Amsterdam Far more than red lights and cannabis smoking

Steve Race visited the city and said that despite his mother's initial worries, the first time he visited he "spent a few hours at the Van Gough museum, had a look at Rembrand's house, cycled round the canalside streets and [ate] Dutch pancakes".

On his second trip, however, he decided to skip the traditional way of getting there, by plane, and took a cruise there, turning the journey into part of the holiday.

On arrival, there is much more to do in the city than many would presume if you only heard rumours, with the option to simply explore being the best way of spending time in Amsterdam.

The city's rules on bikes make it very easy to travel around, meaning you can go from one side of the city to another in an afternoon should the mood take you, and you can travel around the galleries, canals and cafes that the cultural European destination has to offer.

Mr Race says of the city: "There's so much to see and do, in what is only a small city, that one or two days is barely enough, but it will give you a taste and probably persuade you to return again and again."

Compare European Ferry prices and book online