Hotel Amsterdam: Here are my TOP 10 recommendations for your city trip to the capital of the Netherlands. The tourism boom for city travelers has also hit the Venice of the North. The city is entirely in the trend. There is one booking record after another. Constantly growing tourist flows, now also due to the increasing number of cruisers and low-cost airlines, are constantly straining the hotel market. Unfortunately, it is the curse of big cities, and the prices in Amsterdam for Hotels and even hostels can be very high, especially on Christmas, Easter, Whitsun, school vacations, and summer holidays.
With its world-famous canals, Amsterdam is a city with a unique charm. The canals, with their magnificent merchants’ houses, authentic neighborhoods such as the Jordaan quarter, and especially the unique museums with the artworks of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and van Gogh, make every stay in this metropolis an experience.
✅ All sights in Amsterdam are located relatively centrally. The city differs from London, Paris, or Berlin, and many things can be easily reached on foot.
✅ Dinner in an Indonesian restaurant, a romantic canal cruise in the evening, or the nightlife on the Leidseplein, the respective accommodation should be within a reasonable distance from these different activities.
✅ Amsterdam has an excellent public transport network, so you can consider booking accommodation on the outskirts of the center. Metro, trams, and buses run until midnight; night buses and cabs are also available. Cabs must also accept short trips.
If you are travelling by car, you should read up on Parking in Amsteram. Travelling by train is particularly practical, as the main train station is located in the centre of the canal city. If you are planning a visit by plane, you can book your ticket directly here:
All further information can be found on the airport transfer page.
Amsterdam’s architecture ranges from ancient to modern and practical. The city is typical, traditional, contemporary, and multicultural at the same time. So are my top 10 recommendations for an overnight stay.
✅ The markers on the map show exactly my proposals and their location. Ask for parking at the hotel or book here.
Max Brown Hotel Canal District
The 3-star hotel of the Max Brown hotel chain consists of three historic canal houses with an interior garden terrace. The three-hundred-year-old listed buildings have been completely modernized, yet the many narrow staircases of the old canal houses have been preserved and provide a typical Amsterdam flair. The 34 guest rooms of this cozy mid-range hotel can be booked in 5 different categories (8-23m²), with the minor room type (Tiny-Room) designed for solo travelers. They all have private bathrooms and are very rustic, with patchwork ceilings and wooden furniture; the hallways are decorated with works by local artist Gino Bud Hoiting.
The accommodation is 500 meters from the train station and 700 meters from the city center, in the middle of Amsterdam’s Oud-West district. The tram-stop Martelaarsgracht with direct connections to Museum Square (line 5) can be reached after 450m; the Central Station and Anne Frank House are 10 minutes away.
- Max Brown Hotel Canal District – Herengracht 13 – 19,1015 BA Amsterdam, 34 rooms, double rooms from €130
Rosalia’s Menagerie
The small, exclusive Rosalia’s Menagerie (2 stars) is located in a renovated 17th-century canal house right on one of the oldest canals dating from the 14th century. The guest rooms are all decorated in a different style (for example, the “Rembrandt Room”) and have private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. Since there are only six guest rooms and the hotel is trendy, you must book early.
This accommodation is in the Oost Watergraafsmeer neighborhood in the heart of the historic old town. All sights can be reached from there practically on foot. In front of the door is the Nieuwmarkt streetcar stop, which provides a direct metro connection to the Central Station. In the neighborhood of the hotel are the Red Light District (3 min), the Rembrandt House (3 min), the Waterlooplein (4 min), and the Dam Square (5 min).
- Rosalia’s Menagerie – Kloveniersburgwal 20, 1012 CV Amsterdam, 6 rooms, double rooms from 150 €.
Book Online – Rosalia’s Menagerie
Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark
The very inexpensive Stayokay in Vondelpark (2 stars) is one of three hostels of the popular Stayokay chain in Amsterdam. There are 4- and 6-bed rooms with bunk beds, but single and double rooms are also available. The hostel consists of three connected buildings, the oldest being a former school. The public areas of the Stayokay have recently been completely renovated. Stayokay Vondelpark is one of Europe’s largest and most modern hostels and is visited by more than 75,000 guests worldwide every year.
This is only a hostel; if you expect more luxury, you might not be in the right place here! The accommodation is centrally located in the southwest of the city, in the middle of the most famous park in the Netherlands, 400m from the Van Gogh Museum and 500m from the Rijksmuseum. The shopping streets, the museums, and the nightlife are just a stone’s throw away.
- Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark – Zandpad 5, Oud-West, 1054 GA Amsterdam, 125 rooms, from €25
Booking Online – Hotel Stayokay
✅ Next door is Conscious Hotel, The Tire Station, Amstelveenseweg 5, 1054 MB Amsterdam, an eco-hotel with 112 rooms. The starting price for some rooms is 55,00 €.
Booking Online – The Tire Station
✅ Various TV shows present inexpensive accommodations in metropolises such as Amsterdam, allowing travelers to save one’s travel budget and still stay reasonably and safely. Included is also the tip CityHub Amsterdam at Bellamystraat 3, 1053 BE Amsterdam, overnight stay from 45 €.
Booking Online – CityHub Amsterdam
Hotel Van Gogh
Reopened in 2011 after a long renovation break, this inexpensive budget hotel has modern furnishings. It is an excellent choice if you are looking for an affordable hotel in the city’s heart. The walls of the private rooms are decorated with life-size Van Gogh paintings, hence the hotel’s name. They all have private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi.
The Van Gogh Hotel is located on a quiet side street in the heart of the museum district, ideally situated to explore the three most important museums, which are just a stone’s throw away. The famous Vondelpark is also right in the neighborhood, as is the entertainment district of Leidseplein, where the nightlife pulsates. The trams on lines 2 and 5, which stop in front of the hotel, take you everywhere. Around the corner, the high fashion and glamour street P.C. Hofstraat attracts international fashion labels such as Cartier, Hermés and Chanel.
- Hotel Van Gogh – Van de Veldestraat 5, Oud-Zuid, 1071 CW Amsterdam, 50 rooms. Double rooms from 100 €.
Booking Online – Hotel Van Gogh
Mr. Jordaan
Mr. Jordaan is a very affordable, stylish, 3-star boutique-style hotel with 34 rooms and excellent value for money, located right on the Bloemgracht. This 17th-century canal is known for its superb, but not exactly cheap, breakfast. The very attentive and accommodating staff are happy to help plan your stay, and the family atmosphere of the accommodation is excellent. At Mr.Jordaan, each guest receives a small bag with snacks, a water bottle, deodorant, and mouthwash for the journey home when checking out. The small but nice rooms are decorated with great attention to detail and are available with either a city view or a canal view, all with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi.
Mr. Jordaan is located near the Anne Frank House in the Jordaan district, close enough to the center but far enough from the tourist strip, ideal for exploring the area on foot or Dutch-style by bike.
- Mr. Jordaan – Bloemgracht 102, 1015 TN Amsterdam, Netherlands, 34 rooms, double rooms from 85€.
Booking Online – Hotel Mr. Jordaan
Hotel The Exchange
The unusual, seven-story Fashion Hotel Exchange is close to the central train station, one of the city’s most popular budget hotels. The hotel consists of three narrow townhouses, the oldest of which dates back to the 17th century. The 61 rooms were designed by fashion students from the Amsterdam Fashion School. The aim was to decorate the rooms differently; for example, one room is modeled on Marie-Antoinette’s suite.
The rooms are classified from 1-star (budget rooms) to 5-star (deluxe rooms), and the star classification of the rooms says something about the size, equipment, view, and design of the rooms. Of course, all are equipped with private bathrooms and free wifi.
The fashion hotel includes a restaurant called Stock, where you can taste delicious coffee, and a store with unusual Amsterdam souvenirs. The unique hotel is within walking distance of the Central Station and the Red Light District. The museum district, the Anne Frank House, Body Worlds, and Dam Square are a few minutes walk away. Those who like shopping can do so in the 9-street shopping area, 15 minutes away.
- Hotel The Exchange – Damrak 50, 1012 LL Amsterdam, Netherlands, 61 rooms, double rooms from €80
Book Online – Hotel The Exchange
Hotel Arena Amsterdam
Once built as a Catholic orphanage, it was a refugee shelter during World War II and, from 1982, a legendary sleep-in-style hippie accommodation. Today, the monumental building, built in 1886 with ceilings up to six meters high, is home to the modern 4-star art hotel with 139 rooms. The hotel’s interior impresses with the ornate grand staircase in its original state, old wall ornaments, many art objects, and noble, high-quality furnishings. In addition to standard rooms, Large or XLarge rooms are also available.
