Amsterdam has much more to offer than its shocking red light district and its large population of “coffee shops.” What makes Amsterdam a must see city is its contemporary art, its large amount of boutique shops, and heartbreaking history.

The best way to explore this diverse city is definitely by bike. Almost every Dutchman in Amsterdam owns a bike and uses it an their main form of transportation. Even though the city isn’t too big to get around by foot, you can cover much more ground by cycling your way through the canal-lined streets of Amsterdam.

See: If you enjoy art, you can’t miss the museum dedicated to the most influential impressionist artist of all time: Van Gogh. If you are more interested in learning about an important part of Amsterdam’s history, the Anne Frank House Museum will amaze you with an intimate story of the young woman’s tragic life.

Shop: The best shopping is located in the area of Negen Straatjes (“Nine Alleys”). As well as cute cafés and food shops, this area is full of small boutiques ranging from exceptional clothing and shoes, to jewelry, and home furnishings. Make sure to stop in Beaufort Sieraden jewelry shop, Exota, and Spoiled.

Eat: This Dutch city offers a large variety of classy yet affordable restaurants with many of them located in Leidseplein square. In this area, you can wander the streets looking over menus to find the right fit for you. An outstanding restaurant located a short walk away is Gorgeous. This hip restaurant serves a large variety of dishes including succulent truffles, fresh seafood, and mouthwatering desserts. They also offer an intricate wine list.

Nightlife: The Dutch nightlife is quite lively. There are amazing pubs and clubs spread out over most of the city. There are plenty of pubs located in the Leidseplein area, which is a good place to start a night out in Amsterdam. Kamer 401 is a hip and modern bar serving sophisticated cocktails and wines as well as Italian cuisine. For a fancier night out, go to The Mansion dance club where the walls are covered in real gold leaf and the painted ceilings mimic those of the Sistine Chapel. Above the dance floor, they have a restaurant serving a variety of Chinese dishes. If you are feeling daring, take a walk through the red light district. After the sun sets, these streets literally bleed a neon red color, providing a shocking stroll down its narrow glowing streets.

Stay: Chic and Basic is conveniently located near most of the major attractions of the city. Its comfortable atmosphere offers a relaxing space to unwind after a long day of food, shopping and sight-seeing.