Amsterdam

Amsterdam, one of the greatest small cities in the world, is an unusual city in that it has all the advantages of a big city – culture, history, food, entertainment, good transport – with relatively few of the disadvantages: it is physically small, beautiful, relatively quiet, and largely thanks to the canals, has relatively little traffic.

From its canals to world-famous museums and historical sights, Amsterdam is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe.

Amsterdam is a city of tolerance and diversity. It has all the advantages of a big city: culture, entertaiment, international restaurants, good transport - but is relatively small, quiet, and largely thanks to its canals, has a little road traffic. In Amsterdam your destination is never far away.

Amsterdam quick facts:
Population: 735,000
Time zone: CET (UTC +1 hour)
Telephone area code: +20
Country: The Netherlands (also known as Holland)

Amsterdam tourist attractions:
Museums are the main tourist attraction in Amsterdam. Everyone knows the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, but there is much more. Amsterdam has over fifty museums which attract millions of visitors each year.

Amsterdam is city popular with first time travelers. In part, Amsterdam’s popularity comes from low airfares, a great airport with easy train connections to other major European cities, good food, and a cultural environment that attracts young travelers from all over the world.
For most visitors Amsterdam is the only place they visit in the Netherlands, skipping to Paris or Copenhagen without a look at the rest of this interesting country. Many visit Amsterdam because of its party atmosphere (it is one of the few towns in Europe where hotel prices are higher on the weekends than during the week). The town is full of good parties, excellent beer, and if you have a desire to smoke dope, you can do it legally. If so inclined, buy your weed in a "coffee shop", as they are licensed for the transactions and are reputed to have good quality product.

While planning your stay in Amsterdam, remember that it is a place for good eating. The city has many Indonesian restaurants offering a “rice table (rijstafel) and is, also, crowded with Argentinean steak houses that serve excellent meals. If you have a taste for Falafel, Amsterdam has some of the best this side of the Middle East. We recommend the Maoz stands. They are small, crowded and worth the wait.

Amsterdam has a number of good restaurants.
If you like steak, try one of the many Argentinean steak houses (steak in pepper sauce is a popular entree).
One of the Amsterdamers' favorite cuisines is the Indonesian Ristafel (rice table) and a number of fantastic Indonesian restaurants can be found in the city.
If you have a taste for Falafel, Amsterdam has some of the best this side of the Middle East.

Finally, bring or buy an Umbrella; rain seems to be popular in Amsterdam regardless of the season.