Let's Go Europe Top 10 Cities: The Student Travel Guide

By Harvard Student Agencies, Inc.

Welcome to Europe’s ten most popular citiesLet’s Go style. This single-volume travel guide is packed with info on London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Prague, and Amsterdam for students and backpackers on a budget. If you're taking a whirlwind tour of Europe, Let’s Go Europe Top 10 Cities is the way to goit will help you find the most affordable hostels and hotels, tell you where to go to meet new friends at trendy cafés and clubs, and lead you to the most interesting (and quirky) sights. This guide has the perfect mix of classic and modern Europe: you’ll learn where to taste the crème de la crème of French cuisine in Paris, experience the vibrant nightlife in Prague, and tango with the best of them in Madridall while getting the most for your euro (or pound).

Let's Go publishes the world's favorite student travel guides, written entirely by Harvard undergraduates. Armed with pens, notebooks, and a few changes of underwear stuffed in their backpacks, our student researchers go across continents, through time zones, and above expectations to seek out invaluable travel experiences for our readers. Let's Go has been on the road for 50 years and counting: We're

• Language: English
• Publisher: Let's Go
• Release date: Jan 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781612370194

Book preview

CONTENTS

DISCOVER EUROPE TOP 10 CITIES

AMSTERDAM

BARCELONA

BERLIN

FLORENCE

ISTANBUL

LONDON

MADRID

PARIS

PRAGUE

ROME

ESSENTIALS

BEYOND TOURISM

INDEX

MAP INDEX

COPYRIGHT PAGE

QUICK REFERENCE

RESEARCHER-WRITERS

EUROPE TOP 10 CITIES

When to Go

What to Do

Suggested Itineraries

How to use this Book

We live in an era of lists—top 100 songs of the ’90s, top 20 TV shows canceled before their time (Firefly, we miss you!), top five foods that will give you a coronary of joy—why not apply the philosophy to travel? You’re going to Europe, but you don’t have the time or money to tour every podunk town in France, even though they all seem to have at least three art museums. With so much to see and do, there’s no shame in settling for the greatest hits.

Make no mistake—these cities are heavy hitters. Amsterdam will satisfy your cravings for culture and a few other things. Hit the beach all day and the bars all night in Barcelona. Berlin is Europe’s champion of cool, but it won’t try too hard to show it or anything. You can’t walk down the street in Florence without running into an artistic masterpiece. Four names, three empires, and two continents make Istanbul one of a kind. Despite all the tradition, tea, and tweed, London moves like no other city. You can spend the whole day in Madrid’s country-sized museums, but don’t be late for dinner (at midnight). Nearly everyone in the world idealizes Paris, but it’s more than a city of ideals. Prague is magic—ex-communist, post-Kafka, pre-Harry Potter magic. Not even Carthage could conquer Rome, but you’re welcome to try.

Every which way, we’ve got you covered. Grab your Best of Queen or Worst of Jefferson Airplane CD, your seven favorite T-shirts, and your three best friends. You’re going to see the top 10 cities Europe has to offer.

when to go

Summer is the busiest time to travel in Europe. The season’s many festivals can jack up prices, but it might be worth it to catch Bastille Day in Paris or London’s Proms. Late spring and early autumn bring fewer tourists and cheaper airfare—meaning they’re good times to go, if you can get the days off. Winter travel is great for those looking to hit the ski ranges around the mountains, but not the best time to take a walking tour through Prague. Plus, you’ll find that some hotels, restaurants, and sights have limited hours or are on vacation—from you.

best of europe’s top 10 cities

You’re visiting the crème de la crème of European cities. Now you can top that by doing the best of the best in each metropolis, from partying at the coolest club to snacking on the tastiest treat. After completing all of this epic one-upping, we doubt you’ll have ever felt more superior over superlatives.

AMSTERDAM: The works at the Van Gogh Museum will have you mourning the artist’s early death. You might understand it once you see titles like Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, though.

BARCELONA: Ogle the Sagrada Família; bask at a platja; and brood at Barcelona Pipa Club, where smoking accoutrements decorated by Dalí make it all so much cooler.

BERLIN: Forget Checkpoint Charlie and go to the Berliner Mauer Dokumentationszentrum for a sense of pre-Wall times. Come nightfall hit up Club Tresor to witness Berlin’s famous techno scene.

FLORENCE: You will meet your dream man in this city. His name will be David. Also, make the requisite trip to the Uffizi. (You will not meet David here.)

ISTANBUL: The Blue Mosque will most likely make your jaw drop. If it doesn’t, get that mandible looked at.

LONDON: This city is all about converting you—from modern-art hater to gaga for Andy Warhol at the Tate Modern, from snore-through-Shakespeare to I-heart-Hamlet at the Globe Theatre.

MADRID: If you do not see Guernica, The Garden of Earthly Delights, or Las Meninas, you have done something very wrong. Almost as wrong as not munching on chocolates con churros at dawn after a whole night of partying.

PARIS: It’s so cliché, but stick with the tried-and-true here. The Eiffel Tower will have you wanting to sweep someone off her feet (just don’t drop her off the edge), the Latin Quarter is just grand, and the croissants are orgasmic.

PRAGUE: Yes, the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle are overrun with tourists—it’s because they’re awesome. Save some money for the sights by buying beer (it’s cheaper than water!).

ROME: Rome is for cosplay tourists and carb-lovers: gladiators at the Colosseum will happily playfight for your euro, and the dishes at Cacio e Pepe will make all other pastas you have ever tasted seem inadequate.

what to do

HERE COMES THE SUN

Sometimes, the best sights are all around you. Put the book down for a few minutes— we forgive you!—and explore the outdoors.

ISTANBUL: For the best views the city has to offer, cross the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn, or climb Çamlica Hill on the Asian side. For the best view of city life, look no further than the bazaars.

AMSTERDAM:Rent a bike near Centraal Station and ride down Haarlemmerstraat, which is full of cheap eats, stores, and coffeeshops. Then head south through the quaint streets of Jordaan. Take a breather at a canal-side cafe. Smell that? No, not pot. Freedom. Or maybe pot.

ROME: All roads lead to Rome, so don’t worry about getting lost on the Appian Way. If you’re sick of crumbling monuments, the Villa Borghese has enough green for days.

BARCELONA: The entire strip between Torre San Sebastiá and Parc de Diagonal-Mar is lined with public beaches. Our favorites are Platja de la Barceloneta and Platja Mar Bella, the city’s only official nude beach.

