‘Visit Amsterdam’ is on many people’s bucket lists and it’s hardly surprising when you consider what it has to offer. With its easy mixture of culture and heritage, attractive surroundings, great food and varied entertainment, this is one of the most popular short-break destinations in Europe. If you’re lucky enough to pay a visit, you should make the most of every moment.

Establish a base

There are plenty of apartments in city centre Amsterdam that would provide an ideal spot from which to explore, and they can be rented at a reasonable price so you’d have more money left over to spend on your souvenirs. You’d be within walking distance of Anne Frank’s house, which is now a museum dedicated to the tragic teenager, as well as De Negen Straatjes, which is a bohemian quarter consisting of nine streets packed with independent boutiques selling art, books, clothes and food. If you can hire an apartment overlooking one of Amsterdam’s famous canals, you’ll have the quintessential view of the city to return to each evening.

Know where you’re heading

It makes good sense to pick up an Amsterdam tour guide to help you find your way around. It’s an easy city to navigate and there are always great places to stop off and eat in between sightseeing venues. Amsterdam has a wealth of museums and galleries, including those dedicated to Van Gogh, Rembrandt and even more quirky institutions, such as the Museum of Bags and Purses, so your trip should definitely take in at least one or two of these. Additionally, the Amsterdam nightlife is eclectic, so there’s something for you whether you are more attracted to the jazz music of Bourbon Street on the outskirts of the city centre or the high-energy ABE Club at the heart of Amsterdam.

As you stroll along the banks of Amsterdam’s canals, in Grachtengordel – girdle of canals – you will doubtless enjoy the living history of the city, embodied in picturesque cityscapes and architecture. But the real beauty of Amsterdam is in its friendly atmosphere, generated by some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever have the pleasure to have met.