Amsterdam Fun

Amsterdam appears to be the ultimate fantasy in urban living. Not just because of the bikes and boats, or even the canals and the gables. It's the human scale of the place: you can walk from the station to Museumplein - just about one side to the other - in half an hour. No European city is better provided with snug cafes and bars. Everyone is singularly laid-back (perhaps the city does have a drawback: don't expect swift service in a restaurant). And, of course, as everyone knows, just about anything in Amsterdam goes.

As the autumn chill approaches, the city becomes cosy like no other - as if all summer the population has been looking forward to the excuse to curl up indoors again. There's a word the Dutch love to use at this time - gezellig, something between cosy and sociable, and you'll find yourself using it too as you snuggle up for evenings in warm cafes and bars, where candles flicker on the tables and cats snooze on battered chairs.

At this time, of course, browsing the museums becomes much more enjoyable, and you can contemplate your favourite Van Gogh or Rembrandt without jostling for position with several dozen other admirers. Walking back to your hotel, passing Amsterdammers cycling home - a dog in the basket, perhaps, a child on the back - pause to step into the pools of golden light on the cobbles in front of the curtainless windows of the canalside houses, and catch a glimpse of living rooms stuffed with plants and antiques and books. And then, turn into yet another cosy bar or cafe, and while away a happy hour or two pondering what a pleasure it would be to live here too.

(The Sunday Telegraph, Dream Cities)

Recommended tourist attractions in Amsterdam:

• Amsterdam canal tours
• The Amsterdam Sex Museum
• Red Light District
• Queen’s Birthday
• Cannabis Coffeeshops