How To Use This E-Book
Getting Around the e-Book
This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Amsterdam, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.
The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Amsterdam, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in Amsterdam are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
Youll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Amsterdam. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.
About Insight Guides
Insight Guides have more than 40 years experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.
Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.
2019 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd
Table of Contents
Amsterdams Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
Shutterstock
The Dam
This square is the symbolic heart of the city and home to the ornate Koninklijk Paleis. For more information, .
Top Attraction #2
Getty Images
Oude Kerk
Dating from the early 13th century, it is the oldest church in the city. For more information, .
Top Attraction #3
Getty Images
Anne Frank House
Visit the house in which she wrote her extraordinary diary. For more information, .
Top Attraction #4
Getty Images
Begijnhof
Find peace and quiet in the picturesque courtyard, notable for its quaint architecture. For more information, .
Top Attraction #5
Shutterstock
A canal cruise
A leisurely way to see the sights. For more information, .
Top Attraction #6
Vincent van Gogh Foundation
Van Gogh Museum
Houses a collection of hundreds of the troubled artists works. For more information, .
Top Attraction #7
Getty Images
Bloemenmarkt
Colourful flowers on display all year round. For more information, .
Top Attraction #8
Greg Gladman/Apa Publications
Hortus Botanicus
This botanical garden in the Plantage district houses more than 4,000 species of plants. For more information, .
Top Attraction #9
DigiDaan/NEMO Science Museum
Science Center NEMO
Get your hands on the latest science and technology in this remarkable ship-shaped museum. For more information, .
Top Attraction #10
JL Marshall/Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum
Reopened after a 10-year renovation, the citys famous art and history museum is looking better than ever. For more information, .
A Perfect Day In Amsterdam
9.00am
Breakfast
A leisurely breakfast over the morning newspapers in a grand caf, Caf Luxembourg, at Spuistraat 24, should hit the spot.
10.00am
The Begijnhof
Cross over Spui to the tranquil courtyard garden of this restored medieval hofje (almshouse), which was once home to pious single women known as beguines , who carried out religious and charitable duties.
11.00am
Leidseplein
Take tram 1, 2 or 5 to Leidseplein, Amsterdams bustling entertainment square. Maybe fit in a coffee in the spectacular Art Nouveau and Art Deco Caf Amricain.
12.00pm
Vondelpark
Continue south to this wild and wonderful park, with its hippie-era history. There is usually plenty of free space amid the trees to escape from the citys hustle and bustle.
1.00pm
Lunch
Vondelpark has three cafs with outdoor terraces and views of greenery but if you want more than a snack join the art crowd at one of the new museum restaurants on Museumplein: the Stedelijk Restaurant in the museums sleek extension, or the Rijksmuseum Caf in the stunning atrium. (No admission charge for either.) To get your daily sweet tooth fix make sure to visit De Drie Graefjes on the Dam (Gravenstraat 13) where they serve Amsterdams famous red velvet cake.