Amsterdam is a great European destination on it's own, and if you find yourself taking a river cruise on the Rhine you'll likely start or end your cruise here. Spend at least 2 or 3 days to explore the city and it's surroundings. Here are my personal top 5 ways to explore all that Amsterdam has to offer:
Art Museums - Amsterdam has a multitude of museums to explore. If you have limited time, I recommend the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. The largest museum with over 8,000 masterworks, the Rijksmuseum tells the story of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It includes works from Rembrandt, Vermeer, and more. The most visited museum in Amsterdam is the Van Gogh Museum. It contains the world's largest collection of works by Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. With a 200-strong collection of his paintings, as well as drawings and letters, you'll find yourself immersed in all things Van Gogh.
Anne Frank House - Tickets must be purchased online months in advance, so don't wait until the last minute to add this moving tour to your list of activities while in Amsterdam. The tour takes you through the cramped living quarters hidden above Otto Frank's business. You'll enter through the doorway once hidden by a bookcase, and explore the space that 8 people lived in to hide from the Nazis including the room where Anne penned her famous diary.
City walk, bike, or boat ride - Stroll through the various neighborhoods, cycle the streets, or ride a boat through the 17th century canals. During your exploration be sure to take in the architecture, browse an outdoor market, or indulge in a serving of stroopwafel, herring, salt cod, poffertjes, oorlog french fries, Dutch cheese, or bitterballen. Yum!
Keukenhof Gardens - Explore one the world's largest flower gardens situated about 30-40 minutes outside of Amsterdam in the town of Lisse. Over 7 million flowers bloom each year in the gardens, with tulips fields blooming from March to May. Peak tulip blooms are typically mid-April.
Countryside exploration - Make sure you fit in a day trip to see the windmills of Zaanse Schans and explore the countryside full of fishing villages, farmhouses, and picturesque bridges. Consider a stop in the small villages of Edam (known for it's cheese), Marken (a traditional fishing village), and Volendam (a more kitschy fishing village).
Want to learn more about river cruising? Visit us at rivercruisecomparison.com where you can review our comparisons of the best river cruise lines that sail throughout Europe, learn more about the European rivers you can sail on, and browse our special offers to save a little money on your next sailing. And don't forget to take our one-of-a-kind quiz that will match you to the cruise line best suited to you and your preferences!
Commenti