THE GREAT INDOORS

Let’s be real: you didn’t come to Europe for the trees—except the ones in the background of the Mona Lisa. Each of these cities’ museums could keep you distracted for a lifetime or four.

PARIS:Musée Rodin, Musée d’Orsay, and, of course, the Louvre—we promise it was famous before The Da Vinci Code.

LONDON: In the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, priceless works somehow translate to free admission. Yay, socialism!

MADRID: If the Avenida del Arte were a bowling lane, you could knock out three world-class museums with one ball: the Prado, the Reina Sofía, and the CaixaForum.

PRAGUE: Choose between the history of central European art at Veletržní Palác, the old nouveau at the Alfons Mucha Museum, or the contemporary scene at DOX—or be indecisive and do all three!

OM NOM NOM

No, u cant haz cheezburger, because European food is as diverse as it is delicious.

FLORENCE:Bistecca alla fiorentina and gelato are fantastic everywhere in the city, but only Cibréo Teatro del Sale combines gourmet dinner with a brilliant show.

MADRID: If you pinch your pennies eating at tapas joints in Las Huertas, you can save up to try the suckling pig Hemingway ate at El Sobrino de Botín.

ROME: Pizza (Antica Pizzeria de Roma;), pasta (Cacio e Pepe;), and pastries (Pasticceria Strabbioni Roma;). Need we say more?

PARIS: Feeling crepe-d out? Thabthim Siam’s tasty Thai, Le Jip’s creative Cuban-African-Brazilian fusion, and L’As du Falafel’s legendary falafel draw all the locals.

student superlatives

MOST BLING: The Pope’s crib (a.k.a. Vatican City), where you’ll find the sickest frescoes and some Swiss guards in tricked out uniforms.

MOST EMBARRASSING MUSEUM TO VISIT WITH YOUR FAMILY (ESPECIALLY CREEPY UNCLE NICK): The Amsterdam Sex Museum.

BEST PLACE TO FIND A HIPSTER HUSBAND:Hackescher Markt—or really anywhere in Berlin.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A SIESTA:Parque del Buen Retiro—or really anywhere in Madrid.

BEST PLACE TO GET SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN: Getting pummelled by a nearly naked hairy Turkish man in one of Istanbul’s hamams is actually a lot more relaxing than you’d think.

MOST LIKELY TO SUCK UP ALL YOUR TIME:La Cité Libreria Café in Florence has everything you’d ever need: food, cheap beer, live music, and comfortable seating.

BEST PLACE TO GET ARSE-ACHE:Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

BEST PLACE TO BUY A PARROT AND A SUNFLOWER ON THE SAME BLOCK: Barcelona’s Las Ramblas.

BEST PLACE TO ASK SOMEONE TO SLEEP WITH YOU WITHOUT GETTING SLAPPED: Paris’s Moulin Rouge. Thanks, Christina Aguilera!

BEST PLACE TO KISS: Below the ear. Just kidding—under the metronome in Prague’s Letná Park.

LAST FRIDAY NIGHT

Oh, hey. Have we met? You look awfully familiar…

AMSTERDAM: Were you at Paradiso the other day? You know, the club in a converted church? Or were you chilling with the locals at Studio 80?

BERLIN: Well, if you’re a techno-lover, you must have been at Sanitorium 23. Was that you grooving inside and then playing ping pong outside Rosi’s in Friederichshain?

ISTANBUL: With swanky friends at Anjelique? On the beer terrace at Peyote? Puffing the night away at Asmali Sohbet Çay Evi?

PRAGUE: Well, we give up. Let’s go to Cross Club. Repeat after us: Pět piv, prosím! (Five beers, please!)

BEYOND TOURISM

Take, take, take. Have you had enough? No? Well, you’ll get a lot out of giving back, and there are plenty of opportunities to do so. For even more on studying, volunteering, and working abroad, flip to Beyond Tourism.

BOĞAZIÇI UNIVERSITY: Head to Istanbul to study at the oldest American university outside of the United States.

ROME UNIVERSITY OF FINE ARTS: If the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling leaves you inspired, come to RU to embrace your inner Michelangelo.

PINK POINT: Help GLBT travelers have a fulfilling Amsterdam experience at this information kiosk.

EUROINTERNS: Work in Madrid with major companies like Amnesty International and American Express.

suggested itineraries

THE GRAND TOUR (1 month)

Brace yourself. Seeing all 10 of these cities in one month is going to be a serious trip. Fortunately, you have us to suggest an order and timeframe for each city. Refer to the itineraries above for the key things you have to see in each city and for many of the transportation links between them.

london (3 days)

Load up on history, culture, and tea. Go shop at Harrod’s or catch a play in the West End. If you time your trip right, you can even see the Olympic Games return to the city. When you’ve seen enough royalty and mastered your Cockney slang, catch a bus (UK£37) to Amsterdam. Be aware that the bus takes about 12hr., so you’re losing half of one of your precious Eurotripping days. The train is a faster option, though you’ll have to transfer at Brussels and shell out over UK£100.

amsterdam (3 days)

Depending on what you want out of the city, Amsterdam can be very similar or completely different from London. It has imperial history, renowned artistic pedigree, and a great music scene, just like London. Of course, it also has coffeeshops and legalized prostitution. For the proper Amsterdam experience. you need to explore both sides. Done? Hop on the 3hr. train to Paris.

paris (4 days)

The quintessential European city! A word of warning, though: it’s rougher and less idealized than you might think. Don’t feel like you have to stay within shouting distance of the Seine at all times—you’ll be surprised by what you find in places like Pigalle and Montparnasse. To continue the tour, head to Barcelona. You could catch a train from the Gare d’Austerlitz, but it costs over €100. Ryanair runs flights from Beauvais airport (85km north of Paris), and if you book in advance you can get a ticket for not much more than you pay for a coffee along the Champs-Élysées.

barcelona (3 days)

You’ll be hard-pressed to leave this city of beaches and modernisme. Gaze up at the never-ending construction of La Sagrada Família and stroll through the medieval streets of Barri Gótic in search of a damsel in distress and a dragon to slay (or just an exquisite Catalan meal). When it’s time to discover other Spanish frontiers, taking a long, cheap bus ride with a service like Alsa, or a shorter but more expensive train ride on the national Spanish train sytem.

