Bargain weekend European break: How to spend 48 hours in Amsterdam

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Why Britons who fancy a bargain weekend break should go Dutch – and head to elegant Amsterdam

  • Grab bread, cheese, fruit and stroopwafels at the Lindengracht Market 
  • Visit the top-floor terrace of The Central Library for great views of the city 
  • Enjoy free live music at the intimate jazz bar Cafe Alto in Leidseplein

By Ben West For The Mail On Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Easy to get to, elegant and cheap to enjoy – Amsterdam’s a must if you’re after a whistlestop weekend break.

Spend Friday evening in the canal district at the lovely little Algerian cafe, Rainarai (Prinsengracht 252; rainarai.nl) with a delicious soup or cous cous salad for under £5, and watch the boats go by.

On Saturday morning, wander the side streets of the quiet Jordaan neighbourhood. 

Go Dutch: Amsterdam’s a must if you’re after a whistlestop weekend break

The Jordaan neighbourhood is nice for a

Pictured are the historic houses along the canal in the quiet Jordaan neighbourhood

Historic houses here are smaller but no less charming than the grand homes lining the canals. 

For lunch, grab bread, cheese, fruit and stroopwafels (Dutch pancakes with caramel filling) at the Lindengracht Market.

Take a break at The Central Library (Ooster dokskade 146; oba.nl), near Centraal Railway Station, for great views of the city from its top-floor terrace. 

Back in the centre, Elandsgracht offers budget options for dinner, whether you want Indian, Thai or a modest eetcafé.

Take a break at The Central Library (above), near Centraal Railway Station, for great views of the city from its top-floor terrace

Take a break at The Central Library (above), near Centraal Railway Station, for great views of the city from its top-floor terrace 

Join a free walking tour from the National Monument on Dam Square (pictured)

Join a free walking tour from the National Monument on Dam Square (pictured)

Then it’s a short walk to Leidseplein, where you can enjoy free live music at the intimate jazz bar Cafe Alto (Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115; jazz-cafe-alto.nl).

After a refreshing morning, wander by the canals, fuel up at lunchtime on sandwiches at Italian cafe Caldi e Freddi at Spuistraat 106, before a trip to the National Monument on Dam Square at 1.30pm for a last look at the city with a free walking tour (freewalkingtoursamsterdam.com). 

A €1.55 (£1.30) entertainment tax is charged at the start of the tour.

TRAVEL FACTS 

Eurostar (eurostar.com) has tickets from London St Pancras from £78 return. Double rooms cost from £132 at The Hoxton Amsterdam (Herengracht 255; thehoxton.com).