Amsterdam: Venice of the North

Amsterdam, one of Europe’s finest cities, is the largest city of the Netherlands and also serves as its capital. Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most beautiful and liveable cities, Amsterdam is popularly known as the Venice of the North. Straddling the Amstel River, Amsterdam has emerged as one of Europe’s premier cities and is also a very important trade centre. Amsterdam is also a major tourist centre and the cultural capital of the Netherlands. The city also has a very colourful history, and owing to its well-preserved historic core, is the mural for a variety of postcards and pictures. A vibrant and colourful city with a likable mixture of modern and pre-modern architecture, Amsterdam is also within the vicinity of sites of great historical significance. The city’s fine infrastructure and cultural diversity are perhaps the most inviting of the many Amsterdam tourist attractions.

Places to Visit in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is home to a large number of significant and noteworthy buildings and structures, the beauty of which is only enhanced by the city’s unique environs and architectural consistency. Amsterdam is a beautiful city and is home to some of the best architecture in Europe.

Some of the more prominent Amsterdam tourist sights include practically every nook and corner of the city’s old areas, the many bridges over the Amstel River, the many cannabis coffee shop, the city’s infamous red-light district, Royal Palace, Stopera, concentric canal rings, Warmoesstraat, Zeedijk, Begijnhof, Scheepvaartmuseum, Museum of the Amsterdam School, Oude Kerk, etc.

Amsterdam- Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine

Amsterdam is very safe for tourists; nevertheless, it is advisable that certain rather necessary precautions be taken including avoiding certain areas after dark, keeping valuables out of sight, etc. Amsterdam is beautiful and the city’s eclectic mix of historical buildings and modern architecture is simply seen to be believed. Besides having some of the best avenues, walkways and buildings in the world, Amsterdam also boasts a very vibrant and very good nightlife. The city is home to a multitude of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, bars, discos, etc.

Amsterdam is also home to some of the best malls and hotels in the country. The local language is Dutch, but English is sparingly understood by one and all. The local currency is the Euro (EUR). The local cuisine draws influences from a variety of cuisines and has its own unique and distinct flavour. What’s more, it is freely available at very affordable prices. Amsterdam has a large number of eateries catering to all types of cuisines and suited to all types of budgets; it is also home to some of the country’s best and most prolific restaurants.

Best time to visit Amsterdam

The best time to visit Amsterdam is from April to October.

Best way to reach Amsterdam

• By Air: Amsterdam is one of the region’s most important travel hubs, and is connected to most major destinations in the world via regular flights.
• By Rail: Amsterdam is one of the most important railway stations in the Dutch and European rail networks, and forms the terminating or origin point for many inter-city trains. Many high-speed trains also have a halt at Amsterdam. For intra-city transport, there is an extensive tram network and a decent four-line metro system.
• By Road: Amsterdam is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Amsterdam is also one of the major centres of Netherlands’s road transport system and as such offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby Netherlands attractions. The city is the hub of intra-country bus travel in Netherlands. The road network within the city is rather good but prone to congestion. The intra-city bus network is also very convenient. The city, however, is best explored on foot or bicycle.
• By Sea: Amsterdam is a major cruise ship destination, and almost all major cruise ships visiting the region make a call to Amsterdam. There is also an intra-regional ferry and river-boat network.

Accommodation

The Amsterdam accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Amsterdam is home of some of the finest hotels in the continent. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Amsterdam vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Amsterdam tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does. One might even miss out on the many hidden attractions and surprises Amsterdam may hold.