Amsterdam – A beautiful city to explore in winter

Amsterdam, the beautiful capital city of the Netherlands, is absolutely a perfect destination to explore round the year. But exploring the city during the winter months has its own rewards. The city is liveliest during this period with scores of tourists descending to absorb all the fun and joy that usually comes with this season. The temperature start dropping with the herald of the winter and it’s always the best time to indulge in ice skating, visiting museums, or simply relaxing in warm, cozy cafes along with the friends.

It is often seen that the tourist arrivals from different parts of the world increases during the months starting from October through December every year. It is therefore no wonder that this magnificent city is becoming one of the hottest escapades in the winter. Here are some of the important reasons that would prompt you to plan a vacation in Amsterdam during the winter months.

Airfares are cheaper
Other than popular festivals like Christmas and New Year’s Eve, it pays to book flights to Amsterdam. The flights are usually quite cheaper when traveling to the city during winter and fall seasons. Be alert and constantly look out for the best airfares deals, and book your tickets much in advance. There are many other ways to get the cheapest flights. Apart from booking in advance, consider making super early departure or opt for a late departure or think about a mid-week departure. This will help you in getting lower airfares and enable you to save and spend more money on your vacation.

Sumptuous winter cuisines
The winter season in the city means you can look forward to sumptuous winter cuisines. The traditional Dutch dish stamppot makes a strong comeback becoming a staple in the city with the fall in temperatures. Consider savoring this hearty seasonal dish. The recipe consisting of bacon, onions, carrots, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and Dutch smoked sausage is undoubtedly the perfect thing for warming you up in the chilly season. For those looking for even something lighter, there are varied kinds of winter soups to keep you warm.

Attend fascinating annual Museumnacht
There is still another fascinating aspect as to why you should plan for your vacation in the city. Though the sun sets earlier in the season, you will however find your hands full with activities of various kinds as the evening approaches. You have made a right decision to visit the city. The fascinating Museumnacht or Museum Night is ready to welcome you. This annual event is usually held in November on the first Saturday. Over 40 museums in the city open their doors to the visitors and can be accessed within a single night only. These museums are open from 7 pm and can be visited until 2 am. This is an exciting and interesting event in itself. This remarkable cultural event is marked by unusual tours, workshops, poetry readings and enthralling DJ performances. The museums are decked up and the city looks dazzling.
 
Visit traditional brown cafes
It would be a great idea to visit the traditional Dutch pub, also called bruin café or brown café. This is a favorite place for the local Amsterdammers. They come here to sip local beer and chit chat. So, why not consider relaxing in a cozy bar along with your friends and get a taste of the authentic beer. Visit the In ‘t Aepjen, which is among the oldest brown cafés in the city. Sip the local jenever complemented with bitterballen. It’s an enjoyable experience. Heading to In de Wildeman would also be the perfect thing to do. You will be offered an extensive beer menu. With 250 bottled beers and 18 beers on tap, you will be more than satisfied with all that is offered at this particular bruin café.

Get treats from Sinterklaas
With the arrival of November, the Dutch people are in a festive mood. This month heralds the festive holiday season with the traditional arrival of Sinterklaas. The white-haired bishop resembling a skinny version of Santa Claus comes from Spain. He makes rounds of the city of Amsterdam meeting his umpteen fans and delivering treats to the kids. This is also the best time to indulge in some fabulous Christmas shopping in the many Christmas markets.

By now it must have dawned upon you that visiting Amsterdam during the fall and winter is the perfect idea for your vacation. The city is full of adventures during the season and offers a truly magical experience.