The Easter holidays are rapidly approaching and if you're looking to book a break, it could be the perfect time for a train adventure.
17.03.2024 - 10:25 / lonelyplanet.com
From cannabis-clouded coffee shops to lovely parks and cycling lanes aplenty, Amsterdam is a European city with a delightful, vibrant vibe that’s entirely its own. While it certainly makes for amazing travel escapades, there are some useful things to understand about this city and the local culture.
So, what do you need to know before visiting Amsterdam for the first time? Here are our top tips for newcomers.
Amsterdam establishments keep very regular hours. Opening hours in shops are generally from about 10am to 6pm, and 8pm for supermarkets. Many shops and grocers do not open on Sundays (with the exception of busy tourist areas like Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat). Coffeeshops tend to open in the morning and close around midnight, while bars and clubs go much later until 3 or 4am.
At museums and galleries, it’s best to plan for long queues – especially during the high season from June to August. Ticketed time slots (most can be downloaded to your phone) are available at popular sights like the Anne Frank Huis and Van Gogh Museum and should be booked at least six weeks in advance.
Similarly, lodging should be secured at least four months before your trip, especially if you’re visiting during the summer or on the weekend. Seats at your must-visit restaurants are best squared away at least two weeks in advance.
In 2024, Amsterdam's tourist tax – which is added to the cost of accommodation per night – has risen from 7% to 12.5%, making it now the most expensive in Europe. The tax is charged at a percentage of your accommodation cost, and is payable on arrival. For example, a four-person room booking for three nights by Vondelpark is costing a group of friends €818.88 between them, with an additional €91.88 to be paid on arrival. Plan ahead and factor the tax into your budget, as it's easy to forget about it once you've booked transport and accommodation ahead of it.
Cycling is one of the most popular ways to get around Amsterdam. Most rental bikes come with two locks – it’s best to use them both! Bike thieves in Amsterdam can be very capable. Use one lock for the front wheel (attached to the bike frame) and the other for the back, preferably attached to a post, bike rack or some other structure mounted to the ground.
Also, pay attention to signage regarding bike parking. Bicycle racks near tram and train stations and in certain public squares are usually best, or you may risk it being removed by the police.
Practical clothing will get you far in Amsterdam. It’s a city where people dress hip but casual (jeans and nice sneakers or boots, for example) and mix-and-match layers since the year-round weather is unpredictable. A light trench coat or windbreaker jacket is essential for all seasons besides winter, when a
The Easter holidays are rapidly approaching and if you're looking to book a break, it could be the perfect time for a train adventure.
The airline is also working with Neste to supply SAF into the fuelling systems at Singapore Changi Airport in the next few months.
airBaltic is looking forward to resume flights to and from Ukraine following the reopening of Ukraine’s airspace. The airline is planning to launch daily flights from Kyiv, Lviv, and gradually Odesa, connecting these cities with Baltic capitals, as well as major European cities via Riga.
Joshua Mullock brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Bridges team. His dedication and his unwavering commitment to quality promise to build on the success of his predecessors.
Even if your budget is tight and your pockets are light, there are ways to experience everything Dublin has to offer. You may have to bypass high-end restaurants and opulent castles but you won't miss out on a diet of international street food, live music sessions and sociable hostels.
NH Hotel Group has revealed some of Europe’s most intriguing spring breaks, with a a centuries-old folk festival in Frankfurt, a Japanese-inspired floral celebration in Copenhagen, tulips that are fit-for-a-king in Amsterdam and classical music greats in Prague among the options. Frankfurt – Ancient folk festivities
Wildly creative in a refined way. That’s how a local Swiss journalist hailed Dutch chef Jeroen Achtien during his previous job. “Wildly creative” is one of those phrases that get thrown around a lot (guilty here), but in this case it’s apt. It’s what the chef is now doing in his native Netherlands, where he’s stepped into some pretty big shoes.
You can now take a sleeper train directly from Belgium right through to the Czech Republic with European Sleeper's latest route expansion.
Oneworld recently launched its first European airport lounge shortly after its worldwide lounge debut in Seoul. So, what can you expect from a visit to the lounge?
European travellers can now fall asleep in Brussels and wake up in Prague with the launch of a new sleeper train service.
Spring and summer are set to top temperature charts in 2024, so choosing your city break based on the amount of cooling natural spaces would be a shrewd move. Based on air quality, number of green spaces and pollution, Essential Living’s Green City Index recently rounded up Europe’s greenest cities and gave them a ‘Green Space Score’. Here is a selection of the cities that top the list, with a recommendation of some stylish accommodation, too.
AMSTERDAM -- The ASTA River Cruise Expo returned to Europe for its third year, featuring more ships, more travel advisors and an even larger venue.