Touring beautiful Amsterdam
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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. 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. 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. 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! About the Author
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