Why? A holiday in Amsterdam must feature near the top of the list for any grand European tour. The city is full of old world charm with its quirky features, from the houseboats on the canals to the distinctive architecture of its townhouses. Travel to Amsterdam for lively nightlife, awesome art galleries, shopping for souvenirs, and to liberally sample the indigenous Heineken beer.

When? Spring (April/May) is the best time to vacation in Amsterdam: the weather may be unsettled but this is when Holland's great flower shows are in full bloom, providing a bonus for tourists. The Queen's Birthday in April is also a major event, when street parties abound in Amsterdam.

Who for? An Amsterdam holiday will enchant anyone of any age. The compact city centre can be explored on foot even by the less energetic, and there are attractions aplenty to entertain young and old.

More info: Our Amsterdam travel guide is an invaluable resource for anyone planning to travel to Amsterdam. The Amsterdam travel guide features information about public transport, the location of major attractions, restaurant suggestions and a host of other useful facts and figures for your Amsterdam holiday.

Bikes in Amsterdam © World City Photos

Lively, lascivious Amsterdam has a unique atmosphere that makes a mockery of the caricature of the 'conservative Dutch'. Radiating out from Dam Square, the historic centre of the city is ringed by quaint canals and cobbled streets, and throngs with bicycles, tourists, houseboats, students and street performers. Amsterdam wears two faces: on one, it smiles and beckons hedonistic youth with its notorious Red Light District and liberal view of marijuana use; while on the other it offers discerning travellers some of Europe's finest museums and art galleries.

For the tourist, one of the joys of Amsterdam is its compactness. The old part of town is a pleasure to explore on foot, strolling across ancient bridges and down narrow lanes past gabled houses, and dropping in to browse inviting souvenir boutiques crammed with blue and white Delft china and wooden clogs and tulips. Pavement cafes and cosy bars offer rest and refreshment. An alternative is to take a circular canal-boat cruise and see the city from the water, peering in on the lives of the locals who live on houseboats lining the waterways.

At night even the most conservative visitor is drawn by the lively atmosphere of the infamous Red Light District, known as De Wallen, which is bounded by the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudeziujds Achterburgwal canals near the Dam Square. Here prostitutes display their charms in brightly lit shop windows and touts encourage passers-by to view raunchy floorshows. The best nightclubs and bars, and theatres and cinemas are mainly to be found in the bustling Leidesplein and Rembrandtplein.