Visiting Amsterdam

(Amsterdam, Netherlands)

The sophisticated city of Amsterdam has long been of the Europe's most visited cities and offers a truly diverse selection of attractions and places to visit.

Amsterdam is perhaps most famous for its canals and bustling red light district, although Amsterdam is also home to a world-class collection of museums, galleries, breweries, restaurants and breathtaking buildings, both old and new.

Visiting Amsterdam: Places to Visit

• Artis Zoo, a historic zoo in the Plantage Kerklaan area of Amsterdam, founded in the 1830s and now home to more than 6,000 animals, with large enclosure resembling natural habitats
• Amsterdam Canals, with three main concentric ring canals surrounding the historic city centre, offering cruises, water taxis and lined by many popular restaurants and hotels
• Concertgebouw, the country's premier concert hall, famed for its world-class acoustics and regularly hosting large events and celebrations
• Muziektheater, an impressive Amsterdam theatre located at Waterlooplein, offering many theatrical performances, plays, musicals, operas and ballets
• Hortus Botanicus, the Amsterdam Botanical Gardens, with a vast selection of exotic plants from all over the planet, known for its huge carpets of spring tulips
• Holland Manege, an acclaimed Spanish Horse Riding School, dating back to the 1880s
• Holland Casino Amsterdam, one of the most notable casinos in the whole of Europe, offering a vast array of gaming tables, together with a popular restaurant
• The Diamond Industry, established in Amsterdam more than 400 years ago and featuring many diamond-cutting centres around the city, where you can watch free demonstrations
• The Jordaan, a particularly historic district of Amsterdam, with a host of street cafés and trendy shops
• Amsterdam Red Light District, known locally as 'De Walletjes', standing on the eastern side of Dam Square and full of attractive old buildings
• Leidseplein, standing to one side of the Leidsestraat, in central Amsterdam, offering a range of entertainment venues, including bars, clubs and eateries
• Beurs van Berlage, a notable building home to the Amsterdam Stock Exchange until the 1980s, now housing a large concert hall regularly hosting events
• Rembrandtsplein, a lively part of Amsterdam, known for its nightclubs, restaurants and strip joints
• Dam Square, a particularly busy part of Amsterdam, located in the very heart of the city and overlooked by many eye-catching buildings, including the Royal Palace
• Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), dating back to the middle of the 17th century and containing large function rooms, where many notable events are now hosted