Updated: January 7, 2023
Are you planning a trip to Amsterdam and feeling overwhelmed by all the options? With its world-renowned museums and art galleries, bustling streets, and beautiful canals, it’s no wonder Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most popular destinations. But with so much to see and do, it can be a bit overwhelming for first-time visitors. That’s where travel guides come in. These handy resources can help you plan your trip, navigate the city’s crowded streets, and make the most of your time in Amsterdam.
In this post, we’ve hand-picked the best travel guides for Amsterdam, all of which are fully updated for 2023. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to the city’s top attractions, or a more focused guide on a specific area of interest, we’ve got you covered. Plus, by using our affiliate links, you’ll be supporting our site while getting all the information you need to have a fantastic trip. So why wait? Start planning your visit to the Netherlands today with the help of these fully updated travel guides! With the right guide in hand, you’ll be able to make the most of your time in Amsterdam and have an unforgettable trip.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to Amsterdam that covers all the city has to offer, Lonely Planet’s Amsterdam Travel Guide is a great choice. This guidebook includes recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences, so you can explore the city like a local. With up-to-date information and planning tools for families, this guide is perfect for travelers of all types. Plus, the guide includes a “What’s NEW” feature that taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas to explore. If you want to hop aboard a canal boat, admire art at the Van Gogh Museum, or browse the Albert Cuypmarkt, this guide has you covered. And with a pull-out “Just Landed” card featuring wi-fi, ATM, and transport info, you’ll have everything you need for a smooth journey from the airport to your hotel.
If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam and looking for a comprehensive guidebook to help you make the most of your time in the city, Fodor’s Amsterdam is a great choice. Written by local experts, this guidebook includes maps, recommendations, and everything else you need to explore the city like a local. The guidebook features an illustrated ultimate experiences guide to the top things to see and do, multiple itineraries to help you organize your days, and more than 30 detailed maps and a free pull-out map to help you navigate confidently. It also includes color photos, recommendations from locals, trip-planning tools, and historical and cultural insights. With special features like “Ultimate Experiences,” “What to Watch and Read Before You Visit,” and “Where to See Tulips,” this guidebook is perfect for travelers of all types. Plus, with up-to-date coverage on Amsterdam and the surrounding area, you’ll have everything you need to plan a fantastic trip.
Lonely Planet’s Pocket Amsterdam is a compact guidebook that will help you explore the city neighborhood by neighborhood. With up-to-date information, full-color maps and travel photography, and insider tips to help you save time and money, this guidebook is a great resource for travelers of all types. The guidebook includes highlights and itineraries to help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests, as well as essential info at your fingertips like hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, and prices. Plus, with honest reviews for all budgets, you’ll be able to find the best places to eat, sightsee, go out, shop, and more. The guidebook also includes a convenient pull-out map of Amsterdam (included in the print version) and over 18 color neighborhood maps to help you navigate the city with ease. With a user-friendly layout and helpful icons, Lonely Planet’s Pocket Amsterdam is a must-have for anyone visiting the city.
If you’re looking to explore Amsterdam on foot, National Geographic’s Walking Amsterdam guidebook is a great resource. With 13 walking and driving tours of the city, this guidebook will help you discover the best of Amsterdam’s cultural scene. From the renovated Rijksmuseum and the exclusive Van Gogh Museum, to the charming cafes and boutiques of the largest historical district in Europe, there’s something for everyone in this guidebook. You’ll also find information on the narrow streets and art galleries of Jordaan, the Prinsengracht house where Anne Frank hid, and the largest flea market in Europe, IJ-hallen. Beautifully illustrated and easy to navigate, National Geographic’s Walking Amsterdam is a must-have for anyone visiting the city.
If you’re looking for an insider’s guide to Amsterdam, Amsterdam Like a Local is a great resource. Written by the people who call Amsterdam home, this guidebook offers a unique perspective on the city. With a two-color, bold, modern design and contemporary illustrations throughout, this guidebook is visually appealing and easy to navigate. The authors are true locals who have been picked for having their fingers on the pulse and their diverse tastes. Their suggestions and advice are accompanied by quotes from Amsterdam creatives, performers, volunteers, and business leaders, giving the book a local feel.
Structured by six themes and subsequent sub-themes, rather than areas, Amsterdam Like a Local is designed to echo how people are traveling, rather than where. Each entry includes its unique address so you can pinpoint precisely where you’re headed. The guidebook also includes tours focused on specific interests or experiences, such as a foodie tour of Oud-West or art and antiques shopping in the Spiegelkwartier. In addition to traditional tourist attractions like the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, and Van Gogh museum, the guidebook also includes recommendations for exploring the city’s leafy parks, hip shops, craft breweries, and hot clubs.
With local tips and recommendations for exploring Amsterdam, secret places that only a local would know, hands-on experiences, and ideas for traveling solo, in a pair, and in a crowd, Amsterdam Like a Local has something for everyone. The guidebook also includes tips on how to travel sensibly in a post-Covid world without compromising on experience. If you want to experience the heart and soul of Amsterdam, this guidebook is a must-have.
By reading up on history of our travel destinations we can better understand the behaviour of those living in the places that we visit. Every place that we visit has its own unique history. Amsterdam has a long and rich history. This book, by famous Dutch historian and author Geert Mak, walks you through centuries of history about Amsterdam. On Amazon the publisher writes ‘In this fascinating examination of the city’s soul, part history, part travel guide, Geert Mak imaginatively recreates the lives of the early Amsterdammers, and traces Amsterdam’s progress from waterlogged settlement to a major financial center and thriving modern metropolis’.
In all our overviews of travel guides, we include a travel book that is made for children. This Amsterdam for Kids Travel Book is easy to use for children and will be really entertaining for kids making the life of parents much easier, even on longer trips. The book includes: 120 pages, 6×9, cream paper and a beautiful matte-finished cover. The book will help making the trip to Amsterdam fun, easy and entertaining for you and the kids.
Rick Steves’ Amsterdam & the Netherlands is a comprehensive guidebook that will help you explore the best of Amsterdam and the surrounding area. Written by travel expert Rick Steves, this guidebook includes maps, recommendations, and everything else you need to plan a successful trip to Amsterdam and the Netherlands. With a focus on history, culture, and value, this guidebook is perfect for travelers of all types.
In this guidebook, you’ll find information on the top sights and activities in Amsterdam, as well as tips on how to save money and experience the city like a local. You’ll also find recommendations for day trips to surrounding areas, including Rotterdam, Delft, and the Dutch countryside. With a focus on local life, this guidebook will help you get off the beaten path and discover the authentic Netherlands.
Whether you’re interested in art, history, food, or just soaking up the local culture, Rick Steves’ Amsterdam & the Netherlands has something for you. With practical tips and honest recommendations, this guidebook is a must-have for anyone visiting Amsterdam and the Netherlands.
