Amsterdam Hotels Guide

• Posted by: Editor
• On: 30/05/2007 16:54:25
• In: Amsterdam Travel Tips

(All city location images: © Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions 2004)  

Amsterdam city centre hotels…

If you want to be based right in the thick of the action, then choose a hotel either in Dam Square or Damrak. Dam Square could be considered the heartbeat of Amsterdam. It's a lively square home to stalls, restaurants, cafes, shops and top attractions like the Royal Palace, the National Memorial Statue, Madame Tussauds, the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) and one of the city's biggest shopping malls Magna Plaza. You're pretty much within walking distance of the city's other top attractions like Ann Frank House, the Historic Museum, the Flower Market and the Red Light District and if you're not up for walking in Amsterdam, you'll only have to hop on one of the frequent trams that pass you by.  So if you want to be based in or around Dam Square you could opt for a budget hotel like the Di Ann Hotel or an elegant 4 star hotel like the Swissotel Amsterdam.

Another excellent city centre option is to base yourself along the Damrak. This is a city centre street which runs from Dam Square all the way to Central Station (the city's main railway station). The famous former stock exchange building 'Beurs van Berlage' is located on this street. The Damrak is a very convenient option if you want to be close to Central Station, the Red Light District and the major shopping streets of Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat. Two major tram lines run along this street so it's very well connected with other parts of the city. If you want to book a hotel here then choose the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel, Hotel Terminus, Hotel Luxor, the Hotel Damrak, Hotel de Korenaer, the Damrak Inn Hotel or if you really want a city centre hotel, but at a low price, then stay at the 1 star Hotel Manofa.

Amsterdam hotels near Central Station…

Central Station, the city's transportation hub for trains and trams is located at the northern end of the Damrak. If you're arriving and departing in Amsterdam by train or if you just want to be close to tram connections then stay at the Singel Hotel, the Amstel Botel or the Hotel Terminus which are all found within a short walk of the station.

Amsterdam hotels in the Museum Quarter…

Also known as Museumplein or Oud Zuid (Old South), this is one of the city's most exclusive neighbourhoods. It's home to top attractions such as the Rijksmuseum – the country's national museum, the Nederlands Filmmuseum, the Concertgebouw concert hall, the Stedelijk modern art museum and, of course, the world famous Van Gogh Museum.

But that's not all – the Museum Quarter also boasts a superb green park called Museumplein and it's just a stone's throw from the famous shopping street of P.C. Hoofstraat and the vibrant nightlife area of Leidseplein. The Museum Quarter is mainly a residential neighbourhood, so it's the perfect base if don't want to be in the middle of it all yet you're just a short walk or tram ride away from everything. Our Amsterdam hotels in this area include the Gresham Memphis, the Bildeburg Hotel Jan Luyken,  the Hotel Omega, the Park Hotel or the 2 star Arco Hotel.

Amsterdam hotels near Vondelpark…

The Vondelpark is the name of the city's biggest park. As you stroll through this beautiful park you'll see the statue of the poet Vondel, the Film Museum and the cast iron music dome. The park is also home to no less than 6 play areas and one large playground called Groot Melkhuis. We've got four superb hotels located close to Vondelpark called the Park Plaza Vondel Amsterdam, the Hotel Vondel Amsterdam Centre, the Bastion Deluxe Hotel Centrum Zuidwest and the Apple Inn Hotel.

These hotels make a great base for your stay in Amsterdam as they're not only close to the Vondelpark, but also within short walking distance of the shopping street of P.C.Hoofstraat, the lively Leidseplein area and the Museum Quarter.

Amsterdam hotels for nightlife…

If your stay in Amsterdam is more about checking out its restaurants, bars and nightclubs then head for either Leidseplein and stay at the Tulip Inn Amsterdam or book yourself into the Eden Rembrant Square Hotel or the Best Western Eden Hotel which are both located in the busy Rembrandtplein area of the city.

Other Amsterdam hotels…

The Eastern Docklands area of the city has easy access to Central Station and the A10 ring road. It's also home to the Stedelijk (museum of modern art) and Nemo (museum of science and technology) museums. Lloyd Hotel & Cultural Embassy is situated in this fashionable part of the city and when you stay here you gain free access to the Cultural Embassy!

Not far from the Eastern Docklands is a quiet leafy residential area called Plantage Buurt. The Eden Lancaster Hotel is located in this area directly opposite the Artis Zoo and Planetarium. The vibrant Rembrandt Square with its lively bars and clubs and Waterloo Square, where there's no shortage of good restaurants, are just a stone's throw from the hotel and there's excellent tram connections to Dam Square and the rest of the city.

The family run Hotel Aalborg is located in a very pretty area just south of the city centre called The Pijp. This hotel's located opposite the popular city park of Sarphatipark and is walking distance to the Heineken Brewery and Albert Cuyp-market. The city centre and the RAI International Exhibition and Congress Centre are just a short tram ride.

If you want to be based on the north side of the city on the other side of the IJ Harbour, then stay at the modern Bastion Deluxe Hotel Centrum Noord. It's located in a peaceful suburb close to the famous shopping centre of Boven Het IJ and close to the ring road A-10. A quick bus ride from nearby the hotel will bring you to Central Station so you can explore the rest of the city with ease using the fabled tram system.

Check out the exclusive 5 star Bilderberg Garden Hotel if you're after somewhere stylish to stay while in Amsterdam. This top-notch hotel's located south west of the city centre just off the well known street Apollolaan. Stay here and you'll be close to the shopping area of Beethovenstraat, a short tram ride to the museum quarter and just about a 20 minute walk to the RAI International Exhibition and Congress Centre.

And if you really want to be apart from the city centre choose the Bastion Deluxe Hotel Amsterdam Amstel located in an area east of the city centre and close to Schiphol Airport, just off the A-10 Ring Road. This hotel's convenient to the RAI Exhibition Centre and Amsterdam Arena - the home of Ajax football club. Another option is the Golden Tulip Hotel Zaandam. This luxury 4 star hotel's located in a suburb called Zaandam which is about 12km from the city centre, but just a 12 minute train ride from the railway station which is just a few steps from the hotel door.

Amsterdam's airport hotels…

Schiphol Airport is the main airport in the Netherlands and one of the most important airports in mainland Europe. It lies about 17.5km south west of Amsterdam. You can take a train from the station (below the main lobby of the airport) bound for Central Station in the city centre and be there in about 15 minutes!

You can also opt to stay near the airport, which you'll find particularly handy if you've got an early morning flight or a late arrival. The Bastion Hotel Schiphol Hoofddorp, the Best Western Amsterdam Airport Hotel and the Hotel Schiphol A4 are situated really close to the airport and offer complimentary shuttle buses to and from the airport. The plush 5 star Radisson SAS Hotel is located in the Schiphol-Rijk business park, which is located just a short distance (about 5kms) from the airport. Guests who stay here can avail of the hotels shuttle bus to and from the airport.

Before you hurry off to book one of our hotels remember, no matter where you stay in Amsterdam you'll be well connected to all the top attractions with the city's ever friendly and efficient tram service. Of course you could always hire a bike and explore the city for yourself or hire a car with our sister website Novacarhire.com and venture into the surrounding countryside and towns.

Hope this helps you when booking your Amsterdam hotel. If you've any queries about hotels or about the city itself just drop us a line in the comment box below and we'll do our best to help.