Chowpatty Beach

Also known as Girgaon Chaupati Beach or Girgaum Chaupati Beach, Chowpatty Beach is situated in the south of Mumbai and adjoins Marine Drive.

Although it’s relatively quiet during the day, and isn’t a suitable place to sunbathe or to swim, Chowpatty Beach comes alive in the evenings. You’ll find it lined with street entertainers and vendors, and there are kiosks selling local food, such as bhelpuri, a dish made from puffed rice, potatoes and tamarind sauce.

A number of festivals are held at Chowpatty Beach throughout the year. One of the main festivals to be held there is Nariel Purnima (the Coconut Festival), which is held in August. This festival marks the end of the monsoon season, and fishermen decorate boats and break coconuts against their bows before setting them afloat, in order to honour the Gods and ask for protection whilst they are fishing.

Another annual festival held at Chowpatty Beach is Ganesh Chaturthi (also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi). This ten day Hindu festival is celebrated throughout India and is usually held during August or September (during the Hindu month of Bhaadra). It celebrates the elephant-headed god, Ganesha and, on the final day of the festival in Mumbai, giant statues of Ganesha are paraded through the streets and down to Chowpatty Beach, where they are immersed into the sea in a ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan.

Juhu Beach

Juhu Beach is situated in the suburb of Juhu, to the north of Mumbai’s city centre, on the edge of the Arabian Sea, and is popular with both locals and tourists. Like Chowpatty Beach, it’s not a great place to sunbathe or swim, but you’ll find plenty of street vendors and entertainers here, and its famous for its food stalls. The beach is busiest in the evenings and at weekends.

Juhu is one of the most affluent of the city’s suburbs and a number of Indian celebrities live in the area, and you’ll notice some particularly luxurious apartments and hotels at the southern end of the beach.

Other Mumbai Beaches

Other beaches in and around Mumbai include Madh Island Beach, Versova Beach and Marvé Beach.

A number of  airlines operate flights to Mumbai, and you’ll find a wide range of hotels and guest houses within the city. Most of Mumbai’s beaches are accessible from the city centre by public transport, taxi or hire car.

Image: Toksave

The Lost Gardens of Heligan (Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall)

The Lost Gardens of Heligan were developed between 1766 and 1914, but after World War I they fell into disrepair and became overgrown. They were rediscovered by Tim Smit (who was also responsible for setting up The Eden Project) and John Willis (a descendant of the Tremaynes, the family who originally owned Heligan) in 1990, and the gardens were cleared and restored.

There are a number of different areas for you to explore: the Northern Gardens, where you can see the Vegetable Garden, the Walled Flower Garden, the Melon Yard and the Pleasure Grounds; the Jungle, which is home to palm trees, banana plants and bamboo; Horsemoor Hide, the centrepiece of Heligan’s Wildlife Project, where you can see video footage of some of the estate’s wildlife; and the Wider Estate, which includes the Lost Valley and Heligan’s Ancient Woodlands.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan cover more than 200 acres of land, so you should set aside a whole day if you want to explore them properly. The site also has a tearoom, a bakery, a plant centre and a shop, where you can buy souvenirs, books and even seeds, so that you can grow your own fresh flowers at home.

The gardens are open daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between the 1st of April and the 30th of September (last tickets available at 4.30 p.m.), and from 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. between the 1st of October and the 31st of March (last tickets available at 3.30 p.m.). Admission fees apply.

Trevarno Estate and Gardens (Crowntown, Near Helston, Cornwall)

The Trevarno Estate has more than 35 acres of gardens, which have been restored and were opened to the public in 1998. Highlights include the Italian Garden, the Bluebell Woods, the Bog Garden, the Grotto and Rockery, and the Walled Garden. The grounds also include Trevarno Lake, where you can see a Victorian boathouse.

If you visit the estate between January and May, you should also be able to see the daffodils in the National Daffodil Collection Showgarden in bloom. There are more than 2,500 varieties of daffodil within the collection.

