Is Amsterdam Easy to Walk Around?
Amsterdam is the capital city of Netherlands and is well-known for its beautiful canals, pleasing façade and great energy. If you’re preparing your vacation and are going to this pleasant city, you may be interested whether it is easy to navigate on foot. In this article, I will discuss why Amsterdam has earned the reputation of being pretty walkable city and what you should know to make your stay perfect.
Compact and Flat City Layout
Moreover, another reason is that the city of Amsterdam is compact and has few differences in elevation which makes it easy to walk around. Interestingly, the city center is not very large compared to many other big cities of the world and therefore, it is possible to move around the city on foot. To say the least, this means that some of the sites of high tourist interests are easily accessible and within close proximity of each other including the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, and Dam Square.
In addition, the landscape in Amsterdam is quite flat, and hence the place is easily manageable by almost anyone, not necessarily sporting a good health status. There will be no steep rises or numerous obstacles to overcome if you have to move around the city on foot.
Extensive Pedestrian Infrastructure
It can be said that Amsterdam is quite friendly to pedestrians and cyclists there are many sidewalks in the city. It has well asphalted sidewalks, streets restricted to pedestrian and bicycle lanes, as well as bicycle tracks all over the city. This way, the necessary spaciousness is provided to the space for walkers and they are in no way allowed to encounter cars on foot which makes walking quite safe and enjoyable.
Also, one can note the availability of pedestrian sign and the zebra crossings in the important parts of the city, which identify the places where pedestrians are allowed to walk through the crossing of streets.
Navigating Amsterdam on Foot
There are several things that one needs to know before wandering Amsterdam on foot:
City Maps
It is recommended to use Amsterdam maps that can be easily found in information centers or your accommodation places. These maps indicate some of the important places of interest and some of the advised routes of walking around the park. They could be rather beneficial for any tourist who would rather not spend too much time glued to his/her mobile device while on a trip.
Pedestrian Signage
As in most parts of the world, there are different sign posts that will lead you to common areas of interest within the city of Amsterdam. Reach for references that would show or point to important landmarks, places, and transit points. This is done by signing distances of the walks that may be taken from one place to another so that you can be able to plot yourself better.
Exploring Neighborhoods
Amsterdam and its surrounding area is divided into many neighborhoods that have some kind of difference in character. Although the city center is a good area to start exploring, it is recommended to go deeper into such districts as Jordaan or De Pijp or Oud-West. Walking these areas make it possible to gain a close exposure with the local culture, intent discovering of some parts that may not be easily accessed, come across beautiful cafes, shops and markets.
Additional Tips for Walking in Amsterdam
Here are some more tips to make your walking tour in the city of Amsterdam more interesting:
- Exercise: Due to the strict regulation on the movement during performances, one may find himself or herself walking a lot during the performance, therefore comfortable shoes should be worn at all times.
- Walk around safely: As much as cycling is allows in the city and the railway stations, sidewalks and side walks are pedestrian friendly, one needs to pay attention to traffic lights while crossing the roads.
- on Watch out for cyclists: cycling is popular in Amsterdam so when you will be walking around the city always make sure you are careful with the cyclists especially where these cyclists share road space with pedestrian.
- Drink plenty of water: This is especially important during summer time and therefore, you should ensure that you carry-a water flask every time you embark on a tour.
- They make constant trips to parks, gardens and canal-side sitting areas where one may sit, rest and perhaps explore what the city has to offer.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Amsterdam is a city which can be easily explored on foot. These include small space, increased pedestrian accommodation and low gradient making it suitable for people who engage in walking and those who do it occasionally. Fasten your laces and put on your walking shoes, as it is time to discover the enchantment of Amsterdam – one step on the pavements at a time!
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