The Jordaan
Amsterdam’s most charming quarter – narrow canals, leaning gables, brown cafes and courtyard gardens, plus the city’s densest cluster of local restaurants. Made for an aimless wander.
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Royal Palace Amsterdam
The 17th-century Town Hall turned royal palace on Dam Square, a monument to Golden Age wealth with lavish marble halls. Still used by the royal family, so opening days vary – check before visiting.
Rembrandt House Museum
Rembrandt’s restored home and studio, where he worked at the height of his fame. See how a Golden Age master lived and printed, with regular etching demonstrations.
Moco Museum
A small, high-energy museum of modern and street art – Banksy, Basquiat, Warhol and buzzy immersive installations. A fun, Instagrammable counterpoint to the old masters next door.
Van Gogh Museum
The world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work, tracing his short, turbulent career from peasant scenes to the blazing late canvases. Tickets are timed and online-only – book well ahead.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation, now a profoundly moving museum around the original secret annex. Tickets are timed and released online in advance and sell out fast – plan ahead.
Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands’ grand national museum – Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeers and centuries of Dutch Golden Age art in a magnificent building. Book a timed ticket and give it a few hours.
Impact Hub Barcelona
A community and coworking hub for people building social and environmental projects, hosting events, mentoring and a network of changemakers. A window into Barcelona’s thriving social-enterprise scene.
The Hoxton, Poblenou
The design-led Hoxton’s Barcelona outpost in creative Poblenou, with a rooftop pool, a good taqueria and that easy, hang-out-all-day vibe. A little out from the centre but well connected and full of character.
Economat (Cooperative Supermarket)
The biggest cooperative supermarket in Barcelona, member-owned and running for over a decade with around 700 family members. Shopping here supports dignified wages and a fairer, more local food system.