I believe in Rick's advise to get off the beaten path but am curious how I can do this in cities like Amsterdam/Haarlem, Lucerne and Zurich when I have no car. I expect crowds but I'd love to get away from them at times. A lost cause? Any suggestions?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7486 posts
Both the Netherlands and Switzerland are well known for their very extensive train systems. Also buses to smaller towns.With a little research it shouldn't be difficult to travel to smaller, less crowded places.
Posted by
Franklin, TN, USA
1084 posts
We were in Zurich and took a train to Stein Am Rhein for the day, a delightful village that looks like a movie set…..if you do your homework you can find a train that will get you to more places than you realize.
Posted by
Chicagoland
2466 posts
One way is to think beyond the Rick Steves' guidebooks. Search out restaurants, bakeries, museums, gardens and other attractions that are not in his books. There are many places he doesn't include. With a bit of effort, you'll find towns and villages a train or bus ride away that offers just as much as some of the places he covers.
Posted by
Chicago
1428 posts
In addition to trains, buses are much more local and will get you to much more obscure
places. If you are versed in reading Google Maps for transit information, you can almost
get on a random bus and just get off anyplace, knowing you can figure out your way back
eventually.
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
382 posts
Just don't hang out at all the major tourist sites. You might think it impossible, but as an example in December I visited the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam. It is pretty much in the same street as the overtouristed Anne Frank House, less than 500m, yet no-one is speaking English there, it's an older crowd and no tourists. The only point of tension is if you are going to those cities to tick off tourist sites and feel you would miss out bigtime if you did not go to them. Visit the secondary sites, and leave the main tourist areas by one or two streets. You don't need a car, be prepared instead to catch a tram. Stay on the tram till the end of the line and get off and have a walk around. You are protected because if you don't like it, you can just get back on the tram to where you came from. Your trip will reveal some good, some bad - not every neighbourhood will be amazing, but you will have seen where people live, and how they commute, as well as the sights out the window. And in Amsterdam never be afraid of not speaking the language, there is English in every corner of the city.
Lavandula
Posted by
Lake District, England
12077 posts
I've done that in Amsterdam many a time, and yes it is really interesting where you end up, totally different much of the time from the tourist city. A prime example of that is the tram which stops right outside the Cruise Terminal.
Take that in the "wrong direction" to the end of the line in a brand new city suburb.
I think I've done all the metro and tram routes in my time.
Or take any of the free cross harbour ferries, and walk round to one of the other ferry docks.
You will find a very different, and totally authentic untouristed city.