Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most breathtakingly beautiful cities, offers plenty for the tourist to see and do. If you simply can’t decide what to do, try one of these tours.

Easy hop on-hop off city tours

An easy way to see this beautiful city is to take a hop on-hop off tour.

You can choose from 1-day or 2-day passes – these give you unlimited number of rides on selected buses and canal buses, and you can make as many stops as you wish along the way. Buses come equipped with multi-language audio systems – just ask for your language of choice - and you’ll be treated to informative commentaries of the tourist attractions.

Buses usually make pit stops at Amsterdam’s most visited tourist destinations: the historic city centre, the old port, the flea market, the Amstel river, the Magere Brug (the 16th century Dutch-style ‘skinny’ bridge), Amsterdam’s major museums and the Red Light District.

Fascinating walking tours

Amsterdam’s city centre is fairly small and flat, and its main tourist attractions are centrally located – so walking tours are a good way to see the city.

Denim dress

Try the historical walking tours that take tourists to the resplendent Royal Palace, elegant public squares and flea markets, historical churches, the old city gates and museums such as the Anne Frank Museum and the Rembrandt House Museum. Amsterdam is also home to Begijnhof, a medieval courtyard where women lived in a semi-religious community, and the Spinhuis, the 16th century women’s prison located on part of an old convent.

For those curious about the seedier part of Amsterdam, take a walk on the wild side with the ‘after dark’ tours.

The Red Light District tours bring you through the beautiful narrow cobbled streets of the Rossebuurt neighbourhood. You’ll pass by shop windows displaying women (and men) plying their trade, live sex shows and peep shows. There will also be scores of brothels, sex shops, theatres, bars, pubs and clubs. Pop by the Prostitute Information Centre and chat with former prostitutes.

Pencil dress

On the cannabis tours, you’ll be visiting Amsterdam’s infamous coffeeshops - these aren’t cafes, but shops where cannabis is sold and smoked. Tour guides will give you an insight into the cannabis industry, culture and politics, and bring you to the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum. Some guides even recommend their favourite coffeeshops and hash retail shops.

Check out Amsterdam’s party scene with the club and pub crawls – you’ll get to dance and drink the night away at the city’s top clubs and pubs.

Enchanting canal cruises

Amsterdam offers a host of interesting cruises down its canals and waterways.

There are the ever popular breakfast and lunch cruises where you’ll discover the historical city centre with its charming canals, bridges, medieval houses and squares.

With the canal bus hop on-hop off cruises, you can get off at any of the bus stops located near the main tourist attractions, museums, shopping areas and restaurants.

Why not join one of the specialty cruises – take you pick from romantic candlelight cruises, music and theatre cruises, wine and cheese tasting cruises, luxury vodka and caviar cruises, and pub cruises.

Exhilarating bike tours

If you prefer a little sun and a good workout, the bike tours might be the thing for you. Amsterdam is a bicycle-friendly city, so cycling within the city is extremely enjoyable. But do watch out as bicycle-theft is common.

Cycling is also ideal for exploring beyond the historic city centre. Amsterdam has several parks in town such as Vondelpark and Rembrandtpark, and at the edge of the city lies the forest-like park, Amsterdamse Bos.

Travel north and take the ferry across the IJ bay, and you’ll arrive at rustic Waterland – imagine reeds rustling in the cool breeze, cows, sheep, farms and villages. Cycle half an hour south along the Amstel River and you’ll find yourself in the beautiful village of Ouderkerk. Head southeast along the Amsterdam-Rhine canal and the medieval towns of Muiden and Weesp await your arrival.

Leopard print dress

Relaxing bus tours

Another fantastic way to see the city and countryside is to go on a bus tour.

Tours going north from Amsterdam take you to villages with picturesque windmills and ditches, traditional fishing villages, and wooden shoe factories.

Visit medieval Alkmaar, home to a centuries-old cheese market - you’ll see how cheese-carriers dressed in traditional wear selling cheese the old-fashioned way.

A colourful trip to Keukenhof, the world’s largest flower garden, will bedazzle you with beautiful tulips, hyacinths, orchids, daffodils, lilies and crocuses. You’ll also see the world famous flower auction at Aalsmeer.

With all the choices available, you’d have trouble deciding which tour to take!

Located on the southwestern coast of Portugal, Aljezur is a municipality in the Algarve region of Portugal. Aljezur contains 4 distinct parishes: Aljezur, Bordeira, Odeceixe and Rogil. The entire municipality contains about 5,500 people in a variety of small villages located in each Parish.

Archeological evidence confirms man’s presence in this area since around 4,000 BC and throughout the Bronze Age. There is also evidence of Roman occupation, as well as historical evidence from the other occupying forces. Receiving the town’s first charter in 1280 during the reign of King Dinis, the town prospered from that point onward, with agriculture being the main economy. Produce was shipped by way of the port on the Aljezur creek until silt buildups in the creek forced the produce to go by road to market.

