Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most culturally diverse cities, theirs no shortage of things to do here, from great shopping to some of the best art gallery’s in the world. So if you’re planning a whistle stop tour of this fabulous city here are my top 5 places to visit.

1. Canals, You can’t visit Amsterdam without seeing one of its most endearing features. To see the city at its best get your self on a boat and tour the cities canals. For an even more memorable trip, do it at night when all the beautiful townhouses are illuminated, its one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes anywhere in the world.

2. Visit the Zoo. Now I know zoos aren’t for everyone but this one is hard to miss. You don’t have to look at the animals, but I would recommend a visit to the botanical gardens and zoological museum. And if you ever wondered what kind of creatures live in those canals then take a look at the canal aquarium, it’s amazing to see what’s actually living down there.

3. Windmills. No trip to Amsterdam is complete without visiting one of its famous windmills. There are eight dotted around the city to choose from, you don’t have to visit them all but you must visit one.

4. Oude Kerk. This exquisite little church is rather inconveniently situated within Amsterdam’s Red Light District, but it really is worth a look, built in a Gothic Renaissance style its one of Amsterdam’s most distinctive buildings, and a little sanctuary of peace within the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

5. Van Gogh Museum. Quite possibly the most famous painter in the world, There’s nothing quite like seeing a Van Gogh in the flesh or oil so to speak. You can really see the violent brush strokes and vivid colours come to life. It’s even been know for people who absolutely detest his work to come out of here with new found respect for the man. It’s the largest collection of his work to be found anywhere in the world and a must for everyone.