Other attractions on the Trevarno Estate include the National Museum of Gardening, a Soap Museum and a Vintage Toy Collection. There is also a herd of reindeer on the estate.

Trebah Garden (Mawnan Smith, Near Falmouth, Cornwall)

Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical garden situated near Falmouth, on the banks of the Helford Estuary, on the south coast of Cornwall. Originally a 19th century pleasure garden, Trebah Garden fell into disrepair after World War II, but it was rediscovered by Tony and Eira Hibbert when they bought the house in 1981. They restored the garden and opened it to the public in 1987.

The ravine garden leads down to a private beach and is filled with plants and trees from around the world, including magnolias, camellias, bamboo and banana plants. There is a visitor centre on site, the Hibbert Centre, which houses a cafe, a gallery shop, and a garden shop.

Trebah Garden is open daily throughout the year between 10 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. (last entry is at 4.30 p.m.). Admission fees apply.

The Eden Project (Bodelva, St. Austell, Cornwall)

The Eden Project is Cornwall’s must-see attraction for gardeners or anyone interested in ecology or the natural world. Constructed in a disused china clay quarry just outside of St. Austell, The Eden Project is now one of the leading tourist attractions in the South-West of England.

It’s particularly famous for its giant greenhouses, or “biomes”, which are designed to replicate particular climates. The Rainforest Biome includes 20 displays, which together feature 1,129 different plant species from the main rainforest areas: South America; South East Asia; West Africa; and the tropical oceanic islands. The Mediterranean Biome includes  1,015 different species of plant which are native to some of the regions of the world with Mediterranean climates: the Mediterranean; South Africa; and California.

You can also explore The Core (The Eden Project’s education centre) and the Outdoor Biome (the gardens). The Outdoor Biome covers 13 hectares of land and contains 1,890 plant species. There are also regular special events held at the site.

The Eden Project is open daily (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Check the Eden Project website for opening hours. Admission fees apply.

Image: Stevekeiretsu

Streets of America

Streets of America Rides and Attractions

There are four rides and attractions in the Streets of America area of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park: Muppet Vision 3D; the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure; the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show; and the Studio Backlot Tour.

Muppet Vision 3D is a 17 minute long 3D movie, which features audio-animatronic characters. It stars characters such as Kermit, Miss Piggy and the Swedish Chef, together with a new computer-generated Muppet, Waldo C. Graphic.

Toddlers will love the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure attraction. It’s a themed play area, where kids can run through 30 ft tall blades of grass, see giant insects, climb on a huge spider’s web and explore mazes.

The Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show is a 33 minute long vehicle stunt show, in which you’ll see how movie car chases are filmed. The show features modified Opel stunt cars, trucks and motorcyles driven by stunt drivers in a high adrenaline performance, and you’ll even see stunts performed on jet skis, as well as pyrotechnic displays.

The final attraction in Streets of America is the Studio Backlot Tour. The first section of this attraction is a walking tour, but you’ll then transfer into a tram for the second part of the tour. You’ll get to see how sea storms are filmed in movies, take a tour through a props warehouse and experience movie-style recreations of an earthquake and a flash flood in the “Catastrophe Canyon” section of this 35 minute long ride.

Dining in the Streets of America

There are three dining venues in the Streets of America area of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park: Pizza Planet Arcade; Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano; and the Studio Catering Co.

Pizza Planet Arcade and the Studio Catering Co. are counter service restaurants. Pizza Planet Arcade serves individual pizzas, salads, cookies and a range of drinks, whilst the Studio Catering Co’s menu includes sandwiches, wraps, desserts and drinks.

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is an Italian themed, table service restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner. Its menu includes dishes such as crispy calamari, charred sirloin steak, flatbreads, goat cheese-filled ravioli and tiramisu.

Shopping in the Streets of America

There are a number of shops in the Streets of America section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so you can stock up on souvenirs to take back to your  hotel or hire car. These include: the Stage 1 Company Store, where you can buy toys and Muppets themed souvenirs; the Writer’s Stop, where you can stop for a coffee and buy books and magazines; and It’s a Wonderful Shop, which sells Christmas decorations all year round.

