Amsterdam: The Autumn And Winter Destination Of 2013

Amsterdam (Photo credit: maurobrock)

By []Harvey McEwan

Europe is one of the places in world that provides travellers unlimited choice. If you are seeking warm weather to snowy mountains there's plenty to choose from. But a specific location that is often overlooked during the autumn and winter months is Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam is often associated with stag nights, which is only one of the many layers of the capital. Because of this many families or those not looking for a place that will expose themselves to this environment will most likely never consider this a an idea location.

3 European Cities You Have to Visit

Basilica di San Marco, Venice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
By Barbara Macdonald
There are 3 European cities you have to visit if you love cities built on canals. Each city offers an opportunity to explore and experience it from the pleasure of a boat trip on the canal. These 3 cities are located on a network of canals.
Venice
Brugge
Amsterdam
Venice was founded in 421 AD, as a place where people could seek refuge from barbarian invasions. Venice was built on several islands of a lagoon, then linked by bridges. It grew to become an important city. In 828 the reputation of Venice was elevated by the acquisition of the relics of St.Mark the Evangelist, which were placed in San Marco Basilica. Venice is famous for the Murano Glass works. It has a long history of mystery, intrigue and romance. It has been exciting visitors for centuries. Authors and movie makers have set their works in Venice. Henry James said of Venice, "A visit to Venice becomes a perpetual love affair."
On your first visit to Venice you must see the famous sites. Begin at San Marco Square. Take a water taxi, a vaporetto, from the train station to the square. Sit at one of the outdoor tables and begin to enjoy your Venice experience. You can see St. Mark's Basilica, the Doges's Palace, the Campanile bell tower while you sip your tea or coffee or glass of wine. When you are ready stroll to the Tourist Information Office to plan your visit, be sure to include a romantic gondola ride.

Short Breaks To Amsterdam

Image via WikipediaNot only is it quick, easy and relatively cheap to travel to Amsterdam (you'll find some cheap Amsterdam late deals), the city also offers an amazing choice of attractions.
Not only is it quick, easy and relatively cheap to travel to Amsterdam (you'll find some cheap Amsterdam late deals), the city also offers an amazing choice of attractions.
Top 3 reasons for an Amsterdam break - Think of Amsterdam and immediately images spring to mind; tulips, windmills, cheese and clogs. Of course, there is plenty more to see and do on your short break to Amsterdam:
1. Art and museums - The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is home to the world's largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh. Some lovers of art might prefer Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum which holds the world's greatest art collections. Its most famous artists include Rembrandt and Vermeer.
2. Music and dancing - Visit Paradiso for the best live music and clubbing experience in Amsterdam. Its open every night for your enjoyment and its an experience not to be missed. Or why not try Melkweg or Escape for music and dancing? Melkweg is one of the biggest nightclubs in Amsterdam and Escape is the judged to be the most cutting edge.
3. History - A popular tourist attraction in the centre of Amsterdam is Anne Frank House. Visit the carefully maintained secret hideaway for a visit you’ll never forget.


Weather - Summers in Amsterdam are warm, but not boiling hot. So a city break to Amsterdam would not necessarily suit the sun worshipper. Winter in Amsterdam is picturesque but chilly.



Getting there - You can get a amazingly cheap flights to Amsterdam airport. Schiphol is Europe’s fourth largest airport and located just a few kilometers from the city centre.



Getting around - Amsterdam has a superb public transport system. The best way to travel is by tram, but you can also get around by bicycle, boat, bus and taxi.



Cheap Amsterdam breaks - If you're on a tight budget and really want to try a city break with a difference, then Amsterdam may well be a good choice. For the shopaholics among you, Amsterdam is renowned for its famous flea markets like the Spui Book Market. Or if you like the bar scene, there are some cheap places to drink in Amsterdam, such as Belushi’s Bar. You don't have to rely on fast food in Amsterdam in order to eat cheaply. Try Maoz for a inexpensive and truly delicious vegetarian meal.



So, if you're a lover of city breaks, and particularly if you prefer to save your cash, try the city of Amsterdam and you will not regret it. You can book a late deal to Amsterdam to save even more cash. For a romantic getaway, a family break or a weekend relaxing with friends, why not book your weekend break to Amsterdam today?



