for Travel buggies, Food lovers and Everybody else: City Beautiful... Amsterdam

Earlier this summer, we planned a trip to Amsterdam. Thinking it to be yet another popular city in Europe, I didn't expect anything too special or too different from it. But to my surprise and thankfully I was sooooo wrong. The city amazed me with its beautiful architecture, the amazing network of canals, museums, its difference in culture to other European cities, humble people, good food and absolutely everything.

It has become my favourite destination so far and thus I would like to introduce this amazing city to you and tell you about the best things to do there.

Amsterdam is the capital and the most popular city in the Netherlands. The city is also the melting pot of various cultures coming together and living in harmony with each other.

How to arrive: There are many ways of getting to Amsterdam, specially for the Europeans. The people in the neighbouring countries like France, Belgium etc can take a bus, train or drive to Amsterdam which is very well connected via roads and railways. People in the UK can take the Eurostar/Euro-tunnel or Ferry or can drive or take the train whichever is comfortable. For others its better to take the flight to Schipol Airport as we did.

How to start: If you are in Amsterdam for the sole purpose to travel and cover all the tourist destinations, buying I Amsterdam cards from the airport comes handy. They come in 24/36/72/96 hour packs. They not only allow you free/discounted entry to major attractions but also give you free transport, discounts at some restaurants and also free gifts!!! yay!!!

Amsterdam central station is about 15 minutes by train from the airport. After you reach the central station, you can find buses, trams , taxis running everywhere taking people to their destinations.

Where to stay: Given its tourist destination status there are 100's of hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts to stay in Amsterdam. You can also rent a house boat and have a cozy stay. The most popular area to stay is within the so called "Ring" i.e within the canal network. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance because it gets sold out pretty quickly.

What to visit: Well well.. I can literally go gaga about this thing because there is soo much so lemme start

Museums : As I had mentioned before, Amsterdam has some of the most amazing museums. You can spend atleast 2-3 days just visiting the museums. but dont do that :D.. Just visit some popular ones. My favourite were Rijksmuseum ,Van gogh musem, Amsterdam history museum and Anne frank house. And yes the "I Amsterdam" sign is at Rijksmuseum, go click pictures with it, climb on it, hang on it.. :D
Tulip gardens: That's the second thing Amsterdam is so famous for. If you have planned your trip during March, do plan a visit to the garden. Kuekenkhof gardens, is one of the famous. However if you miss the tulip season, don't worry, you can always visit the beautiful flower market which is a treat as well.
Dam Square & Royal Palace: You can call it the city center, it is the most popular place to hangout. It is always flooded with people with some or the other performances , shows, shops, mall etc. The Royal Palace which is just opposite to the square is a nice, historical and informative place to visit as well.
Zaanse Schans: The place which gives you the real feel of being in Holland. The windmills, lakes, boats, cattle, little cheese shops. yes you can find everything you heard about Holland at this beautiful place. There is also a museum which you can visit and also a woodshoe manufacturing unit, must see.
Canal Cruise: Amsterdam and its magnificent network of canals, bridges , boat houses, buildings make the canal cruise a must do thing. You would not only fall in love with the beauty of the place but also the sheer architectural intelligence involved in building it. The view is even more enchanting at night when all the bridges and buildings are lit up.
Coffee shops: Oh Yeah! I am coming there.. As you all know, cannabis is legal in Amsterdam, the place where its available is the traditional coffee shops. It is available in different forms such as cigarettes, brownies, muffins etc and also in different power levels. :P If you plan to go there, go with company and do not overdo! (by personal experience :P)
Red Light Area: Over the years this has emerged as a tourist spot rather than anything else. You can go at anytime during the day and have a walk around. I would say no more.
Rent a bike: This is the best thing to do if you want to get a proper hangs of the city and its surroundings. Vondelpark is a nice venue to cycle around.

What to eat: Here comes my favourite section :) Yuhuuuu! Amsterdam may be known for its magical canals and cannabis but the thing very few people know is that it is a food heaven. I had the most gastronomically satisfying experience and I still do want to go back to Amsterdam to have those lovely Pancakes!!! Yummm.
Here is a list of things you must have when you are in Amsterdam or your trip would be nullified. ;)

Pancakes: There is a plethora of restaurants which serve Dutch as well as International pancakes. The Pancake Bakery and Pancakes! Amsterdam were my favourite.
Fries: These are traditional french fries but there is a variety of sauce present to eat with it which makes a real difference. Vleminckx and Chipsy King are the famous outlets.
Herring: It is a very famous fish which is mostly eaten raw.. But there is a version served with bread onions and pickle which is yum yum :)
Falafel: Originally middle eastern, falafels are a huge hit among the tourists as well as locals. Maoz is the most popular chain.
Waffles: Waffels are again a must have in Amsterdam. There are plenty of stores near Dam square where you can find good Waffles.
Indonesian food: As Indonesia was earlier a Dutch colony, you will find Indonesian restaurants everywhere in Amsterdam. But we found that it was over priced and over hyped. :P
Cheese: As Dutch people are very fond of cheese, you can find cheese shops and cheese tasting rooms at every corner. So you can taste the varieties of cheese present and pick the best one.