Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Areas and Top-Rated Hotels
Where to stay in Amsterdam? The canal ring, Jordaan, the Museum Quarter and De Pijp; getting in from Schiphol, choosing a hotel, and top-rated hotels.
Central Amsterdam is small and walkable, but hotels are expensive and fill up fast. Choosing the right area shapes both your budget and how you explore. This guide covers the areas, getting in from the airport, and what to check when choosing a hotel. A list of top-rated hotels follows at the end.
Areas of Amsterdam
- Centrum and the canal ring: The UNESCO-listed 17th-century canals, Dam Square and the area around Centraal Station.
- Jordaan: Quiet canal-side streets, cafés and small galleries.
- Museumkwartier: The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and Vondelpark. Calmer and upmarket.
- De Pijp: A lively area with the Albert Cuyp market and many restaurants.
- Oost: Around Oosterpark and Artis Zoo, a short tram ride from the centre.
- Noord: Across the IJ, linked by free ferries from behind Centraal Station.
Getting in from the airport
- Schiphol (AMS): Trains from the station beneath the airport run frequently and non-stop to Amsterdam Centraal. Buses also serve the city centre.
- Getting around: Trams, metro, buses and ferries cover the city. Contactless bank cards work on public transport.
What to check when choosing a hotel
- Tourist tax: Amsterdam’s tourist tax is a percentage of the room price. Check whether the price includes it.
- Stairs and lifts: Canal-house hotels have steep stairs and often no lift. Check if you travel with heavy luggage.
- Outside the centre: Hotels further out can be cheaper; make sure they are close to a train or metro line.
- Book early: Central hotels fill up quickly at weekends and during events.
Amsterdam in numbers
- Places to stay: Kolay Seyahat lists 2,297 properties in Amsterdam (hotels, apartments, guesthouses and more). See all Amsterdam hotels, or browse 5-star hotels in Amsterdam, 4-star hotels in Amsterdam, 3-star hotels in Amsterdam.
- Flights from Istanbul: Across 61 flight dates between 22 August 2026 and 21 October 2026, our fare checks found a lowest one-way fare of TRY 6,145 and a median of TRY 11,870 (1 adult, economy, taxes included). On 36% of those days the cheapest option was a non-stop flight. See current fares on the Istanbul–Amsterdam fare calendar.
Top-rated hotels in Amsterdam
The “Featured Hotels” list below is built from data, not picked by hand: properties in Amsterdam with photos, at least 5 guest reviews and a score of 8.0 or higher out of 10, ranked by number of reviews (October 2026). Scores come from reviews by guests who stayed at the property. The top three are Nadia Hotel (8.14 · 9 reviews), Corendon Amsterdam New-West, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (8.0 · 9 reviews), Hans Brinker Hostel (8.35 · 8 reviews). Open a hotel’s page for current prices and availability.
Cover photo: Mathias Reding / Pexels
