Amsterdam has a mild, damp climate but the weather can be variable with temperature extremes even in summer. Spring and autumn especially bring changeable, unsettled weather. In the winter months clear, frosty days are the norm, the coldest months being December to March. Rain is likely all year round. The best time to visit Amsterdam is spring (April to May), when the famous tulips are in bloom.

Amsterdam boasts a huge variety of restaurants for travellers looking to spice up their taste adventure. The options, spread out over more than 1, 000 venues, range from French cuisine to Indonesian take away and, naturally, there are plenty of authentic Dutch alternatives (characterised by the use of smaller meats such as sausage and an abundance of vegetables). Amsterdam has a very strong tradition of cafeteria dining, including 'brown cafés', so named because of the dark, nicotine-stained walls and wooden fittings. In this cozy places, you can sample the local beers alongside staples such as steaks, satay and salads: a hearty and cheap dining option. The array of cafés means travellers can enjoy filling meals on even the tightest budget. Chinatown (along Zeedijk, close to Nieuwmarkt) also offers a number of reasonably priced Asian restaurants. At the other end of the scale, there are some serious fine-dining options where you'll pay up to EUR80-EUR100 a head.

While in Amsterdam, try some of the local snacks: savoury pancakes (or pannekoek), pickled herring sold at brightly-coloured fish stalls at canal intersections, frikadel(a snack sausage served with mayonnaise, ketchup and onions), and small windmill-shaped cookies called speculaasthat are traditionally dipped in coffee. Don't forget to look for the 'Vlaamse frieten' signs to try chips/fries the Dutch way: with mayonnaise!

While breakfast will traditionally be served up until 10am, lunch between 12pm and 2pm and dinner around 5pm to 8pm, the Dutch prove to be versatile in both tastes and preferred eating hours, with several restaurants and cafés operating into the wee hours of the morning. This is especially true on the city's vibrant Leidseplein and Rembrandtsplein squares dedicated to late night entertainment. Service is renowned for being poor in Amsterdam, as a gratuity is often included and waiting staff do not rely on tips for their salary. If you do receive good service, however, it is polite to round up the bill to the nearest euro. If you do tip, it is customary to leave it in cash rather than including it on a credit card payment.

The central area of Amsterdam is fairly compact and easy to get around on foot. When going further a field, there is a good, inexpensive network of trams, buses and metro lines that all converge at Centraal Station, as well as canal boats and a free ferry service across the IJ Canal. The GVB public transport office at Centraal Station has route maps and a guide to the ticketing system, which is based on zones with the same ticket valid on buses, metros and trams. The I Amsterdam Card offers unlimited transport on buses, trams and metro for up to three days including massive discounts on museums, canal cruises and other attractions. A one-day pass costs EUR39 and a three-day pass costs EUR59. Another type of travel pass is the Strippenkart; a strip gets stamped every time one boards and remains valid for unlimited transfers within an hour (eight-strip day card: EUR6.40; 15-strip card: EUR6.90; 45-strip card: EUR20.40). After midnight there are night buses that run from Centraal Station to most parts of the city. Taxis are among the most expensive in Europe and renting a car or driving one's own to Amsterdam is not recommended; it is better to park it outside the city and use public transport to get into the centre and around. An ideal way to get around is the Dutch way - by bicycle. There are several rental agencies around town (about EUR7 daily or EUR30 weekly), but be aware that theft is common and make sure that both the frame and a wheel is locked to something fixed and solid.

Some say Amsterdam is more geared for adults and not quite appropriate for children, and they may be right, but behind the red lights and coffee shops lie an abundance of activities and attractions to enthrall younger visitors. Thankfully the Red Light District is relatively small, and parents won't have much trouble steering their children clear of this area. Active families will enjoy taking a stroll along the canal walkways, admiring the flower-decked houseboats, or rollerblading in Vondel Park. Better still, since the city is so small, compact and cycle-friendly, hiring a bicycle and pedalling around round the quaint neighbourhoods and canals of Amsterdam is a highly rewarding activity. For a more relaxing day out, pack a picnic and head to one of the city's fabulous parks. Plenty of other free attractions abound, but the more popular ones involve a bit of money, such as trips to the zoo, farms, museums and theme parks. When the rain comes, don't fret. There are plenty of indoor activities for children to enjoy come rain or shine, such as indoor playgrounds and cooking schools. With so many exciting and action-packed kids attractions to enjoy, children will love Amsterdam just as much as adults.

Dutch is the official language. English is widely spoken. Fries (as well as Dutch) is spoken by the people of Friesland province.

Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the official currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional charges take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travellers cheques can be changed at banks, post offices or bureaux de change (usually indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but bureaux de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most are open 24 hours a day.

Famed for its wild nightlife, Amsterdam offers visitors something quite unique when the sun goes down. A mixture of all sorts of entertainment, Amsterdam is sure to have something for everyone, from the coffee bars and clubs to the pubs, drugs and women - the priority of which is up to the individual.

