I love finding little gems when I’m traveling! The problem is that there are so many places that offer a lot of interesting things to do but don’t pop up on many tourists’ radar just because the main city gets all the love, in this case, Amsterdam. That’s why I’m here! I’ve lived in Amsterdam since 2014 and I love exploring and sharing what’s outside the city just as much as what is inside the city. So this post is for you to help in your research on what you can do in Almere, Netherlands, or if you’re looking for a day trip from Amsterdam.
Where is Almere?
Almere is in the province of Flevoland, just east of Amsterdam and only a 20-minute direct, non-stop train ride away. Flevoland is part of the new land in the Netherlands and Almere only became a city in 1984! It’s completely different than Amsterdam in that it’s new and planned for today’s kind of living.
It got its start as a place to live for commuters. Where I’m from we’d call it a bedroom community. You simply go back to the town to go to sleep but you’d spend most of your time in the city because that’s where all the things to do are. Nowadays it’s so much more and has a lot of things to do for visitors.
Is Almere worth a day trip from Amsterdam?
You’ll want at least a day in Almere and maybe two or three to soak it all in. You can see our full-day trip on my YouTube channel. It always depends on your style of travel. “It depends” is such an annoying thing to read, isn’t it?
Let me break it down a bit, if you want to quickly enjoy a modern Dutch city, of course, you can do breakfast, lunch, and dinner with some activities thrown in there and head back. But considering the nature, water sports, beaches, and other activities, you might want to stay just to relax and have fun without feeling the pressure to sightsee and you might in Amsterdam.
Sometimes I think the checkbox travelers (they only travel to see specific things) miss the good parts. Travel in a way that works for you, but Almere is for those who want to experience life in an authentic, modern Dutch town.
How to get to Almere
We don’t have a car in Amsterdam, so we take the train. From Amsterdam Central Station or Amsterdam Zuid Station, it’s an easy non-stop 20-minute journey to Almere Stad, the center of the city. For this journey (the short one), you’ll want to take the Intercity train. But, if you don’t mind a few stops along the way or you want to visit the beach instead, you’ll want the Sprinter which takes a bit longer since it has more stops.
If you’re driving, it’s really easy as well since it’s highways between Amsterdam and Almere and parking is readily available throughout Almere. It’s more car-friendly than Amsterdam. Google Maps is very helpful in the Netherlands if you need some guidance.
What to do in Almere
Now we get to the fun stuff! Almere is all about the outdoors and that’s what makes this city so unique, in my opinion. But it has something for everyone like I appreciate the long and wide pedestrian shopping street. Others will flock to the beaches or the parks.
Visit one of the beaches
There are no fewer than 7 beaches around Almere…SEVEN! So, don’t you dare forget to pack your swimsuit and a towel. Sean and I went to Almeerderstrand and walked from the Almere Poort train station. If you prefer to cycle, there are bikes you can rent via an app usually parked right outside. This beach is a favorite to host festivals since it’s the biggest one in the city.
Tackle some water sports
The list might be shorter as to what you can’t do here in terms of water sports, but because what you can’t do isn’t fun to share, here’s a list of everything you CAN do in Almere:
- Water skiing
- Wakeboarding
- Surfing
- SUP
- Learn to sail
- Rent a whisper boat to captain yourself
- Try Flyboarding
- Catamaran sailing
- Kayak or Canoe
- Rent the BBQ&Fun Donut
- Swim
- Lounge at the beach
Visit the Almere Forest
Since this is all new land, they built a lot of it to give back to nature…with style and design. You’ll find the highest point in Almere, the Cathedral Woods, and plenty of animals! The Klimpark Fun Forest is here and perfect for anyone who likes to be up in the trees for a different experience. This is a great place for couples and families to enjoy some space and some time together.
Oostvaardersplassen Reserve
This is the largest manmade reserve in the world and perfect for any nature-lovers, especially bird enthusiasts! A big thing to do here would be to cycle through, but you can pop by the Oostvaarders Nature Experience Centre to learn more or to take a guided discovery tour. If you’re lucky, you could see a fox, sea eagle, deer, and horses!
Admire the architecture
I highly recommend taking an architecture tour to learn about the different architects, but also the plan for the city. Almere is designed for modern-day living without sacrificing visual interest. If you’re looking for old traditional architecture, you might want to head to Haarlem or Giethoorn, here, it’s all new and has its own story.
Go shopping!
I’m not sure if locals would even consider this the place to go for shopping but let me explain why it’s a hit for me. On the main shopping street in Almere Stad (walking straight out of the Central Station and you can’t miss it), there’s plenty of space, great shops, big squares, and lots to look at. Plus they have a Five Guys. No, I’m not bitter that Amsterdam doesn’t have one, yet. Why would you ask? It’s not like I’m obsessed with the shakes and fries or anything.
You can always visit the Almere tourism office and their website for more information on planning a trip to Almere. Their office is on the main shopping street and they have more brochure but also local products (I got some local honey!).
Where to stay in Almere
We’ve stayed in 3 places in Almere and they are all vastly different from each other. But I would be more than happy to stay in each of them again for different reasons.
Almere Haven Lighthouse
This was the first time we went to Almere, and what an experience! The space is very small and I hope one of you is short or likes to curl up because ½ of the bed is a bit short side. But the views were incredible. We loved it!
Leonardo Hotel Almere City Centre
When I stayed here, I got a view of the water and you’re right in the heart of it all. It’s a great place for a morning or evening stroll and super close to the shopping street. Otherwise, it’s simply a nice traditional hotel.
Life Contains Beautiful Things
This was my biggest shock with Almere – there’s a little vineyard just outside the main town. I suggest having a car, e-bike, or patience with Uber to get there, but it’s well worth it! I was the most relaxed I’ve been in YEARS while here. You’ll have a tiny home in the vineyard, outside seating, a pool, and plenty of relaxing spots.
