Amsterdam Travel Guide

Amsterdam is one of the Europe's most intriguing cities. It's beautiful, it's hip, it's historic, and it's laid back -- all rolled up into one. With so much to do and see, you'll have a tough time deciding what to do or where to go first. The good news is, with so many pubs and friendly people from around the world, you won't having any trouble finding the perfect pint to sip on while you listen to advice about the best places to go. And when it's time to take a break from exploring all that Amsterdam has to offer, you'll find plenty of flavorful food from around the world to choose from.

A visit to this stunning city is like taking a trip back to the 17th Century, as the center of Amsterdam is chock-full of charming architecture dating back to this extraordinary period. While Amsterdam may boast a significant amount of 17th Century architecture, the city also has a modern feel, making it one of the most unique and harmonious cities in Europe. When you're ready to tour the city, grab your most comfortable pair of walking shoes or rent a bike, as Amsterdam is an excellent place to tour on foot or by bike.

During the warm summer months, one of the best places to go for a relaxing or a fun-filled afternoon is the Vondelpark. Located in the heart of the city, you can always count on Vondelpark to provide some very interesting entertainment and a lively atmosphere. With a bit of luck you can catch a free outdoor concert near the water. There are also several trendy spots in the park where you can sit and have a beer, such as the Blauwe Theehuis.

If you're into people watching, the perfect place to perch is Leidseplein Square. This central Amsterdam hotspot is bustling with activity and festive terraces in summertime. Another lively Amsterdam square is Rembrandtplein. Also called "Rembrandt," Rembrandtplein Square also has several excellent cafes and terraces as well. After you've worked up an appetite from people watching or mingling about in one of Amsterdam's busy squares, why not try some hearty spare ribs? De Klos, just off the Leidsestraat, serves up heaps of tasty spare ribs and enough beer to keep you buzzing for the rest of the night.

Next up is the world famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) Red Light District. Amsterdam's Red Light District consists of several canals and several side streets -- south of Central Station and east of Damrak. Because the canals were once part of the city defenses (walls and moats), they are known as 'De Wallen' (the walls) in Dutch. Despite the area's reputation as a haven for prostitutes, prostitution is limited to certain streets -- mainly side streets and alleys. And while there are many adult shops and peep show bars in the Red Light District, the entire area does have heavy police presence, and dozens of security cameras.

In addition, the Red Light District is still a residential district, with many bars and restaurants as well as historic buildings and museums. Keep in mind that this is, after all, the oldest part of the city. An excellent example of the old blending in with the new is the gothic Oude Kerk church on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, the oldest in Amsterdam, which is now surrounded by window prostitution. The Red Light District is certainly worth a visit for the brave and adventurous.

Amsterdam isn't all about sipping beer, chowing down on spare ribs, and hanging out in frenzied squares. Sure, this is all great fun, but Amsterdam also offers a number of shopping experiences that are certainly worth engaging in. The city features dozens of unique shops perfect for browsing or picking up interesting gifts and there are also bigger shopping centers if you're looking for trendy clothes, shoes, accessories, and more. Clusters of shops can be found in the pedestrian passages and even in the old post office, which is located right behind the central Dam Square. You can also find The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace) -- a national historic monument. 

The center of Amsterdam is shaped like a horseshoe and it is surrounded by four famous canals including: Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht. If you want explore Amsterdam's gorgeous gabled houses, just travel along any of the famous canals. To move quickly from one place to another, hop on a tram.  Lines 1, 2, and 5 travel from Centraal Station through the Dam and up the Leidsestraat to the Leidseplein. This is an excellent route to take to get acquainted with the tram system and to learn how to get from point A to point B.

Amsterdam was originally built on the shores of the saltwater Zuiderzee. As a result of centuries of land-reclamation projects, Zuiderzee was renamed Ijsselmeer after it was separated from the sea by a dike and became a freshwater lake. The city now borders the freshwater IJsselmeer or Lake IJssel.

Top Ten Things to Do in Amsterdam  

Van Gogh Museum – Houses the World’s Largest Van Gogh Collection. Of the Van Gogh’s 900 paintings and 1,200 drawings, the Van Gogh Museum has 200 paintings and 500 drawings. The Museum also has 850 letters, and works by Gauguin, Monet, Bernard, and Pissaro. http://www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/

BIMHUIS - Jazz Club featuring live Dutch, International, and Mainstream music performances as well. BIMHUIS is located at: Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Box Office: + 31 (0)20 788 2188; Office: + 31 (0)20 788 2150; Fax: + 31 (0)20 788 2180; Email: info@bimhuis.nl; http://www.bimhuis.nl/

Prinsengracht Canal - The 3-mile long Prinsengracht Canal (Prince’s Canal) is one of three canals that form Amsterdam’s Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) . Beautiful houseboats, elegant merchants’ homes, and converted warehouses are just a few of the sights on the menu here. Notable sights include: Amsterdam’s tallest church – Westerkerk, Anne Frankhuis (the Anne Frank House), and Noorderkerk (Northern Church). Prinsengracht Canal rings around Amsterdam’s Downtown City Center.

Albert Cuypmarkt - Attracting more than 20,000 bargain hunters on any given day, Albert Cuypmarkt is Amsterdam’s largest, most popular, and least expensive market. Named after a Dutch landscape artist, this massive market features a wide variety foods – fresh produce and packaged goods, as well as interesting house wares, unique accessories, textiles, and more! Albert Cuypmarkt is open to the public Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. To get here, take the Tram 4, 16, 24 or 25. http://www.albertcuypmarkt.com

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam - Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is home to one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Featuring more than 6,000 plants (4,000 species), Hortus Botanicus seems worlds away from the bustle of the city although it is located in the Plantage District – just on the edge of the center of Amsterdam. http://www.dehortus.nl

Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen - Located in five 17 th Century houses, d’Vijff Vlieghen’s (Five Flies) menu features an outstanding collection of “New Dutch” dishes. http://www.thefiveflies.com/nl

Vondelpark - Vondelpark the most famous park in the Netherlands. Attracting more then 10 million visitors each year, Vondelpark is perfect for just about any activity – concerts, jogging, roller-blading, and people watching are just a few of the activities visitors and tourists alike will enjoy here. Vondelpark is located south of Leidseplein and near the Van Gogh Museum.

Leidseplein Square - Located in central Amsterdam, Leidseplein Square is also a perfect place for people watching, dining, and hanging out at cafes and coffee shops. Leidseplein Square also has a higher concentration clubs, pubs, cinemas, theaters, and restaurants than any other square.

The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace) - Situated on Dam Square, The Royal Palace is a 17 th Century city hall that was built for the magistrates of Amsterdam. During this period, it was the largest secular building in all of Europe. The building is used for various state functions and events. The Royal Palace also serves as the Queen’s residence when she is in the city. Phone first to make sure the palace is open to the public as the Royal Palace may be undergoing renovations. http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english

The Red Light District (Rosse Buurt) - The Red Light District is the home to the oldest area in the city of Amsterdam. It attracts literally thousands of visitors from around the world each year, and on any given day the district is packed with off-the-wall locals, and cannabis-seeking city dwellers hanging out in the areas numerous “smoking” shops. The Red Light District can be found within the borders of Zeedijk (north), Kloveniersburgwal (east), Damstraat (south) and Warmoesstraat (west). http://red-light-district-amsterdam.com