Amsterdam's nightlife wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for the infamous Red Light District, which serves up its own unique brand of entertainment along the bustling canal-lined streets. Many tourists opt to simply wander through and gawk at the women posing in shop windows and insistent touts without stopping to sample their wares. Those who do should stick to main streets and beware of pickpockets and other petty criminals. Women should not walk through the Red Light District alone, though pairs and groups will be fine.

Amsterdam is also famous for the legal use of marijuana, which is available in coffee shops. The shops, instantly recognizable by their drug-related names, will sell up to 0.2 ounces (5g) of weed or hash, which may be smoked in the coffee shops or at many nightclubs, though officially not in public places. The coffee shops do not serve alcohol.

Amsterdam has literally thousands of cafes, bars and nightclubs, which means there is something for every taste. A popular way to start the night is in a brown café, where you can unwind from the day with beers, snooker, and live music. Some of the best, centred around the Prinsengracht, have been there since the days of Rembrandt.

The mainstream nightlife centres round Leidseplein, where you can find all the most popular bars, restaurants and clubs which, although not as big and flashy as their rivals in London and New York, are still the perfect place to showcase your dance moves. And since Leidseplein never really closes, revellers can literally dance the night away. The weekend starts on Thursday night so make sure you get enough sleep in preparation for a big weekend. The trendier clubs usually impose a strict dress code and open at 10pm and close by law at 4am during the week, while on weekends, clubs close at 5am.

Amsterdam has a thriving gay and lesbian scene, with many clubs clustered along Halvemaansteeg, Reguliersdwarsstraat, and Kerkstraat.

Live music is very popular in Amsterdam and jazz is a favourite with the locals, as many of the world's great jazz legends have settled here. The city offers some fun jazz clubs such as Bourbon Street Jazz and Blues Club on Leidsekruisstraat. You can also catch rock and pop acts in many venues, while bigger concerts take place at the Koninklijk Theater Carré, Heineken Music Hall, and the huge Amsterdam Arena.

For a more cultured option, there are a number of highly-regarded orchestras that perform in a number of venues. You can also catch performances by the National Ballet and Netherlands Opera. There are many theatres that perform shows in both English and Dutch, including De Balie, Felix Meritis, Theater Frascati, and the Vondelpark Open-Air Theater.

Being the bustling epicentre of Netherlands trade, Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan city hosting all of the world's leading brands at shopping malls spread across the city. There is an especially impressive variety of fashion and jewellery stores at these centres.

What is distinctive about shopping in Amsterdam is the opportunity for informal shopping on a large scale. The main shopping streets are between Central Station and the Leidseplein, including Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, and Leidsestraat. Some of these areas can be rather seedy however, so for a more upmarket experience shoppers can head to PC Hooftstraat Street. The Nine Streets area near the main canals hosts a plethora of market stalls selling curios, second-hand clothing, antiques and other miscellany. There are also a number of unique shops in the Jordaanwhere you can buy popular Amsterdam souvenirs such as wooden clogs or tulips, blue and white Delft china, and Dutch football paraphernalia.

There are a number of street markets in Amsterdam, and while most concentrate on food, there are a few with interesting curios for tourists. The largest is Albert Cuyp, while the Dappermarkt behind the zoo has been voted the best in the Netherlands. Another highlight for Amsterdam is the floating Bloemenmarkt or 'flower market', in which permanently docked barges market exotic flowers from around the world in the Singel Canal.

The city also has more formal shopping experiences, and department stores and shopping malls like The Bee Hive, Magna Plaza, and Kalvertoren.

Most stores in Amsterdam are open until 6pm, with later hours on Thursday and earlier ones on Saturday.

Not only is Amsterdam the capital of the Netherlands, but it is also the largest and one of the most historic cities in the country (and in Europe). Flat, with a clear, crisp atmosphere, Amsterdam is perfectly navigable by bicycle, the transportation of choice for many Amsterdammers, or on foot. Bicycles are easily available for rent and the city's historic canals are well worth a sightseeing ride.

A culture of art appreciation pervades Amsterdam. Two of the city's museums are each dedicated to a world famous Dutch painters, the Van Gogh Museum and Rembrandt House. The Rijksmuseum hosts a collection of 17th century Dutch artists including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals. Keeping with the rich history of the city, the very home in which Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during the 1942 occupation is open to visitors. The girl's famous diary is preserved and on display. Popular among tourists is Amsterdam's Red Light District, where legalised prostitution and the sale of marijuana draw revellers perhaps not used to such activities back home.

Travellers wanting to make the most of their Amsterdam experience might want to invest in an I Amsterdam card, which allows for free use of public transport as well as discounts on restaurants, museums and attractions. The card is available at several Tourist Offices of Amsterdam, or online at www.iamsterdam.com.