Amsterdam City Guide for Travelers

Amsterdam, with a culture rich in history, trade, art and natural beauty will welcome any tourist with a warm heart and an eagerness to see more. This thriving and diverse climate offers a touch of class, entertainment and a cosmopolitan flair that is sure to leave long lasting memories. From the many museums to the restaurants, canals and gardens Amsterdam will not pose a problem for your itinerary. To the contrary, you may be looking for ways to cut back from the daily exploring in order to enjoy all the offerings of your luxurious boutique hotel room.

The museums in Amsterdam are plentiful and the works displayed are diverse and rare finds. In 2009, two more important museums will be cutting the grand opening ribbon. The Hermitage Amsterdam and the Stedelijk Museum. The Hermitage Museum of Amsterdam will be the sister museum to the world-renowned museum in Saint Petersburg of the same name. Works by famous Artist from Amsterdam, such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Mondriaan, Vermeer and Appel will be coming home in 2009. The exhibits will include “The Colours of the Night” by Van Gogh, on display at the Van Gogh museum and the world-famous Starry Night on loan from new York. While these are impressive, you will find over fifty mind boggling museums where you will ogle collections in modern art, press, film, theatre and photography mediums. If you are looking for a rare and exotic theme, a visit to the sex, erotica, hash and torture museums are a must.

Discover the natural beauty of Amsterdam. Botanical Gardens are plentiful, the architecture is splendid and the canals quite lovely. The canal system, while stunning, also provides a glimpse into history and what made this fishing capitol into the tourist Mecca and trade center that it is today. The streets are lined with historical architecture, beautifully designed, and behind the facades is a city reminiscing on a by-gone age. You can enjoy the Plantage at the water architectural walk or learn about the more than 6,000 species at the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. On every turn, down every street and in every window, there will be a view or mirrored image into one of the most vibrant cities and cultural capitols in the world.

Your taste buds are in for a delightful surprise when you travel to Amsterdam. With over 1,000 restaurants’ ranging from Argentinean to Vegetarian, pricy to inexpensive this city caters to all tastes and budgets. Since Amsterdam represents every nation’s cuisine faithfully, the possibilities are endless. You can find Thai, Indian, European, French and Dutch dishes. You can choose from seafood, steak, traditional café’s or fast food establishments. While most restaurants’ close at around 10p or 22:00, the night pubs, brown café’s, bars and takeaways are readily available to the midnight snacker.

While there is so much to do by day, Amsterdam still competes with that luxury hotel bed by night. The nightlife echo’s the robust and pulsating attitude of the locals, and caters to the tourists that come into town. You will find Lounge Bars, Cinema’s, Coffee Shops, Clubs, Night Theatres, cozy Pubs and intimate dinners and dances with themed hot spots open until 5:00a. This cosmopolitan city never sleeps! Browse around the red light district where the restaurants will be packed, the dance floors hopping and the streets crowded until the sun is nearly up. In the United States, they say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Amsterdam is no exception, with it’s rich and diverse night culture, the same would be true for this en vogue city. There are a couple of rules however. Never buy any drugs from the street. Soft drugs are legal and available in most street side shops. Also, never take a camera into the Red Light district. Remember that prostitution is legal and brothels are readily available. While you do not have to partake in such an eccentric past time, this is definitely a once in a lifetime attraction that you will only find in the after-hours streets of Amsterdam.

The I Amsterdam Card is a must have for any Amsterdam explorer. You will get access to over 30 museums for free, a transportation ticket and vouchers for discounts at restaurants and attractions. This card is available in unit hours, giving you the flexibility to use it as you need while on vacation in this spirited city. The I Amsterdam card for 72 hours is only 58 Euros, so it’s not hard to see how this card can offer deep savings.

Amsterdam is full of life and energy. Taking a hot bath in your boutique hotel will be much needed after a rendezvous on the streets in Holland. The Luxury and Boutique Hotels are plentiful and despite the taboo style nightlife, the class you will find in Amsterdam is next to none. Relax in your hotel, take a stroll around the museums, have a five star brunch or dance the night away. No matter what your age, nationality or gender, this city has something to offer to you.