Daily Times

If you’re after a cultural city break that’s also budget-friendly, then Amsterdam should be top of your list! With over 96 theatres, 81 museums and 54 art galleries, it comes as no surprise that the Netherlands’ capital has been revealed as the world’s most cultural city in new research conducted by Totallymoney.com.

In fact, it topped a list of 30 cities, including Dublin, Prague, Miami, Paris and Barcelona thanks to its series of historic landmarks, not to mention its neighbourhoods dedicated to showcasing the best of local art and museums.

We take a look at how to make the most of your time in Amsterdam if you’ve only got a few days, from the sights that need to be on your itinerary to the cheapest flights for getting there.

You won’t need to spend hours travelling from one end of the city to the other in order to check out the city’s biggest museums: instead, they are conveniently all situated on the picturesque public square of Museumplein.

There you can discover Amsterdam’s art and history at the iconic Rijksmuseum, check out some modern art at the Stedelijk museum, or finally see Van Gogh’s masterpieces for yourself at the museum named after the legendary artist.

Music-lovers will also want to stop off at the nearby Concertgebouw, a concert hall that has housed some of the world’s biggest musicians and orchestras.

It’s worth taking a stroll through the picturesque streets of Amsterdam’s Jordaan quarter, home to countless art galleries, restaurants and unique speciality-shops.

If you’re visiting on a Monday stop off by the Noordermarkt’s flea market for incredible bargains and hidden treasures waiting to be unearthed, while foodies will want to explore the impressive farmer’s market that takes place on Saturdays.

To really immerse yourself in Amsterdam’s culture, it’s worth going on a cycling tour along the city’s breathtaking canals – you’ll get to take in the sights while also seeing how locals go about day-to-day. The canals are also beautiful at night – we suggest a post-dinner walk to see the bridges when they’re lit up.

The Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam’s biggest landmarks, where you can see where the writer and her family lived while they were in hiding, as well as poignant artefacts including her world-famous diary. The queues are notoriously long, so we recommend booking your tickets ahead of time to save you hours of your day.

For art enthusiasts, it’s well worth a trip to the Rembrandt House and Museum, where the world-famous painter lived for almost twenty years. The 17th century interior has been reconstructed but you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you learn about his life and impressive career.

History buffs will also want to take a peek inside the Begijnhof, one of the oldest inner courts of Amsterdam. Initially a Beguinage, today it’s home to the site of the English Reformed Church. You’ll be taken aback at how tranquil the picturesque court is amidst the hustle and bustle of the city!

easyJet flies from Gatwick, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol to Amsterdam up to seven days a week, with prices starting from £19.24 per person

British Airways offer direct flights from London with prices starting from £38 each way, departing in November 2017. Click here for more booking details.

FlyBe offer direct flights departing from airports including Birmingham, Manchester and London City.