Paris and Amsterdam are two of the most visited cities in Europe. Both cities are known for displaying their country’s cultures. Paris has beautiful boulevards and the Eiffel Tower and Amsterdam has picturesque canals and Dutch Renaissance architecture. If you are trying to decide between Paris or Amsterdam, here is your ultimate guide.
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Paris or Amsterdam Overview
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France with 2.15 million people living in the city and more than 12.5 million living in the metro area. It is one of the most visited cities in the world, along with Bangkok, London, and Hong Kong. Today, Paris is known as one of the most important hubs in Europe for finance, commerce, fashion, and the arts. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. The city is known as “the city of lights” and “the city of love”.
Paris is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair and quickly turned into one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Paris also has the world’s most visited museum, The Louvre which is home to the Mona Lisa. Another site that draws millions of people to Paris each year is the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in the Netherlands with 873,000 residents. Amsterdam is known around the world for having picturesque canals and for being one of the most progressive cities in the world. The Red Light District is one of the most famous aspects of the city. Amsterdam one of the main centers for finance in Europe and is home to the world’s oldest stock exchange.
It has been consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. It is also home to 177 nationalities, making it one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Amsterdam is currently the 5th most visited European city with nearly 8 million annual visitors.
Things to See
Paris
Eiffel Tower dominates the skyline of Paris. It is the most visited monument in the world that you have to pay to enter.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is known for its French-Gothic architecture. It is the most visited monument in Paris roughly 12 million visitors each year.
Palace of Versailles was the official residence of French royalty for more than 100 years. It demonstrates just how wealthy and powerful the French empire was at its peak.
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. It is home to some of the world’s most valuable pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa.
Arc de Triomphe is one of the largest triumphal arches in the world. It was built to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum is a museum dedicated to the arts and history of Amsterdam. The building opened in 1885.
Dam Square is the main square in the center of Amsterdam.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam was originally built as the city hall in 1665. Later on, it became the residence of the Dutch Royal House.
Heineken Experience is a museum about the Heineken brand. It is located in the old Heineken factory.
A’DAM Lookout offers panoramic views of the city.
Food
Paris
Paris is known to have some of the best cuisines in the world. For a traditional French dish, you could try Choucroute garnie which is a dish consisting of sauerkraut, sausages, meats, and potatoes. One of the most famous foods you can’t miss is the baguette which is a common breakfast food here. Going to Paris without trying one of the world-renown baguettes should be a felony. Another pastry you must try here is the croissant. Macarons originated in France and are essential to try when you’re in Paris.
Amsterdam
Bitterballen is a traditional Dutch cuisine that is basically a ball of meat that is breaded and then fried. It is typically served as a snack or many people think of it as the perfect “drunk” food. On the sweeter end of the spectrum, you should try stroopwafel is the country it originated in. For those of you who don’t know, a stroopwafel is two thin wafer cookies sandwiching a layer of caramel. Frites are thick fries that make for very common street food in Amsterdam. If you want a more interesting version of frites you could also get patat which is a serving of frites with mayonnaise, peanut sauce, and chopped up onion. Check here for more traditional Dutch foods.
Getting Around
Paris is such a beautiful city that you will want to walk wherever you are heading. One of the most effective strategies for exploring the city is to explore one area on foot and then hop on a bus or take the metro to another area and repeat. Paris is known for having a great metro line, carrying over 5 million people per day. The metro system in Paris has so many lines that it can get you almost anywhere.
Paris Visite Pass is the 24-hour pass that might be a smart investment if you are planning on using public transportation a lot during the day. You can also by a pack of 10 passes for 18.60 Euros which is nice because you can spread them out over your trip.
Amsterdam is arguably one of the best cities in the world to explore on foot. Walking next to the canals with the famous canal houses surrounding you is an incredible experience. Most of the attractions are with walking distance of each other. If you want to explore the outskirts of the city, you should definitely consider renting a bike. Amsterdam is known around the world for the millions of bikes in the city. There are also parks surrounding the city that are nice to explore on a bike.
If you want to use public transport, you have the option to use the metro, buses, trams, ferries, and trains. It would be a good idea for you to invest in the iAmsterdam Card because it gives you unlimited access to public transportation, free access to over 70 museums and attractions, a one-day bike rental, and a canal cruise. The iAmsterdam card is more expensive than many other city cards in Europe but it might be worth it depending on your plans while in the city.
Nightlife
Paris
There is no shortage of bars and pubs in Paris. This city has small drinking establishments scattered everywhere so you need to just pick a neighborhood and find a place that fits your vibe. Some of the best areas to go to is Pigalle and Oberkampf. The Latin Quarter is a popular area for university students. For the most part, the nightlife is a little slower here but you have the option to get as wild as you want. Mix Club are two of the biggest nightclubs in the city if you want to go clubbing. Just search “bars and pubs near me” on Google when you figure out where you’re going to stay and check a few places out.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is known for coming alive after dark. From the infamous Red Light District to world-class clubs, the city is anything but dead at night. You can find a lot of the bars in the center of the city and the nightclubs outside of the city center. Amsterdam is home to the Amsterdam Dance Event which is a five-day festival and is considered the largest clubbing festival in the world. Some of the best clubs in the city are AIR Amsterdam, Panama, Escape, WesterUnie, Shelter, and Melkweg. You won’t have to worry about finding something to do after dark during your time in Amsterdam.
Day Trips
Paris
Disneyland Paris is located 32km east of Paris.
Mont-Saint Michel is built on a tidal island on the coast of France. It is still home to 50 people.
Domaine de Chantilly is a French chateau that is 50km north of Paris. It has one of the finest collections of art in France.
Amsterdam
Keukenhof is home to some of the world’s best tulip gardens. It is often referred to as the Garden of Europe.
Rotterdam is just to the south of Amsterdam. A day of exploring the city would be a day well spent.
Utrecht is known for its medieval Old Town and the canals throughout the city.
Amsterdam is also close to The Hague and a little further south is Antwerp.
Overall
Paris and Amsterdam are the two that are perfect examples of their country’s cultures. Paris is known for its beautiful architecture, boulevards, the Eiffel Tower, and French cuisine. Amsterdam is known for the canals, Dutch Renaissance architecture, and its red-light district and coffee shops. If you have time, you should definitely try to visit both. If you want to spend a week in a city, you will want to pick Paris because it is much larger and has more to see. If you are trying to decide between Paris or Amsterdam, you have to decide which culture intrigues you the most.