Best of Amsterdam
Golden Age canals lined by tilting gabled buildings are the backdrop for Amsterdam's treasure-packed museums, vintage-filled shops and hyper-creative drinking, dining and design scenes.
Urban Explorations
Amsterdam's canal-woven core is laced by atmospheric narrow lanes. You never know what you'll find: a tiny hidden garden; a boutique selling witty, stylised Dutch-designed homewares and fashion; a jewel-box-like jenever (Dutch gin) distillery; a flower stall filled with tulips in a rainbow of hues; an old monastery-turned-classical-music-venue; an ultra-niche restaurant such as an all-avocado specialist or one reinventing age-old Dutch classics. Fringing the centre, post-industrial buildings in up-and-coming neighbourhoods now house creative enterprises, from art galleries to craft breweries and cutting-edge tech start-ups, as well as some of Europe's hottest clubs.
Admiring Art
You can't walk a kilometre without bumping into a masterpiece in the city. The Van Gogh Museum hangs the world's largest collection by tortured native son Vincent. A few blocks away, Vermeers, Rembrandts and other Golden Age treasures fill the glorious Rijksmuseum. The Museum het Rembrandthuis offers more of Rembrandt via his etching-packed studio, while the Stedelijk Museum counts Matisses and Mondrians among its modern stock. And for blockbuster displays, the Hermitage Amsterdam delivers: the outpost of Russia's State Hermitage Museum sifts through its three-million-piece home trove to mount mega exhibitions.
Bike & Boat Travel
Two-wheeling is a way of life here. It's how Amsterdammers commute to work, go to the shop, and meet a date for dinner. Abundant bike-hire shops make it easy to gear up and take a spin. If locals aren't on a bike, they may well be on the water. With its canals and massive harbour, this city reclaimed from the sea offers countless opportunities to drift. Hop aboard a canal boat (preferably an open-air one) or one of the free ferries behind Centraal Station, or rent your own for a wind-in-your-hair ride.
Feel Gezellig
Amsterdam is famously gezellig, a Dutch quality that translates roughly as 'convivial' or 'cosy'. It's more easily experienced than defined. There's a sense of time stopping, an intimacy of the here-and-now that leaves your troubles behind, at least until tomorrow. The easiest place to encounter this feeling is a bruin café (brown cafe; traditional drinking establishment). Named for their wood panelling and walls once stained by smoke, brown cafes have gezelligheid (cosiness) on tap, along with good beer. You can also feel gezellig lingering after dinner in snug restaurants while the candles burn low.
Photos
Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival Amsterdam
Upon arrival at Amsterdam Airport, meet & greet by our representative, Transfer to hotel for check in
Amsterdam's canal-woven core is laced by atmospheric narrow lanes. You never know what you'll find: a tiny hidden garden; a boutique selling witty, stylised Dutch-designed homewares and fashion; a jewel-box-like jenever (Dutch gin) distillery; a flower stall filled with tulips in a rainbow of hues; an old monastery-turned-classical-music-venue; an ultra-niche restaurant such as an all-avocado specialist or one reinventing age-old Dutch classics. Fringing the centre, post-industrial buildings in up-and-coming neighbourhoods now house creative enterprises, from art galleries to craft breweries and cutting-edge tech start-ups, as well as some of Europe's hottest clubs.
Rest of day at leisure to explore the streets of Amsterdam on your own
Did you know there are more canals in Amsterdam than in Venice? The city’s waterways, which date back 400 years, have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many can be enjoyed by foot, thanks to a series of narrow paths. That means you’ll have the chance to walk around a living museum for free while you’re in Amsterdam! We recommend De Duif as a starting point. And if you feel like experiencing the beauty of the canals from the water – you could always treat yourself to a Private Two-Hour Boat Tour.
Bike or walk around the Noord area - Noord is actually a whole neighbourhood in Amsterdam and there are parts of it that must be seen. Nieuwendammerdijk and Schellingwouderdijk are streets that were originally built as dikes – they are truly fascinating to see! The best part is that you can take the ferry to Noord for free. If that sounds like fun, you might also like to discover the charming neighbourhood of Zaanse Schans, with its cute windmills
Dinner at one of the lovely cafes that adorn the streets of Amsterdam
Overnight at Amsterdam - Day 2
Amsterdam / Amsterdam City Tour & Canal Cruise- Sightseeing
After breakfast, Amsterdam Guided City Tour + 1 Hour Canal Cruise
Explore the highlights of Amsterdam on this tour with a combination of the city tour and a canal cruise together with its diamonds ! Amsterdam has so much more to offer besides the canals.
On this live guided tour we will show you countless interesting sights and amazing views on the outside of the city centre. You will be able to admire the idyllic suburban scenery and the architecture of beautiful mansions.
We will have a photo stop at a remarkable windmill and you will have the opportunity to visit a diamond factory in the Museum District. From this point you can decide whether you want to explore Amsterdam further on your own or return to the bus which will take you back to where the tour started.
Canal Cruise - This live guided cruises departing from the upcoming area of Amsterdam Noord takes you on a 60 minute cruise through the city center of Amsterdam.
Guide will welcome you on board and will guide you through the city for the next hour. You will see all the Highlights of Amsterdam – the smallest house, the Amstel river with the Skinny bridge and of course the majestic canal houses from the Golden age.
Include : Transportation by coach, guide, Windmill photo stop, entrance to the diamond factory and 1 hour cruise on the canal.
Rest of the day at leisure to explore the city on your own
Overnight at Amsterdam - Day 3
Amsterdam / Tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills, Marken and Volendam
After breakfast, embark on tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills, Marken and Volendam
Zaanse Schans Windmills - Located just north of Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans offers a perfectly preserved glimpse into the Netherlands' industrial past with its traditional houses, windmills, warehouses and workshops. Find out what there is to do and see at the Zaanse Schans!
