Hotels in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Best time to visit Amsterdam

Amsterdam attracts a steady stream of visitors round the year. Summer months from June – August are the peak tourist season. Large crowds come in to enjoy Amsterdam’s festivals and events, picnic lunches in the parks, Al-fresco-style dining, and all the beach related activities. Expect hotel rates to be higher during this time. To avoid the peak tourist season, visit between April – May or September – October. On certain weekends in April – May, a large number of visitors come to the city for the breathtaking sights and burst of colour from the tulip blooms. If you don’t mind the winter temperatures that dip to around 0 – 5 degrees Celsius, you might find some attractive bargains on hotel bookings and air fares between November – March. The weeks around Christmas and New Year are also a beautiful time to see the city glowing under scores of decorative lights. Be prepared, however, for high hotel tariffs and air fares.

Getting around Amsterdam

The most refreshing way to explore Amsterdam is by hiring a bike and cycling along the wide bike-friendly streets. Amsterdam’s impressive public transportation system is operated by GVB and includes trams, ferries, trains, buses, and the metro system. A GVB 1-hour ticket costs €2.90 EUR and allows you to travel on all GVB routes, regardless of transfers and distance covered within the hour. A GVB day ticket is available for €7.50 EUR. Consider investing in an Amsterdam City Card to get unlimited access to all GVB public transportation in 24, 48 or 72-hour increments. You can hail a metered taxi on the streets at any time of the day. The city’s ferries provide a free connection to pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds wanting to go across River IJ. For all other ferry services, the regular GVB time-based ticketing applies.

Best places to stay in Amsterdam

In the beautiful metropolis of Amsterdam, ancient architecture dominates the skyline, and narrow streets wind along the historic canals and picturesque bridges. The city is a haven for museum and art lovers, and proudly showcases its vibrant al-fresco dining culture. Its neighbourhoods welcome all types of travellers, and cater to a wide range of moods and preferences.

Centrum

The most popular neighbourhood among tourists, Centrum is the oldest part of Amsterdam. Most of the popular sites and attractions are in this area. It’s also home to the Red Light District and the Kalverstraat shopping street. Stay in trendy, modern rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows in the stylish 4-star Hotel V Nesplein, steps away from the famous Dam Square. Just a minute’s walk from the Amsterdam Centraal station, you can look at the art’otel Amsterdam, a modern boutique-style hotel that offers sleek rooms, contemporary décor and original art.

The Jordaan

A charming neighbourhood with quaint streets and canals, The Jordaan has a sassy village-like vibe. It’s also home to the landmark Anne Frank House. In a beautifully restored building in the heart of The Jordaan, you have Hotel Il Fiore that offers tastefully decorated rooms with stunning views of the Lindengracht street and markets. You can also look at the Amsterdam Wiechmann Hotel, a quaint structure set in 2 townhouses overlooking the Prinsengracht canal. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the hotel is a 9-minute walk from the Anne Frank House.

Canal Belt (Grachtengordel) / 9 Little Streets (Negen Straatjes)

A UNESCO protected area, the Canal Belt has been preserved to look just the way it did almost 400 years ago. This beautiful picture-postcard neighbourhood has a wide choice of designer hotels, boutique shops and cafés. Enjoy the stylish rooms with quirky modern furnishings in The Hoxton, a chic hotel set in storied canal houses on the prestigious Herengracht canal. You can also look at Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam, an elegant upmarket hotel spread over an intricate maze of 25 connecting canal houses, featuring posh, individually decorated rooms.

De Pijp

A lively neighbourhood with a hip vibe, De Pijp gives you a flavour of the local life while being in close proximity to the popular tourist sites and attractions. The area is densely packed with several small shops, cool cafés and bars. It’s home to the Albert Cuypmarkt street market which specializes in Dutch produce and cuisine. On this street, you have the Sir Albert hotel set in a 19th-century former diamond factory with contemporary rooms featuring award-winning designer interiors. For luxury accommodation, consider the Hotel Okura Amsterdam which offers stylish and refined rooms overlooking the romantic streets along the 16th – 18th century canals in the heart of De Pijp.

Museum Quarter

This is a posh neighbourhood home to world class museums, luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, and the leafy and sprawling Vondelpark. Consider the upscale Hilton Amsterdam that features chic, Dutch-style rooms and suites. This hotel is steeped in history, as it is the privileged location where John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their first ‘Bed-in for Peace’ in 1969. For a mid-range budget option, check out The Neighbour’s Magnolia Hotel, a family-run boutique-style B&B with modern rooms styled in soft pastel colours. The hotel is just a 6-minute walk from Vondelpark.

Cheap hotels in Amsterdam

There are several reasonably priced and affordable boutique hotels in every neighbourhood in Amsterdam. Most of them offer an excellent location amid the shops and restaurants in that area. Check out Hotel CC, a modern hotel that offers clean, cozy rooms, and is surrounded by restaurants, cafés and bars in the heart of Centrum. In the Amsterdam Canal Belt area, consider the 1813-dated Hotel Prisenhof, a modest hotel with spacious and tastefully decorated rooms, set in an elegant, 19th-century canal-side building. Enjoy the simple rooms with wood floors and furnishings in Mr. Jordaan Hotel, located on a quiet tree-lined street along the 17th-century Bloemgracht canal. Another reasonably-priced accommodation in the Canal Belt area is Hotel Sebastian’s, set in a chic townhouse on the beautiful Keizersgracht.

Amsterdam caters to a varied set of visitors and a range of tourist preferences, including laidback canal life seekers, art and culture enthusiasts, museum maniacs, beach-goers, and those who enjoy al-fresco dining and picnic lunches in parks. There is much to see and do in Amsterdam. Plan your itinerary keeping some of these activities and attractions in mind.

• Go on an art-appreciation trip. Admire a large collection of art, and over 800 years of Dutch history, including the Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum. Trace Van Gogh’s life and see over 200 original paintings made by the artist himself, at the Van Gogh Museum. Check out the cutting-edge art installations at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam dedicated to contemporary art and design.
• Choose from over 75 different museums to go museum-hopping in the city. Some of the not-to-be-missed ones include NEMO Science Museum for interactive technology and hands-on science, National Maritime Museum to know about Dutch maritime history, and the Museum of Bags and Purses, the largest exhibit of its kind in the world showing the history of the handbag from the Middle Ages to the present time.
• Visit the Anne Frank House where the famous young diarist stayed in hiding for more than 2 years during World War II.
• Tour the magnificent Royal Palace Amsterdam, and learn about its rich heritage and tapestry as you wander through several ornately decorated stately rooms.
• Sample several local and international delicacies and enjoy your favourite brew as you explore Foodhallen, an international food hall set in former tram sheds.
• Attend classical concerts free of charge for 30 minutes on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm during June – September. These take place at the 1888-built Het Concertgebouw concert hall near Vondelpark.
• Head to the Amsterdam Bos to enjoy a day of hiking, swimming, and picnic lunches in the lush green park.
• Attend some of the festivals or events that the city hosts all year round. The notable ones include Pluk de Nacht (10-day long open-air film festival), Aprilfeesten (week-long music and food fair), and Amsterdam Light Festival (month-long winter festival of lights, arts, and water).
• Wander around the Canal Ring neighbourhood that features 17th century houses and mansions, white drawbridges, and over 300 years of history.
• Satisfy your curiosity about the infamous De Wallen, the most talked about Red Light District in the world. Follow the stated rules as you wander the streets of this neighbourhood, and watch beautiful women luring customers from behind glowing red windows.
• In the De Wallen area, make a short stop to admire the glorious Medieval roof of the oldest building in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk.