Dam Square

The site of the magnificent Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, and National Monument, Dam Square at the heart of Amsterdam is a lively and popular location by day for catching some rays, grabbing a light lunch, and watching the street performers.

While the area is bursting with bars, shops, and cafés busy with tourists during the day, the nightlife in Dam Square is centered on its laid-back historic brown bars that are tucked away in narrow alleys, protected from the swarm of sightseers.

Venturing off the beaten path usually yields good deals and a warm-spirited vibe in the small, smoky taverns where a mix of city dwellers of all types and ages tends to welcome whoever walks in the door of their watering hole.