The ultimate summer guide to Amsterdam

With a reputation as a liberal, cultured, party city, Amsterdam is naturally a hit with vacationers all year round.

But with an abundance of beautiful squares, sweet cobbled streets, picturesque canals and a rather huge obsession with cycling; the Dutch city is a city best experienced during the summer.

When it comes to Amsterdam, some visitors fixate on the "coffee shop culture" and the famous red light district; sure, these are noteworthy, but that means they're overlooking the huge range of cultural goings on in the city.

So don’t be a dope (pun intended) -- explore the whole city, starting with these nine great things to do in Amsterdam this summer.  

1. Listen to Classical Music on the Canal at Grachtenfestival

There are beautiful sights to be seen all over Amsterdam, but it takes a lot to match the nightly spectacle of classical orchestras playing to thousands of people congregated on the city’s canals. Between August 12 and 21, the Grachtenfestival will attract visitors from all over the world who flock to see musicians and conductors play open-air classical music concerts on Amsterdam’s canals. 

2. Eat 72 Feet in the Sky at REM Eiland Restaurant

Whether or not you have an unrealized dream of going to work on a deep-sea oil rig, a visit to REM Eiland restaurant will give you a taste of what that dream might be like in reality. Perched on a stilted metal structure 72 feet above the IJ River in Amsterdam’s Western Islands, this restaurant and bar is one of the most memorable (and Instagrammable) places to eat in the city. There’s even a rooftop bar that used to be a helipad. 

3. Join the Amsterdam Gay Pride Party

Running for three weekends in a row, Amsterdam’s Gay Pride Festival gives you plenty of opportunity to make your visit coincide with it. On each weekend between July 23 and August 7, one of the world’s wildest Pride Festivals takes over the city with plenty of street parties, live music events, and a must-see Canal Parade.