Cities of the World: Amsterdam


Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands with a population of about 1.3 million, including suburbs. It is a compact area that includes scenic canals, world class art museums, great shopping, the city's red light district and the famed "coffee shops."

Museums to see: 
  • The Riijksmuseum
  • Anne Frankhuis
  • Van Gogh Museum
  • The Resistance Museum                       

Transportation:
The bicycle is a great way to get around since the city is flat, non-sprawling and designed to be bike-friendly. There are many bike rental companies around the city that will offer bike rentals at affordable prices.

In the city center, driving a car is discouraged. Parking fees are expensive, and many streets are closed to cars or are one-way.

Public transport in Amsterdam mainly consists of bus and tram lines. Currently, there are 16 different tramlines. There are currently four metro lines. Three free ferries and  two fare-charging ferries that carry pedestrians and cyclists. There are also water taxis, a water bus, electric rental boats and canal cruises.

Weather:
Amsterdam has a cool, oceanic climate. Winter temperatures are mild, seldom below 0 °C (32 °F). Frosts mainly occur during spells of easterly or northeasterly winds, but even then, nights rarely fall below −5 °C (23 °F). Summers are moderately warm but rarely hot. The average daily high in August is 22 °C (72 °F), and reaches 30 °C (86 °F) or higher, only 3 days on average. Days with measurable precipatation are common, making cloudy and damp days common during the cooler months of October through March.

The Red Light District is a huge tourist attraction. It is actually a network of alleys that contain several hundred tiny one-room apartments as well as various shops, theatres and a number of coffee shops that offer various cannabis products. It's like a town within a town.

To learn more about this fantastic city, download the Amsterdam chapter in the LonelyPlanet City Guides.