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| Home > City Guide - Amsterdam - Sightseeing | ||
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Sightseeing Sightseeing Overview With a compact city centre, no hills to speak of and an efficient public transport system, Amsterdam is an easy city to explore. Walking remains the best way of getting around, as many parts of the city are blessed with charming canals and historic buildings, with pavement cafés and bars providing refreshment en route. Indeed, Amsterdam boasts the largest preserved historical inner city in Europe, which in itself is the city’s main attraction. The best way for first time visitors to get acquainted with Amsterdam is to take a canal cruise, which opens up the layout of the city and covers many of the main tourist attractions. The most visited sites in the city are the excellent museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Museum, Amsterdams Historisch Museum, Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art and the Van Gogh Museum. Away from these busy places, the city is also blessed with quiet canals and leafy parks, which provide an escape all year round. Breaking away from the main tourist throng is the best way to discover the ‘real’ Amsterdam of grand old canal-side merchants’ houses where modern Amsterdamers still live, in an almost bucolic setting. Thanks to the highly efficient Dutch railway network, there are also endless possibilities for half- and full-day trips from Amsterdam’s Centraal Station. Tourist Information VVV Amsterdam Tourist Office Stationsplein 10 (opposite Centraal Station) Tel: (020) 551 2525 or (0900) 400 4040. Fax: (020) 625 2869. E-mail: info@amsterdamtourist.nl Website: www.visitamsterdam.nl Opening hours: Daily 0800-1700. Other VVV offices are located at Centraal Station, Leidseplein/Leidsestraat; and Stadionplein/Van Tuyll van Serooskerkenweg. Services provided include general tourist information, hotel and package reservations, excursions and canal cruises, maps and guidebooks, walking tours, public transport tickets, theatre, concert and museum tickets, souvenirs and posters, telephone cards, VVV gift vouchers and currency exchange. Passes The new Amsterdam Pass, introduced in April 2002, offers tourists the use of public transport (tram, bus and underground), free admission to 22 museums, a free canal tour, a voucher booklet for 25% discount on several attractions and restaurants, and a full colour pass guide. Attractions offering free entrance to Amsterdam Pass holders include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandthuis, Amsterdams Historisch Museum and Hortus Botanicus. Other free benefits include a cup of coffee at Restaurant La Place, an Amsterdam city map and five postcards at Café Ristretto, Magna Plaza shopping centre. The pass is valid for one, two or three days, costing €26, €36 and €46 respectively. Regardless of the validity of the pass, until 31 March 2003, Amsterdam Pass holders can use the discount vouchers, gain free admission to Holland Casino and claim a free guided Amsterdam Diamond Group tour of the city. The passes are available for purchase from the VVV Amsterdam Tourist Office. |
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