madrid (3 days)

This restless, youthful city will have you living the infectious madrileño way in no time. Eat dinner at 10pm, go out until sunrise, and explore under the warm, inviting sun. Fill up on bocaditos and join the 20-somethings haunting the cool cafes, pubs, and bars of Las Huertas. Bring your newfound night-owl skills to Rome via a budget airline flight. Ryanair has flights at €45, which we think is quite a steal.

rome (4 days)

You may think that you’ve seen a lot of old things so far, but get ready for Rome to put them all to shame. Be amazed at how intact some of the ruins are (the Colosseum is certainly in much better shape than the Circus Maximus). Engage in Rome’s modern culture at the bars of Centro Storico or the clubs of Testaccio. Don’t forget to eat as the Romans do. Set aside €45 and a couple of hours for the train to Florence.

florence (2 days)

Throw yourself into the Renaissance, which seems to live on in every Florentine building. The most compact of these 10 cities, Florence doesn’t require quite as much time, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less rewarding. You’ll take to the air again for the next leg of your trip, catching a flight to Prague. Air One (Alitalia’s budget subsidiary) offers flights from Pisa Airport (a 1hr. bus ride from Florence) to Prague for €70.

prague (3 days)

The gritty post-communism side seeps through the tourist-happy tinsel of Prague’s recent renovations. In New Town you can find the window where the Hussites began a Czech tradition of defenestration. The neighborhood of Holešovice is becoming one of the most happening places in Prague, and its nightclubs should not be missed. Good to go? Hop on a €30 bus at the Florenc ÚAN bus terminal.

berlin (3 days)

Falafel and schnitzel, East and West, Potter and Voldemort… ok, maybe not that last one. Look out for horn-rimmed glasses and cardigans among Friedrichshain’s nightclubs, which are housed in former DDR buildings. Tiergarten in the middle of Berlin will make you forget you’re in a metropolis. Thank the Turkish immigrants in Kreuzberg for your cheap shawarma and ludicrously inexpensive flights to Istanbul, your last, but in no way least exciting, stop.

istanbul (3 days)

Europe-d out? Asia is a cheap ferry ride away. Experience the city that has been fought over for millennia, and see the effect that all these influences have had on its culture. Spend the final night of your trip watching the sun set over the domes of Istanbul’s mosques, and remember the extraordinary things you’ve seen along the way. Then go party it up one last time in some swanky nightclubs. You’ve earned some serious revelry by now.

CITY HOPPING

If tackling 10 cities at once seems a little daunting, don’t worry—you’ve got a whole lifetime of travel ahead to hit them all. For now, focus on a selection of the cities that can easily be visited together.

london, paris, and amsterdam

These cities in the north of Europe are not the ones you come to for the weather. The list of reasons not to go ends there, and lucky for you they can easily be visited together. If you start in London, you can hop on the Eurostar train to Paris. Tickets are much cheaper if bought well in advance and can be as low as £38, or as high as £100. When you manage to tear yourself away from the beauty of Paris, catch a Thalys train to Amsterdam. If booked more than a month in advance, you can get a ticket for €35, but again prices rise a lot closer to the date of travel.

prague, berlin, and istanbul

Despite the long distances between them, these cities are surprisingly easy to travel between. Berlin is separated from Prague by a 4½hr., €30 bus ride—that’s the perfect interval of time to play Go Fish with your new bus friends before you get sick of each other. If you’re going in the other direction, try the 1425Kč train to Berlin. Traveling from Berlin to Istanbul doesn’t really sound like city-hopping, but thanks to the large number of Turkish immigrants in Germany, there are regular cheap flights connecting the cities. Pegasus Airlines has flights for as low as €50.

madrid, barcelona, florence, and rome

If your travel checklist includes art, sun, and Catholicism, Spain and Italy are ideal destinations. From Madrid, Barcelona is a hop, skip, and 3hr. train away. Although the trains run frequently, they can be expensive (€120 expensive). Buses take about 6hr. but only cost €30. A third option is plane travel, which takes 1½hr. and, if you’re lucky, costs as low as €60. From Barcelona to Florence, flying may be the best option; train rides are long, require a transfer, and can sometimes cost €200. When the Renaissance starts to feel too recent, hop on a Trenitalia train to Rome for €15-45.

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

You’re a very busy and important person with only two days to spare for gallivanting around your European city of choice. Fear not—we’ll make sure you hit all the highlights. Or string a few of these together to make your own adventure!

amsterdam

In your two days in the city of van Gogh, canals, and legal prostitution, you’re going to be busy. Start with sunflowers and ear wounds at the Van Gogh Museum, then jazz it up mightily with a trip to Electric Ladyland. Jump on a bike while you’re here—it’s the most Dutch thing you can do. Westerkerk church is one of Amsterdam’s finest, while the architecture of the Golden Bend is a lesson in both design and history. You aren’t here for the food, but load up on the city’s cheap and delicious sandwiches.

Don’t tire yourself out too much during the days, since evenings in Amsterdam are one of the city’s biggest attractions. One night, try the Red Light District on for size (as long as you can handle all the British bachelor parties doing the same). The other night, allow the gravitational pulls of Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein to draw you in; good luck choosing among their dozens of bars and clubs.

barcelona

You may be melting in the sun along with all that twisted modernisme architecture, but these two days in Barcelona will be some of the most surreal of your life. Start with Parc Güell, wander through Gaudí’s trippy sculptures, fountains, and mosaics, and hike up to the park’s summit to get a vista of the entire city. Then head off to the neighborhood of Gràcia to house hunt famed modernista casas, and stop by Un Lugar de Gràcia for one of the best lunch specials in Barcelona. Hop on the metro to peruse Museu Picasso’s extensive collection, then bar hop along El Born.

Begin your second day with some Roman ruins Museu d’Història de la Ciutat and a vista from the top of Columbus Tower. Then hit the beaches of Barcelona, where you can play pick-up volleyball with the locals or sunbathe (in the nude, if you like). At night, the clubs along Barceloneta come alive, so don’t let a long train ride the next morning stop you from joining in the debauchery.

berlin

The hippest city in Europe has way too many things for you to see in just two days, but don’t let that keep you from trying. Tornado through Mitte’s Museum Island (don’t skip the Neue Nationalgalerie or the Pergamon Museum), before heading over to Hackescher Markt and bobbing through waves of flannel and horn-rimmed glasses that roll into cool cafes, bookstores, and art galleries. At night, join Kaffee Burger’s crowd of 20-somethings in band T-shirts for heavy techno, poetry readings, and dancing in drunken sloppiness.

