Big but tasty portions

O Thanasis

There are a few tables outside and inside, of course. They're almost always crowded, especially at lunchtime, so you have to be patient to get your order. The dishes are great and affordable.

Favourite Dish: anything grilled

Address: 69 Mitropoleos St, Monastiraki

Working hours: 8.30am-2.30am

Phone: +30 21 0324 4705

Ammos music tavern

This tavern offers you the possibility to try Greek food and drinks, listen to live Greek music, or even dance with the locals.
 

Favourite Dish: chicken sticks

Address: L. Poseidonos 64, Alimos

Directions: south suburb

Phone: +30 21 0981 7980

Greece on a plate

This unique restaurant called Eleas Gi, with an old grocery shop and a corridor-cellar, stands on a hill and offers a beautiful view over Athens.

 

The name of the restaurant means 'the land of the olive tree' and everything here is Greek olive oil.

Favourite Dish: Here you can choose between a 14- and a 24-flavour option. It's too much, no matter which 1 you choose!

They prepare the eggplant salad right before your eyes.

Address: Olimpionikon 2-8, Kifisia

Directions: northern Athens

Phone: +30 210 6200005

Simply the best!

This is the best hotel I've ever stayed in!

There's a spacious lobby with comfortable armchairs and a bar.

All the rooms have a key card access. They are very clean, with TV and telephone. It's needless to say that the beds are comfortable. There are different amenities in the bathroom: a hair dryer, soap, shampoo, shower cap, slippers, sewing kit, etc.

the room

the bathroom

Unique Qualities: Buffet breakfast, with who-knows-how-much delicious food, is served at the top floor with the stunning view over the Acropolis and the rest of the city. It's just amazing!

restaurant

a view

Address: 10 Alexandras Ave, Athens, Attica, 10682, Greece

Directions: the National Archaeological Museum's just round the corner

Phone: +30 210 8894 500

Website: http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-athens

The oldest spa in Romania

The oldest spa in Romania, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, once very beautiful resort visited by the emperors of Austria, has, unfortunately, been turned into a ruin. It's a real shame. Something has to be done, and fast!

Dam Square

Listen to the sounds of the famous square! 

Hostelle: Ladies only!

This is a very cute hostel, beautifully decorated and clean.

My niece and I spent only 2 nights here this July. We stayed in a standard 6-bed dorm, the walls of which had handmade drawings of fashion girls.

lounge & breakfast area

common area

Unique Qualities: There's an equipped kitchen, a breakfast room where each chair has a different film print on it, a bookcase with different tour guides, board games and DVDs, and a very own Hello Kitty toilet!

Hello Kitty toilet

glamour toilet

Address: Frankemaheerd 2

Directions: Close to Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena Station & A'dam Poort mall. Cross the square, turn left at the Lidl, then walk under the freeway, crossing a bicycle path.

Other Contact: info@hostelle.com

Phone: + 31 (0) 20 7703504

Price: US$20-40

Website: http://www.hostelle.com/index.php

Magna Plaza - The shopping mall

the shoppers kingdom

This Renaissance building was designed by Peters at the end of the 19th century.

For some time this was the General Post Office, but in 1990 it was turned into the shopping mall.

Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182

Directions: behind the Royal Palace

Website: http://www.magnaplaza.nl/#

NH Doelen Hotel

This is another hotel in the city centre.

Address: Nieuwe Doelenstraat 24 (ex Golden Tulip Doelen)

Price: US$80-120

Website: http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/the-netherlands/amsterdam/nh-doelen.html

Die Port van Cleve

This hotel is in the heart of the city.

Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 176 -180

Website: http://www.dieportvancleve.com/

The former stock exchange

the entrance

This long red-bricked building to the left of the Damrak used to be the Stock Exchange. It was built between 1898 and 1903, and named after its architect, a pupil of Cuypers.

This imposing building is considered a milestone in modern Dutch architecture.

Address: Beursplein 1

Phone: +31-20-5304141

Website: http://www.beursvanberlage.nl

The leading Catholic church

Sint Nicolaaskerk

The church was built in 1887. Its two towers and large dome can be easily seen from every part of Amsterdam.

Directions: The Prins Hendrikkade canal

Website: http://www.ns.nl

The authentic monument

When you step out the train, this is the first tourist attraction you’ll see in Amsterdam - the Central Station.

This monumental building is in fact a masterpiece by Pieter Cuypers, the architect who also designed the Rijksmuseum. It was built at the end of the 19th century and was erected on three artificial islands.