Commissary Lane

There aren’t any rides or attractions in the Commissary Lane area of the park, but you will find two dining venues there, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant and ABC Commissary.

The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant is a fantastic themed table service restaurant, and is a great place to stop off for lunch or dinner. Its design was inspired by the drive-in movies.

The seating is designed to make you feel like you’re sitting in a 1950s-style car, and you can watch clips from old sci-fi movies, such as “Plan 9 From Outer Space” on the restaurant’s big screen whilst you eat. Its menu includes dishes such as shrimp pasta, smoked turkey sandwiches, seared marinated tofu, smoked St. Louis-style ribs, hot fudge sundaes and milkshakes.

ABC Commissary is a quick service restaurant which serves a range of international dishes, including chicken curry, Asian salad, and fish & chips. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it’s decorated in a style inspired by the Art Deco movement.

In the next post in this series, we’ll be taking a look at some of the things that you can see and do in the Pixar Place, Mickey Avenue and Animation Courtyard sections of the park.

Image: Jeff Christiansen

1. Bangkok National Museum (Na Phrthat Rdm Phra Borommaharachawang Sub-district, Phra Nakorn District, Bangkok 10200).

The Bangkok National Museum is situated near to the Grand Palace and has three permanent exhibition galleries: the Thai History Gallery; the Decorative Arts and Ethnological Collection; and the Archaeological and Art History Collections. These galleries include a range of exhibits, including sculture, art works, ceramics, weapons, musical instruments, costumes and funeral chariots.

English descriptions of the items on display are provided and you can also take a tour with an English-speaking guide (on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9.30 a.m.). The Bangkok National Museum is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission fees apply.

2. The Royal Barges Museum (Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700).

Opened during the 1970s, this museum houses eight beautiful and ornate Royal Barges. The barges were used by the Royal Family on state occasions and in the Royal Barge Procession, which is believed to date back as far as the 13th century. Highlights of the museum include the Suphannahong Royal Barge, used by the King, which has a golden swan figurehead.

The Royal Barges Museum is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily (although it’s closed on the 31st of December, the 1st of January, and the 12th, 13th and 14th of April). Admission fees apply.

3. The National Gallery (4 Chao-Fa Rd., Pra Nakorn, Bangkok 10200).

The National Gallery was opened during the 1970s and houses both a permanent exhibition and regular temporary exhibitions. The permanent collection includes examples of traditional Thai art and works by major Thai artists such as Misiem Yipinsoi, Fua Haribitak and Chakabhan Posayakrit.

The National Gallery is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and public holidays. Admission fees apply.

4. The Royal Thai Air Force Museum (Paholyothin Rd, Bangkok).

Situated close to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum contains a range of exhibits, including a number of military aircraft. The museum opened in 1952 and highlights of its collection include the only Tachikawa trainer still in existence and the last Curtiss Model 68 Hawk III naval biplane.

The Royal Thai Air Force Museum is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m daily (although it’s closed on public holidays).

5. Bangkok Folk Museum (273 Charoenkrung Soi 43, Bangkok)

Now owned and operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Bangkok Folk Museum was initially set up by Waraporn Surawadee, whose family owned one of the three houses which make up the museum today. Waraporn Surwadee set up the museum to display the furnishings and other items handed down to her by her mother, with the aim of showing visitors what life was like for middle-class people living in the city during the Second World War. The museum also now incorporates a house previously belonging to a British-born doctor, the late Dr. Francis Christian, and you can also see some of his belongings on display.

The Bangkok Folk Museum is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Many different airlines operate flights to Bangkok and there are a wide range of hotels within the city. You can travel to the museums by public transport or by hire car.

Image: Masgatotkaca

Books suggested in the article include: Joanna Trollope’s new novel “The Other Family”; “The Slap”, by Christos Tsiolkas, which won the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Best Book); Ian McEwan’s “Solar”, which is an amusing tale of a scientist’s trek across the Arctic to research climate change; “Must You Go? My Life with Harold Pinter”, a memoir by the late dramatist’s wife, Antonia Fraser; and Carol Ann Duffy’s “Love Poems”.