Delve into Kreuzberg’s graffiti-lined streets and Soviet sights with a deliciously cheap döner kebab from one of the street vendors in hand, then Friedrichshain’s East Side Gallery, the world’s largest open-air gallery that contains the longest remaining portion of the Wall. After a quick nap, start with house music at the indoor-outdoor Rosi’s, pay a visit to the Transformers action figures at Astro-Bar, and brace yourself for the trip out to K-17, a massive Diskothek that the tourists haven’t discovered yet.

florence

Get your Renaissance on during your two days in one of the artistic capitals of Europe. You don’t have much time, so make a reservation in advance for the Uffizi to avoid wasting your trip standing in line. Then explore the free art and peoplewatching potential in the central Piazza della Signoria. In case you don’t have time to visit the real David in the Accademia, get a good luck at his replica here. Visit the city’s crowning glory: the Duomo. Admire its remarkable facade, then climb its dome for a stunning panorama of the whole city. Reward yourself for conquering all those steps with Florence’s greatest form of sustenance: gelato.

Don’t let the Arno River be a barrier to your exploration. Cross the famous Ponte Vecchio (try not to waste too much money in all its gold shops) to the Oltrarno and pay a visit to the Palazzo Pitti complex. The Boboli Gardens are a remarkably green oasis in the city. Florence’s nightlife is less structured than in other cities, so go with the flow by settling in a piazza with the locals. Piazza Sant’Ambrogio in Santa Croce is a particularly good bet.

istanbul

Istanbul is the city to visit when other European destinations are starting to blend together. No more cathedrals for you. Try Istanbul’s two greatest mosques: the Haggia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The maze of Sultanahmet, the oldest neighborhood of one of the oldest cities in Europe, will captivate you. Visit the Grand Bazaar for a shopping experience like no other. Now take the cheapest intercontinental cruise in the world to visit the Asian half of the city. It’s not the most exciting part of town, but crossing the Bosphorus alone is a remarkable experience.

In the evening, the clubs of Beşiktaş are entertaining both as social microcosms and as nightspots. Spend at least half a day in Beyoğlu, the heart of modern Istanbul. Catch a contemporary vision of the city at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art and take your time exploring Istanbul’s liveliest street, Istiklal Caddesi. For a really Turkish experience, try visiting a hamam. On your last evening, smoke some nargile in Sultanahmet, or just hit up Beyoğlu’s bars for nightlife as good as in any European city.

london

During your time in London, try to talk to as many people as possible. Firstly, British people are interesting. Secondly, after all those strange continental languages, it will be an amazing relief speaking to people whom you can (just about) understand. When you aren’t stuck in conversation, make sure to run between as many of London’s free museums as possible. The National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the British Museum are just three of our favorites.

You’re obviously going to want to see the iconic sights (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower, Platform Nine and Three Quarters), but we encourage you not to waste your money on hefty admission fees. Instead, save up for a night out in the West End. Catching a blues show at Ain’t Nothin’ But then dancing at The Borderline sounds like a great plan to us. When hunger strikes, sample some of London’s hugely varied ethnic food offerings (that whole empire thing was the best thing that ever happened to British cuisine).

madrid

Meander with the crowds of tourists hankering to see Picasso’s Guernica at the Reina Sofía and join the crowd of wild el botellón by night. No experience in Madrid is complete without walking the tree-lined Avenida del Arte and popping through the various world-class museums (so much Velázquez). For a respite, saunter over to Parque del Buen Retiro, where you can check out a couple of palaces, row in the artificial pond, or just siesta in the shade. Come nightfall, head over to Kapital and choose from seven floors of trashy fun that play everything from house to Spanish pop to hip hop. Stay out until sunrise and dig into churros con chocolate.

After an early-morning nap (you probably won’t have enough time for a real sleep), start off your day with an Egyptian temple and then check out Franco’s former place of residence in El Pardo. Gallivant through Malasaña, a playground of the best nightlife, live music, and dining in the city—it’s the place to experience the ’70s counter-culture movement, La Movida, particularly at La Vía Láctea. Plus, you won’t have to pay cover if you arrive before 1am.

paris

Welcome to the busiest two days of your life. Stroll the elegant Champs-Élysées, Paris’s most famous boulevard, and be awed by the Arc de Triomphe towering above you. Once you’re warmed up on Parisian sightseeing, continue on to the Louvre. Don’t try to see everything here; you might as well give up on the rest of your trip and set up a tent next to the Venus de Milo if you insist on covering the whole collection. Try not to panic that your time in Paris is already a quarter over, and head to Notre Dame for one of Europe’s greatest cathedrals. If you must, pose for a photo as a hunchback. Complete your collection of great Paris monuments at the Eiffel Tower, which is beautiful to look at and even better to look from.

Make sure to leave the postcard-ready monuments behind at some stage and get to know a more authentic side of the city. Tour the intellectual Latin Quarter to unleash your inner Hemingway and Sartre. Grab some brie and a baguette for a traditional Parisian picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg. If you can face more museums, the Musée d’Orsay is full of works by artists considered not good enough for the Louvre, including untalented hacks like Monet, Manet, and van Gogh. If you have any energy left (and if you’re ever going to dig deep for stamina, now’s the time to do it), indulge in Paris’s nightlife. Head to the Marais or enjoy the student-friendly scene in the Latin Quarter.

prague

The Disneyland of Europe, Prague is a lot of fairytale and, unlike Space Mountain, very little disappointment. Hit the major sights of Old Town, like the Astronomical Clock, the Art Deco Municipal House, and the Charles Bridge. Next, saunter over to the nearby Jewish Quarter to see the various synagogues, but don’t hold your breath for a Golem. End the night at Rudolfinum, the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

The next day, conquer Prague Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral—which took six centuries to build and only two hours for you to see. Make your way over to Café Louvre, where Kafka and his friends used to sit around being intellectual. Finally, choose your own adventure among the enormous rooms of Cross Club, considered one of Europe’s best nightclubs.

