Amsterdam Weekend Escape

Best time to go: May and July are the best months. Try to avoid the winter and take into account that regardless of the season it will probably be raining.

General advice: Amsterdam is a great city to rent a bike and spend your day cycling around from a nice café to the next nice bar as there are loads of them. There are numerous really pretty parks in the city where you can spend some time if the weather allows you to do so.

Where to stay? avoid the Red Light District and surroundings, this is very touristic and noisy. Best hotels for location are "Zoku Amsterdam" and "Hyatt Regency Amsterdam", both close to the canals and the Hermitage museum in a very charming part of the city.

Day 1: Arrival

For your first night take a walk around De Pijp, one of the city’s most hip and trendy areas, and go for dinner to either:

1. "Escobar" to enjoy classic Spanish and South American dishes with a variety of wines and cocktails.

2. "The Seafood Bar", a modern seafood restaurant that offers a wide range of the freshest seafood.

Day 2: Amsterdam-Centrum

On the first day you can start visiting the most touristic parts of Amsterdam. You can walk the full itinerary but it will be a long away, however I will indicate how long it takes you to walk from point to point in case you might prefer to rent a bike.

• Bloemenmarkt – the flower market is a renowned icon on the Singel canal that dates from 1862.

• Red Light District - a concentration of sex-oriented businesses. (10 min)

• Amsterdam Centraal – one of the largest railway stations in the country and the real heart of the city. (7 min)

• Dam Square - one of the most well-known and important locations in the city. (8 min)

• Anne Frank House - museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. (10 min)

• Jordaan - The narrow canals and streets of trendy Jordaan are flanked by indie boutiques and cozy pubs. Stalls at the Noordermarkt square market offer jewellery, clothes, antiques and organic food. Antiques Centre Amsterdam sells vintage ceramics and paintings, while smaller galleries in the area focus on innovative contemporary art. (4 min)

• Foodhallen - a classy indoor food market and bar serving up a range of high-end street food and beverages in historic surroundings. (17 min)

• Vondelpark – the largest city park in Amsterdam, perfect for a summer walk. (20 min)

• Rijksmuseum – the Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history. The museum is located at the Museum Square in Amsterdam South, close to the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Concertgebouw. (15min)

Recommended dinner at "Restaurant Eye" at Eye Film Museum on the Noord part of the city, not a very big menu but the most stunning views of the IJ harbour and Amsterdam’s Central Station.

Day 3: De Pijp

Spend the morning walking around the bohemian De Pijp's and the narrow streets filled with old-school pubs and cafes with sidewalk terraces. Visit the beautiful landscaped gardens of Sarphatipark and the famous Albert Cuypmarkt street market where they sell Dutch specialties like herrings and waffles that you should try.

The area is full of great places to have brunch, I would go for "Bakers & Roasters" or "Little Collins".

After lunch, I would recommend taking a boat to sail around the canals, one of the best Amsterdam experiences!