Amsterdam Makes Such a Great City Break

An Amsterdam city break really can appeal to anyone. No where else has such a satisfying mix of liberal madness and high-brow culture. It's quite incredible that despite all the potential for controversy, Amsterdam rarely attracts criticism and continues to appeal to people of all ages, and from all walks of life.

Amsterdam has got to be one of Europe's top city break holiday destinations, and to be honest there is so much going for it, it's hard to know where to start.

First is the ease of getting there. Schiphol Airport had been voted one of the finest in Europe and its high speed trains will whisk you the 14 km into the city centre every 15 minutes. Then there is the ease of getting around. Amsterdam has excellent tram and bus services, not to mention the canal cruises that take in all the cultural holiday hotspots as well as the beautiful byways.

Above all Amsterdam city centre is physically small and relatively quiet, with many streets-traffic free and bicycles the transport of choice for most Amsterdammers. It's a great place to wander around and so easy to take in the top cultural sights - and what treasures there are. This is the home of both Rembrandt and Van Gogh - two giants of the art world, with museums dedicated to both. Opera, theatre, dance, street theatre - Amsterdam has it in buckets.

But high art is not all that's in the frame in this cosmopolitan bowl of multicultural delights. There's the infamous Red Light District where scantily clad girls parade for custom behind neon lit windows. And there are the notorious coffeeshops where cannabis is openly sold and smoked as customers sip their cappuccinos. There is street theatre in Dam Square, open air concerts in the huge city centre Vondeldpark and one of the best zoos in Western Europe.

And for those who like nothing better than to wander, Amsterdam is a weekend city break destination like no other. The quaintly gabled 17th and 18th century houses are a Dutch delight, as are the cosy rings of picturesque tree-lined canals than encircle the whole city with their cobbled canalside streets full of boutiques, curio shops and book stalls.

Amsterdam defies its northerly location with an alfresco street cafe society that cashes in on every glimpse of sun. Add a wide and varied ethnic mix and you have the recipe for an astonishing range of cuisine, with virtually every international taste catered for - from Thai to Turkish, Icelandic to Indonesian. Add a dash of Amsterdam's home grown speciality pancake restaurants that offer an endless choice of pizza-sized pancakes and omelettes and you are guaranteed some fabulous meals.

Enjoying Amsterdam city breaks has never been easier. There is a great choice of cheap flights to Amsterdam from most UK airports and a wide range of hotels from luxury to budget accommodation. You can even book a room at a floating hotel or a canal boat. Book online and open the gates to discount airfares and cheap flights plus many holiday hotel packages that offer cheap breaks in Amsterdam.