Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities in Europe, the style, the culture, the relaxed way of life and the ease to get around really suit me and I love nothing more than spending a weekend there. Many people in Europe use Amsterdam as a weekend break and while this is all good and well, I used to always come away feeling like I hadn’t quite seen enough. If you are heading for a weekend in the ‘Dam’ then here’s my top 5 things to do and see.
Red Light District
Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District is notorious due the legality of prostitution in the city, now I am not suggest that you partake, however the district itself should certainly be seen. This area isn’t just filled with scantily clad girls parading in a doorway, the district houses some fantastic bars, cafes and wonderfully meandering streets with little arthouses and there are even some good museums here, the sex museum is fantastic and very eye opening, a visit to the city wouldn’t be complete without seeing it’s underbelly.
The Rijksmuseum
This is the national museum for art and history and you really must see it when you head to the city, generally speaking I would allow 5-7 hours to fully see the museum. The building itself is breathtaking and within it’s walls it houses work by Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Johannes Vermeer. Regardless of whether you are an art lover or not, I still think you’ll enjoy the museum and it’s 8000 plus pieces of art, craft and design that it exhibits.
City Tour
Many cities offer tours and if I’m being honest, there are only a few cities in the World that I would actually use a tour. The reason for this is that many have little to offer and the tour becomes somewhat redundant. Amsterdam however is so vast and sprawling that a city tour is something I would recommend. You don’t necessarily have to take a paid tour, if you have your car then commit a day to driving around the city to see all the nooks and crannies that you can’t find online, you could even take a chauffeur service for a few hours where a local driver can fill you in. Amsterdam must be seen in full to truly appreciate it, the centre is just the tip of the iceberg.
Anne Frank Museum
This World War II museum is the preserved house of famous diarist Anee Frank, the jewish girl who hid here until she was found and killed by the Nazi’s. The house is preserved and protected and is open for visitors to see where she and her family lived and hid during those times. The museum also has an exhibit about the times when she lived and many excerpts from her diary that she kept. For a look back in time, this museum is absolutely worth the visit. The museum is currently the 3rd most visited museum in Amsterdam and is truly awe-inspiring, put it on your list.