With over 150 canals crossing the city, and more than 1,200 bridges, Amsterdam's delightful watery vistas draw visitors back time and again. The city is a friendly place that welcomes tourists, cyclists, local shoppers and everyone in between with equal vigour. It is also bursting with history and culture, and boasts thousands of bars and restaurants close to the hotels around Amsterdam.
Amsterdam: city layout
The oldest part of the city centres on Dam Square, a meeting point for students, shoppers and street performers. Surrounding the centre on three sides is the Canal Ring, filled with step-gabled mansions and wooden bridges.
Most major museums are in the Museum District, south of the main canals. If you're romantically minded and young at heart you will enjoy exploring the trendy Jordaan and De Pijp neighbourhoods. Amsterdam-Oost is considered the place to be by trendsetters who find De Pijp a little too "last year". Further southeast you'll find the modern entertainment district of Bijlmer, home to cinemas, concert halls and restaurants.
Not to miss in Amsterdam
A stroll around the Canal Ring with its elegant houses dating from the 17th-century Golden Age – a time when both trade and culture blossomed – is the most romantic way to take in the city. But an even better way to explore Amsterdam is to hop on one of the many boat cruises that ply the canals.
If you appreciate fine art you'll want to head straight to the Rijksmuseum, filled with masterpieces created by great artists such as local hero Rembrandt.
In the nearby Van Gogh Museum you'll marvel at some of the prolific painter's greatest works, including Sunflowers, The Bedroom and Irises. Take in an important history lesson at the Anne Frank House, where a young German Jewish girl hid and kept her famous diary during the Nazi occupation.
The concierge recommends…
Amsterdam's hotels cover every need and budget. Staying in the city centre leaves you close to many sights. But if you're looking for a cheaper hotel or a quiet night's sleep, you may prefer the suburbs. With the city's efficient transport network, getting into town is no hardship.
If you really don't want to miss the party, choose a hotel in Amsterdam's city centre, close to bars and clubs. Along the Canal Ring, waterside townhouses have been converted into boutique hotels with period furnishings.
Here on business? You might prefer an outlying district like Sloterdijk, Amstel or Zuid, where many offices are located. Even if you're in Amsterdam for sightseeing, you will also appreciate these areas' easy transport links.
A stay in Bijlmer places you close to the business district in the midst of a bustling entertainment area, which includes ArenA stadium and Heineken Music Hall.
Amsterdam's dining scene is truly global, reflecting its status as a city built on world trade. Dozens of cuisines span every budget range, from award-winning modern Dutch fare to exotic Thai food, via French fries smothered in mayonnaise. For good-value meals, why not try one of the many grand cafés? These bars place an emphasis on food as well as drink.
For a dining experience that reflects the Dutch colonial past, head to one of Amsterdam's many Indonesian restaurants. You can order a simple satay meal or opt for a full-blown rijsttafel (rice table) featuring several dozen dishes.
Sweet or savoury Dutch pannekoeken (pancakes) are a hearty and beloved local specialty, often served up in dedicated pancake houses.
Many restaurants in the centre are geared towards tourists, so you may want to follow discerning locals and head to Jordaan or De Pijp, both of which are packed with smart bistros. The up-and-coming district of Amsterdam-Oost is a good place to find increasingly popular, American-style barbecue joints, usually featuring pulled pork in various forms.
The chef recommends...
Shopping in Amsterdam isn't all clogs and tulips, though there are plenty of those. It has everything from department stores to market stalls, and antiques shops to high-end fashion outlets. Most shops are open every day, and stay open until 9pm on Thursdays. Prices are fixed, even in open-air markets, so no bartering is involved.
Central Amsterdam, particularly along and around Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk, is the place to look for bargains in Dutch and international chain stores. If it's raining, you can take cover in the nearby Magna Plaza shopping mall. Damrak is largely filled with souvenir shops but is also where you'll find the Bijenkorf, the city's best and most exclusive department store.
West of the centre, Jordaan is known for its trendy boutiques. South from there, the area known as Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) is packed with exclusive designer fashion outlets.
Top markets in Amsterdam
For many, Amsterdam's thriving cultural and nightlife scene is a highlight. There are dozens of live music venues and hip nightclubs where you can sip a cocktail and dance until dawn. In between are quirky bars that serve drinks into the early hours.
Two central squares stand out with their high concentrations of clubs, pubs and music venues: Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. The southern district of De Pijp has long been a favourite hangout of the young and trendy bar crowd, while modern places are springing up all the time in the fast-evolving district of Amsterdam-Oost. Whether you're planning to take in a music show, catch a film or eat and drink in stylish surrounds, you'll find what you're looking for in Bijlmer.
Live music in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a wealth of attractions to keep children happy, from a trip along the canals to an educational visit to the science museum. Most places are not cheap, but if it's a dry day and your wallet begins to overheat, city parks are a good way to enjoy some free entertainment.
You could easily spend several days with your children in the centre, taking in a handful of top attractions. You'll both find endless and unexpected amusement in pressing buttons and pulling levers at the waterside NEMO Science Center. Right on central Dam Square, you'll come face-to-face with your favourite celebrities, albeit in wax form, at Madame Tussauds.
Older children will appreciate the moving story of defiance in the face of overwhelming odds at the Anne Frank House. Here, a young German Jewish girl hid from the Nazis during World War II and kept a diary about her experience.
Top family attractions in Amsterdam
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