Amsterdam weekend getaways

Our Amsterdam weekend getaways are full of romantic ideas — cozy restaurants and canal cafés, brilliant museums and charming architecture and Holland's signature flower-The tulip, adorning the flower markets.

When living in Antwerp Belgium we often go on a romantic weekend break in Amsterdam one of our top European travel destinations.

Amsterdam by night — is our top favorite romantic weekend getaways moment in Amsterdam - strolling around the canals in the evening when the street lights are reflecting in the water is truly magical!

Amsterdam weekend getaways: Top 10 Romantic Ideas and Things to do in Amsterdam.

1. Picking up Tulips bulbs to plant when you get back home.
2. Browsing Amsterdam's specialty shops for bizarre souvenirs to take back home.
3. Checking out paintings of sunflowers, cherry blossoms and Arles bedroom at the Van Gogh Museums - take the audio tour to get some background information on this avant-garde artists life.
4. Eating traditional Dutch pancakes.
5. Visiting Rijksmuseums which has the greatest collection of Golden Age paintings in the world.
6. Spending some time of your romantic weekend break at the Kattenkabinet Museum with feline art by famous artists like Picasso's "Le Chat".
7. Getting away from it all at one of Amsterdam's parks - Karthuiserhoje are particularly well secluded gardens that others have forgotten about.
8. Checking out Amsterdam's many shops with romantic accessories targeted at the female audience.
9. Strolling around Amsterdam's Medieval center;
10. Spending the night on a house boat.

Amsterdam weekend getaways: Best time to visit Amsterdam.

Anytime is good, it's much more pleasant in the summer but the many crowds can be a deterrent to a romantic holidays.

Open Garden Days - On the 3rd week of June, romantic couples have a unique opportunity to view some 30 gardens and private homes and institutions along the canals.

July caters to many Jazz festivals and in the second half of August the Canal Festival delights with classical concerts around the Canal Belt.

Amsterdam is best visited when the weather permits romantic couples to enjoy an out door terrace table on the canal. Although since the smoking ban is in effect you can also enjoy sitting inside a café without breathing in cigarette smoke with meal or drink.

Amsterdam weekend getaways: Romantic Restaurants in Amsterdam

Ciel Bleu (Blue Heaven) restaurant on the 23rd floor of Amsterdam's Hotel Okura offers a world-class dining experience ( the only 2 Michelin stars Amsterdam restaurant), but also the best panoramic view of Amsterdam.

Sofitel Amsterdam the Grand, located between two canals, is a luxurious international hotel hosting discerning guests from all over the world. 178 elegant rooms and suites welcome with romantic views overlooking the canals.

NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, situated in a famous building which dates back to 1865, located in the centre of Amsterdam.

Hilton Amsterdam - Famous for John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 'bed-in for peace'. A short walk from the old city centre, Vondelpark, the Concert Hall and Amsterdam's world-famous Van Gogh Museum and the renowned Rijks museum.

Hotel de l’Europe - a world of luxury and splendor.

Okura Hotel - on one of the famous canals in the heart of Amsterdam
Ferdinand Bolstraat 333
1072 LH Amsterdam, Netherlands
+31 20 6787111

Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, Hotel Pulitzer - in the middle of the old city center of Amsterdam and overlooking two of the city's most picturesque canals. This unique and romantic hotel is composed of 25 restored 17th and 18th century canal houses.

InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam - a gracious blend of classic elegance and modern luxury in a grand scale historic five-star Amsterdam hotel.
Professor Tulpplein 1
1018 GX Amsterdam, Netherlands
+31 20 6226060

Amsterdam weekend getaways: Destination Directions
Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Netherlands: 38 miles
Amsterdam to Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium : 77.8 miles
Haarlem, Netherlands to Amsterdam: 15.5 miles
Leuven, Belgium to Amsterdam: 93.5 miles
Paris, France to Amsterdam: 315.7 miles, a 5-hour drive
London, England to Amsterdam: 230 miles

Amsterdam weekend getaways: How to get there

Flights from within Europe and direct flights from outside Europe are readily available, serving Amsterdam airport Schiphol – Europe’s 4th largest airport located a few kilometers from the city center.

Amsterdam train station in located in the city center there are train connections to and from Belgium (Antwerp and Brussels) London, Paris, Hamburg and Berlin and Frankfurt. All other destinations in Holland are located no more than 2.5 hours from Amsterdam by rail.

Boat travel is a viable option for travelers coming from the UK and Scandinavia.

Check out other European Vacation destinations or return from Amsterdam weekend getaways to Romantic Vacations Destinations home page.