If you’re hoping to get away for a short break this autumn and don’t want to spend too much time travelling, why not consider a city break that can easily be reached from London? Read on to discover which is the best European city for a short break, how to get there and what to do during your stay.
Where is the Best City and Why?
Voted as one of the best cities for an autumn break, Amsterdam is an ideal city to visit for a long weekend. Its beautiful tree-lined streets look all the more stunning this time of year as the leaves turn to shades of gold and you can enjoy a quiet stroll through the Grachtengordel District (canal district) and admire the historic gables without needing to jostle through crowds to get a good view. There’s also no shortage of cosy cafés where you can step in from the cold and warm up with a coffee.
How to Get There
London to Amsterdam can be a surprisingly quick journey with a range of transport options. You can go by ferry or train, travel by road in a car or coach or fly, which is the fastest way to travel from the UK to Amsterdam. From London’s Gatwick airport it can take just over an hour to get to Amsterdam, meaning less time spent travelling and more time exploring this wonderful city.
What to Do in Amsterdam
No matter what kind of activities you enjoy, Amsterdam has something to offer everyone. Here are just a few of the things you could do during your stay in this beautiful city.
Pedal through the streets
Cycling is a great way to explore Amsterdam, so one thing you’ll definitely want to do is rent a bike or go on a biking tour. You’ll see much more of the city this way and you’ll blend in with the locals too!
Eat your heart out
For an authentic taste of Amsterdam, visit a brown bar or bruin café, which is a traditional Dutch pub. Nestled in their dark but cosy wooden interiors, you can sample a traditional apple pie and a hot Chocomel, which is a Dutch favourite.
Amsterdam Dance Festival
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) takes place every October and features over 2,500 of the world’s biggest and up-and-coming dance artists in 450 events taking place across the city. Spanning five days and attracting almost 400,000 clubbers, if you’re a dance music lover, it’s not to be missed!
Soak up the culture
Amsterdam has a rich, vibrant culture. As well as the year-round attractions such as canal cruises and the Van Gogh Museum, there are many special events held throughout autumn, such as Museum Night every November, where the city’s museums open after dark with special tours, performances and workshops. November is also when Sinterklaas – the Dutch version of Santa – arrives in town, sailing in on a boat from Spain before leading a parade through the city streets. Meanwhile, serious film buffs will enjoy the International Documentary Film Festival and Imagine Film Festival which both take place in autumn.
Conclusion
One of the leafiest cities in Europe, Amsterdam boasts over 400,000 trees, so you can imagine how beautiful the city is when autumn begins to turn all that greenery into vibrant shades of orange, red and gold. All you need to do is throw on a woolly jumper and take a stroll along this historic city’s picture-perfect canals for the ideal short break this autumn.
