Taking a boat cruise of the canals of Amsterdam seems to be the ultimate tourist experience. It is fun, a great way to see the city, and I’ve taken one on every single trip I’ve made to this city. Both the night and day cruises are worth it but if time or money is limited take a late afternoon cruise that ends in the dark and you can get both experiences squeezed into one.

There are several companies vying for your custom with most located in close proximity to the Central Station. Prices and routes are basically the same but I have always been more satisfied with the blue boats of Holland International - now part of TUI - than with others. Boats have see-through roofs, which apparently fog up fast when it is rainy. Commentary on virtually all boats is via pre-recorded tape in several languages - Dutch, English, German, French, and Spanish. This is of course great if you understand all five - no need for note taking or guidebooks, you’ll know the history of Amsterdam by heart at the end of the tour.

The tour takes around an hour and includes a trip through the harbor and of course various canals. Highlights include seeing the Magere Brug - a narrow double-leave drawbridge across the River Amstel, and to see the gables of the stately homes in the wealthier areas. Another highlight is the point where you can see seven round arch bridges spanning a narrow canal. This is best seen at night when lights light up the curves of the bridges.

Depending on the route you may also pass by the Anne Frank Museum where there always seems to be a queue and the Westerkerk with the glittering crown of Emperor Maximilian at the top of the steeple.

An interesting alternative to a boat tour is to take the Museumboat - this boat covers most of the same route from the Central Station but allows you to get off at five points along the way: Anne Frank Museum, Museum quarter (Rijks and Van Gogh Museums), Bloemenmarkt (Flower market), Waterlooplein and Maritime Museum. A day ticket allows for unlimited trips. The journey will take much longer than the tram but will be more interesting.

The Rijksmuseum has the most famous collection of old Dutch Masters and is must-see. At the same canal boat stop is the Van Gogh Museum, another important sight.

Even if you are not a gardener, everyone enjoys the Flower Market. It is a good place to find inexpensive souvenirs and a hearty lunch of Dutch sandwiches and beer.

If you are after a little adventure, you will want to stop at the Red Light District. Watch your wallet and passport. Also, photographing is frowned on.

The "brown" cafes are popular with the young tourists, based on the belief the marijuana sales are legal. They are not, but are generally ignored. Lately, there have been raids because of stronger drugs being sold.

Amsterdam is notorious for the aboveboard gay life, and it is pretty obvious. The city attracts gays from all over the world and alternative lifestyles are quite visible.

Old houses, warehouses, cars, bicycles, Amsterdammertjes, bridges. The roof is open, the sun streams in.

'These chairs!', involuntarily I'm listening to a young boy, cheeks red with exitement, 'Did you sit on them? It's just like .... and they vibrate!'

I smile. It's obvious that he enjoyed the Sex Museum. I wonder if he's on his way to one of the coffeeshops.

'I have never realised that drugs grow on tree', says a middle aged man behind me.
'You first have to dry them, though', his wife replies, 'I think they make lovely pot plants', she continues.

Hash Museum, I conclude.

'And now we are approaching the 'Skinny Bridge', you should come here when it's dark to see how it's illuminated.' The voice continues in French, then German and Dutch.

'Why does the man tell more in Dutch than in English?' a young girl asks her father. Apparently the father is a linguist, 'No, it's not like that. German and Dutch sound the same, so it seems that he tells more in Dutch, but actually he tells first in German and then in Dutch'.

The Canal Bus is a perfct way to move around Amsterdam. It’s a combination of public transport and a canal boat trip. The difference is that with the canal bus you need not do the whole route. There are stops at main tourist attractions where you can get off. See the tourist thing and hop on again. Besides on board you will get useful information about the sights you see en route.

There are three lines: red , green and blue.

red line: 85 mins.
Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein, Westerkerk/Keizersgracht, Central Station, Rembrandt Huis, Rijksmuseum.

green line 85 mins.
Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein, City Hall, Central Station, Anne Frank Huis/Prinsegracht, Rijksmuseum.

blue line 60 mins
Central Station, Maritime Museum, Artis/Zoo, Tropenmuseum, Central Station.

You can buy a day ticket at:
Central Station
Rijksmuseum
on board
in your hotel
at the VVV (tourist information centre)
in the canal bus itself

Your ticket is valid until noon the next day.

€ 14 for all three lines
€ 9 for blue line only.