The earthquake of 1755 caused so much damage to Aljezur that a new settlement was built in order to convince the people to stay in Aljezur and not move out of the area.

Flats shoes

Not much changed for the newly rebuilt Aljezur until the tourism boom of 1960 struck and the town is now enjoying a surge in economic activity.

Aljezur is an ancient settlement famous for being the last Arab fortress to be conquered by the Portuguese in the 13th century. Complete with a Moorish castle dating back to the 10th century, this municipality has a variety of museums celebrating its history.

The castle, the site of the Carrapateira fishing village (12th century), the Arrifana Fortress and the Ribat of Atalaia Point (12th century) are all historical points of interest which are currently undergoing excavation with the artifacts and historical data to be displayed in a museum which is currently under construction.

Hello Kitty Shoes

Today, much of the coastline of Aljezur is under government protection and is classified as a Nature Park. Called the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, this natural park stretches from the parish of Odeceixe in the north to the parish of Burgau in the south; about 80 kilometers of coastline. Due to this protection, the shoreline is untouched and visitors can enjoy the natural splendor, unlike other coastal areas in Algrave which have been commercialized for tourism.

The parish of Aljezur is divided by the Aljezur River. The older settlement on one side of the river and the one built after the earthquake on the other side. The oldest part of the town contains a wealth of historical points of interest from museums to the castle which overshadows all.

Blue shoes

The economy of the area is driven by tourism. Tourists who are curious about the natural beauty of the area flock to Aljezur to fish, surf and partake in many other ocean sports. There are also a variety of non-water based sports such as climbing, cycling and hiking which are favorites in this area. With a variety of accommodations available from rustic guest houses and bed and breakfasts to hotels with modern amenities, there is something for everyone in Aljezur.

The municipality of Aljezur has maintained its rustic charm, refusing to give sway to the ultra modern that is so often presented to tourists. In Aljezur you’ll find pastoral charm and a native friendliness as the people of this municipality are proud of their heritage, their way of life, and their protected coastline.

Comprised of 16 different municipalities, the Algarve region is in the southern portion of Portugal. Approximately 410,000 people call this area home on a permanent basis, though the area swells drastically in the summer and around holidays as tourists flock to the area.

The Algarve is a rich, verdant area with pleasant hills and valleys which roll right up to the craggy cliffs that mark the beginning of its many beaches. The region also includes several islands and islets, and is also the home of a nature reserve called the Ria Formosa Lagoon which is a connecting chain of barrier islands which are a resting ground for migrating birds.
Perhaps the Algarve’s most striking geographical feature is the coastline which stretches for miles throughout which are scattered grottoes and limestone caves, especially around Lagos. Many of these are only accessible by boat, and there are tours available in the nearby towns for tourists who wish to see the coastline up close.
After tourism, horticulture and aquaculture are essential parts of the economy of the region. Products include almonds, figs, oranges and carob beans many of which are grown in large plastic greenhouses which cover immense tracts of land. Fishing provides sole, sardines, gilt-head bream and other seafood for export and local consumption.
The Algarve is also renowned for wine production, with four wines having achieved the elite Protected Designation of Origin status. Winery tours are a popular tourist activity, but many of the area’s wineries are also open to the public for individual visits.
Tourism has only been a major part of the economy since the 1960’s. Prior to that Algarve’s main industries had been food processing, construction and cement and to an extent they still are very important.
The region is a popular destination for the British as well as the Dutch, German and Irish. There are English newspapers and publications specifically for the tourists, and in addition to the wealth of beaches, the region also invested in the construction of world-class golf courses to help attract more visitors. Spa vacations are also very popular, with Caldas de Monchique being one of the more popular spa towns.

Fish oil for dogs

The Algarve region is blessed with a temperate climate and a plethora of sunny days. The location, the culture and certainly the weather have all been factors in attracting Northern Europeans who purchase holiday or permanent homes in the area. The real estate market is booming in the region. Portugal is a part of the European Union, and any other EU citizen has the ability to purchase property with little fuss. As such, a recent wave of British, German, Dutch and Scandinavian expatriates have moved into the area.

In the last fifty years the Algarve has experienced a boom in property development to meet the demand of both buyers and tourists. In addition to the traditional resorts and hotels of every level, there are many of the more traditional Portuguese guest houses which are run by both natives and expatriates.

Fish oil dosage

The capital city of Faro has an international airport which services the region and is also home to the University of the Algarve. This is a public university offering degree programs in a wide range of fields. There is also a variety of private education facilities for all ages, as well as state-run and international schools to cater to the diverse student population.

Cod liver oil
The regions largest stadium, the Estбdio Algarve, is also located in Faro. This 30,000 seat facility was built for the 2004 European Football Championship, and has since been used for many sporting and cultural events.
With an average temperature that ranges between 15 and 31 degrees centigrade in the summer, and rarely falling below zero in the winter, the Algarve is a popular destination for those seeking a place to live where they can have a better quality of life, and those who are just looking for a short getaway.