The imposing accommodation is in Amsterdam-Oost, one of the hippest neighborhoods, next to Oosterpark. Not directly in the center, but with an excellent connection to tram lines 51, 53, and 54, with which you can reach any destination in the capital. The Tropical Museum and the Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo are in the immediate vicinity, and the neighboring chapel is home to a hip nightclub.
- Hotel Arena – ‘s-Gravesandestraat 55, Oost Watergraafsmeer, 1092 AA Amsterdam, 139 Zi., DZ ab 95€
Book Online – Hotel Arena Amsterdam
Hotel De Hallen
This offbeat state-of-the-art hotel is housed in a listed former streetcar depot, now known as De Hallen, part of the capital’s cultural heritage. The modern, slightly more expensive 4-star, 57-room hotel combines urban and vintage style with touches of edgy industrial design and an abundance of greenery, and this accommodation emphasizes eco-friendliness and sustainability. De Hallen includes the in-house à la carte restaurant Remise 47, which serves an excellent breakfast. Alternatively, you can stop in at the neighboring Foodhallen.
De Hallen is also not located directly in the center but in the Amsterdam West district, but even here, the public transport connection is excellent; the center can be reached in 15 minutes on foot or even faster by streetcar. In addition, there are numerous stores and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, which are not overrun by tourists, as is common in the city center. From the streetcar stop Kinkerstraat, 500m away, the central station can be reached in 20 minutes.
- Hotel De Hallen – Bellamyplein 47, Oud-West, 1053 AT Amsterdam, 55 rooms. Double room from 80 €
Booking Online – Hotel De Hallen
The Toren
This elegant 4-star luxury boutique hotel with 40 rooms, characterized by its intimate atmosphere, is located in two canal houses with a long history, built in 1618 and lovingly restored. The lush decor with velvet wallpaper and purple, red, black, and gold fabrics was designed by renowned interior designer Wim van de Oudeweetering. The rooms are stylishly furnished with chandeliers and ceiling paintings, and overall, the ambiance in this house is very refined.
This noble accommodation is located directly on the Keizersgracht, in one of the most exclusive districts of Amsterdam, in a quiet and dignified neighborhood. After a short walk, you can reach the Anne Frank House or the Jordaan district. Equally close is the Westermarkt streetcar stop. Sights such as the Dam, the Royal Palace, and many museums are all within a 10-minute walk.
- The Toren, Keizersgracht 164, 1015 CZ Amsterdam, 40 rooms. Double rooms from 150€.
Houseboat Pantheos
What could be more exciting than to choose a traditional houseboat as accommodation in Amsterdam?
Staying on a houseboat offers a unique atmosphere that you will not find in any hotel! The 50m² very well-maintained houseboat in the middle rental price range, where the owner himself lives when the boat is not rented, consists of a bedroom that sleeps four people, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher and microwave, and a bathroom with shower. There is a seasonal outdoor pool on the terrace, free wifi is available throughout the boat, and central heating is also installed for colder days.
From all the rooms, you have a unique panoramic view over the water, the passing boats, and the canal houses located on the shore, which is especially effective in the evening when the old canal houses are illuminated. A great advantage for dog owners is that their pet is welcome on the boat. The Pantheos houseboat is located in the heart of Amsterdam on the Prinsengracht, overlooking the landmark Westerkerk and close to the Jordaan district. The Anne Frank House and the famous shopping street Haarlemmerstraat are in the neighborhood. The central station is a 10-minute walk away.
- Pantheos Top Houseboat, Prinsengracht 225-T, 1015 DT Amsterdam, Netherlands, from € 290
Book Online – Pantheos Top Hausboot
If you are interested in such accommodation, which of course is only available in Amsterdam, here are some cheaper options near the city center:
✅ Houseboot Little Amstel – Amsteldijk 700, Oud-Zuid, 1074 JH Amsterdam, from 120,00 €
Book Online – Houseboot Little Amstel
✅ Boat No Breakfast – 142 Kromme Waal, Amsterdam city center, 1011 BW Amsterdam, from 120,00 €
Book Online – Boat no Breakfast
Amsterdam has become a tourist magnet for city travelers in recent years. The overall hotel offer is good, modern, and mostly contemporary. Online booking systems allow accommodation prices to fluctuate greatly depending on the time of year, so an insider tip can quickly turn into an expensive boutique hotel.
The Dutch capital’s sights and attractions are located centrally within short distances between each other. So if you want to see as much of the city as possible and experience the evening atmosphere of the canal city, you should get one of these accommodations in the center of the town. Those who travel to Amsterdam by car and want to stay centrally should read through Parking in Amsterdam.
