» Time:

Amsterdam time in the summer is two hours ahead of GMT, one hour in winter; when daylight saving time is in operation the sun is at its highest point at around 13:40 (which makes for long evenings: since Amsterdam is very far West in its time zone, in mid-Summer the sky is still light as late as 11 in the evening).

» Weather:

In the dead of winter, the sun rises at 8:40 and sets at 16:30; in the height of summer it rises at 5:20 and sets at 22:05. In Amsterdam, there is no guarantee of good weather any time of the year. Typical weather in Amsterdam ranges from a little around freezing with in winter, though with little snow, to beautiful sunny days with temperature around 25 degrees Celsius in the summer.Look at weather.com for the 10 day weatherforecast.

» Money:

Single European currency, or 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.

» Transportation:

Public transport, especially in the center, is excellent. Trams are frequent, fast and reliable and are the best way to travel in Amsterdam. Trams start at 6 a.m. and run until approximately 12 midnight. Busses tend to deal with less accessable destinations of the way places in the city. At night (after 01:00 Am), night busses take over so you can always get around but they are not as freguent as the trams. There is even a subway or metro but this is only of much use to people who live in the suburbs of the city. You do not have to buy a ticket on the tram/subway but you use the so-called 'Strippen Card'.

You can buy a 'Strippen Card' with 15 strips or with 45 strips from the driver, the conductor at the back of the tram, or a machine in the middle of the tram, depending on the sort of tram it is. However, it is cheaper if you buy a 'strippenkaart' from a tobacconist, post office or railway station beforehand.

Arriving at Schiphol Airport, you have two options to arrive directly in front of your Amsterdam hotel: the Connexxion shuttle bus, leaving every 30 minutes, or the public transport bus, Interliner, leaving once every hour. Both take about 30 minutes from the airport to the hotel.

Taxis are rather expensive and you're not supposed to hail them down, but find a taxi stand and call from there. You can order a taxi by phoning: 6777 777 or 0900 0724 and one will arrive almost immediately. Arriving at Schiphol Airport, there are many taxis waiting to take you to the centre of Amsterdam in less than half an hour. They work with fixed rates and qualified chauffeurs.

» Places 2C things to do:

The Stedelijk Museum, located on the museum square, displays contemporary art, including traveling exhibits from other countries.

Van Gogh Museum, located on the museum square.Here you will find the largest collection of work by Van Gogh.

Anne Frank House, Prinsengracht 263. Discover the life of Anne Frank. Go early, or late, to avoid the queues.

Canal trips, Damrak by Central Station, and Rokin by the Spui. It's worth taking one of the canal boat tours to see Amsterdam from the water. They last about 90 minutes, and take you around the city and through the harbour.

Madame Tussauds,Here you can meet famous people face-to-face!

Heineken Experience, Stadhouderskade 78.What does it feel like to be a beer bottle? Used to be a brewery until a few years ago, now a museum and visitors' centre.

Amsterdam Red Light District (De Wallen),A visit to the Amsterdam would not be complete without a stroll around the notorious Amsterdam Red Light District. The atmosphere can be chaotic with throngs of tourists jostling for space alongside city slickers, pimps and drug dealers. The prostitutes of De Wallen are part of a legal and regulated industry that includes compulsory health checks and taxable income. Prostitution is by no means the only attraction of the area. The Red light district's architecture comprises a scenic mix that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Travel video

» Time Traveler's Guide to Amsterdam