Hotels in Amsterdam

Purchase an Amsterdam discount card

Amsterdam discount cards and city passes get you into the museums and attractions for a single discounted ticket price. The Amsterdam Holland Pass gives you free access to top museums, and you can purchase packages of 3, 4, or 6 tickets per card. Prices for the Holland Pass start at €40 EUR. The I Amsterdam City Card is the city’s official pass. It comes in packages of 24 – 96 hours. Major museums are included with the city pass card, prices start at €57 EUR and up.

Getting around Amsterdam

Amsterdam has taxis, but rarely do you need one. Routes for public transportation start at Amsterdam Central Station and spiral outward. The network drops you within walking distance of most attractions. You also have bus services, including the night bus. Get a 1-day pass for all Amsterdam public transportation for approximately €7.50 EUR per 24-hour period. Bikes are also available to rent. For a 3-hour rental, you can expect to pay €7 EUR or more. However, you will find better rates when you rent for a longer period. When walking around the city, watch out for bicycles. The city has more bicycles than people, and riders do not always look out for pedestrians.

Do a canal tour

While the city has the hop-on-hop-off bus option, you get the best views and experiences with canal tours. You will not have to deal with so many pedestrians, cyclists or traffic jams.

Cash only

Amsterdam is one of the least friendly for non-European bank-issued cards. Bring cash or use a Maestro card.

Best places to stay in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is more than just the capital city of The Netherlands. It is rich in artistic heritage, features an elaborate canal system and still displays most of its 17th century Golden Age architecture. In the Museum District alone, you have more than enough to explore, including the Van Gogh Museum. Whether you are an avid backpacker strolling through or a tourist family, Amsterdam has something for you. Amsterdam is by far the most populous municipality of the Kingdom, and it is the centre of the television industry, especially live television shows. While the city’s predominant language is Dutch, you will find most shop owners and locals speak English quite fluently. You will also notice another trend: cycles. Dutch residents are not fans of vehicles, but they do love their two wheels. In fact, the households of Amsterdam collectively own almost 1 million bicycles.

Centrum

Amsterdam-Centrum is the tourist hotspot of Amsterdam. It is the most popular, even for a short stay and it is the oldest part of the city. Here, you can walk or cycle to everything and most people speak English in the Centrum district to accommodate visitors. Stay at the cosy Luxury Suites Amsterdam where you get a free ride to and from the airport, free breakfast and a stay right on the canal.

The Jordaan

Jordaan is the polar opposite of Centrum. Everything here is clean, charming and almost like a small village within the city. The streets are smaller compared to other neighbourhoods, you have more canals weaving through and you have a mixture of traditional and quaint shops to browse. Hotel Cappuccino is a beautifully restored building right in the heart of Jordaan. For a more boutique-like accommodation, stay at the Hotel Mr. Jordaan at Bloemgracht.

Canal Belt and Nine Streets

This area of Amsterdam is UNESCO-protected and looks the same as it did 400 years ago, aside from restorations. It is by far one of the most aesthetically pleasing areas of the city. Here you have designer hotels, eateries, boutique shops and an area rich in history to enjoy. Stay at the modern Zoku Amsterdam hotel, featuring tiny-house style accommodations. The Toren Hotel Amsterdam is a vibrant, charming boutique hotel with 38 rooms all uniquely styled for their guests.

Museum Quarter

If you plan to spend most of your time in Amsterdam browsing the museums and art galleries, Museum Quarter is where you want to stay. From here you can walk to the famous museums, eat at the fancy restaurants and enjoy the tranquillity of Vondelpark. Pillows Anna Van Den Vondel Amsterdam overlooks the park and gives you a personalised hotel stay in the city.

Oud West

Oud West is the culturally diverse sector of Amsterdam that mixes commercial with residential. If you want hidden gems that locals enjoy, Oud West is where you want to stay. You will not find many tourist attractions here, but you do have hotels like the Hotel Espresso City Centre and the Grand Hotel Downtown Amsterdam for accommodations.

Cheap hotels in Amsterdam

Hostels offer a safe place to stay and are also a budget-friendly accommodation arrangement. The Flying Pig Hostels in downtown and uptown Amsterdam have private dormitories and youth rooms with fully-equipped kitchens. The Hostel Amsterdam Zeeburg is in the eastern area of the city and just 15 minutes from the historic city centre. It features a café and private dormitories. If you prefer something more private, try The Student Hotel Amsterdam City that has modern, fresh hotel rooms in a fairly new and evolving neighbourhood. The Apollo Hotel Amsterdam is centrally located and has a café overlooking the canal, but still offers a relatively affordable stay.

Each neighbourhood in Amsterdam is unique and most are within cycling or walking distance from major attractions and historical sites. Some areas are heavily populated by tourists, while others are more frequented by locals only. When you are here, pick a neighbourhood for each day, explore the sights, taste the food of the Netherlands and mingle like a local.

• Jordaan is the quintessential Amsterdam neighbourhood. You can walk to the Anne Frank House and enjoy the quieter, residential streets. Here, you have old Dutch bars known as “brown bars,” which are covered in wood. These establishments have some of the finest coffees. On the weekends, you have the local markets for fresh foods. The Dutch food is delicious, but Jordaan also has some of the best Indonesian and Surinamese food you will ever taste.
• Haarlemmerstraat is 20 minutes from Centraal Station by foot and offers a variety of specialised boutiques. If you are keen on vintage clothing, you will find both budget-friendly and extravagant finds. For the foodies, visit the local bars for unique cocktails or a 5-course vegan art dining experience.
• De Pijp is the trendy area of Amsterdam. You can walk over to Vondelpark and the Museum Quarter from here too. This area of the city features food from around the Netherlands and some of the tastiest Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Amsterdam-Noord is a modernised section of the city that is a 5-10 minute ferry trip from Centraal. Some compare it to Brooklyn, New York with the modern cafés, flea markets and outdoor eating.
• Oud West has the historic De Otter windmill you can see from the canals, along Bilderdijkstraat and De Clerqstraat streets you find the best food, shops, and sights.