The best ways to eat, drink and explore Amsterdam and Frankfurt

Amsterdam and Frankfurt each have plenty going for them beyond their best-known sights. Think: great local food, drinks worth seeking out, scenic bike rides and historic neighbourhoods to explore.

So, where should you start? Here are the local favourites worth making time for.

The ultimate comfort food in Amsterdam is Dutch Friet, cooked using the traditional double-frying method. Hit up Fabel Friet, a cult-favourite city-centre spot for freshly cut fries topped with Parmesan and homemade truffle mayo.

Over in Frankfurt, the comfort food comes with a local twist. Frankfurt’s iconic Frankfurter Schnitzel pairs a crispy, golden-brown pork cutlet with Frankfurter Grüne Soße – a chilled sauce made from seven herbs – and is traditionally served with fried potatoes.

Rolling past Zaandam’s striking Inntel Hotel and through below-sea-level polders to Zaanse Schans, this 5.5-hour e-bike excursion with Mike’s Bike Tours Amsterdam takes guests past landmarks and gourmet experiences.

Frankfurt is best explored on two wheels, too. This eco-friendly ride with Baja Bikes takes in landmarks including Goethe’s House, St. Paul’s Church and the Städel Museum. The riverside route showcases Frankfurt’s historic and modern architecture.

The original “Dutch courage”, Jenever is the malt-forward predecessor to modern gin. Sip it at In ‘t Aepjen, one of Amsterdam’s oldest wooden taverns. Legend has it that sailors once paid their bar tabs with monkeys brought back from overseas.

In Frankfurt, swap Jenever for something made with apples. The city’s definitive drink is Apfelwein, a tart apple cider served in traditional stoneware jugs. Complete the local experience with a side shot of Mispelchen (a loquat-spiked Calvados spirit) in the Sachsenhausen district.

Framed by centuries-old waterways, the city’s medieval core centres on Dam Square, which dates to the 13th century, and the 17th-century Royal Palace. Nearby, the Oude Kerk (Old Church) stands as Amsterdam’s oldest building.

Frankfurt has its own historic heart to explore. Reconstructed in 2018, the DomRömer Quarter features 15 faithful half-timbered reconstructions alongside 20 contemporary buildings, linking the Imperial Cathedral with the Römer, Frankfurt’s historic city hall since 1405.

For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to both cities, visit singaporeair.com.