The Netherlands is one of my favorite destinations. It's just so incredibly easy to get around, almost depressingly so if you come from a country that doesn't prioritize public transport. | | | | | | The Netherlands is one of my favorite destinations. It's just so incredibly easy to get around, almost depressingly so if you come from a country that doesn't prioritize public transport (it's like, "This is what we could have if we got our act together"). From Amsterdam's Central Station, you can get to just about anywhere in the country with zero fuss. So that's what I like to do: fly into Amsterdam and pick a new destination each time. Last time, I chose Utrecht (one of our Best in Travel destinations for 2026). Twenty-five minutes later, I was in the middle of the city taking in the canals, cafes and cute bookshops, feeling calmer than I had in ages. I don't know what you'd call that particular sense of calm, but I experience it when I'm in a place that removes the friction of logistics from travel. You don't have to wrap your head around confusing transit systems, and you don't need a car - just show up at the train station, decide on a whim to visit another city, hop on a train and you're there! You can stretch one trip into two, three... So that's what we're going to do. | | | I loved my time in Utrecht so much that I nominated it as one of the top places to visit in 2026 for this year's Best in Travel list. I preferred it to Amsterdam. It has canals, ah-mazing clothes shops, cute cafes and really interesting and off-beat museums. But it doesn't have the crowds. A win-win! It's also supposed to be the happiest place in the Netherlands and I get it. Everything feels easy here and it's so clean, but not in a sterile way, more like a "people respect their beautiful city" way. | | | Lisse is famous for the vibrant colors of Keukenhof Gardens, the world's largest floral show. It's a bucket list event but this petal paradise only opens in springtime. Off-season, Lisse stays sleepy. So visit for a half day and then continue to nearby attractions-packed Den Haag or Leiden. | | | There probably isn't enough time to discover the endless weird and wonderful murals, sculptures and art installations adorning Rotterdam's streets - locals don't even know them all. Also packed with marvelous modern architecture, it's arguably the Netherlands' more surprising 'Dam. When you want to slow things down, a quick bike ride out of town will take you to Kinderdijk, home of windmills. | | | Essential reading for the Netherlands: | | | Photography credits: Samira Kafala for Lonely Planet, Samira Kafala for Lonely Planet, Samira Kafala for Lonely Planet, Samira Kafala for Lonely Planet, Peter116/Shutterstock, George Pachantouris /Getty Images, qizai00/Shutterstock, Pani Garmyder/Shutterstock, George Pachantouris/Getty Images | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
