Amsterdam Accommodation & Cheap Lodging

With its characteristic canals - surrounded by narrow, low, crooked 17th century houses - Amsterdam is, without doubt, one of the most charming capital cities in Europe. Here, you do your sightseeing trip by boat, the shops are small and offer personal service, and the cafes often have tables on the pavement, facing the water. With a rich cultural life and wide range of entertainment, Amsterdam is a full-scale capital city which has managed to retain its small-town feel.

A look at the map of the city shows that there are almost as many canals in the centre as there are streets. While most streets look more like alleys - short and narrow - the canals are much wider. For this reason, not many Amsterdam residents drive a car in the city it is easier to travel round by boat or tram. Apart from this, bicycles are the most popular and practical means of transport in Amsterdam but it is also an excellent city to explore by foot. Admittedly, you can easily get lost in Amsterdam, where the streets wind round like threads in a spider's web. But it's a nice place to get lost in. Beautiful house facades, tulip sellers, street musicians and crowds of people is Amsterdam in a nutshell. Wandering aimlessly between the Central Station and Vondelpark is entertainment by itself. Anybody looking for more serious entertainment will neither be disappointed. In recent years, an increasing number of modern restaurants and bars have opened in areas such as Jordaan and De Pijp, even though Leidseplein still has the densest concentration of restaurants. Present-day Amsterdam is more about cocktails in modern lounges, but the national mentality is extremely liberal and social. Here, everybody can be themselves and still fit in.

Amsterdam's fantastic architecture is best seen from a sightseeing boat on the canals. Visiting at least a couple of art museums and one of the modern galleries is must in this elegant, cultured city which also, on the other hand, offers high class football. There is plenty to do and see in Amsterdam.
Canal Boats Sightseeing boats depart continually during the day from the Central station, Damrak and the Rijksmuseum. The guided tours take 45 minutes. Other alternatives are the canal bus, with eleven stops close to museums and shopping streets, or the museum boat which circulates between all the museums.

Walking Around Amsterdam The narrow 17th century houses have large windows at eye height, so you can see a lot more than just the beautiful facades.

Rijksmuseum (National Museum) One of the world's most exclusive art collections. Among the 5000 works, Rembrandt's "Last Supper" is definitely the finest.

Stedelijk Museum The Modern Museum's permanent premises on Museumplein will be under renovation until October 2008. Temporary exhibitions are found in the former post office by the Central Station, on floors two and three.

Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank's House) This is where a Jewish family, the Franks, hid from the Nazis during World War II.

Galleri De Kunstfabriek The Art Factory has recently moved to new premises in a hip location, Westergasfabriek.

Galleri De Appel At De Apple, the latest avant-garde art is always on display.

Ajax Football Museum Watching a league match in Amsterdam with Ajax, the home team, is great fun, even if you are not interested in football.

Amsterdam Restaurants. The Dutch eat soup and sandwiches for lunch, often with a glass of milk. Just like the English, they like their chips, and have waffle kiosks like the Belgians. A local speciality is "bitterballen" (bitter balls), a kind of fried cheese croquette which is served as a snack with beer at cafes. This might not sound very elevating from a gastronomic perspective, but Amsterdam is also known for having some of the best Turkish and Indonesian restaurants in Europe. In addition, common themes in the most popular restaurants are stylish but pleasant decor, simple but well cooked food made from first-class ingredients and a relaxed atmosphere. Amsterdam houses many innovative restaurant trends. The latest developments are ecological fine cuisine, trendy restaurants in historical buildings and multi-function places where the restaurant also functions as a bar and night club.

Amsterdam Bars & Nightlife. It is easy to have fun in Amsterdam. Many people feel that "the Brown cafes" - Amsterdam's typical pubs - have never been better. Bar life is friendly, relaxed, and lasts for a long time. The locals go out early and return home late. Many places have a cafe, bar, restaurant and night club on different floors. The dance clubs might feel too small for somebody who is used to flashy clubs in NY, LA or London. But these clubs can be just as entertaining - and completely crazy! Hip, laid-back or sophisticated just choose.

When it comes to shopping, Amsterdam is the city of small shops. New, amusing and unusual shops open all the time and most of them are within walking distance, which makes shopping a pleasant experience. Take a look at our free guide and hit the stores.

Kalverstraat The large retail chains, with fashion, shoes and accessories are lined up on the Kalverstraat between Dam square and Muntplein.

Leidsestraat The shops continue along Leidsestraat, between Kalverstraat and Leidseplein. The colourful flower market is at Koningsplein, beside the Singel canal.

P.C Hoofstraat The cutest shopping street, with brands like Armani, Chanel, Gucci and Mulberry. Do not miss the neatest branch of Shoebaloo, the shoe chain.

The Nine Small Streets The block between Koningsplein and Westerkerk (between the Prinsengracht and Herengracht canals) is called "the nine small streets", and is an excellent area to stroll round in.

De Bijenkorf De Bijenkorf, in the centre of the shopping district, is Amsterdam's largest department store. It is the city's answer to Harrods in London and KaDeWe in Berlin.

Magna Plaza The former post office, which was built in the neo-Gothic style in 1898, would fit perfectly into a fairy-tale. There are more than forty exclusive shops, mostly selling clothes, but some also have music.

Maison De Bonneterie An old, luxurious department store with wooden balconies and a very exciting lift. This is the place to go for clothes and sporting goods.