Amsterdam city breaks

• Essentials
  • Overview
  • Basics
  • Getting there
  • Getting around
• City sights
  • Top sights
  • Tourist trail
  • Offbeat sights
  • Nearby trips
• Things to do
  • Eating out
  • Cafe bars
  • Shopping
  • Nightlife
  • Red light
• Planning
  • When to go
  • Where to stay
  • Find a hotel

Amsterdam city breaks overview

Amsterdam city breaks offer variety if nothing else. Amsterdam is a city break travel destination that makes a virtue out of canals and cannabis and comes out smiling from bleak, north European winters. So what do Amsterdam city breaks have to entice the UK traveller?

Well. Amsterdam has a street cafe society that openly defies the city's 230 annual rainy days. And while upmarket art galleries can tout the best in European art, the downmarket Amsterdam Red Light District has eye-popping girls pouting and posing behind its neon-lit windows.

As if that weren't enough, there's an annual contest for the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup, with a prize for the coffee shop that grows the best drugs; a beer factory tour that's world famous; and, of course, bikes, bikes and more bikes - 700,000 at the last count, nearly one for every person in Amsterdam.

Not all UK tourists on Amsterdam city breaks are there to sample the sex and drugs. Steer clear of the Red Light District and you'll discover a city break travel destination with an unrivalled holiday reputation for art, shopping and entertainment. The restaurants alone make Amsterdam the place for great city breaks from the UK.

The city has a wide range of accommodation to suit every budget and you can find some of the best deals for hotels in Amsterdam at Trivago. Our Amsterdam hotel page lists all latest hotel deals, and we recommend checking out 'Short Stay Group' if you're after a quality Amsterdam Apartment. First rate Amsterdam hostels are also available for those on budget Amsterdam city breaks.

The galleries and museums are among the best in the world and the cobbled, canal-lined streets, with gabled houses and quiet gardens, are irresistible. There are things to do at every turn. You can marvel at the 17th century architecture or poke around scores of curios shops and designer boutiques.

The delightful network of Amsterdam canals creates a cosy atmosphere, while the city's compact centre makes it ideal for exploring on foot. Everything is within easy reach and an inviting cafe or bar is always nearby for a lunch break or welcome drink.

Amsterdam may have a great city breaks reputation in the UK but it is not without its problems. Bike thefts top a rising table of petty crime, racially driven street riots are not unknown and the Protestant city fathers are clamouring for a clean-up of the Amsterdam Red Light District.

Whatever your thoughts on Amsterdam's unique culture and relaxed lifestyle and despite the less than perfect Amsterdam weather you cannot help but rank Amsterdam city breaks highly for some holiday travel fun.

Make sure you include Booked.net if searching for Amsterdam hotels. They list a good number of quality hotels, available at competitive prices. Also, you don't have to pay any extra fees for booking, administration or cancellation.