By Kathryn O’Dwyer, Digital Marketing Specialist Cork Airport

It’s now easier than ever to take a trip to Amsterdam direct from Cork Airport. Aer Lingus fly daily from Cork Airport to Amsterdam from as little as €39.99 one way and from March 30, 2020 KLM will also fly daily between Cork Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Find out more here. Check out the list below of some of the top things to do in Amsterdam and start planning your next adventure there.

1. Get on Your Bike

With over 800,000 bicycles in Amsterdam, cycling is one of the most popular ways to get around. Cycling in Amsterdam is a way of life, made easier by the city’s unbeatable network of cycle routes and flat landscape. Amsterdam regularly comes out on top in lists of the worlds’ most cycle-friendly cities, and there’s no finer way to explore the city’s streets, canals and attractions than by pedal power. But if you don’t feel like renting a bike and exploring on your own, you’ll find an array of bike tours catering to every kind of visitor.

2. Enjoy the Views on Europe’s Highest Swing at A’dam Lookout

Opened in 2016, A’dam Lookout provides some of the best views of downtown Amsterdam. The property’s main draw is its observation deck on the 20th floor, which provides 360-degree panoramas of the city’s port and canals. Before admiring the view, visitors can enjoy the interactive exhibit. Adrenaline junkies won’t want to miss Over the Edge (Europe’s highest swing) on the outdoor rooftop deck.

3. Rijksmuseum

Considered one of Amsterdam’s top museums, the Rijksmuseum features an impressive collection of artists, including Rembrandt and Vermeer. It’s recommended getting to the Rijksmuseum as early as possible in the day to avoid standing in a line. According to the museum, the busiest times are Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. And once you’ve finished touring the interior, step outside and enjoy the gardens.

4. I Amsterdam Letters

Measuring more than 6 feet tall and 77-plus feet wide, the red-and-white “I amsterdam” sign is a prime place for a photo op. You’ll find the main set of letters situated inside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; however, multiple versions are typically on display throughout the city. You can track down the travelling I Amsterdam letters which move around the city here.

5. Wonder Around Arty Jordaan

Often cited as Amsterdam’s most charming neighbourhood, wandering into the Jordaan feels like stepping back in time. Originally a working-class area, the Jordaan’s narrow streets and quaint buildings now make up one of Amsterdam’s most desirable quarters, dotted with independent art galleries, antiques shops, courtyard gardens and atmospheric bars and restaurants.

6. Catch the ferry to Amsterdam North

Enjoy a vibrant food, drink and cultural scene along the banks of the IJ. A short (free) ferry trip will take you to a number of drop off points, including cultural hotspot NDSM, where you can enjoy a host of hip waterside hangouts, frequent festivals and events.

7. Take a Canal Cruise

Home to 165 waterways, Amsterdam prides itself on its impressive canal system. It’s easy to see the canals during a bike tour or while walking around the city centre, but for a closer look at the water network, sign up for a canal cruise. Many tour operators offer different kinds of boat tours around downtown Amsterdam.

8. Visit The Anne Frank House

Inside the Anne Frank House, travellers will see the location where not so long ago the 15-year-old Anne Frank penned a journal that would become a best-seller. Travelers can imagine what it’d be like to stay hidden away for more than two years, only to be betrayed and taken to a concentration camp. Artefacts inside the museum include historical documents, photographs, film images and belongings from those in hiding and those who assisted them. Frank’s original diary and other notebooks are also on display.

9. Get Your Photo at The Nine Streets

The quaint and quirky streets that straddle Amsterdam’s grandest canals form the city’s most photogenic micro-neighbourhood. Known to locals as De Negen Straatjes or ‘The Nine Streets’, this special neighbourhood is bursting with vintage and designer shops, speciality stores and cosy cafés.

10. Heineken Experience

The Heineken Experience, which takes place in the old Heineken Brouwerij (Heineken Brewery), is a must-do. According to its website, the Heineken Experience will dip visitors “chin deep” into the popular beer. Among the attractions housed in the century-old factory are a virtual-reality ride, a history of the Heineken family and a free beer tasting for those over the age of 18. A downloadable app takes visitors on a historical journey through the factory.