Flights to Amsterdam

Amsterdam, a laid-back and welcoming city

The city of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, is a pretty holiday destination that gives you the freedom to explore. It's earned a reputation for being more liberal when it comes to sex, drugs and partying, and it's a popular destination for hen parties and stag weekends. It's also boomed in popularity thanks to more availability of cheap flights to Amsterdam. Even so, families especially can be reassured by the strong safety level throughout the city.

Sightseeing in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is home to some of the world's most important museums. Take in classic Dutch art at the Rijksmuseum, which is the most visited museum in the Netherlands. The artist Rembrandt used to live in the city, and his former home has also been turned into the Rembrandt House Museum. Another key place to visit is the Van Gogh Museum - so many iconic painters and artists have lived in Amsterdam over the years.

A more sombre look at history can be found at the Anne Frank House, in the city centre. The old house has been dedicated to Anne's life and memory, displaying her diary and some personal items.

Bicycles

Most journeys around Amsterdam are made by bike, and you can rent one out to see more of the city. It's a quicker alternative to a leisurely float down one of Amsterdam's famous canals - the 17th-century waterways are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You'll see that the roads and streets around the city have been laid out with cyclists in mind. Bike routes are marked in brown to help them stand out from footpaths.

Food and drink

The city's take on the idea of the British gastropub is the brown café, which combines café and pub styles to offer food and drink all day. Taste some of the local beers on tap, and munch on bitterballen (breaded, deep-fried dough balls with mustard) in between sips.

Snack on a stroopwafel, made by hand in front of you at one of Amsterdam's many street stalls. Pancakes are another sweet dish you should try while you're in the city.

Shopping and souvenirs

Dutch pottery, or Delftware, has a distinctive blue and white pattern that makes it easy to spot. Pick up some ceramics at a pottery shop. There are just two Delft factories still in operation, and you can easily make a day trip to the town of Delft from Amsterdam.

Another beautiful souvenir of your stay in Amsterdam is a colourful bunch of tulips. The season for these bright and iconic flowers is spring, with the fields around the city blooming into colour every March.