Old Centre Amsterdam

Compact enough to be explored on foot, Old Centre Amsterdam is divided between the Old side (Oudezijde), dating back to the 13th Century, and the New Side (Nieuwezijde), constructed a few centuries later. In the Old Side, you'll find De Wallen, also known as the Red Light District, Europe's capital of legalized prostitution. Here the Ladies of the Night (or day...this district never sleeps) stand in the windows, advertising their goods. You'll also find a plethora of "coffee shops," which sell marijuana rather than espresso drinks. Ironically, Oude Kerk (old church) stands at the entrance to De Wallen, the oldest church in Amsterdam, consecrated in 1306. The church features gorgeous stained glass windows and three pipe organs.

On the "new side," you'll want to explore Dam Square, where the Royal Palace and Nieu Kirk (New Church, consecrated in 1408). There's also the Nieuwmark, an area known as Amsterdam's Chinatown, where you'll find Europe's largest Buddhist temple, Fo Guang Shan He Hua.

Finally, the Old Jewish Quarter (Jodenhoek) in the Southern section of the old town is a reminder of Amsterdam's large former Jewish population that disappeared during the war. The Jewish Historical Museum paints a picture of this once vibrant community. The beautiful Portuguese Synogogue is the only one of the original five synogogues to remain and is open to visitors.

Looking for more ideas? Check out our quick rundown of the top 10 Amsterdam attractions.