Springtime in Amsterdam

The weather was kind to us and we fitted lots of things in to 3 days and walked miles.

We arrived at Schiphol airport around 5.30pm where baggage came off the carousel in record speed then we bought tickets for the train into Centraal Station before we left the baggage area and to avoid queues at the machines in the arrivals hall. Trains are very frequent and easily accessible, clean and reasonable in cost. We were in Amsterdam Centraal Station just after 6pm and had approx. 20 mins walk to our hotel which was in the Centrum area.

A speedy check in to the Radisson Blu and out again for dinner at a lovely restaurant recommendation called Janz at the Pulitzer Hotel - the food was stunning, tasty and fresh.

The next day we woke early for a hearty breakfast and packed in a must-visit to Anne Frank House. This HAS to be booked in advance and is bookable 2 months before your visit. Really well organised and very humbling. We went on to do a canal cruise which was great value for money. Departing from just outside Centraal Station for an hour. You see some lovely scenery that you wouldn't see from the street.

We ended the afternoon at the Ice Bar. A fun end - though very cold as you would imagine. Its a little "manufactured" and more of an attraction than a bar stop. You get two drinks included in cold bar and another in the warm bar. In the evening we went to Rembrandt Square. Probably one of my favourite parts of Amsterdam. Some lovely bars and restaurants and a nice laid back appeal, though I can imagine in high season it would be very busy.

The following day we used the Tram and metro service with a daily ticket and went to the Heineken Museum. It was a very interesting few hours and one I will definitely recommend to my customers. It does end in a few beers (included in the entry cost) and you even get to pull your own drink and have a competition - which I won incidentally! We walked around the Pijp area where they have lovely shops and cafes as well as a market - where we witnessed 2 herons waiting for the fish at the end of the day. We then returned to Rembrandt Square for a lovely Italian meal and ended with a tuk tuk ride back to our hotel which was such fun!

The last day we had a leisurely stroll around the Jewish Quarter and a coffee in Dam Square before setting off back to the airport.

All in all, a fabulous few days in a historic city which can be as busy or as quiet as you would like it and appeals to all people.