Amsterdam City Guide

Activities in Amsterdam

Cycling is the main way to move - Amsterdam is flat as, which also makes it perfect for jogging and walking. The Dutch are also into sailing in a big way and windsurfing is almost a national sport. Ice skating is popular if the winter is cold enough to allow it.

Watch

Dutch national pride is pretty low-key except when it comes to football. The national team competes in virtually every World Cup, and passions for the game run so high it's almost scary. Amsterdam's famous team, Ajax (say 'ah-yahks'), plays in the hi-tech Amsterdam ArenA. Hooliganism is not unheard of, but the ArenA has a modern, hi-tech police force, and if you're sitting in the seats (as opposed to standing in the standing sections) you're unlikely to notice crowd trouble.

Participate

If the winter is cold enough, locals skate on frozen canals and the Museumplein pond; if nature doesn't comply, try the Jaap Edenbaan indoor and outdoor rinks instead.

The Vondelpark is an exquisite place for a stroll or a jog, particularly in Spring; if you want more of a serious leg-stretch, the sprawling Amsterdamse Bos is the place to head.

To say that Amsterdammers are avid cyclists is a bit of an understatement. There are some 400km (248mi) of bike paths in the city alone, and nowhere is the humble pushy so revered - cars and pedestrians come a poor second. If you want a local's perspective on the city, hire a bike as fast as you can.

Tours in Amsterdam

Two Wheels, Three Days

Amsterdam could occupy you for a lifetime, but flying visitors will find the city so compact that even three days can give a rewarding glimpse of its charms. Hire a bike to get that 'Dam feel and speed things up. On the first day, get up early and beat the crowds to the Van Gogh museum so you can have your perfect moment in front of your favourite canvas in peace. Freshen up with a stroll in the Vondelpark and head for a late lunch at Café de Jaren. Take a canal tour and check out the neon-soaked waters of an Amsterdam night.

Start the second day with a leisurely brunch at Café Reibach, then explore the Jordaan before taking in a free concert in the Concertgebouw. Do some fancy shopping on Kalverstraat then recover on the cushions at the Supper Club. If you're feeling energetic, go for a boogie at Melkweg.

It's the last day! Get on your bike and check out as much of the city as possible, from the Begijnhof to the Red Light District to the flower market to the green south. Pop into the Museum Willet-Holthuysen for a taste of what it would have been like to live in one of those regal canal houses, and pull out a pocket picnic to eat in its lovely garden. Spend the afternoon larking around at Artis Zoo before a slap-up dinner at De Belhamel.