A city break to Amsterdam means different things to different people. This is a city of contrasts and contradictions but one that can never be classed as dull.
With most of the city centre built on or around a grid system of canals, it is a very easy city to get around and get to know. And being relatively compact most attractions are accessible either on foot or using the trams which form the backbone of the excellent public transport network.
So your first decision in Amsterdam centres upon what to do first. This is a city steeped in history and a boat trip on the canal system is perhaps the tourist’s “must do”, providing an ideal way to see the main sites in comfort.
After that it’s a question of choosing your preferred Amsterdam. If you are there for art, culture and history, you will not be disappointed. The ever popular Anne Frank House is a fascinating glimpse into wartime Amsterdam and the Rembrandt and Van Gogh museums provide more art than you can shake a very big stick at!
Of course with more than 50 museums in the city, there is something for everyone. From the more “traditional” museums dedicated Jewish History, Tea and Coffee and Vodka to the infamous Sex Museum and the equally divisive Hash Museum.
Talking of which… it is the famous red light district that brings in just as many tourists as the history and culture. Centred around the inner circle of canals, this area is synonymous with the city’s recent history. With its narrow alleyways, sex shops, legalised prostitution and “coffee shops” selling marijuana, this is the real draw for students and young people looking to discover the city’s more “colourful” side.
But despite these seemingly incompatible sides, the city somehow works. When night falls, the museum-goers take in the cities cafés and many restaurants (if you don’t fancy the Dutch cuisine, a visit to one of the city’s many Indonesian restaurants is a must), the younger crowd head for the many bars, clubs and vibrant music scene in the city.
Amsterdam is a city for all ages and has something for everyone. It’s no wonder that it remains perennially popular with tourists from the UK.