Remember! There are many short breaks to Amsterdam available on the internet. Always choose a reputable travel agent or tour operator, and preferably one which is ATOL protected and part of the Travel Trust Association.

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Travelshop365.com acts as agent for all major tour operators including Thomson, Thomas Cook and First Choice. Please visit http://www.travelshop365.com



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What to See in Amsterdam

Image by bill barber via Flickr
Finally, we are in Amsterdam! Around we see buildings which are not too tall, 4-5 storeys, but old and original in style, apparently, built with love and for the ages. The design and style are very unusual, with red, white yellow and brown colors and high roofs covered with tiles. After passing a narrow street called Paulus Potter Straat we see amazing trams of different styles, types and colors shuttling back and forth.
Now we reach one of the most stylish places in Amsterdam, opposite the National Museum (Rijksmuseum). Nearby there is an artificial lake with people resting on the lawn in different postures: lying, sitting, chewing, reading, and conversing. They were all indulging in rest and did not pay any attention to what was happening around, people walking and dogs running. Even further I saw a modern cubic building of the Van Gogh Museum with a large green field behind, crowded with people spending their leisure time.


Our tourist group, according to the program, was taken to the Royal Diamond Museum (free admission). We entered there but just in two minutes I realized that this museum is not worth seeing at all (Internet forums were speaking of it as a waste of time), and we decided to skip it and explore the environs. They were picturesque: right behind the building of the State Museum we came to one of the famous canals of Amsterdam, so quiet and colorful. Next to it there was the historic first brewery of Heineken Brouvertji, a gloomy dark-brown building. It was here that they first began to brew Heineken, now a world-class beer brand. Our next stop was a park (or rather, a green field) where I noticed how much litter was there around the city, which is strikingly different from Germany, for example. Lawns were covered with chewing gum wrappers, scraps of newspapers, just like in so many cities I have seen before where cleanness is not worshipped. Also, it turned out that finding a clean toilet in Amsterdam is quite a challenge.



After making a large circle we soon walked out to the Van Gogh Museum on its reverse side. Next to it we found busy souvenir shops selling products associated with the name of the genius artist from Amsterdam: reproductions of his paintings (10 euros), shirts (14-15 euros), mugs (5-6 euros), posters (5.4 euros), e-cards (0,5-1,5 euros) etc. Everything was fairly pricey. The Europeans are good at making money on souvenirs, I have noticed that long ago.



Very interesting was a tour through Amsterdam aboard a river tram with an open deck. After all canals, a calling card of the capital of the Netherlands. They have all been dug over the last 400 years, in concentric semicircles around the Gulf coast. On them, around 1200 bridges (!) were built, of which 400 in the historic city center. The City Centre is located on 70 artificial islands, many of them were not in existence 300 years ago, and now people live where it used to be an open sea.



We left from the river buses pier near the historic brewery Heineken, along the canal Singelgracht. Along the canal banks we saw small wooden barges, which are used as private homes: with verandas, flower-beds, and all the amenities inside. It looked very strange when you see the decks of these houses with sitting, walking or standing people who were drinking tea, watering their flowers, sweeping floors, that is, living a normal life and completely ignoring the trams with crowds of tourists staring at them. We were told that living in such homes on water is considered very prestigious in Amsterdam, and such apartments are in high demand. Such dwellings came to existence after the Second World War, when there was a shortage of housing and the city government temporarily allowed to build homes on water. Truly, there is nothing more permanent than temporary.

The canal through which we were sailing joined the bigger river Amstel, and right before us opened a majestic view of the river and the luxury hotel Amstel which sits on piles in water.



The magnificent buildings along the river originate from the Golden Age of Holland, the 17th century, when all this splendor was created. In those days, wealth just flocked to Amsterdam, as the Dutch East India Company controlled the world trade in spices from the Molucca Islands in Indonesia, making untold profits.



Leaving the harbor we passed by a giant snow-white ship hotel and at the distance we could see a huge green building of a business center with unusual architecture. Amsterdam citizens call this building 'Titanic' for its characteristic shape. Then, at the end of our tour, we saw a huge Chinese restaurant in the shape of a pagoda with 4 tiers, standing right on the water, an exact copy of the same restaurant in Hong Kong.

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Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Be sure to check information about Amsterdam hotels, with descriptions, rates, photos, and visitors reviews.



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