Weesperplein, Amsterdam

Weesperplain is by no means bursting with nighttime activity, but it more than makes up for it by day, at least for those who enjoy a little bit of nature on the itinerary.

Established in the 1600s, Hortus Botanicus, located on Weeserplain’s northern edge, is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, and home to a huge assortment of rare plants and imported trees. Looking to escape the urban bustle, denizens from all over come to read a book beneath a towering Persian Ironwood, meander past bulbous palms, or sweat it out walking through a huge greenhouse that recreates three separate tropical climates.

Much larger Oosterpark just south of Weeserplain offers similar reprieve from city life, and while it’s not home to the same exotic variety of flora and fauna, a number of Grey Herons call the park home, and the tranquil pond at its center is surrounded by lush fields that fill up quickly with sun-seekers when the weather cooperates.

A handful of popular museums can fill the rest of the day here, including the Tropenmuseum’s vast collection of anthropological objects and war-era studies, the ever-rotating collections at The Hermitage, and the Tattoo Museum – which is probably the only museum on earth where visitors can get some new permanent body art after checking out the displays.

As evening sets it, the party crowd usually goes elsewhere, though a small but popular collection of live music venues, cocktail bars, and local theaters can make for an anything-but-plain outing in Weeserplain at night as well.