City center

Canal Ring

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historical district is among the wealthiest of the country with plenty of Dutch celebrities owning property here. Rembrandt Square and Leiden Square are the city's prime nightlife spots.

Jordaan

A traditional working class area gone upmarket with plenty of art galleries, hip boutiques and happening restaurants. Also includes the Haarlemmerbuurt and the Western Islands.

Plantage

Intended to be an extension of the Canal Ring, lack of demand made this into a leafy area with lots of greenery, botanical gardens and Artis Zoo.

Outer districts

South

A trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to the Museum Quarter. It's also recommended to chill with a bottle of wine in the Vondelpark at a warm day, or to go hunting for bargains at the Albert Cuyp Market. It is the most popular area for accommodation as rates are considerably cheaper than in the city center, but you can get there within 15 minutes.

West

A vast suburban area that can be divided in the Old West and the New West. The Old West is a charming area built in the 19th century. The New West dates from after World War II and often catches newspaper headlines for crime; urban renewal is underway to improve living conditions in the area.

North

North is a newly-built suburb, at the northern side of the IJ estuary. East of motorway A10 lies Waterland, a protected polder area similar to the Waterland and Zaan Region. It's a great way to explore the traditional Dutch countryside (by bicycle of course!).

East

The East is a large residential area that mostly evolves around the Oosterpark. IJburg is also interesting for its modern architecture and artificial beach.

Bijlmer

An exclave of Amsterdam, separated from the rest of the city by Diemen and Duivendrecht, the Bijlmer was foreseen as a town of the future for middle-class families. It turned into a lower-class residential district home to people of over 150 nationalities, often associated with crime and robberies. It has improved remarkably the last years, but it still is an area only for adventurous travelers (and football fans).