Amsterdam is one of europe's top destinations

Amsterdam

This is one of the prettiest cities in europe and one that should be on everyone's list of places to visit. Buy a map - the ones in the free booklets don't have street names on and so its too easy to get lost.
Enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer and you'll be there for months!

About Amsterdam

The first thing you'll notice when you arrive in Amsterdam is the amazing array of transport types they have. They have over 600,000 bikes in the city - not bad for a population of 750,000 people!

	The sheer number of bikes will surprise you - they really are everywhere. Make sure you walk on the pavements and not the cycle tracks as you'll find they are very well used! At Central Station they have a multistorey bike park which is just amazing!At Central Station you can catch trains to other parts of the country, its also next to the tram stops, canal tours.
	This is a bustling area of the city and is close to where coaches drop you off from DFDS ferry trips. You can of course explore the city on foot or hire a cycle from a number of places, take a carriage ride, hire a pedal boat to tour the canals with or go on one of the walking tours of the city. There are many themed tours available.
	You can take a canal tour which takes in lots of sites of interest including churches, bridges, merchant houses. This is a relaxing way of seeing lots of Amsterdam buildings. If you would like to visit musuems then there is a special museum boat which has 7 stops suitable for visiting museums. The ticket for the boat trip also offers you discounts on some museum entry too. This is a good way of getting round several museums as you can get on and off as you want.
	If you are spending the evening in Amsterdam you can take in the dinner cruises, candlelight cruise or the pizza cruises. Again these are fun ways to see Amsterdam and tour the 17th century canals. Some tours are designed to take in the architecture and show you the KNSM, Java islands, warehouses and the old Lloyd hotel. The rembrant tour takes in several important sites relating to Rembrant and allows toy to visit the museum too.
	There are several walking tours where you visit locations on foot, giving you ample time to take photographs, and get useful information from your tour guide.

Beautiful canals and churchs in Amsterdam Amsterdam is a refreshingly pretty city which has an amazing network of waterways and roads bringing many different areas together. It is remarkably quiet at times as you travel round the different areas, from the hustle and bustle of the flea markets to the busy student area to the quieter back streets where people live in elegant tall buildings. The city has a very definately friendlyness and the people are happy to speak in english to you. The 17th century merchant homes are frequently ornate as this was a way of showing off wealth without increasing the tax which was based on the width of the facade.

There are many places where you'll just want to stand and stare at the architecture and canals. Ensure you're not in the cycle path though!

Amsterdam back streets with coffee houses

For fun and entertainment many people visit Amsterdam to walk through the world famous red light district. There are many coffee houses where you can also relax.

Note the red light indicating there is a lady on duty in the window! The area is well regulated and is safe for tourists to visit.

You can also visit the Heinekin museum, the Hash museum and the Sex museum. There are many adult cinemas throughout Amsterdam too.

Recommended museums and exhibitions to visit

Rijksmeusm - artists such as Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Vermeer and Rembrants work on display
Van Gigh Museum - more than 200 paintings plus other 19th centiry painters and sculptors work
Het Rembrandthuis - where Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639-1658. Inside is restored to original state
CoBrA museum voor Modern kunst Amtelveen - museum for modern art
Museum can loon - family who founded the Dutch East Indies comapny - furniture, silver, porcelain, works of art.
Museum Het Schip -
Amsterdams Historisch Museum - the history of Amsteram is told through 7 centuries worth of development.
Scheepvaartmuseum - Maritime museum
Joods Historisch Museum - jewish museum
Anne Frank Huis - the hidden entrance behind the bookcase which hides the secret annex is a must to visit. Many artifacts and extracts from the diary and film images help present a moving exhibition.
Hermitage Amsterdam -
Bijbels Museum - archaeology
Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal
Theatremuseum - reviews and costumes from many shows from Amsterdam theatre's past.
Verzetsmuseum - dutch resistance museum -
Gassan - Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat - diamond polishing factory tours
Madame Tussaurds Amserdam - look out for a coupon in the Amsterdam excursions booklet
Amsterdam Dungeon
Heineken experience
3D movie theatre
Guided tour of Amsterdam Arena - where Ajax play
Artis Zoo
NEMO - large green 'ship' close to central station

Further out of Amsterdam
Madurodam - smallest town with minatures of all the great things to see across Holland.
Keukenhof - flower bulb fields, water gardens and fountains
Volendam and Marken tours available can also take in the windmills as well as this penisular, can visit clog factory, cheese factory.
Country side tour - enjoy the delights of the dutch picturesque countryside including windmills, dykes, villages, cheese farms, fishing villages and see people in traditional costume
Delft - well preserved 17th century city with earthenware factory producing delftware
the Hague - government buildings and peace palace
Aalsmeer - flower auction site