Best places to stay in Amsterdam
A buzzing metropolis with a labyrinth of canals, picturesque bridges and world-class art museums, Amsterdam combines a glittering past with contemporary edginess. Bike rides along the canal, open air music, lazing in the park, al-fresco dining and museum-hopping are just some of the fun activities on your trip to this city. You can also choose from a wide range of accommodation options such as beautiful converted canal houses, sleek and chic urban hotels, traditional bed and breakfasts and hostels.
The Old Centre
The hub for most of the popular sites, shopping and nightlife, the Old Centre is also home to the famous De Wallen (Red Light District). Jostling crowds, buskers, flower markets, flea markets, and trams create a unique buzz in this charming neighbourhood. Enjoy the beautifully-appointed, luxurious rooms of Hotel De L’Europe Amsterdam, set in a period property overlooking the Amstel River. A 5-minute walk from the Royal Palace Amsterdam, you have Sofitel Legend, The Grand Amsterdam Hotel, a ritzy place with a Dutch Classicist façade, and sleek rooms furnished with period and modern touches.
Grachtengordel West
The streets to the west of the old city are lined with several quiet waterside hotels and houseboats. The area has plenty of cosy cafés, charming shops and fine restaurants. Overlooking the Keizersgracht canal, enjoy a luxurious stay at The Dylan Hotel Amsterdam that features individually designed rooms, tranquil gardens and a Michelin-starred restaurant. You can also look at glamourous, boutique-style accommodation at The Toren Amsterdam, set in two 17th-century historical buildings, just a 3-minute walk from the Anne Frank House museum.
Grachtengordel South
This neighbourhood is home to the Leidseplein area and Rembrandtplein square, the hubs of Amsterdam’s nightlife, restaurants and bars. Spread over 6 palaces built in the 17th-century along the canal, you have the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, a luxury hotel featuring elegant rooms with plush furnishings. You can also consider staying in the canal-view rooms of Banks Mansion, set in an imposing building beside the Herengracht canal.
The Jordaan
This is a trendy area, slightly away from the buzz of the central neighbourhoods. There are plenty of restaurants and some of the prettiest canals of the city thread through here. Stay in the relaxed, modern rooms of Linden Amsterdam hotel, set in a 19th-century red brick building next to Lijnbaansgracht canal. Try the cosy rooms of Hotel de Paris Amsterdam, a flashy, French-inspired hotel at an excellent location close to restaurants, clubs and museums. Enjoy quintessential Dutch elegance in an intricate maze of 25 inter-linked canal houses which make up the Pulitzer Amsterdam hotel.
De Pijp
De Pijp is one of Amsterdam’s hotspots for food stores, dining, and cafés. The area is abuzz with shoppers and café-hoppers in the day, and cheery revellers at night. The kilometre-long Albert Cuyp Market which runs in the middle of this neighbourhood is lined with scores of eateries and bars. Enjoy the stylish and refined rooms of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, set in a tall, modern building in the heart of De Pijp. You can also look at Hotel V Frederiksplein, a quirky hotel with eclectic rooms and self-catering lofts set in a red brick townhouse.
Museum Quarter
An area with no canals but tons of museums, this neighbourhood has several good hotels and it’s home to the beautiful Vondelpark. Stay in The College Hotel Amsterdam, an elegant hotel set in a converted 19th-century schoolhouse featuring modern rooms, a swanky bar, and a chic terrace, just a 7-minute walk from Museumplein (Museum Square). You can also consider a luxurious stay at the Conservatorium hotel, set in a former music conservatory with a Neo-Gothic façade, just a 3-minute walk from the Van Gogh Museum.
Cheap hotels in Amsterdam
Several cheap hotels in Amsterdam offer convenient locations, canal views, stylish design and architecture, and funky bars. In the heart of the city within a short walk from all major attractions, you have the Misc eatdrinksleep hotel with bright rooms, set in a 17th-century home. Adjacent to Amsterdam Centraal train station, you can stay at the Flying Pig Downtown Hostel. In Grachtengordel West, enjoy a cosy stay in a converted canal house hotel, The Heregracht 21 Bed and Breakfast. Try the spacious and tastefully decorated rooms at the elegant Hotel Prinsenhof in Grachtengordel South. In the Old Jewish Quarter, you have the Hotel Adolesce set in an old canal house opposite the Hermitage Amsterdam museum.
