Page 145 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

Practical Information ❮❮ 143

everything from quick the arches of canal can be lower if you book
hour-long excursions bridges – and an a minimum of two nights,
to fully fledged longer extensive network of cycle for example, especially
dinner cruises. paths and lanes, cycle on weekdays. The best
There are several major tours take in all the major deals are generally
operators and their jetties sights and allow you to available well ahead of
are concentrated around feel a little like a real time – leave it till the
Centraal Station, Damrak, Amsterdammer. Yellow last minute and you can
and Rokin. Prices for the Bike is a long-established expect to pay through the
tours are fairly uniform, company offering guided nose. Websites such as
with the basic hour-long 2- and 4-hour bicycle Expedia (www.expedia.
cruise costing adults €20, tours for up to 12 people. com) offer city breaks as
children (4–12 years) €10. well as accomodation.
The big companies also Where to Stay
offer more specialized DIRECTORY
boat trips – literary Amsterdam hotels can be
cruises for example. Note pricey, but with so much SHOPPING
also that the shorter and choice it pays to shop Magna Plaza
less expensive cruises are around, especially online. ∑ magnaplaza.nl
extremely popular and The city has hotels to De Negen Straatjes
long queues are common. match every budget from ∑ de9straatjes.nl
As an alternative to the the deluxe to the positively Noordermarkt
standard-issue cruise, careworn, plus a number ∑ noordermarkt-
several companies offer of hostels and B&Bs. The amsterdam.nl
hop-on, hop-off services choicest area to stay is in Waterlooplein Flea
from their cruise boats: the Grachtengordel, the Market
for example Lovers’ prettiest part of Amsterdam ∑ waterlooplein
“Museum Line” hop-on, and the area with markt.nl
hop-off boats link most some of the city’s most
of the city’s important atmospheric hotels. The DISCOUNT CARDS
museums with a day worst area is the Red I amsterdam City Card
ticket costing €29.95. Light District, where the ∑ iamsterdam.com
There is also a Canal Bus all-pervading seediness is Museumkaart
and the Artis Expressboot distinctly off-putting. The ∑ museumkaart.nl
to the zoo. hotels around Centraal Cultureel Jongeren
There are plenty of Station and on and Paspoort (CJP)
tours on dry land too, near Damrak tend ∑ cjp.nl
most temptingly guided to be functional and
cycle rides. A number of relatively inexpensive. TOURS
companies run guided Canal Company
walks, with guides Hotel Rates MAP D5
working for tips only (see and Booking • Weteringschans 26
p75). Mee in Mokum is a § 020 217 0500
well-regarded company Prices at Amsterdam ∑ canal.nl
whose guided walking hotels fluctuate wildly and Lovers
tours of the old centre hit their peak on summer MAP P1 • Prins
and the Jordaan are weekends and public Hendrikkade 25
provided by long-time holidays, when rooms § 020 530 5412
Amsterdam residents. fill quickly. Most places ∑ lovers.nl
Tours run four or five usually quote room Mee in Mokum
times weekly. Advance rates rather than prices § 020 625 1390
reservations required. per person especially ∑ gildeamsterdam.nl
For those who prefer as single rooms are Yellow Bike
pedal power, there is no increasingly thin on MAP N2 • Nieuwezijds
better city for a cycle tour. the ground – they are Kolk 29
With its flat terrain – not economic for the § 020 620 6940,
there’s barely any hills to hoteliers. Look out for ∑ yellowbike.nl
contend with aside from special deals – prices

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