Float on in to the Venice of the North

With over 1,500 bridges spanning its intricate network of canals, Amsterdam is unsurprisingly regarded as one of Europe's most picturesque destinations. Its historic architecture clings to the canals and many of Amsterdam's finest hotels make perfect use of this water-laden wonderland.

The city's famous Old Centre is teeming with premier Amsterdam accommodation options, including the resplendent De L'Europe Amsterdam and the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, both of which boast picturesque canal views from their resplendent waterfront positions.

Come for the Arena, stay for the city

Amsterdam enjoys a reputation as one of Europe's most innovative cities and nowhere is this more reflected than its legendary football stadium. The Amsterdam Arena was opened in 1996, and the futuristic home of The Netherlands' most popular club Ajax was arguably the prototype for a new era of modern European stadia.

The Arena is located in the southeast of the city in Bijlmer. Though it is far from the most salubrious district in the city, countless football fans make the pilgrimage to this unique Amsterdam exclave to watch an Ajax game in one of world football's most architecturally arresting venues.

Add a dash of Amsterdam culture

The Netherlands was once one of the world's leading cultural lights; a fact reflected in Amsterdam's abundance of world-class museums. Most are located in the city's vast South district, which spills out over low-lying land directly south of Central Station.

There are countless budget and mid-range hotels located in this tourist-friendly part of the city, but the South's major drawcard is its internationally renowned museums, which include both the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum – one of the world's foremost art museums.