Website: http://www.ns.nl

The Concert Hall

a view from the park

This elegant building was built in the 19th century, thanks to the six Dutch businessmen, who wanted to prove to everyone that the inhabitants of Amsterdam have the knowledge of art, and that the Dutch musicians can play.

The first concert was held in 1888 by the new National Orchestra, directed by Willem Kes. Great artists such as Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra or Frank Zappa held their concerts here.

Conferences, exhibitions, business meetings and political conventions are also held here.

Address: Concertgebouwplein 2 - 6

Phone: +31-20-6718345

Website: http://www.concertgebouw.nl/

The Tower

This large tower was built in 1620, by the architect Hendrick de Keyser, on the place where one of the oldest gates of Amsterdam used to stand.

Munttoren

Mint Tower

Today it houses a Delft ceramic shop, ‘De Porceleyne Fles.’

Address: Muntplein

Directions: From the Dam square follow Kalverstraat

The statue of Rembrandt

The statue, sculptured by Royer, was erected here in 1876. This was the reason why the square changed its name.

The square itself, full of cafés, restaurants, night-clubs and discos, is usually crowded by day and noisy at night. 

Address: Rembrandtplein

The waxworks museum

This museum offers a different way of finding out more about the history of Holland. Here, you can see how people lived during the 17th century, aka the Golden Century, meet Rembrandt himself, or some other famous artists.

There is a beautiful view of the Dam from the window on the fourth floor.

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday 10.00 am – 6.30 pm (entrance closes - 5.30 pm)

Prices:

Adult €23,00

60+ €20,00

Children 5 - 15 €17,50

Children up to 5 Free

Groups or family bookings

Pack A (2 adults, 2 kids and a Madame Tussauds Guidebook) €70,00

Pack B (2 adults, 3 kids and a Madame Tussauds Guidebook) €82,50

Address: Dam 20

Phone: +31-20-5230623

Website: http://www.madametussauds.nl

The Coronation Church

This is where the Kings and Queens of The Netherlands are crowned, and where numerous famous Dutchmen are buried.

The basilica was built in the 15th century, and has been badly damaged in several fires since then.

The real jewel of the church is the pulpit that took its creator 13 years to complete. It shows the four evangelists surrounded by the images of Hope, Charity, Faith, Justice, Prudence and Strength.

Conferences, exhibitions and debates are held here.

Address: Dam 34-38

Directions: corner of the Dam

Phone: +31-20-6386909

Website: http://www.nieuwekerk.nl

The Royal Palace

This imposing building dominates the famous square. It was built in the 17th century, according to Van Campen’s designs, and served as the city’s seat of government for over a century. It is now used for official ceremonies.

Koninklijk Paleis

On the façade, you can see numerous allegorical sculptures by Artus Quellijn, and inside, there are several Halls, the magnificent Citizen’s Hall, where the present Queen Beatrix celebrated her wedding in 1966, the Minor Affairs of State Hall and the Judgement Hall, where judges used to meet to pronounce death sentences.

The palace is open from mid-June to mid-September.

Address: Dam 1

Directions: about 10 minutes from the Central Station

Phone: +31-20- 6204060

Website: http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl

The home of Van Gogh's work

This is the main reason I decided to visit Amsterdam. I’m simply fascinated by the work of this genius... and being so close to the paintings like Irises, Wheatfield with Crows, The Potato-eaters, The Harvest, Sunflowers, The bedroom or Self-portrait with Felt Hat is an extraordinary experience.

In this world’s largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh there are more than 200 paintings, including many very famous masterpieces, about 500 drawings and over 700 personal letters (occasionally put on view). All paintings are arranged in chronological order, so one can witness the painter’s development during the last ten years of his life.

There are also the works of art by other 19th-century painters and sculptors, who have something in common with Van Gogh’s work.

The original building, designed by Gerrit Rietveld and opened in 1973, holds permanent exhibitions, while the new, elliptic shaped wing, designed by the Japanese architect, Kisho Kurokawa, and opened in 1999, was built for temporary exhibitions.

the entrance

a view from the park

Opening hours:

Daily 10-18, Fridays 10-22

Admission fee for adults! (it's possible to order the tickets online to avoid standing in queues)

It is not allowed to take photographs or film; large bags and umbrellas must be left at the cloakroom.

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7

Directions: tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 12, or bus numbers 145, 170 and 172

Other Contact: info@vangoghmuseum.nl

Phone: +31 (0) 20 570 52 00

Website: http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl