Experts at travel guides website simonseeks.com share their inside tips on the best places in Europe

Best bar: Westergasterras (www.westergasterras.nl).

Chill on bean bags on its eye-catching terrace which backs on to a pond filled with bright green reeds. It is part of the Westergasfabriek, a former gasworks transformed into an arts and nightlife complex.

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Best food: De Kas (dialling from the UK: 0031 20 462 45 62/www.restaurantdekas.nl).

This stylish conversion of a 1920s greenhouse in a park on the outskirts of the city serves super-fresh food from its own gardens and local suppliers.

There's no menu, you dine on whatever is available and in season. Set lunches from £31, dinners £41pp.

Chill out: On sunny evenings, Amsterdammers love pootling around the canals in little open motor boats. Join them on Canal Hopper (623 9886/ www.canal.nl/hopper), an open sloop with hop-on, hop-off day tickets from £18.

Bedding down: Hotel Pulitzer (523 5235/www.pulitzeramsterdam.com) offers doubles from £180 (two sharing), B&B. The hotel is spread over 24 old canal houses that back on to a large, attractive courtyard garden.

Getting there: KLM (0871 222 7740/www.klm.com) offers return flights from Heathrow to Amsterdam from £99.

FRED MAWER

BARCELONA
Best bar: With a mixologist and DJs imported from London, the Eclipse bar on the 26th floor of the W Hotel (www.starwoodhotels.com) is the hottest ticket in town.

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Best food: At the top of the ME Barcelona hotel is Dos Cielos (dialling from the UK: 0034 93 367 2070/www.doscielos.com), a top-notch restaurant run by Catalan chefs the Torres brothers.

Eight-course tasting menu starting at £69 without wine.

Chill out: The Parc de la Ciutadella, in the El Born district, is shady, with wide expanses of grass to picnic on.

Bedding down: Villa Emilia (93 252 5285/www.hotelvillaemilia.com) offers doubles from £76 (two sharing), room only.

This boutique hotel offers fantastic value if you don't need a pool or gym. The rooftop terrace is a gem.

Getting there: easyJet (0871 244 2366/www.easyjet.com) offers return flights to Barcelona from £48.
SALLY DAVIES

PARIS
Best bar: The Bar du Marché.
An eternal favourite in the heart of cosmopolitan St-Germaindes-Prés, yet packed with trendy Parisians. The dungareeclad waiters are very cool and, as well as drinks, it serves excellent omelettes.

Best food: The newly restored Pavillon du Lac (dialling from the UK: 0033 1 4200 0721/ www.lepavillondulac.fr) is a 19th century pavilion with three dining rooms and four outdoor terraces in the romantic Parc des Buttes-Chaumont area. It serves modern French bistro cooking. Lunches from £25pp.

Chill out: The Parc de St-Cloud is a grandiose park, with all the lawns, woodland, terraces and perspectives you would associate with a French château, except the house itself burnt down in 1870. The gardens are a favourite place for picnicking and taking in the view of Paris across the river.

Bedding down: Pershing Hall (5836 5800/www.pershinghall.com) offers doubles from £175 (two sharing), B&B.

The real showstopper is the 90ft high vertical garden in the courtyard, created by star botanist Patrick Blanc.

Getting there: Eurostar (08432 186 186 /www.eurostar.com) offers return train fare from London to Paris from £69.

Regional UK connections at a supplement.