Hotels in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Best time to visit Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s unique charm and rich history draws people to this beautiful city year-round. From April – May, the canals and bridges enjoy a picture-perfect backdrop of the fresh spring blooms, including tulips in myriad colors. June – August is peak tourist season when you will have to deal with crowded public transport, long lineups to enter popular attractions, and higher hotel rates. September – October is a good time to visit Amsterdam. With fewer crowds, beautiful fall foliage, and reasonable hotel rates, you can explore the city at a leisurely pace. From November – March, the weather is slightly dreary, but the smooth snow blanket enveloping the city gives it an added charm. Hotel rates drop dramatically during this time. Try to avoid some of the crowded and pricey weekends, such as Queen’s Day, Liberation Day, and New Year’s Day. The occurrence of rain and strong winds tends to be slightly unpredictable, so remember to carry a light rain jacket and dress in layers.

Getting around Amsterdam

Finding your way around Amsterdam is quite easy. The attractions around Centrum or Museum Quarter can be easily explored on foot. The city also has a robust public transport system operated by GVB, including trams, trains, buses, ferries, and the metro system. The tickets are integrated across all modes of travel and allow unlimited travel and transfers within the pre-fixed time validity. If you plan to use public transport multiple times in the day, buy the GVB day ticket that costs €7.50 EUR, and allows you unlimited travel across all GVB routes for up to 24 hours. Metered taxis are easily available at any time. Pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds can travel between the northern and southern parts of the city using a free ferry connection to cross River IJ. A true Amsterdam experience is incomplete without riding a bike. You have the option to explore the city on wide bike-friendly streets throughout your stay, or hire a bike just for a few hours to enjoy a leisurely ride on narrow streets and alleys alongside the canals.

Best places to stay in Amsterdam

A charming city with a deep appreciation for history, culture and architecture, Amsterdam attracts a wide range of travelers including happy cyclists, laidback beer aficionados, romantic canal-life lovers, and museum and art enthusiasts. The city has several small neighborhoods that extend to the north and south of River IJ. Here are a few popular areas that are close to tourist attractions, and promise a quintessential Amsterdam experience.

Centrum

Centrum is the central part of the city and includes Oude Zijds (Old Side), Nieuwezijds (New Side), and the Red Light District. This area is home to several popular attractions, including the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Museum, and Amsterdam’s oldest building called Oude Kerk (Old Church). A minute’s walk from Amsterdam Centraal station, stay in the sleek contemporary rooms centered around individual artwork in the Art’otel hotel. A 5-minute walk from the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, and next door to the Red Light District, you have the Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam Hotel, a ritzy hotel that offers spacious rooms, luxurious amenities, and a beautiful garden terrace.

De Pijp

A hip neighborhood in the southern part of Amsterdam, De Pijp is home to the interactive Heineken Experience museum. You will also find plenty of pubs and cafés along the chic Ferdinand Bolstraat, a huge variety of Dutch produce at the Albert Cuyp Market, and a host of ethnic restaurants all over this area. Enjoy boutique-style accommodation in Volkshotel, which is a hotel, club, exhibition space, and restaurant, all rolled into one. Amid the shops and cafés of the vibrant Ferdinand Bolstraat, check out the chic rooms and suites in the luxurious Hotel Okura Amsterdam.

The Jordaan

This is a charming neighborhood that stretches along the canals in the northern side of the city, with a quaint, medieval vibe. Its cobbled streets are filled with galleries, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and historical homes. This area is also home to the bustling Lindengracht Market, one of the best food markets in the city, with over 250 stalls and market stands. In the heart of The Jordaan, overlooking the Keizersgracht canal, you have Canal House, a boutique hotel that promises glamorous rooms, and a comfortable stay. You can check out the individually designed suites named after famous figures in the art and literary worlds at the award-winning hotel Seven One Seven on Prinsengracht canal.

Canal Belt

A picturesque neighborhood, Canal Belt features a series of tree and lamp-lined canals that wrap around the city center. This area also includes attractions such as the Anne Frank House, and Negen Straatjes (9 little streets). On the prestigious Herengracht canal, set in a row of 10 Golden-Age canal houses, you have the Ambassade Hotel, a luxurious boutique hotel with lavishly decorated rooms offering exclusive canal views. On the same canal, check out Banks Mansion hotel that offers warm, Art-Deco styled rooms, and several complimentary extras.

Museum Quarter

In a city that boasts gorgeous canals, vibrant culture, a rich history, and awe-inspiring art and architecture, there is always a never-ending list of things to see and do. Here is a list that includes some popular attractions and blends in a few fun activities that are off the well-trodden tourist path.

• Head to Museumplein to soak in some culture and go museum-hopping to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art.
• In The Jordaan, go on a shopping spree at the independent boutiques, vintage shops, and specialty stores in the narrow streets of Negen Straatjes that originate from the Prinsengracht canal.
• Book a guided boat tour or a hop-on hop-off canal cruise to click quintessential images of Amsterdam along the 17th-century UNESCO protected Canal Belt.
• Visit the Anne Frank House, where the young diarist and her family stayed in hiding for over 2 years during World War II.
• Spend a few hours exploring the 47 acres of beautiful Vondelpark. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, a picnic lunch, or bike around in the park. It is a tranquil place to relax and people-watch.
• Try the raw herring, a Dutch specialty, at one of the haringhandels (herring carts) that you spot all over the city. If you ask for a ‘broodje haring’, you will get the fish served in a small sandwich with pickles and onions.
• Go for a 30-minute guided beer-tasting tour at the award-winning artisan microbrewery Brouwerij ‘t IJ under the De Gooyer windmill.
• Check out the food markets, mini festivals, arthouse cinema, and a host of cafés and restaurants at the Westergasfabriek, a former industrial complex transformed into a colorful, cultural hub in the Westerpark neighborhood.
• In tulip season, treat yourself to an extravaganza of colors when you head to the flower stalls of Bloemenmarkt, the world’s only floating flower market. Don’t miss a trip to Bollenstreek, just a 20-minute drive from the city, and see the tulip fields stretch out into colorful stripes across miles of lowland fields.
• Wander around open-air exhibitions, markets, and a large paddling pool in the leafy 19th-century district of Oud-Zuid.
• Catch the free ferry to Amsterdam North and get a glimpse of the vibrant food, drink, and cultural scene burgeoning around the NDSM Wharf along the banks of the River IJ.