With its world-class art museums, its vibrant nightlife and unique Red Light District, Amsterdam remains one of Europe's most diverse and boundary-pushing destinations. Whether you you want to sample Amsterdam's best restaurants, chill out in one of its weed-touting coffeeshops, or pound the cobbled streets for one-off shopping finds, the capital of Netherlands caters to every whim.
If you have a curious mind, you've come to the right place. First, you can explore the past of the city at the Amsterdam Museum, which documents the last eight centuries of urban evolution using quirky objects like 700-year-old shoes. Travel back to the 17th century in the Red Light District as you step into a Church, yes, a church conveniently hidden but really charming called Museums Ons' Lieve Heer op Soldier.
Shop till you drop in the famous flower market. There you can find clogs, tulips, cheese and windmills, put them on the basket of your cycle and feel like you are in an old movie as you ride across the city.
Lose yourself in the city's Canal Belt. Criss-crossed by bridges, 165 canals encircle the city of Amsterdam and keep the sea at bay. The waterways provide an attractive border to the arty locales of the Museum Quarter, the Jordaan and the Pijp. In the land, you can find shops, galleries and quaint cafes.
Have a typical picnic in the Vondelpark, the largest green space in Amsterdam. The park was named after its best-known poet Joost van der Vondel whose play Lucifer caused the religious powers of the time to crack down notorious living. The park is the place to be in the summertime, when people gather to smoke, drink and feast here. With a number of sculptures, the park is also a cultural hub.