Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and is famous throughout Europe - and indeed the world - for a liberal attitude and progressive legal approach to both prostitution and soft drug use. However, besides these draws for Stag parties and the youth counter culture, the historic city of Amsterdam has much else to offer as entertainment.

The canal system in Amsterdam is a striking feature of the city that is best explored in the traditional way: by canal cruise. There are a variety of vessels of different styles and sizes, from small open topped boats to luxury cruisers, which can provide passage through the canal system and the chance to get a great view of much of the city on a relatively short period of time.

Amsterdam is home to some of the finest museums and art galleries Europe, and indeed the world, and is one of the primary reasons that people staying in Amsterdam hotels found through operators such as Octopus Travel visit the city. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is home to the largest collection of Dutch master paintings on the globe. In addition to this collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, there is also a large collection of Asian art. The Van Gogh museum is unsurprisingly the biggest and most comprehensive collection of paintings and drawings by Holland’s most famous artist, and the collection is arranged chronologically into periods of Van Gogh’s life, as expressed through his art.

Café culture plays a big part in the life of the city, and there is a good selection of terrace cafes that can provide those staying in Amsterdam hotels with the chance to take a step back and people watch when the sun shines. The famous coffee shops are where it is possible to buy and smoke small amounts of cannabis without falling foul of the law; the official position is that such use is ‘decriminalised’ rather than fully legal, meaning that possession and use of the drug is not punishable by law. Coffee shops are prohibited from selling alcohol – and given the average strength of the cannabis on offer, this is understandable – and so those that wish to drink will need to find one of the many cafes and bars to slake their thirst.

Walking through the Red Light district is really a unique experience, but one that should be approached sensibly, especially at night, as the area has an unavoidably sleazy element – best to explore as part of a group, rather than alone. It is important to observe the etiquette of the area, and not take photographs of the women working there.