Amsterdam Things to Do

There is plenty to see in laid-back Amsterdam, from world-class museums to vintage markets and more canals than Venice. And if that is not enough, any of the suggestions below make a diverting day trip from the city of cool.

As the pint-sized capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is not a massive metropolis in the fashion of London or New York – and most of the major attractions are walkable – but nevertheless a hop-on, hop-off tour on an open-top bus is the ideal way to great to know the layout of the city and to pinpoint its treasures.

HURRY! Book by February 12, 2013 to save 50% on the recommended retail prices for a Keukenhof Gardens and Tulip Fields Tour from Amsterdam. This exclusive offer is available for travel dates from April 10- April 28, 2013 on all scheduled departure times and dates (with block-out dates April 19 and 20). Please note that this offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

Catch the highlights of Amsterdam on this 2.5-hour Amsterdam City Sightseeing Tour that includes the Royal Palace, National Monument, bridges, a market and traditional gabled houses.

There’s also a visit to the Gassan Diamonds factory, which allows spectators to watch the talented workers turn rough diamonds into exquisitely polished stones! This month, one lucky winner will be awarded two tickets to the Amsterdam City Sightseeing Tour PLUS while on the tour they will each receive a Gassan diamond worth €500!

The annual Roots Festival, or world music festival in Amsterdam, celebrates its 15 year anniversary in 2012. From July 5th through the 8th, the city will be alive with music from all over the globe.

The Red Light District (De Wallen) in Amsterdam is one of the major draws for tourists. It’s not far from the Centraal Station, centered around Dam Square as it has been for centuries, and it’s where a lot of people head as soon as they reach town. Later they find a coffee shop to take part in The Netherlands’ other unique feature: legalised cannabis at coffeeshops.

The Netherlands is one of the most picturesque spots in the entire world. When you leave the city on a day trip, you might start to wonder if you’re living in a postcard. Of course, there are the trips to the Keukenhof Gardens, where you’ll see millions of tulips and other flowers. In addition to its fantastic flora, Amsterdam is famous for its fauna, or at least its cheese, which comes from its fauna. Can you call a cow fauna? I don’t know, but if you book a tour to the countryside, you’ll visit one of the few farms that still make cheese the traditional way. You’ll also see windmills and the famous fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, where houses are built on stilts and you can find women wearing clogs.