From the time you enter the whale-shaped cruise terminal, you’ll know you’ve arrived at someplace special. The intimate 17th century atmosphere of Amsterdam makes the city feel almost like a movie set for a period drama. More than 7,000 historic buildings remain, particularly in the canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city also has the highest museum density in the world, and a day here makes for difficult choices from the Van Gogh Museum (sunflowers, anyone?) to Anne Frank House, to the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt’s magnificent Nightwatch. If museums aren’t your thing, rent a bike to cycle along the scenic canals, get a unique perspective on the Venice of the North at the corner of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht where you can set your eyes on more than 15 bridges at once. (Stand on the odd side of the street.)