‘The European city with huge rooftop swing that I return to every year' – and it's reachable without having to fly

The Sun

16-05-2025

STROLL just five-minutes in any direction, away from the compact city centre and down one of the cobblestone alleyways, and that's where you'll find the real Amsterdam.
This week's destination we're shining a light on is Amsterdam, capital of The Netherlands.
The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski often visited the Dutch city, being an easy train from the UK.
She says:
It's the cafe culture that brings me back here year after year – the whole city is littered with tiny artisan bakeries and shops where you'll find locals sat on a rickety old table, sipping on coffee and tucking into homemade goodies.
Some of the tired buildings are not much to look at from the outside, but that's part of its charm.
Take the 'brown bars', for example, so named because of their dark, wooden interiors that have a somewhat cosy feel to them.
That's where you'll find me within an hour of touching down in the city, with a local beer in hand and gobbling up some bitterballen.
These deep-fried, stewed-meat balls are, in my humble opinion, the best bar snack in the world, often served with a healthy dollop of mustard on the side - you can pick a tray of them up for only a few euros.
MUST-SEE / DO
Amsterdam is famed for its beautiful canals so a boat tour is undoubtedly the best way to see the city.
One-hour cruises with I Amsterdam cost from €16 (£13.47) per adult and €8 (£6.74) per child.
There are 14 departure points to pick from. If you're brave enough, drive your own boat - you can pick one up for €16.50pp (£13.90pp) for three hours on a six-seater vessel from boats4rent.i-reserve.nl.
Zaandam: The Lego-Like Wonderland of The Netherlands
They are really easy to steer and, with more time on board, you can hop on and off as you please to take advantage of the many canalside pubs.
HIDDEN GEM
The artsy, bohemian neighbourhood of De Pijp is much loved by locals and not very well known among tourists, but it is heaving with quirky cafes, artisan shops and tall buildings where colourful flower pots light up the brick balconies.
BEST VIEW
The 100-metre-tall A'DAM Lookout may offer the best views of the city from above, with a 360-degree sky deck and giant rooftop swing, but do expect queues because it's a popular tourist spot.
For something a little quieter that will make for an excellent photo background, head to one of the smaller canal bridges, a little farther out of the city centre.
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There are a few pretty bridges behind the Tulip Museum - such as Hilletjesbrug, where you can pose for pictures in front of flower-covered railings with a tree-lined canal and bobbing boats as your backdrop.
RATED RESTAURANT
Cafe de Parel was once a traditional Dutch "brown bar" but now it's an in-demand restaurant with affordable tasting menus (three courses for €52 (£43.79)).
These change regularly but you can expect to tuck in to sophisticated sharing dishes such as calamari with egg yolk and dashi, or pointed cabbage with brown butter and chamomile jus.
BEST BAR
Vesper, a teeny bar close to Centraal Station, serves mean cocktails, created by award-winning mixologists.
For a proper pint, Bar Brother, close to the Chassebuurt district, has a welcoming atmosphere and serves its ales alongside typically British bar snacks such as Scotch eggs and arancini.
HOTEL PICK
CitizenM Amstel Amsterdam Hotel is well located, around a 30-minute walk from the main train station and with modern, affordable rooms from €100 (£84.22) per night.
For something a little fancier, The Pulitzer hotel is set within 25 restored 17th and 18th-century houses along the canal in the Jordaan district, close to the Anne Frank museum.
It's also home to a top-notch restaurant and bar. Rooms cost from €295 (£248.44) per night.
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