In its 18th and 19th century heyday, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills producing linseed oil, paint, snuff, mustard, paper and other products. Many of the Zaanse Schans' characteristic village houses are now museums, gift shops or workshops while others are still used as private residences. Some of the Zaanse Schans' remaining windmills are also open to the public.
Marken - Marken is a former island in the Markermeer. This peninsula remains a popular seaside getaway that’s reachable via a long causeway or a reliable fleet of ferries. Locals and international tourists alike flock to the island to take in its scenic views and enjoy its rich cultural history, such as the preserved fishing culture.
While you may not encounter too many people still dressed in attire that was all the rage in similar fishing communities back in the 19th century, you will find many of its historic homesteads still standing. Upon arrival you’re greeted by a beautiful view of the green wooden houses alongside the harbour. The houses are built on stilts or poles, or clustered on the hills so provide protection from fluctuating tides.
Volendam - For a fantastic trip back into ‘Old Holland’, head for Volendam, a picturesque town on the shores of the IJsselmeer, just 20 km north of Amsterdam.
A visit to Volendam typically begins with a stroll down De Dijk, the main harbour strip, which remains a lively shopping and residential street. On one side you have the working trawlers and fishing boats, which remain the lifeblood for so many in the area. On the other you can see the traditional wooden buildings and homes. Make the most of your time in the fishing village by sampling the freshly caught seafood. A variety of cosy cafés and restaurants, along with outdoor seafood vendors, will tempt your tastebuds with the catch of the day.
Includes : Transportation by Air conditioned coach, Professional guide, Entrance to a windmill
Tour ends in the afternoon. Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at Amsterdam - Day 4
Amsterdam / Tour to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague
After breakfast, transfer for full day guided tour to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague
On this tour you will see and visit four of the most impressive Dutch tourist destinations! See and visit Rotterdam, the most astonishing post-modern city of the Netherlands. Rotterdam is world famous for its extraordinary contemporary architecture. We will drive accross the famous Erasmus bridge and you will see the Euromast Tower, the unique Cube houses designed in the seventies by Piet Blom, amongst other highlights. In your free time you can walk around the center of Rotterdam at your own leisure to discover the unequalled urban city design. You can also take a walk in the Market hall, a great shopping area.
Next we will visit Delft, the gorgeous, cosy canal-ringed town of Delft best known for its Blue pottery and former home to the world famous painter Johannes Vermeer.
In The Hague you will see the most important highlights of the political capital of the Netherlands, the Peace Palace and Dutch Parliament amongst others.
Back to Amsterdam by evening
Overnight at Amsterdam - Day 5
Amsterdam - Visit Keukenhof or Day at leisure
After breakfast, take a trip to Keukenhof [happens from Mid-March to Mid-May] or day at Leisure to explore city on your own
Keukenhof
With 7 million flower bulbs planted every year across 79 acres (32 hectares), Keukenhof Gardens is a colorful sea of 800 varieties of tulips and other spring flowers, attracting visitors from around the globe who want to see the Netherlands' iconic tulip fields. More than 9 miles (15 km) of footpaths provide space to stroll around the park, take photos of flowers in bloom, and enjoy this favorite Holland tradition.
Keukenhof is open for just two months each spring [mid-March to mid-May] , making the annual event one of the most popular in Europe. In addition to the flower fields, the park is a kid-friendly venue home to canals, restaurants, a picnic area, a maze, a playground, and a windmill, providing plenty to see and do as you walk around.
Keukenhof is located in the town of Lisse, about an hour southwest of Amsterdam in the Dutch countryside. Booking a Keukenhof Gardens tour or ticket package with included transportation and admission is the most convenient way to get there, although public transport is also available from Amsterdam city center if you plan to visit on your own.
On one of our tours, See the springtime blooms of Keukenhof Gardens on a day trip from Amsterdam. Drive past the remarkable tulip fields that make the Netherlands a world-famous destination for flower lovers. A guide leads you on an informative tour of Keukenhof Gardens, including thousands of tulips, narcissi, and hyacinths artfully displayed among its ponds and pavilions. You’ll find myriad possibilities for photographing each dazzling patchwork amid the gardens’ 79 acres (32 hectares). Coach transport and admission are included in your 6-hour tour, departing in the morning or afternoon.
Back to Amsterdam by evening
If you happen to visit Amsterdam during months when Keukenhof is not happening, then day is at leisure to explore the city and it's museums on your own
Overnight at Amsterdam - Day 6
Departure from Amsterdam
After breakfast, morning is at leisure
Later transfer to airport for onward flight
Notes
Round the Year Destination ... Extension recommended to surrounding countries - Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg !
Tour Inclusions [Best of Amsterdam]
5 nights accommodation
Daily breakfast at hotel
All transfers, sightseeings & excursions as per itinerary
Notes on itinerary
All our itineraries are "Just for Ideas" ... We will get to know you and customise an itinerary just for you that matches your requirements ... dates of travel, category of hotels, preferred airline, flexibility in choosing sightseeing, mode of travel between cities, etc.
Many of our clients have us design more relaxing, slower paced holidays with more in-depth experiences whereas some simply want to visit various destinations and cover only the highlights.
Together, we will determine the ideal route, pace of travel, accommodations, levels of pampering, style of touring, sightseeing to be included, dining preferences, adventure levels, options to meet locals, dates of travel & much more ! and based on this arrive at a price.
Do feel free to get in touch with us by a quick call on +91 79 29602961 or a short mail on mail@destinations4india.com ... Looking forward
