A trip to Europe can never be complete without visiting the quaint city of Amsterdam - the capital of the Netherlands is famous for its impressive architecture, scenic surroundings, burgeoning shopping areas and warm people, almost all willing and able to speak fluent English. The relaxed attitude of the city’s inhabitants is the first thing you will notice and tourists are made to feel welcome.
Once you are in the city, you can get around and visit most of the tourist destinations on foot, however, it might be a fun experience to rent a bicycle as the city is quite bike-friendly. There is also a tram system which accounts for a large chunk of the public transport.
The tourist attractions of the city include buildings of historic importance, churches, windmills, museums (including Rijksmuseum, Sexmuseum and Van Gogh Museum), gardens, zoos, parks and a beach along the entire west coast of the Netherlands. The famous Red Light District of Amsterdam serves as a major tourist centre - it encompasses several canals along with the intermediary streets. It might sound strange but it is still a residential area as prostitution is limited to certain side streets and alleys. In fact, the oldest church in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk is also part of the Red Light District. There are several guided tours and canal cruises which you should sign up for an informed tour of the beautiful city. When looking for Hotels in Amsterdam, you could also check if the hotel offers tours of the city.
Shopping in Amsterdam is also an extremely pleasant experience - the central shopping streets focus more on clothes and accessories, albeit there are many more types of shops. The side streets of the canals are home to lots of interesting little shops, and there are a few bookstores and a small concentration of Chinese shops as well.
There are a huge variety of eateries which have a wide range of dishes to choose from - literally too many to choose from! You must sample some local cheese in Amsterdam, it is delicious. Also, Heineken tastes much better in Holland than elsewhere.
Amsterdam can be visited at any time of the year, since it is a large city, however certain attractions are seasonal - such the bulb fields, which are in full bloom come spring time. Also, the days are short and the weather is pretty cool in winter; things which should be kept in mind. Regardless of what you are on the lookout for during your visit, you are bound to find it in Amsterdam - if you are an intellectual with an eye for history and culture, or a young greenhorn looking to party and have fun, or even someone hoping for some relaxation then Amsterdam’s charm will definitely be what you were looking for.