I had high hopes for Amsterdam.

Everything I had heard about Amsterdam led me to believe that it was going to be a trip to remember.

Amsterdam was magical, weird and unexpected. From the moment I arrived in the city in the late afternoon on a crisp, sunny fall day, I felt at home. The city instantly welcomed me with open arms. I headed to the hotel that I splurged on in Amsterdam Oost (West) to drop off my bags and head out to explore. There are also many hostels in Amsterdam if you’re looking to save money and female-only rooms are always an option! As a solo female traveller, my favourite activity is exploring with no destination in mind. I find this is the best way to be met with unexpected sights. Although, generally, I try to have the main sights in mind. Especially for Amsterdam, many tickets for museums must be purchased in advance.

I was on a mission to find a stroopwafel – a popular Dutch treat similar to a cookie, with two thin waffle like wafers with a sweet filling and sometimes dipped in chocolate. I quite literally ran to Albert Cuyp Markt before it was closing to try the famous Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels. With every bite I began to understand why they were so popular, still warm, the pastry melted in my mouth and the dark chocolate added perfect bitterness.

Next up, the perfect way to spend time solo is by wandering around all the museums. Amsterdam has no shortage of these. Among the most popular are the Van Gough Museum, Moco, Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. Afterwards, I grabbed a latte with Oat milk from a café (not to be mistaken with a coffeeshop – this is actually where you can buy marijuana!), strolled through the canal-lined streets while bikes were whizzing past me.

Don’t be afraid to sit by yourself, grab a beer and simply people-watch at a park such as Vondelpark or Oosteropark. One of my favourite less touristy areas of the city is the west, where you can find many cool bars and restaurants. I grabbed a beer at Brouwerji t’ IJ, my book and sipped while I got lost in the book. Lastly, I couldn’t come to Amsterdam without strolling through the Red Light District – it had to be done.

It really was the perfect solo sunny day in Amsterdam.