Amsterdam city breaks
If you’re looking for a chilled-out city break, then look no further than Amsterdam. Explore the city’s sun-dappled canals, lively bar and club scene or round your day off in a cosy brown café.
Amsterdam last-minute breaks
Looking for a destination that’s full of culture, great entertainment, and plenty of opportunities for some serious sightseeing, but is still close to home? You can’t get much better than an Amsterdam last-minute break. A flight time of just over an hour from London will put you right in the heart of the Dutch capital, with its charming merchant’s houses, world-class art museums, and amazing boutique shopping.
A last-minute break to Amsterdam is ideal if you’re planning a weekend away with friends to celebrate an anniversary or birthday. Or perhaps you’re planning a romantic surprise getaway for you and your loved one? . Within the space of a few hours you could be drinking coffee in a Dutch café next to one of the city’s iconic canals, or looking at Van Gogh’s greatest paintings right here in his home town.
Weekend breaks to Amsterdam
In just one hour and 15 minutes you can fly from London to Amsterdam, making this the perfect destination for a spur-of-the-moment city break. A short hop takes you to a city filled with culture, entertainment, fabulous cafés, and unique architecture unlike anything else in Europe. Friendly, laid-back and with lots to see and do, weekend breaks to Amsterdam are the perfect opportunity to leave the ordinary behind and try something new and exciting.
5-21 ℃
Amsterdam enjoys a stable climate with four distinct seasons.
1.5 hours
Schiphol Airport (AMS), around 25km southwest of central Amsterdam.
Alternative transport:
You can also travel by Eurostar to Brussels with onward tickets to Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, via Rotterdam.
Travel guide
Things to do
Currency
Travel guide
Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures 5-21 °C : With the weather hovering in the mid-teens (°C) between March and May, spring is a great time to explore Amsterdam’s cosy cafés. Summer is always a popular time to visit the city, thanks to warm highs of 21 (°C), and up to 11 hours of sunshine a day. Book your holiday for autumn or winter to take advantage of fewer crowds, or to enjoy the city’s legendary Christmas markets.
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in Amsterdam is Dutch.
Currency: The currency used in Amsterdam is the Euro (€).
Local time: Amsterdam is 1 hour ahead of GMT/UK time.
Fly to: Schiphol Airport (AMS), around 25km southwest of central Amsterdam.
Flight time from UK: 1.5 hours.
Alternative transport: You can also travel by Eurostar to Brussels with onward tickets to Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, via Rotterdam.
Tourist Information: Further Amsterdam tourist information can be found at www.iamsterdam.com.
Visa / Health:
Before your holiday to Amsterdam, visit http://gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/netherlands for recommendations and advice on visas and health.
Getting around
By cycling: Amsterdam is very cycle-friendly. There are plenty of bike rental shops as well as a great network of cycle paths. You can even join a bicycle sightseeing tour to help you get your bearings.
By boat/barge: Taking a trip along the Amstel River is a great way to see the sights, especially on the hop-on/hop-off Canal Bus.
By Tram: The tram system is ideal for travelling around the centre. Conductors sell tickets on board, though you might find an OV-chipkaart or an I Amsterdam City Card more convenient if you’re using a lot of public transport.
Getting around
High fashion: Young and upcoming designers showcase their work every January at Amsterdam International Fashion Week. You can expect fashion-themed museum exhibits, art exhibitions and lots of parties.
Celebration time: The Netherlands gets into party mode on Konigsdag, the day after King Willem Alexander’s birthday in April. It’s particularly popular in Amsterdam, when an estimated 750,000 people travel to the city for a big open-air celebration.
Musical spectacular: August’s Grachtenfestival features 10 days of jazz, blues and classical music. Enjoy a grand performance at a concert hall, or alternatively, a cosy blues jam in a local resident’s garden.
Van Gogh in bloom: See a spectacular annual display of millions of tulips and other pretty flowers at Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in the world. Open from March to May, the colourful 32-hectare gardens will share the inspiration of Vincent Van Gogh’s life and works, 125 years after his death.
Things to do
Whether you’re cycling along canal banks, visiting historic museums of admiring stunning architecture, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Amsterdam. So pack your camera, grab your cycling helmet and prepare for a true European adventure in the historic, urban and picturesque Dutch capital.
Places to go
Did you know that an astonishing 165 canals encircle Amsterdam, keeping the sea at bay? These canals are criss-crossed by 1,281 bridges and you’ll have no trouble whiling away the day strolling along these waterways. One of the prettiest of all the canals is Prinsengrach, which is lined by leafy trees and cool houseboats. It’s also within easy reach of the Westerkerk and Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House). In fact, it’s one of the best things to do in Amsterdam if you really want to get a feel for the place; even if it’s all too easy to get lost doing so.Things to do in Amsterdam
Bike Ride
Live like a local and travel by bike on the flat, cycle-friendly paths through Amsterdam.Anne Frank’s House In Amsterdam
Discover the place where Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecutors during the Second World War with a visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.Vondelpark
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city streets as you take a walk through Vondelpark, the largest green space in Amsterdam.Heineken Experience Amsterdam
Discover how Amsterdam’s famous beer is made as you take a self-guided tour through the Heineken Experience.Rijksmuseum
Pay a visit to one of Amsterdam’s biggest museums and browse works by the nation’s most celebrated artists.Currency
Amsterdam travel money
Order your Amsterdam travel money from Thomas Cook Travel Money. We have over 50 currencies covering 98% of worldwide destinations, so wherever it is you’re travelling to we are bound to have the currency you need. With access to wholesale rates, we offer better rates than the Post Office (and the rest of the high street) making your holiday spends stretch that little bit further.The best way to order Euros for your holiday in Portugal
This is much more cost effective than ordering at the airport, where Pound to Euro exchange rates are much less competitive, meaning you’ll get less for your sterling. Exchange rates at hotels also tend to be uncompetitive, so it’s definitely best to get your Euros at home rather than waiting to order your currency in Portugal.Using cash machines in Portugal
You’ll find cash machines (ATMs) throughout Portugal, especially in popular holiday destinations, so if you need some extra cash, you’ll have little trouble withdrawing it. You’ll find automated cashpoints at the majority of bank branches, as well as most large supermarkets and shopping districts, railway stations and airports. Use your British debit or credit card to withdraw your Portugal money or pay for products and services by card. If you visit more remote areas of the country, such as the beautiful Peneda-Gerês National Park in the far north, it’s a good idea to bring cash before you travel. ATMs may not be widely available in these areas, and it will be harder to find cambios for exchanging your sterling to currency in Portugal. Some businesses in rural areas may not accept card payments, so make sure you have enough Euros for food, and bring emergency cash with you just in case.Other useful advice
Some shops may require a minimum card payment, such as 10 Euros, and the maximum amount you can withdraw from any cash machine in Portugal in one transaction is 200 Euros. However, you can withdraw more cash in subsequent transactions in the same day, although bear in mind that your bank’s maximum daily withdrawal limit still applies if you’re taking out cash abroad. Many banks in smaller Portuguese towns and villages are closed during the siesta period in the early to mid-afternoon, and all banks close at weekends and bank holidays.Charges
Expect a small surcharge for making a cash withdrawal in Portugal, which will usually be no more than about 3% of the total transaction. Unfortunately, you can incur hidden fees when you get Portugal currency at cambios, and it can be very difficult to find places that will accept Traveller’s Cheques in the country. However, when you need some Portugal money at short notice, cambios can come in handy, as they are open every day of the week in the country’s main tourist destinations.Featured accommodation