Budapest Overview

The Hungaroring is in Mogyoród, in Greater Budapest, in Hungary. The city of Budapest is the country’s capital and is situated on both banks of the River Danube, in central Hungary.

Budapest came into existence in the 19th century, when the cities of Buda, Pest and Óbuda were unified. In 1950, a further 7 towns and 16 villages were attached to Budapest and the area became known as Greater Budapest.

The city is known for its beautiful, historic architecture, and its attractions include a wide range of museums, performing arts venues, and spa baths.

Getting to Mogyoród

The easiest way in which to get to the Hungaroring is by flying to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport and hiring a car. It will take you about 30 minutes to drive from the airport to the centre of Budapest in your hire car, and about 40 minutes to drive to the Hungaroring from the airport.

The Hungaroring

The Hungaroring opened in March 1986 and hosted the first Formula 1 Grand Prix to take place behind the “Iron Curtain”. The track is 2.722 miles long and feaures 14 turns.

It’s notoriously difficult to overtake on the Hungaroring, despite changes having been made to the layout of the track over the years to help to make it easier to do so. The track is also built on sandy soil and isn’t regularly used throughout the year, so is known for being dry and dusty.

If you’re visiting the Hungaroring to watch the 2010 Formula 1 Grand Prix, you should be able to get a great view of the action, as the track is in a valley and 80% of it is visible from any one point on it.

Camping and Hotels

If you want to truly immerse yourself in the Grand Prix atmosphere, the best way to do so is by camping at one of the campsites situated by the circuit. However, if you’re looking for more luxurious accommodation, you’ll find plenty of hotels to choose from within Budapest.

If you can afford to splash out, try the Four Seasons Budapest, which is situated on the banks of the Danube, in central Budapest. This 5-star hotel has 179 rooms (including 15 suites) and its architecture is in the Art Nouveau style. Facilities at the Four Seasons Budapest include a restaurant, a bar, an indoor swimming pool and whirlpool, a gym and a spa.

Other hotels in Budapest include the Hilton Budapest, the Budapest Mariott Hotel, Le Meridien Budapest, the InterContinental Budapest and the Ramada Plaza Budapest.

Attractions

Budapest is packed with attractions, so it’s worth extending your trip and exploring the city. Here are just some of the things that you can see and do in Budapest:

• Cool down at the Mogyoród Aquarena Water Park. Situated next to the Hungaroring site, it has 8 different pools and 26 water slides.
• Explore Budapest City Park. The park covers more than 300 acres and is home to many attractions, including Budapest Zoo, the Amusement Park of Budapest, the Vajdahnyad Castle, the Transport Museum of Budapest, Heroes’ Square and the Museum of Fine Arts.
• Relax with a visit to one of Budapest’s thermal baths. There are 15 different thermal baths within the city, thanks to its 118 natural springs, and bathing in the waters is reputed to have health benefits.
• Explore the city’s historic Castle District, home to famous buildings such as Buda Castle, Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion.

Essential Information

Budapest is an hour ahead of the U.K. and the currency used is the Hungarian Forint.

Image: Kleszczu

1. The Powerhouse Museum (500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales) – this museum is located in the Darling Harbour area of Sydney and is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. It covers a huge area and contains more than 11km of exhibitions.

It has 22 permanent exhibitions, where you can see just some of the museum’s collection of more than 380,000 objects, and also hosts regular temporary exhibitions. The exhibits include items relating to history, science, technology, art and many other disciplines, and many of its exhibitions include interactive elements, so it’s a great place to visit if you are travelling with children.

The Powerhouse Museum is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m every day (although it is closed on Christmas Day). Admission fees apply.

2. The Museum of Contemporary Art (140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney) – situated at West Circular Quay, close to Sydney Harbour, the Museum of Contemporary Art is home to a number of collections, which include works by both Australian and international artists.

