Amsterdam

Peace, love, and respect. This mantra kept close at heart by the flower children during the heady heydays of the 60’s and 70’s in Amsterdam earned the city’s reputation as the hippie haven. While its government is continuously working to transform it into a cosmopolitan international business center, Amsterdam has retained its “free thinking” and “anything goes” culture where smoking hash is legal. Free love, free drugs, free everything — that’s Amsterdam for you.

Getting Around

Going around on foot is definitely the way to go. While the city might seem big at first, it can actually be toured in more or less four hours. Make sure, though, to wear comfortable walking shoes. Those boots and thin-soled shoes won’t work when you walk on those cobbles.

Things to See

A big part of Amsterdam’s charm comes from its 160 canals located around the city. Accentuated by 7,000 historic buildings and more than 40 museums, this city can make any cultural buff a giddy experience.

Things to Do

The best of souvenirs aren’t found in the high-class boutiques. Rather, they are hidden among the numerous tents in the Waterloopein Flea Market just waiting to be unearthed. Shopping in Amsterdam’s classic market is a definite must-do for all the possible antique riches one might discover hidden among the wonderful junk sold here.

Where to Stay

In Amsterdam, there is a hotel for every type of visitor. Whether you’re looking for something charming and luxurious, modern and glitzy, small and intimate, rough and laid-back, or simply historic, you’ll find one in all corners of the city.