rome

Rome is famous for its ancient monuments, and you won’t want to miss the Colosseum and Roman Forum. When you move onto the Centro Storico area, navigate by monument rather than by map and you’ll be less likely to get lost and you’ll definitely see more sights. The Pantheon and Piazza Navona are unmissable. In case you need reminding, remember to try some of the incredible local pasta or pizzas. Spend one evening visiting the Trevi Fountain (it’s less busy and more impressive after dark) and hanging out with the young crowd on the Spanish Steps.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and you didn’t manage to see it all in one, so on the second morning head over to Vatican City. Explore the majestic Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and maybe try to stop by Saint Peter’s Basilica during mass. This is a great neighborhood for food, so load up on calories at a trattoria. On your last evening, throw yourself into the throbbing nightlife scene. Bars litter the Centro Storico, or head south to Testaccio for its clubs.

how to use this book

CHAPTERS

In the next few pages, the travel coverage chapters—the meat of any Let’s Go book— begin with Amsterdam, which is thriving in refined, artistic culture in addition to being a pothead’s paradise. Next we’ll give you a taste for Catalonia culture in Barcelona, and then head to Germany to explore the fast-paced city of Berlin. In our first Italian adventure, come face to face with David in Florence. We’ll throw in some European/Asian fusion in Istanbul before heading to the place where a hip underground scene meets posh royalty: London. We’ll next head the intellectual and cultural centers of two neighboring countries: Madrid, full of Old World palaces and cathedrals, and Paris, whose museums have more artwork than you could see in a month. The journey continues in Prague, full of towers, castles, and medieval-meets-modern charm. Our Top 10 tour concludes by returning to Italy to play gladiator-for-a-day in Rome.

But that’s not all, folks. We also have a few extra chapters for you to peruse:

LISTINGS

Listings—a.k.a. reviews of individual establishments—constitute a majority of Let’s Go coverage. Our Researcher-Writers list establishments in order from best to worst value—not necessarily quality. (Obviously a five-star hotel is nicer than a hostel, but it would probably be ranked lower because it’s not as good a value.) Listings pack in a lot of information, but it’s easy to digest if you know how they’re constructed:

ESTABLISHMENT NAME

type of establishment $$$$

Address

phone number; website Editorial review goes here.

Directions to the establishment.

Other practical information about the establishment, like age restrictions at a club or whether

breakfast is included at a hostel.

Prices for goods or services.

Hours or schedules.

ICONS

First things first: places and things that we absolutely love, sappily cherish, generally obsess over, and wholeheartedly endorse are denoted by the all-empowering Let’s Go thumbs-up. In addition, the icons scattered at the end of a listing (as you saw in the sample above) can serve as visual cues to help you navigate each listing:

PRICE DIVERSITY

A final set of icons corresponds to what we call our price diversity scale, which approximates how much money you can expect to spend at a given establishment. For accommodations, we base our range on the cheapest price for which a single traveler can stay for one night. For food, we estimate the average amount one traveler will spend in one sitting. The table below tells you what you’ll typically find in Europe at the corresponding price range, but keep in mind that no system can allow for the quirks of individual establishments.

AMSTERDAM

Orientation

OUDE ZIJD

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

NIEUWE ZIJD

SCHEEPVAARTBUURT

CANAL RING WEST

CENTRAL CANAL RING

LEIDSEPLEIN

REMBRANDTPLEIN

JORDAAN

WESTERPARK AND OUD-WEST

MUSEUMPLEIN AND VONDELPARK

DE PIJP

JODENBUURT AND PLANTAGE

Accommodations

OUDE ZIJD

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

NIEUWE ZIJD

SCHEEPVAARTBUURT

CANAL RING WEST

CENTRAL CANAL RING

LEIDSEPLEIN

REMBRANDTPLEIN

JORDAAN

WESTERPARK AND OUD-WEST

MUSEUMPLEIN AND VONDELPARK

DE PIJP

JODENBUURT AND PLANTAGE

Sights

OUDE ZIJD

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

NIEUWE ZIJD

CANAL RING WEST

CENTRAL CANAL RING

JORDAAN

WESTERPARK AND OUD-WEST

MUSEUMPLEIN AND VONDELPARK

DE PIJP

JODENBUURT AND PLANTAGE

Food

OUDE ZIJD

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

NIEUWE ZIJD

SCHEEPVAARTBUURT

CANAL RING WEST

CENTRAL CANAL RING

LEIDSEPLEIN

REMBRANDTPLEIN

JORDAAN

WESTERPARK AND OUD-WEST

MUSEUMPLEIN AND VONDELPARK

DE PIJP

JODENBUURT AND PLANTAGE

Nightlife

OUDE ZIJD

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

NIEUWE ZIJD

SCHEEPVARTBUURT

CANAL RING WEST

CENTRAL CANAL RING

LEIDSEPLEIN

REMBRANDTPLEIN

JORDAAN

WESTERPARK AND OUD-WEST

MUSEUMPLEIN AND VONDELPARK

DE PIJP

JODENBUURT AND PLANTAGE

Arts and Culture

CLASSICAL MUSIC AND OPERA

LIVE MUSIC

THEATER AND COMEDY

FILM

SAUNAS AND SPAS

COFFEESHOPS

Shopping

CLOTHING AND JEWELRY

BOOKS

ANTIQUES AND VINTAGE CLOTHING

MARKETS

SMOKING ACCESSORIES AND MUSIC

Essentials

PRACTICALITIES

EMERGENCY

GETTING THERE

GETTING AROUND

MONEY

SAFETY AND HEALTH

Amsterdam 101

HISTORY

CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

FOOD AND DRINK

HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

Tell someone you’re going to Amsterdam, and you’ll be met with a chuckle and a knowing smile. Yes, everyone will think you’re going for the hookers and weed, but there’s much more to Amsterdam. The Netherlands’s permissive attitudes are the product of a long history of liberalism and tolerance that dates back far before the advent of drug tourism and prostitutes’ unions. A refuge for Protestants and Jews in the 16th and 17th centuries, Amsterdam earned tremendous wealth as the center of a trading empire that stretched from the New York (sorry: New Amsterdam) to Indonesia. The city’s wealth served as an incubator for the artistic achievements of the Dutch Golden Age and the economic and political birth of modern Europe. Today, Amsterdam is a diverse and progressive city as famous for its art museums and quaint canal-side cafes as for its coffeeshops and prostitution.