The largest of the museum’s collections is the J. W. Power Collection, which includes works by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Sidney Nolan, Andy Warhol, and Gilbert & George, as well as works by the late John Power himself. Other collections held by the Museum of Contemporary Art include the Maningrida Collection of Aboriginal Art and the Arnott’s Biscuits Collection of Aboriginal Bark Paintings.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m every day (although it is closed on Christmas Day). Admission is free of charge.

3. The Australian National Maritime Museum (2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney) – Opened in 1991, the Australian National Maritime Museum houses more than 40,000 exhibits relating to the history of seafaring life in Australia. It has a number of permanent exhibitions, including exhibitions about the history of the Royal Australian Navy, sea voyages made from the U.K. and other destinations to Australia, and watersports in Australia.

The highlight of the museum is its collection of 14 historic vessels, situated at the wharf. These include: a full-scale replica of Captain James Cook’s HMB Endeavour; the HMAS Vampire Daring Class Destroyer, and the HMAS Onslow submarine. There are also regular temporary exhibitions held within the museum.

The Australian National Maritime Museum is open between 9.30 a.m. and 5 p.m (6 p.m. during January) every day except for Christmas Day. Admission to the museum is free of charge, although you will need to pay a small fee to explore its historic vessels.

4. The Art Gallery of New South Wales (Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney) – the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of the most important galleries in Australia and its collection includes more than 30,000 works.

Its permanent collections are: the Australian collection; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection; the Asian collection; the European collection; the Contemporary collection; the Photography collection; and the Prints, Drawings and Watercolours collection. Temporary exhibitions are also regularly held at the gallery.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is open from 10 a.m until 5 p.m daily (although it’s closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday). General admission is free of charge, although admission fees may apply for some exhibitions. The gallery is also open between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesdays for “Art After Hours”, a programme of talks, films and concerts.

5. The Justice & Police Museum (Cnr Albert and Phillip Streets, Circular Quay, Sydney) – housed in the old 19th century police court building, this museum features exhibits relating to the history of crime and punishment in Sydney. You can learn about some of the mos famous crimes in Sydney’s history, see the 19th century court room, and see a range of weapons and other items.

The Justice & Police Museum is open between 10 a.m and 5 p.m daily. Admission fees apply.

Many different airlines operate return flights to Sydney and there are a wide range of hotels within the city. You can travel to the museums and galleries by car or by public transport.

Image: Saberwyn

Echo Lake

There are four main attractions in Echo Lake area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios: The American Idol Experience; Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey; the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular; and Star Tours.

Echo Lake Rides and Attractions

The American Idol Experience opened in 2009 and is based on the hit TV show. There are two ways of enjoying this attraction – you can audition to perform in the show, or you can watch the show and vote for your favourite singer.

If you audition successfully, you’ll be able to practice your chosen song, spend some time with a vocal coach and have your make-up done professionally before singing in one of the daily shows. The audience votes for their favourite singer and the winners of the shows held throughout the day then get the chance to come back in the evening and compete in the day’s final.

The overall winner (providing they are eligible to compete in American Idol) will receive a “golden ticket”, which will enable him or her to jump to the head of the queue in one of the American Idol regional auditions.

Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey is an audio show which stars the well-known comedian and game show host. The show is 12 minutes long and features biaural audio technology – you’ll be given a pair of headphones when you enter the theatre and the technology means that each earpiece works independently, so you will hear different sounds in each ear and won’t know what you will hear next or in which ear you’ll hear it. The lights in the theatre will go down and you’ll listen to most of the show in the dark, providing you with a strange sensory experience. The show is suitable for both adults and children, although younger children who are scared of the dark may find it too frightening.

The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectactular is an exciting stunt show based on the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” movie. It features rolling boulders, motorcycles and even an aircraft, and members of the audience can volunteer to participate in the 30 minute show.

Image: David Bjorgen

Star Tours is one of the Walt Disney World Resort’s older rides, and was opened in 1989. It’s a 4 and a half minute long simulator ride, which is themed on the “Star Wars” movies. If you suffer from travel sickness or claustrophobia, you may want to avoid this ride, as the simulator is fairly small and continually twists and turns.

