Best time to visit Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a compact city that rewards walking and cycling, so weather matters more than in a museum-heavy capital. April and May bring the tulips, King's Day on 27 April and the best light, at the cost of the year's highest prices. Summer is mild rather than hot, with long evenings on the canals, but hotels fill fast and the centre is crowded from June to August. September is the sweet spot of warm days and thinner crowds.

Winter is cold, damp and dark, yet the Light Festival from late November to mid-January, the museums and the brown cafés make it a good short-break month if you dress for it. Two things apply all year: the Anne Frank House sells timed tickets online only, released six weeks ahead, and the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are busiest between eleven and three. Book both before you book the flight, especially for April and August.