives, that the whole infrastructure is designed for it. There are specific lanes for bikes, there are bike parkings everywhere (in Utrecht there is the biggest bike parking in the world) and there are more bikes in the Netherlands than people (23 million, which means every person owns 1.3 bikes on an average)!
Bicycles make life in the Netherlands so much easier. Because the land is flat, and as mentioned before, everything is designed for it, it is a great thing to add to your bucket list when visiting the Low Countries! Travel like a local, hop on a bicycle and just go!
While you're biking around Amsterdam, here are some activities also fun to check out:
We start with the most central and maybe even most important location. If you are coming from outside of the centre or are visiting Amsterdam for just a day, it is perfect to get off the train and pay a visit to MacBike immediately. You can rent different types of bikes here, such as electric bikes, bikes for kids, tandems and more, and either take the (free) ferry from behind the station and go to Amsterdam North to visit the A’DAM Lookout or Pink Beach, or explore the other parts of Amsterdam.
Address: De Ruijterkade 34, 1012 AA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price regular bike: €9,75 per day
More into the city centre is Green Bugdet Bike, which is more convenient if you are already in the canal belt. You can also book a bike tour here in 5 different languages, where they will show you all the highlights of Amsterdam. Green Budget Bike offers different types of bikes as well, such as electric bikes, cargo bikes, kids bikes and more.
This part of the city is where most tourist attractions are (such as the Red Light District, Dam Square and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam) and is very lively, which means that it can get quite busy. There are many people here making their way through the centre, and they go at a fast pace. If you are not so confident on a bike yet, make sure to start in a quiet place. In this way, you can get used to this new way of transportation and cycle like a local at the end of your stay!
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 147E, 1012 ES Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price regular bike: €9 per day
If your hotel is in the East of Amsterdam and you would like to rent a bike, Black Bikes Muiderpoort might be a good option for you. Amsterdam East is also a little less crowded, so if you are not an advanced cycler yet, it is nice to start off here.
Amsterdam East is a very diverse part of the city. There are many different cultures, which means loads of restaurants from different cuisines to explore! But apart from that, there are many other things to see and to do in this part of the city. Cycle to De Gooyer Windmill, to zoo Artis or to Distillery ‘t Nieuwe Diep, where you can have a drink at an old gas station. If you would rather take it slow, make your way to Oosterpark, park your rental somewhere and relax in the grass.
Address: Land van Cocagneplein 1E, 1093 NB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price regular bike: €16,49 for 24 hours
De Pijp is a popular area, with loads of nice spots. It is the perfect place to stay, since it is not as crowded as the centre, but still has many nice restaurants, bars and cafes. From here it is not far to the centre at all, and you can easily rent a bike at Ajaxbike. Here they rent out normal bikes, and you can add a child seat if you like.
This neighbourhood used to be a working class district, but today is one of the most popular places to live. Visit the Albert Cuyp Market or go to the Heineken Experience. Cycle to Oud-Zuid (Old South), and visit the Rijksmuseum and after that cycle underneath the trees and along the ponds in Vondelpark.
Address: Gerard Doustraat 153, 1073 VW Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price regular bike: €9,50 per day
Amsterdam West is my favourite part of Amsterdam, not just because it has a lot of nice places such as coffee bars and boba tea spots, but also because just walking or cycling through the streets is an amazing way to spend your time here.
If you are in this part of the city, Bike City is the perfect place to go to. Here you can rent child seats as well as child trailers. On a sunny day, park your bike in the neighbourhood the Jordaan, and stroll through the 9 Streets. After this, go to the Waterkant and have lunch at the water while watching the boats go by.
Address: Bloemgracht 68-70, 1015 TL Amsterdam, Netherlands
Price regular bike: €16 for 24 hours
Wondering on where to go next and what to do along the bike paths in Amsterdam? Check out our 3 day in Amsterdam itinerary - and explore the city your way, at your own pace.
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