Amsterdam Travel Information

Amsterdam Travel Information

One of the most popular tourism destinations in Europe, Amsterdam is the capital and the largest city of the Netherlands. Once only a small fishing village, the city has become one of the most important ports in the world. The most remarkable features of Amsterdam are the many beautiful 17th century canals, but the city also hosts many museums and thousands of historic buildings to explore. The wide entertainment scene, possibilities for shopping, and lively nightlife of Amsterdam also draw many visitors to this wealthy and liberal city.

Amsterdam, the liberal city of entertainment, canals and museums

The Old Town of Amsterdam is located to the east of the main street, Damrak. The beautiful Old Town is called de Wallen as it is surrounded by magnificent medieval walls and a ring of canals. Amsterdam’s old city centre is home to approximately 7,000 historic buildings, mostly originating from the 19th century. In addition to historical sights, Amsterdam’s numerous canals and bridges offer also an interesting attraction. Canal Cruises in Amsterdam are a popular way to admire the city from the waterside perspective.

Architecture of Amsterdam

Cultural attractions. There are numerous interesting museums in Amsterdam, such as the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Rembrandt Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum which has the largest collection Van Gogh’s paintings. Rijksmuseum exhibits the art and history of the Netherlands and works by famous Dutch artists like Vermeer and Rembrandt. Amsterdam’s zoo and botanical garden also draw international visitors. For music lovers there are many kinds of concerts in Amsterdam available throughout the year.

Entertainment & shopping. Amsterdam hosts a lively entertainment scene with many theatres, music clubs, festivals, coffee houses, pubs and nightclubs. Famous for its relaxed and liberal atmosphere, Amsterdam is also home to a famous red light district. Nightlife in Amsterdam is lively throughout the year. This modern and multicultural fashion city has also excellent opportunities for shopping in Amsterdam.

The Waag in Amsterdam

Recreation & sightseeing. If you want some relief from the hustle and bustle of the city, visit the green countryside of the Netherlands beyond its capital. There are several traditional windmills near to Amsterdam, as well as beaches located a short train ride away from the city. You can also play golf in Amsterdam. All the major attractions in the city can be easily explored by taking one of the many sightseeing tours in Amsterdam.

Practical information for your stay in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a temperate marine climate with cool summers and mild winters. Summer is the peak season for tourism in Amsterdam, as the weather is warm and many popular events take place in summer.

However, the city can be considered a year round destination as there is always something going on in Amsterdam, and you can enjoy many of the attractions of the city regardless of weather.

Canal in Amsterdam

Flights to Amsterdam arrive at the Schipol International Airport situated 15 kilometers southwest of the city. There are good domestic and European train and bus connections to Amsterdam. You can also travel to Amsterdam by a cruise ship or a ferry. As the city has very limited parking space and many streets are one-way, narrow or closed to cars, car rental in Amsterdam is not recommended unless you want to explore other destinations in the Netherlands via the excellent road network in Holland.

The public transport in Amsterdam consists of buses, trams, metros and free ferries which carry passengers to Amsterdam-Noord. Biking in Amsterdam is a pleasure as the bicycle-friendly city has an excellent network of bike paths and bicycle racks. The city centre of Amsterdam is small enough to be toured on foot.

Canal cruise in Amsterdam

Services & safety. There is a wide selection of hotels in Amsterdam, and restaurants in Amsterdam offer a wide range of cuisines. Most local people in international Amsterdam speak also English. Amsterdam is a relatively safe city, though it is advisable to keep an eye on your belongings and watch out for pickpockets, especially in crowds and around popular tourist sites. Some parts of the city should be avoided especially when traveling alone after dark.

Welcome to your Holland travel guide

Welcome to your Holland travel guide

Holland is a great holiday destination with plenty to offer everyone, good for grown-ups and entertaining for children. People looking for a cultural holiday and those into sports, nature or city lovers will find something to suit their needs in this eclectic Country.

Holland, the low-lying northwest region of the Netherlands comprises the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. Though the whole Country is commonly known as Holland, the official name is actually the Netherlands.
Situated on the North Sea, Holland is almost completely flat except for some small hills in the southeast, and considerable areas of land have been reclaimed from the sea. Rivers including the Scheldt, Maas and Rhine, together with many canals form an efficient system of inland waterways.

The Netherlands is a densely populated and geographically low-lying country and is popularly known for its windmills, clogs, dikes (construction built along the edge of a body of water to prevent it from flooding onto adjacent lowlands), bicycles and social tolerance. The countryside with cows grazing in the fields next to canals and windmills is a reminiscent image of the harmony captured by many Dutch artists, while the cities balance traditional architecture with modern tendencies. Amsterdam for example has gabled houses, priceless paintings, multilingual people, coffee shops selling cannabis and prostitutes behind picture windows, all accepted with complete tolerence. Although not large in size, Holland is full of interesting sites, therefore to make the most of your trip it would be advisable to prepare a journey plan selecting the areas you intend to see and the sites that most interest you. To help with your search we have put together selected destinations inclusive of general information and the most interesting sites across various categories.

On this website we have gathered some useful information on Holland’s history, culture and major events taking place there. Each individual destination comes with information about airports, transport, places of interest, museums complete of addresses and eating out tips. You can browse through our selection of pictures and even check out our maps which are fully interactive: you can search the place you need to find on the map and even have a close up satellite view. Try it now for an aerial view of the locations that interest you!