Compare Amsterdam city breaks

In summer, coloured boats bob on the water, rosy-cheeked cyclists zip past at death-defying speeds and students shoot the breeze over a Heineken outside hole-in-the-wall bars.

In winter, the canals can freeze over, becoming joyous frosty ice-rinks and adding an extra dose of magic to a cheap Amsterdam break in winter or early spring. Drenched with atmosphere all year round, no wonder it’s one of Europe’s most popular destinations for a weekend break.

Get lost in a game of numbers

Home to 7,000 monuments set along 160 canals straddled by almost 1,500 bridges, Amsterdam is a gorgeous game of numbers.

With 87 museums alone, you would need dozens of Amsterdam holidays to see it all. Don’t be intimidated by the stats. Amsterdam is an endlessly walkable city with an incredibly laid-back vibe, so relax and soak up the sights at your own pace.

If you’re doing Amsterdam on the cheap, get lost beside the maze of canals, stroll around the leafy Vondelpark, gawp at Rembrandt's masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum and stifle embarrassed giggles in the adult shops of the Red Light District.

Look to a bright and edgy future

Traces of the past might be everywhere, but Amsterdam is a city striding into the future at full pelt. Packed with youthful energy, innovative projects and cutting-edge cafés, a holiday to Amsterdam is sure to inspire.

Dine at the top of a pirate radio tower, settle into a deckchair on a fake sandy beach, dance the night away inside a shipping container and explore trippy museums crammed with fluorescent art. Anything is possible in the Dutch capital.

You’ll stumble across something to delight and shock around every corner, making cheap trips to Amsterdam perfect for a shot of eyebrow-raising culture. 

October is arguably the best month to take a book a short break to Amsterdam. As autumn begins to sweep through the city, you’ll find gentle sunshine, fewer crowds, cheaper digs and coloured leaves tumbling from the trees that line the canals. This, together with late spring, is a great time to find Amsterdam deals on hotels, flights and everything else you need for a short break.