Amsterdam
From its humble origins as a city crowded around a dam of the Amstel river, Amsterdam has grown up to be one of Europe's most beautiful and well-loved cities. The Rough Guide to Amsterdam is an indispensible tool in discovering the works of Rembrandt and Van Gogh at the Rijksmuseum, navigating your way through the winding streets that follow the flow of the city's canals, and seeking out the hottest nightspots in the Leidseplatz. This guide includes everything you need to know to eat, drink,...
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From its humble origins as a city crowded around a dam of the Amstel river, Amsterdam has grown up to be one of Europe's most beautiful and well-loved cities. The Rough Guide to Amsterdam is an indispensible tool in discovering the works of Rembrandt and Van Gogh at the Rijksmuseum, navigating your way through the winding streets that follow the flow of the city's canals, and seeking out the hottest nightspots in the Leidseplatz. This guide includes everything you need to know to eat, drink, and sleep in this most intriguing and captivating of cities.
WHEN TO GO\ Whether you¹re coming for canals and architecture, or sex and drugs, Amsterdam is a delight at any time of year. In high summer, the city parks are packed and every pavement, doorway and stretch of canalside becomes a choice spot for lazy hanging-out. Spring and autumn are particularly beautiful, with mist hanging over the canals until late morning and low sunlight piercing through the cloud cover. The flatness of the surrounding countryside means that the weather is always changeable, and it¹s common at any time of year for heavy morning clouds to be blown away to reveal a sunny afternoon. It¹s never too hot, though, and, save for January and February, when icy winds blow off the canals, the weather is rarely so relentlessly miserable as to ruin a visit the persistent winter rain can give the city a romantic cast, with wet cobbles glistening under the street-lights and the canals rippled by falling raindrops. But whatever the time of year, you should bear two things in mind: firstly, there are plenty of remarkably hardy mosquitoes living on the canals, at their friskiest in the hot summer evenings, although still a nuisance as late as October; and secondly, the few square kilometres of central Amsterdam comprise one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world space is at a premium, and you should always book accommodation before leaving home.\ GETTING OUT OF AMSTERDAM\ Finally, don¹t fall into the trap of thinking that there¹s nothing to the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam. Although Amsterdam utterly disproves the theory that a capital city is a microcosm of the nation, there is plenty to see and do outside the city. In spring and early summer the famous bulbfields are in full bloom, and the Randstad cities to the south of Amsterdam, such as Haarlem and Leiden, are worth a visit at any time of the year. Although there isn¹t much wild nature to be found in the Netherlands, there¹s some pleasant hiking to be had in the dunes near Bloemendaal-aan-Zee, and it¹s a quick train ride to the popular beach resort of Zandvoort. Indeed, just about everywhere can be reached quickly and painlessly by public transport where the trains fizzle out the buses take over.
Introduction PART ONE BASICS Getting There from Britain Getting There from Ireland Getting There from the USA and Canada Getting There from Australia and New Zealand Visas and Red Tape Information and Maps Health and Insurance Money, Banks and Costs Post, Phones and Media Police, Crime and Personal Safety Opening Hours and Public Holidays Travellers with Disabilities Long-term Stays PART TWO THE CITY Chapter 1 Introducing the City Chapter 2 The Old Centre Chapter 3 The Grachtengordel Chapter 4 The Jordaan and the West Chapter 5 The Old Jewish Quarter and the East Chapter 6 The Museum Quarter and Vondelpark Chapter 7 The Outer Districts Chapter 8 Day-trips from Amsterdam PART THREE LISTINGS Chapter 9 Accommodation Chapter 10 Eating and Drinking Chapter 11 Entertainment and Nightlife Chapter 12 Museums and Galleries Chapter 13 Shops and Markets Chapter 14 Gay and Lesbian Amsterdam Chapter 15 Women's Amsterdam Chapter 16 Kids Amsterdam Chapter 17 Sports and Activities Chapter 18 Festivals and Events Chapter 19 Directory PART FOUR CONTEXTS A History of Amsterdam Dutch Art The City in Fiction Books Language Glossary Index LIST OP MAPS Chapter Divisions Map Grachtengordel West Grachtengordel South The Jordaan The Shipping Quarter and the Western Islands The Old Jewish Quarter and the Plantagebuurt The Eastern Islands The Museum Quarter and the Vondelpark De Pijp The South The East Haarlem Leiden The Old Centre: Accommodation Grachtengordel West: Accommodation Grachtengordel South: Accommodation The Jordaan: Accommodation Plantagebuurt: Accommodation The Museum Quarter and the Vondelpark: Accommodation The Old Centre: Eating and Drinking Grachtengordel West: Eating and Drinking Grachtengordel South: Eating and Drinking The Jordaan: Eating and Drinking The Old Jewish Quarter and the Plantagebuurt: Eating and Drinking The Museum Quarter and the South: Eating and Drinking Amsterdam: Museums Colour Map Section Around Amsterdam Amsterdam Amsterdam City Centre Amsterdam: trams, buses and the metro The Old Centre
\ From Barnes & NobleThe Rough Guides feature some of the best writing of all the travel series, with extensive essays on history, arts, and culture included in each guidebook. These hip, lively guides also offer great coverage of nightlife and recreation but never neglect the all-important basics -- hotels, transportation, shopping, and more. The Rough Guides series covers the major destinations, as well as the less traveled spots, and are favorites among backpackers who appreciate the inclusion of budget options among the hotel and restaurant listings. The Rough Guides are reliable and accurate, and so well-written that they can provide hours of enjoyable reading -- even if you aren't planning a trip.\ \
