Laced by atmospheric lanes hiding tiny gardens, boutiques and cost cafes, Amsterdam's canal-woven core is fringed by up-and-coming neighbourhoods where post-industrial buildings house hyper-creative enterprises. Lonely Planet’s Amsterdam is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the city has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Hop aboard a canal boat, admire art at the Van Gogh Museum, and browse the Albert Cuypmarkt; all with your trusted travel companion.
Lonely planet writer Catherine Le Nevez describes why she loves Amsterdam. "Amsterdam's balancing act between its seeming contradictions constantly inspire me. It's full of history, with Golden Age canal houses, Old Masters paintings and jenever tasting houses, yet it's also at the cutting edge of tech innovation, environmental sustainability and break-out design. It's resolutely dutch, but equally a melting pot with an incredible diversity of cultures and cuisines. A major European capital, it's compact and intimate. And while it famously has a wild side, it also harbours wonderfully low-key, village-like neighbourhoods and creative, repurposed industrial spaces."
Top 7 Amsterdam
1. Rijksmuseum
2. Het Scheepvaart-museum
3. Anne Frank Huis
4. Amsterdam Noord
5. Vondelpark
5. In 't Aepjen
6. Albert Cuypmarkt
7. Waterlooplein flea market
Covers Medieval Centre & Red Light District, Nieuwmarkt, Plantage & the Eastern Islands, Western Canal Ring, Southern Canal Ring, Jordaan & the West, Vondelpark & the South, De Pijp, Oosterpark & East of the Amstel, Amsterdam Noord
Writers: Catherine Le Nevez, Kate Morgan, Barbara Woolsey