As you stroll the streets, savor the culture and vitality of this pretty city. You can walk or bike it in a day, moving from the peaceful canals of the Jordaan to the gaudy peepshows of the Red Light District. Old trading money lives on in graceful mansions, while, a few blocks away, repurposed squats house clubs and cinemas. Whether you’re obsessed with van Gogh, want to dance all night at GLBT clubs, or always wanted to learn all about the history of flourescent art, you’re guaranteed to have a good time in Amsterdam.

greatest hits

DRINK THROUGH THE PLEIN. Head to Weber in Leidseplein for a drink or two, then explore the area’s many fun student bars.

LET’S (VAN) GOGH. The Van Gogh Museum will make you empathize with one of the Netherlands’s greatest artists. It’s not hard; he left enough selfportraits behind.

ITS ELECTRIC! Electric Ladyland, the world’s First Museum of Fluorescent Art, will take you on an unforgettably weird trip into the world of glowing rocks and participatory art.

student life

It’s hard to think of a city as friendly to students as Amsterdam. Student scenes and discounts are easy to find, while the wealth of things to do means young people never need constrain themselves to any one place or activity. The Dutch make their cultural institutions extremely accessible to those under 26, offering them a 50% discount on the Museumjaarkaart, which gives unlimited access to most of the country’s museums. Many places actively court student customers. If you’re hungry, try ‘Skek, where you’ll receive a 33% discount by showing a student ID. This might be the first place in the world where people try to borrow IDs from people who are actually under 21.

Of course, one of the most (in)famous attractions in Amsterdam is its nightlife. Fortunately, it doesn’t disappoint and helps drive Amsterdam’s reputation as a great student city. Parties rage nightly in Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, while the central areas like the Red Light District offer a seedier, but uniquely Amsterdam, experience. Load up on student life in Amsterdam, as it simply doesn’t get any better than this.

orientation

The first step to getting a handle on Amsterdam’s geography is to understand its canals. The Singel wraps around the heart of the Centrum, which is made up from east to west of the Oude Zijd, Red Light District, and Nieuwe Zijd. Barely 1km in diameter, the Centrum’s skinny streets overflow with bars, brothels, clubs, and tourists—many of whom won’t leave this area during their whole stay in Amsterdam.

The next set of canals, running in concentric circles, are Herengracht, Keizergracht, and Prinsengracht (hint: gracht means canal, so if you’re looking for a gracht street and you don’t see water, you’re lost). These enclose a somewhat classier area filled with locals, tasty restaurants, and plenty of museums (some very worthwhile, others completely ridiculous). Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein, the twin hearts of Amsterdam’s and party scene, are also nestled here.

To the east of the canal ring are Jodenbuurt and Plantage, the city’s old Jewish quarter. Moving southwest you get to De Pijp, an artsy neighborhood filled with immigrants and hipsters, then Museumplein and Vondelpark, home to the city’s largest park and most important museums. Working back north to the west of the center you’ll find Oud-West and Westerpark, two largely residential neighborhoods that are experiencing a boom in popularity and culture. In between Westerpark and the canal ring is the reliably chic Jordaan. Finally, to the north, in between Jordaan and Centraal Station, lies Scheepvaartbuurt, the city’s old shipping quarter.

OUDE ZIJD

Many will delight in telling you that the Oude Zijd (Old Side) is in fact newer than the Nieuwe Zijd (New Side). That doesn’t really say much about the character of the neighborhood, which is sandwiched between the wild Red Light District and the more relaxed, local-dominated Jodenbuurt and feels like a balance between the two. A mini-kinda-Chinatown stretches along the northern part of Zeedijk, which spills into Nieuwmarkt, a lovely square dominated by a medieval ex-fortress. The bars and cafes lining Nieuwmarkt’s perimeter are popular places for tourists and locals to rub elbows over a beer. Farther south is Kloveniersburgwal, a canal lined with genteel 17th-century buildings (many now occupied by the University of Amsterdam). Fancier hotels and cafes start to replace the tourist-traps and faux-British pubs where the canal hits the Amstel.

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

Once defined by the sailors who frequented Amsterdam’s port, the Red Light District dates back to the 13th century, when business-savvy ladies began to capitalize on the crowds of sex-starved seamen. Today, the only sailors you’ll find are the fake ones in the gay porn and costume shops, but the sex industry still flourishes here. The neighborhood is remarkably well regulated and policed, but this is definitely no Disneyland (though the number of families sightseeing here might surprise you). The Oudezijds Achterburgwal, with its live sex shows and porn palaces, is the Red Light’s major artery. The streets perpendicular to this main thoroughfare are lined with girl-filled windows, stretching to Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Warmoesstraat. Some sex stores and theaters have set up camp on these western streets, but for the most part they provide bars for male tourists to get liquored up before venturing through one of the neon-lit doors. Those not looking for prostitution can still carouse in the Red Light District’s endless sea of bars and coffeeshops. You’ll also find an immense army of the infamous Dutch public urinals, as well as the type of traveler who feels comfortable using them. To see the hedonism at its peak, come on a Friday or Saturday night; for a less overwhelming visit, try strolling through on a weekday afternoon.

NIEUWE ZIJD

Older than the Oude Zijd (but home to a church that’s younger than the Oude Kerk, thus explaining the neighborhoods’ confusing name swap), the Nieuwe Zijd offers a mix of history, culture, and a whole lot of tourists. Damrak, its eastern edge, stretches from Centraal Station to Dam Square and then turns into Rokin. These are some of the busiest streets in the city, full of souvenir shops and shawarma stands; they’re best tackled on foot, as this is the one part of Amsterdam where bikes don’t rule the road. As you head west to Spuistraat, the streets become less crowded and more hip. Kalverstraat, one of the city’s prime shopping streets for centuries, is now home to department stores and international chains. The Nieuwe Zijd is tourist central, full of huge hostels and coffeeshops, and you’re much more likely to run into drug-ready backpackers and elderly tourists taking pictures than any locals.

SCHEEPVAARTBUURT

Scheepvaartbuurt, which would create quite a round on Wheel of Fortune, is Amsterdam’s old shipping quarter. It was traditionally a working-class neighborhood with a lot of immigrants and had a reputation as one of the rougher parts of the city. Nowadays, despite looking difficult to pronounce (it’s actually not that bad… it’s like shape-fart-burt), Scheepvaartbuurt is a pleasant area full of young people and largely devoid of tourists. Remnants of the neighborhood’s salty seadog past—like bronze propellers, anchors, and steering wheels—dot the sidewalks, and you can almost detect a faint whiff of the sea breeze that once blew ships to this shore. There aren’t any real sights, but it’s worth a visit for the local shops that line Haarlemmerplein, which becomes Haarlemmerdijk as you move east toward residential Westerpark.

