London, Amsterdam & Prague Travel Guide

After spending two weeks exploring London, Amsterdam, and Prague, I can confidently say this was one of my favourite trips I’ve ever done! I loved that each city had a completely different vibe, from London’s incredible food scene to Amsterdam’s unique energy and canals, to Prague’s fairytale-like architecture.

If you want a closer look at the trip, you can watch my Europe travel recap here. And if you’re planning more European travel, I also shared my full Italy + Greece guide here.

London, England

London was probably the biggest surprise for me. I already expected the history and iconic landmarks, but I did not expect to love the food scene as much as I did. I could genuinely go back just for the food alone!

London somehow feels historic and trendy at the same time. You can walk past centuries-old buildings and then stumble into the coolest café or restaurant five minutes later.

I also felt relatively safe there, despite hearing a lot of people describe London as dangerous before going. One cab driver hilariously described Londoners as “moody” and “grumpy,” which honestly felt pretty accurate 😂 People definitely aren’t overly friendly, but I kind of appreciated how direct everyone was.

One thing that really messes with your brain at first? They drive on the opposite side of the road and sit on the other side of the vehicle.

Getting Around London

The transit system is incredible. Between the Tube and the buses, you can get basically anywhere. We just used our contactless credit cards and tapped everywhere we went, which made things super easy.

Another major perk: there are SO many free museums.

Things We Did in London

  • London Eye — breathtaking city views and the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. We booked the pricier champagne experience, but worth it in our opinion because we skipped the long line and had fewer people in our pod.
  • Big Ben — iconic and even more impressive in person, especially when you hear the clock tower chime.
  • Tower Bridge — such a standout landmark and one you instantly recognize from so many movies.
  • Portobello Road Market — amazing vintage finds and amazing food with so many different cuisines.
  • Notting Hill — loved seeing the famous colourful homes.
  • The Phantom of the Opera at the opera — one of the highlights of the entire trip.
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter — such a cool behind-the-scenes experience.

Food & Coffee Recommendations

  • The Ship Tavern — great pub atmosphere and really good pot pie.
  • Lore of the Land — owned by Guy Ritchie, perfect spot for a classic Sunday roast (make sure to book in advance, it fills up fast).
  • Portobello Market — incredible for food and trying all kinds of cuisines.
  • Sunday roast is a must-do when in Britain.

London is VERY expensive, especially coming from Canada. The pound conversion hurts 😭 If your coffee costs £10, mentally prepare for it to be around $20 CAD.

Something else we noticed: almost everywhere expects you to walk up, order, and pay before eating — even some full-service restaurants.

Places we loved:

  • Faros — amazing Italian food
  • Fortitude Bakehouse — unreal beignets, I still think about them
  • Caffè Nero — we got the iced honey oat pecan latte almost every day

And yes… make sure you try a Guinness 🍺

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most unique cities I’ve ever visited. It has SO much character.

The canals reminded me a lot of Venice, except the vibe feels younger and more energetic. And fair warning: this is 100% a biking city. Watch out because people absolutely RIP around on their bikes.

Also: tall people everywhere. We were thriving 😂

Things to Know About Amsterdam

The city completely changes at night. The atmosphere becomes way more chaotic and lively.

The Red Light District is honestly wild to see in person. The red-lit windows with prostitution workers are legal and regulated there, which was definitely eye-opening culturally.

Another thing to know: “coffee shops” in Amsterdam are actually cannabis shops.

Highlights in Amsterdam

  • Anne Frank House — absolutely worth visiting. Make sure to book tickets in advance because they sell out quickly. We somehow got lucky with day-of tickets, but apparently that’s rare. The tour takes about an hour and includes audio guides, family photos, and personal belongings. It was tragic but incredibly fascinating.
  • Canal cruise — highly recommend doing one, also another favourite part of the trip!
  • Heineken Experience — inside the original 1867 brewery, and honestly… the Heineken tastes better there.
  • Moco Museum — personally underwhelmed us a bit but check it out if you’re interested.
  • Albert Cuyp Market — loved the food market.

And yes, the leaning houses are everywhere!

London to Amsterdam by Train

We took the train from London to Amsterdam, which was surprisingly easy and convenient. The coolest part is that part of the journey goes underwater through the Channel Tunnel.

Also: try a stroopwafel immediately.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague honestly looked like a fairytale. Every street felt beautiful.

Out of the three cities, Prague was definitely the least expensive, which was nice after London prices.

Highlights in Prague

  • Old Town Square — the heart of Prague and always buzzing with energy.
  • Prague Castle — this was probably our favourite thing we did in Prague. It’s a bit of a trek uphill, but the views are incredible. It’s also apparently the largest ancient castle in the world, according to Guinness World Records.
  • Charles Bridge — full of musicians, artists, and vendors.
  • Old Town Bridge Tower — worth paying to go up for the views and photos.
  • Lennon Wall — a cool and colourful stop, covered in ever-changing graffiti and tribute art inspired by John Lennon.
  • Municipal Library of Prague — famous book tower installation

Food & Drinks

We tried traditional Czech food and… personally, it wasn’t our favourite 😅 Lots of beige food and very bland flavours.

But we did love:

  • QQ Asian Kitchen — Michelin recommended and SO good
  • Terasa U Prince — rooftop views and amazing photo opportunities
  • Alchemy Bar — incredible cocktails. I still think about the Number 9 cocktail I had!

Also: chimney cakes are EVERYWHERE and absolutely worth trying.

Beer Spa Experience

One of the most unique things we did was a beer spa. Apparently, it dates back to medieval times and is believed to have wellness benefits like helping to relax muscles, improve circulation, support skin health, and reduce stress thanks to the combination of hops, yeast, and malt ingredients.

One recommendation: go nude instead of wearing a swimsuit, unless you want your swimsuit to smell like beer permanently 😭

Final Thoughts

We had such a great time on this trip, and I loved how different all three cities felt from one another. London had an incredible food scene and endless things to do, Amsterdam was so unique and full of character, and Prague felt straight out of a fairytale while also being the most affordable.

If I had to go back anywhere first, it would definitely be London. There’s still so much to see, and I genuinely think about the food all the time.

We spent two weeks total, which felt like the perfect amount of time for three cities. Just keep in mind the time difference if you’re travelling from Canada — London is 8 hours ahead, while Amsterdam and Prague are 9 hours ahead.

One final thing nobody prepared me for: the staircases everywhere in Europe are SO narrow and steep! Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Make sure to save this blog post if you’re planning a trip to Europe, and feel free to message me anytime if you want travel advice or help planning your itinerary!

-Jenna xoxo