According to www.wdwinfo.com, the Star Tours ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be closing on the 8th of September 2010 for a major upgrade. WDWinfo states that the ride will be transformed into a 3D simulation, and one of its highlights will be a recreation of the pod-racing scene from the movie “The Phantom Menace”. The ride is not due to reopen until 2011.

Dining at Echo Lake

There are three different restaurants within the Echo Lake section of the park: Hollywood & Vine; the 50s Prime Time Cafe; and the Backlot Express.

Hollywood & Vine is one of Disney’s Character Dining venues, and younger children can meet some of their favourite Playhouse Disney characters during breakfast and lunch services. However, dinner service does not feature Disney characters. Each meal is served as a buffet, and there is a wide range of food from which to choose. The restaurant has a “Tinseltown” theme, with art deco design features.

For a really entertaining mealtime experience, try the 50s Prime Time Cafe. This table service restaurant is themed as a cross between a 1950s diner and living room, and some of the tables feature TVs which show programmes such as the original “Mickey Mouse Club” show.

The servers become your “cousins” whilst “Mom” is cooking dinner, and will make sure that you mind your manners, keep your elbows off of the table and eat all of your vegetables – if you don’t do as you’re told, you may have to stand in the corner or sing a song! The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and the menu includes dishes such as beer battered onion rings, “Dad’s Traditional Meatloaf”, “Mom’s Old Fashioned Pot Roast” and “50s Boston Cream Cupcake”.

For a less formal meal, try the Backlot Express counter-service restaurant, which serves hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets and a choice of desserts and drinks.

Shopping at Echo Lake

There are three main shops in the Echo Lake area of the park. Golden Age Souvenirs stocks Disney character merchandise, whilst Tatooine Traders sells Star Wars themed products. You can also visit the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost to stock up in Indiana Jones themed souvenirs to take back to your hire car or Orlando hotel.

In the next post in this series, we’ll be looking at some of the things that you can see and do in the Streets of America and Commissary Lane areas of the Disney’s Hollywood Adventure theme park.

The winner of the competition can choose a Brittany Ferries holiday programme up to the value of £1,000. To enter the competition, simply complete and submit the online form on the Brittany Ferries website. Entries must be received by the 31st July 2010 and the holiday must be taken before the 31st of October 2011.

1. The Rijksmuseum – Amsterdam’s most famous museum, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, is currently undergoing major restoration work, so you can only see a few of its 7 million exhibits. However, it’s still worth visiting the museum to see its “Masterpieces” collection, which is housed in the Philips Wing, and includes Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” and Vermeer’s “The Love Letter”. The renovations are due to be completed in 2013.

2. Anne Frank House – More than 1 million people visit Ann Frank House each year to explore the Secret Annex in which Anne Frank and her family hid between 1942 and 1944, when Amsterdam was occupied by the Nazis. It was in the Secret Annex that Anne wrote her now famous diary, and the original is now housed within the museum.

3.  The Stedelijk Museum – The Stedelijk Museum is Amsterdam’s famous modern art gallery, but unfortunately it’s currently closed for renovations and isn’t due to reopen until 2011. However, a “Temporary Stedlijk Museum” is due to open on the 28th of August 2010, and will be used to house art exhibitions and special events.

4.  Amsterdam Tulip Museum – This small museum includes exhibits relating to the history of Amsterdam’s tulip industry. There is also a museum shop, where you can buy a range of tulip-themed items and, if you fancy growing tulips or other fresh flowers at home, you can choose from a range of bulbs, which you can take with you or arrange to be shipped to your home.

5. The Van Gogh Museum – Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s works. You can see famous works such as “Sunflowers” (1889), “Irises” (1890), The Yellow House (1888) and The Potato Eaters (1885), as well as many other paintings by Van Gogh. The museum also has a collection of works by other 19th century artists, such as Gaugin, Monet and Seurat.

Image: Beatriz Busaniche