CANAL RING WEST

The Canal Ring West lies around—spoiler alert—a ring of three canals: the Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht (helpful hint: they go in alphabetical order from the center of the city toward the west). It extends from Brouwersgracht in the north down to the Leidseplein. Chock-full of grand canal houses and quaint houseboats, the neighborhood provides a nice escape from the more crowded Nieuwe Zijd next door. Three major sights draw visitors: the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, and the Homomonument. The Nine Streets, small lanes running from the Prinsengracht to the Singel, south of Raadhuisstraat, are packed with more unique stores and vibrant cafes than we can fit in this guidebook.

CENTRAL CANAL RING

The Central Canal Ring tends to get overshadowed by its neighbors: Museumplein outshines its sights, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein outdo its nightlife, and De Pijp offers a more exciting culinary scene. However, this neighborhood—the area from Leidsestraat to the Amstel, bordered on the north by the Singel and on the south by Weteringschans—enjoys the best parts of its surrounds without suffering their crowds, high prices, and soul- and cash-sucking tourist traps. Utrechtsestraat in particular offers lively cafes, restaurants, and stores, all frequented by a mix of locals and tourists, while the Golden Bend boasts some of Amsterdam’s most impressive architecture. Along the Southern border, Weteringplantsoen and Frederiksplein provide some small but pretty green spaces to stop and rest your feet.

LEIDSEPLEIN

The Leidseplein, an almost exclusively commercial rectangle south of the Central Canal Ring, has a polarizing effect on those who pass through it, inspiring either devotion or disapproval. It’s a busy, toristy part of town that lies in the area between the Nassaukade, Spiegelgracht, Prinsengracht, and Leidsegracht. During the day, the square is packed with street performers and promoters for pub crawls and other assorted evening entertainments. At night, the revelry continues in a bath of neon light and cheap beer. The few streets running through the Leidseplein’s interior are packed with ethnic restaurants, theaters, bars, and clubs. Among the sushi and salsa, there are also a number of very Dutch establishments to be found. Numerous transport connections, including the elusive night bus, make this neighborhood a convenient as well as fun part of town. There are no sights to speak of, though look out for the enigmatic inscription Homo sapiens non urinat in ventum (A wise man does not piss into the wind) on the pillars above Max Euweplein Square. While many Dutch will frown in pity if you spend much of your trip here, the best part about Leidseplein is that some of those frownbearers will secretly be living it up here all weekend, too.

REMBRANDTPLEIN

For our purposes, the Rembrandtplein neighborhood comprises the square itself, plus the area stretching from Herengracht to the Amstel, and the part of Reguliersdwarstraat between Vijzelstraat and the Bloemenmarkt. Once upon a time (a.k.a. the late 17th century), the area now known as Rembrandtplein was home to Amsterdam’s butter market (Botermarkt). The construction of a few hotels in the 20th century brought tourists, and with the tourists came booze (and euro-trance). With a few noteworthy exceptions, food and accommodations in Rembrandtplein often cost more than they’re worth. The real reason to come here is the nightlife. Rembrandtplein’s bars and clubs are as popular and numerous as in the Leidseplein, but tend to be larger and more exclusive, with more locals and GLBT establishments. Europe’s largest LCD TV screen, located above Amsterdam’s largest club, Escape, lights up the square at night. From the middle of the square, a statue of Rembrandt van Rijn looks benevolently down at the madness. When you get tired of bar-hopping, take a rest in nearby Thorbeckeplein, a grassy stretch of trees, named for Johan Rudolph Thorbecke (1798-1872), known colloquially as the first prime minister of the Netherlands. Thorbeckeplein is also the name of a song written by the popular Dutch singer Robert Long about a bittersweet gay love affair.

JORDAAN

Once a staunchly working-class neighborhood, the Jordaan has been transformed into one of Amsterdam’s prettiest and most fashionable areas. It provides a nice escape from the overwhelming hordes of tourists in the Red Light District to its east and has more energy than the more residential Westerpark to the (what do you think?) west. Streets are narrow, canals are leafy, and gabled houses are clumped together in colorful rows. You won’t find any of Amsterdam’s most famous sights here (well, except for Electric Ladyland), but the Jordaan’s restaurants and cafes are not to be missed. Establishments in the northern part of the neighborhood are more often filled with locals, while tourists tend to wander over from Westermarkt into the area near Rozengracht.

WESTERPARK AND OUD-WEST

Westerpark is a residential neighborhood northeast of the main city center; its eponymous park is a serene stretch of green that makes for a pleasant break from the urban jungle. It has a loyal and vocal community—just don’t expect to hear any English—and is becoming increasingly popular among young people and artists, bringing ever-exciting cultural projects and nightlife to its streets. South of Westerpark lies the Oud-West, still dominated by locals but with a few large streets (Kinkerstraat and Overtoom in particular) full of small ethnic cafes and cheap chain stores that keep the area busy. The northern part of Oud-West is a little grungy, but the area farther south—north of Vondelpark, close to the Leidseplein—is probably the most tourist-friendly part of the neighborhood.

MUSEUMPLEIN AND VONDELPARK

Museumplein and Vondelpark lie just south of the main canal ring, close to the city center yet somewhat removed from its hectic nature. Vondelpark is a gorgeous green space with some fine hostels not far from the excitement of Leidseplein and the ethnic eateries of the Oud-West. Museumplein, meanwhile, feels distinctly different from the rest of the city, attracting older and more affluent tourists than the backpacker-swarmed areas to the north. P. C. Hooftstraat is lined with designer stores like Prada and Tiffany. But just because you’re young and on a budget doesn’t mean you should shy away. Museumplein is a large, grassy field lined with some of the best museums in the world—no visit to Amsterdam is complete without a trip to the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. Most of the tourist-friendly action is sandwiched between Stadhouderskade to the north and Van Baerlestraat (which contains the Museumplein tram stop) to the south. Come here to get some space, culture, and class—three things that feel far away when you’re downing Heinekens with the masses in a hostel bar on Warmoesstraat.

