CITY BREAKS TO AMSTERDAM

No other city offers quite such a diverse choice of sights and sounds as Amsterdam. The remarkably well-preserved historic buildings, tall and narrow, decorate the tree-lined canal sides. Bicycles, the favoured mode of transport for Amsterdammers, are everywhere. This cosmopolitan and friendly city is also perfectly suited to exploration on foot.

Information & Facts

Things to do

City breaks to Amsterdam from Dublin offer great shopping, with more individual boutiques and gift shops than the large department stores common in other capital cities. Among many street markets, the colourful Floating Flower Market, along the Singel canal, is probably the most famous. WIth cheap weekend breaks to Amsterdam from Ireland, lovers of art and history will be spoilt for choice in Amsterdam, with over 50 museums, including the not to be missed Anne Frank’s House, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, containing famous paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Endless possibilities in dining out and entertainment include a vast range of restaurants, with excellent value in ethnic food, and many nightclubs and bars. A visit to the red light district is an interesting option, even by day!

Climate

Amsterdam has a mild, damp climate but the weather can be variable with temperature extremes even in summer. Spring and autumn especially bring changeable, unsettled weather. In the winter months clear, frosty days are the norm, the coldest months being December to March. Rain is likely all year round. The best time to visit Amsterdam is spring (April to May), when the famous tulips are in bloom.

Language

Dutch is the official language. English is widely spoken. Fries (as well as Dutch) is spoken by the people of Friesland province.

Money

The Euro (EUR), is the official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional charges take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travellers cheques can be changed at banks, post offices or bureaux de change (usually indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but bureaux de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.