Amsterdam Destination Guide

For some, drug tourism is the only motivation for visiting Amsterdam. Marijuana and other normally prohibited substances are legal here, and there are many cafés and bars peddling their products day and night. But Amsterdam is much more than just its red light district and pot bars.

Historically, Amsterdam was one of the largest shipping and mercantile cities in the world, and you can retrace all of its golden age grandeur at places like the Canal House Museum.

It’s a city packed with informative and entertaining tours by bike or boat, (it's a city of canals), and there are dozens of monumental and obscure museums to visit. Begin at the Rijksmuseum for a good grasp of Dutch Renaissance and religious art and work your way to the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank’s House.

On the obscure end are museums dedicated to tulips, the Museum of Coffee and Tea and even the Museum of Bags and Purses. If you want to see them all look for The Museumkaart, a €39.95 that gains you access to every museum in the city for one year.

At lunch or in the evening check out Rembrandtplein Square, a tourist haven packed with pubs and restaurants. Here you can find Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian and a host of other international eateries to choose from.