DE PIJP

De Pijp (duh pipe) may lack history and sights, but it more than makes up for that with modern culture. A mix of immigrants, students, and artists creates a haven of excellent ethnic restaurants, fun cafes, and relatively inexpensive housing. Albert Cuypstraat hosts the city’s largest open-air market, along with a cluster of cafes, clothing stores, and cheap eats. Intersecting Albert Cuypstraat to the west is Ferdinard Bolstraat, which is home to a high concentration of restaurants and leads to the avoidable Heineken Experience. Still a little bit rough around the edges, De Pijp has all the charm of the Jordaan in a much younger and more urban environment.

JODENBUURT AND PLANTAGE

A high concentration of sights and museums is the real draw here, but don’t overlook the few excellent restaurants and small bars. The open space in these neighborhoods is a great antidote to the over-crowded city center. Jodenbuurt, centered around Waterlooplein, was historically the home of Amsterdam’s Jewish population. Plantage, home to wide streets and numerous parks, stretches around Jodenbuurt to the east. Most commercial establishments can be found on the streets near the Artis Zoo or near the Rembrandt House.

accommodations

When lodging in Amsterdam, chances are you’ll either be staying in a big backpacker hostel or a small hotel in a converted canal house. For the most part, anything you find in the city center is a decent option, but there’s a huge range of value—some rooms are simply small white boxes with a bed, while others are lovingly decorated with attention to cozy details or an interesting theme. To get the most for your euro, consider staying in one of the neighborhoods outside of the main canal ring. If you didn’t come to Amsterdam to find a 24hr. party, avoid hostels in the Red Light District. If you came to get down all day and all of the night, centrally located hostels, often with late-night bars attached, will provide plenty of opportunities to meet fellow travelers with similar missions.

Room rates fluctuate according to season and day of the week. The closer you get to the cold of winter, the cheaper your room will be—except for the days surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, when prices skyrocket. While we don’t advise showing up without having booked a room, especially during the summer, owners with too many unoccupied beds have been known to radically slash prices at less busy times.

OUDE ZIJD

The Oude Zijd isn’t home to as many accommodations as the nearby Red Light District or Nieuwe Zijd, but it’s home to two of the city’s best.

SHELTER CITY

HOSTEL $

Barndesteeg 21

020 625 32 30; www.shelter.nl

Shelter City is a large Christian hostel (with no religious requirements for guests) in the heart of the Oude Zijd. All rooms are single-sex, most with shared baths, a few with ensuites. The beds are a bit reminiscent of those in army barracks, but the well-decorated common spaces, including a cafe, breakfast room, and courtyard garden, encourage guests to make new friends. Shelter City is popular with a wide array of young backpackers, from the quiet museum lover to the rabid party-goer.

Nieuwmarkt. Just off the southwestern edge of the square.

Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. No drugs or alcohol allowed.

Beds €15-34. Discounts available for longer stays.

Security 24hr.

STAYOKAY AMSTERDAM STADSDOELEN (HI)

HOSTEL $

Kloveniersburgwal 97

020 624 68 32; www.stayokay.com/stadsdoelen

Enjoy professional, upbeat staff and some cushy amenities rarely found in hostels: washing and drying machines, a TV room complete with foosball table, and a substantial breakfast including fruit and cornflakes (different varieties of cornflakes!). Rooms are plain and clean in this huge hostel—with over 150 beds, look here when your whole Varsity Marching Band needs a place to stay in Amsterdam. Located in an old canal building in a tranquil part of the Oude Zijd, this hostel is nearer to Jodenbuurt but still just a short walk from Dam Sq., the Red Light District, and Rembrandtplein.

Tram #4, 9, 16, 24, or 25 to Muntplein. Walk down Nieuwe Doelenstraat; Kloveniersburgwal is on the right over the bridge.

Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

Co-ed or single-sex 8- to 20-bed dorms €15-30, depending on season and day; private rooms €39-70. HI discount.

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

Sure, this neighborhood is obsessed with sex, but the high concentration of hotels and hostels on Warmoesstraat means that there is an industry for the less red-blooded traveler as well. These are great places to stash your pack and go unabashedly wild with fellow backpackers. While the prices vary seasonally, rates in the Red Light District also tend to fall drastically in the middle of the week.

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT HOTEL

HOTEL $$$

Warmoesstraat 55

020 624 49 74; www.greenhouse-effect.nl

The Greenhouse Effect has some of the nicest rooms in Amsterdam, definitely miles above average for the Red Light District. Each room is decorated according to its own whimsical theme: there’s 1001 Nights, with gauzy wall hangings and an exotic chandelier; the Sailor’s Cabin, done up ship-shape with deep blue walls and brass accents; and the Outer Space room, with a translucent neon green light-up sink, to name a few. Guests recieve discounts at the bar below and the coffeeshop next door.

From Centraal Station, walk south on Damrak, turn right onto Brugsteeg, and left onto Warmoesstraat.

Breakfast included. Most rooms have ensuite bath. Free Wi-Fi in the bar.

Singles €65-75; doubles €95-110; triples €130.

DURTY NELLY’S HOSTEL

HOSTEL $

Warmoesstraat 115-117

020 638 01 25; www.durtynellys.nl

A popular hostel over a convivial pub, Durty Nelly’s boasts co-ed dorms that are (ironically) very clean. The rooms aren’t terribly spacious, but they feel more cozy than cramped. Guests receive a discount at the pub below.

From Centraal Station, walk south on Damrak, turn right onto Brugsteeg, and right onto Warmoesstraat.

Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. Large lockers available.

4- to 10-bed dorms €25-50.

HOTEL WINSTON

HOSTEL $$

Warmoesstraat 129

020 623 13 80; www.winston.nl

Hotel Winston feels more modern and continental than the other boozing-and-snoozing complexes on the street, thanks in part to the attached sleek bar and trendy club. Always busy, Winston fills up fast with backpackers and young people. It’s not the cheapest place on the block and doesn’t have the most interesting rooms, but it is perfect for larger groups and those who prefer the club scene to the pubs connected to most of Winston’s competitors.

From Centraal Station, walk south on Damrak, turn right onto Brugsteeg, and right onto Warmoesstraat.

Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

Dorms €32-40; singles €73-95; doubles €88-114.

MEETING POINT YOUTH HOSTEL

HOSTEL $

Warmoesstraat 14

020 627 74 99; www.hostel-meetingpoint.nl

Meeting Point’s location near Centraal Station and its low prices make it popular with young backpackers. Be warned: anarchy frequently