WHERE TO STAY in AMSTERDAM – BEST HOTELS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
Amsterdam is one the most visited cities in Europe, and with good reason. Unsurprisingly, Amsterdam is one of our favorite cities, with 16 million people visiting each year to enjoy its tulips and cheese, windmills, and famously open attitude to everything.
Amsterdam is most well-known for its Red Light District and coffee shops, but its Golden Age mansions, and enchanting canals make us fall in love. Once you’ve decided what you want to see, it is time for you to choose where you will stay in Amsterdam. This will allow you to explore the city from the best location.
Melissa Adams, a local expert in Amsterdam, created a guide to where to stay in the center of Amsterdam and shared her tips for first-time tourists to Amsterdam.
Best Amsterdam Hotels – Straight to the Point
This Amsterdam neighborhood guide has been prepared for you. You don’t have much time and must find the best places to stay in Amsterdam. These are the top hotels for every budget.
Amsterdam’s Best Areas to Stay
Amsterdam is known for being compact and flat. It has more bicycles than people. You can explore the city on foot, on two wheels, or by using an excellent public transportation system. Walking is the best way to see sights and is very easy to navigate.
Amsterdam’s layout is so beautiful that many major attractions can be reached in a single day. You can easily navigate from Vondelpark, at the southern end of the city, to Central Station (at the northernmost point most tourists visit), in 30 minutes if you are familiar with the area.
It’s easy to get around Amsterdam if you imagine it as a half-onion inside. Canals are running around Dam Square. This is the basis of all our recommendations for Amsterdam hotels.
Centrum / Red Light District: Where to Stay in Amsterdam for First Timers
For first-time visitors to Amsterdam, the Historic Old Center is a great place to stay. This is the best place to stay if you want to be centrally located in Amsterdam. It is easy to walk to most of the main attractions in this central area. Dam Square is the historic heart of the city. This square was where the dam that protected the city from flooding in 13th-century Amsterdam kept it from becoming flooded. It is one of the most beautiful and oldest parts of the city.
You will find many coffee shops, brothels, peep shows and prostitutes (famous Red Light District), fine restaurants, historic churches and a craft brewery. Nearby Zeedijk is Amsterdam’s Chinatown. This area offers great Asian restaurants, gay bars and unique shops.
The Red Light District Walking Tour is an excellent introduction to Amsterdam’s oldest neighborhood. As your guide takes you through the area, learn about the women who work there, visit the coffee shops and see the oldest building in Amsterdam, the Prostitution Information Center.
This 400-year-old network has transformed into one of the most distinctive urban landscapes in the world. It is a historical backdrop to Amsterdam’s golden age monuments, such as the royal palace and gabled mansions. The Singel, Herengracht and Prinsengracht canals form concentrated loops. Grachtengordel is lined by historical landmarks, cultural venues and shopping streets.
- Enjoy a classic canal cruise along the UNESCO Heritage-listed canals. You’ll see the city’s highlights while sipping wine and tasting Dutch cheese.
There are many options for accommodation in this area. The city center has everything you need, from charming boutique hotels in the middle of the range to luxury hotels at the top.
Best Hotels in Centrum-Red Light District
Luxury: Sofitel Legend Grand
The hotel is located in Amsterdam City Center, just 5 minutes walk from Dam Square. You will find free WiFi, Nespresso machines and Bose entertainment systems. Also, a butler service.
Mid-Range The Exchange
This boutique hotel in Damrak is a mix of fashion and architecture. It overlooks Amsterdam’s Stock Exchange, founded in the early 20 century. Designers from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute have created 1- to 5-star rooms.
Budget: Meeting Point
Basic hostel located on the lively Warmoesstraat, bordering Red Light District. You will find bars, restaurants, coffee shops and nightlife nearby.
VRBO: Cozy Amsterdam Apartment Dam Square
This 1 bedroom apartment is located just a short walk from Dam Square. It has been recently renovated. This apartment is ideal for those looking to stay in Amsterdam’s heart.
Things to Do in Centrum (Amsterdam City Centre)
- Visit De Wallen, Amsterdam’s largest Red Light District.
- Stroll through the Royal Palace, once occupied Napolean.
- Enjoy a cup of coffee while you relax in Dam Square.
- De Oude Kerek, Amsterdam’s oldest building, is a must-see.
The Jordaan – Coolest Area In Amsterdam
The Jordaan was once a hub for radical politics and rowdy singalongs. However, it has transformed over the decades from a working-class neighborhood to an upscale area for arty professionals.
The picturesque district boasts cobbled streets, gabled homes, and tree-lined canals. It is also home to various art galleries, sidewalk cafes and trendy boutiques. The famous Anne Frank House is here, which we recommend you visit in Amsterdam. The Anne Frank Tour takes you through the Jewish Quarter, where you can learn about the fascinating Anne Frank story.
The Jordaan begins at Brouwersgracht, just west of Amsterdam Central Station. It wraps around the western Canal Ring, between Prinsengracht & Lijnbaansgracht, and ends at Leidsegracht.
The Jordaan is Amsterdam’s most famous neighborhood. It was originally a working-class area home to artists, immigrants and construction workers. Many of these workers were employed to dig the canals at the Grachtengordel. This is one of the most popular areas in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam was a cycling paradise. A bike tour is one of our favorite ways to see the city. The 3-hour bike tour takes you to the city’s top sights, from the Western Islands’ old warehouses to the Museum Quarter, Vondelpark and Jordaan.
The Jordaan’s Best Hotels
Luxury: Pulitzer
Gorgeous 5-star waterfront hotel with 25 restored 17 th-and 18 th_century canal houses. Excellent location close to the Nine Streets, Anne Frank House and other attractions. Modern art, original features, garden cafe, bar, restaurant.
Mid-Range: Amphora
A sophisticated B&B located on the ground floor in a canal house at the heart of Jordaan. Greet, and Niels, the owners, create custom mosaics and woodwork. Full kitchen, free WiFi, and bikes for rent
Budget: Hotel van Onna
A basic, family-run hotel located in three adjacent waterfront canal houses that date back to the 17 th century. It is easy to walk to Anne Frank House and other important sights. Included are WiFi and continental breakfast.
VRBO: Luxury Suite in The Jordaan
Air-conditioned Luxury Suite in a Mansion with a View of the Wolvenstraat. This room features a bathroom with two showers, a queen-sized bed, a flat-screen TV with internet, free WiFi, and coffee (Nespresso). This room is ideal for a couple.
Things to Do in The Jordaan
- Amsterdam’s most popular tourist attraction, The Anne Frank House.
- Papeneiland – Bill Clinton famously ate a piece of apple pie at this family-owned cafe, serving draft ales and Dutch fare for over 1642. It retains its 17th-century authenticity in one of the Jordaans’ most beautiful corners.
- Lindengracht Market Shop for organic produce and specialty foods at this Saturday street fair, established in 1894.