One of Amsterdam's most distinct features is its wonderful canals which run throughout the city. While you may prefer walking or cycling, do not discount taking a canal cruise which is a great way to leisurely experience the city, day or night.

A good place to start is in front of Amsterdam's Central Station where you will find a number of canal cruises and tours. Just head over to a particular boat, find out when it is leaving and buy your ticket (tours cost around 10 to 15 Euros). Most tours last for about an hour and are great if you have limited time in Amsterdam or if it starts to rain.

One canal tour worth taking is the Museumboot (Museum Boat) tour which lets you "hop-on-hop-off" near Amsterdam's many museums and galleries, while also giving you selected discounts on entry fees. A ticket costs around 14 to 16 Euros and tours start in front of the Central Station.

Of course there is no better way to experience Amsterdam at dusk or at night than by taking a specialty canal cruise. The 2 hour Candlelight Cruise (starts at around 7.30 PM) is a great way to spend the evening with that special someone, while the Dinner Cruise which includes a four-course dinner is also an option worth considering. If your musical preferences bend towards jazz, then definitely take the Jazz Cruise (sets off opposite Rijksmuseum) which gives you a chance to enjoy some live jazz music. The Jazz Cruise takes place on Saturdays (8 PM and 10 PM) and is in operation only during summer (April till the end of November).

Taking a canal cruise in Amsterdam is something worth doing at least once. If leisurely cruises are not your style, you can always hire a canal bike (pedal boat) and pedal your way across the city.

Whether you walk along Amsterdam's quiet streets or take a ride down one of its many canals, you will soon find yourself amidst a city which is rich in culture and tradition. This cultural heritage is accessible to all and the numerous museums, galleries and concert halls spread throughout the city give you plenty of opportunities to explore and learn about life, art and music in Amsterdam.

Museums are one of the main attractions in Amsterdam and time permitting you should try and visit a few of them. The Rijksmuseum (Stadhouderskade, 42) with its huge collection of Dutch art is one of the country's largest museums and a popular tourist attraction. If you really are an art lover, you should definitely visit the Van Gogh Museum (Paulus Potterstraat, 7), the Rembrandt house museum (Jodenbreestraat, 4) and the Stedelijk Museum (Oosterdokskade, 5) which showcases more modern works.

Amsterdam is also a city which boasts of rich traditions in music. Apart from enjoying the musical styling of street performers, you should also try and take in a performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at Concertgebouw (Concert Hall) (Concertgebouwplein, 2-6). If you visit on a Wednesday, make sure to attend one of Concertgebouw's free concerts (starts at around 12.30 PM).

A good place to experience the city's proud theater tradition is at the Muziektheater (Opera House) where you can hopefully catch performances by the Dutch National Ballet or the Netherlands Dance Theater groups. The Opera House is closed in July. Amsterdam's Koninklijk Theater (Amstel 115-125) is also worth visiting if you prefer cabaret or musicals.

Whatever time of year you visit Amsterdam there is always something going on, be it musical, artistic or theatrical and one never knows what hidden treasures lie within this beautiful city.

Amsterdam does not generally excite people as much as some of Europe's other cosmopolitan capitals, but in fact there is much more to this city than just tulips and windmills. The best way to explore Amsterdam while staying within your budget is by purchasing the Amsterdam Tourist Board's "I amsterdam Card" which gives you free access to numerous museums and GVB run public transport services (underground, trams and buses) as well as discounted rates on select local attractions and restaurants. (GVB is the public transport company of Amsterdam)

With an "I amsterdam Card" you can visit the Van Gogh Museum, the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Sloten windmill, the Rembrandt House Museum and the Foam Photography Museum (just to name a few) for absolutely no charge at all. The card also entitles you to a tour on Canal Cruise as well as free snacks or drinks from selected establishments such as La Place which serves a refreshing cup of coffee / tea. The "I amsterdam Card" also carries with it a 25% discount on certain restaurants and local attractions / activities such as pedal boat rentals, candlelight cruises, Madame Tussauds wax museum and the eerie Amsterdam Dungeon.

The "I amsterdam Card" covers a period of 24, 48 or 72 hours and costs 33, 43 or 53 Euro respectively. With the card make sure you get your transportation ticket, chip card (needed for entry into museums) and guide / voucher booklet. Cards can be purchased online or at an Amsterdam Tourism Board information office (there is one at Schiphol Airport in Arrival Hall 2). That said, Amsterdam's quiet atmosphere, friendly people and fascinating history is sure to keep you happily occupied for the entire length of your stay.