10 Best places to stay in Amsterdam

One of Amsterdam’s classiest traditional canal-front hotels, this heritage beauty has 56 guest rooms spread over 10 interconnected 17th-century gabled houses.

Many rooms have canal views, and are up in the eaves of the buildings amid a forest of beams. Chandeliers and antiques set the tone in the restful and elegant parquet-floored lounge and breakfast room.

The Ambassade is a favourite with writers: its library contains thousands of books signed by authors who have stayed at one time or another. If you like a heritage stay – this is a good choice.

It’s located on beautiful Herengracht, one of the city’s nicest and most atmospheric canals. It’s an ideal base to explore the city – close to all of the main attractions.

This small-scale canalfront hotel is one of the trendiest places to stay in Amsterdam.

Sleek designer fittings, moody colour schemes and contemporary still lifes and portraits give the 23 bedrooms an indulgent, boudoir feel.

The palatial Great Room, where top-notch breakfasts are served, and a decadent-looking bar with black leather seating, a wall of gilt-edged mirrors and an ornate, stuccoed ceiling, are equally striking.

The location is excellent – this is one of the nicest canals in the city, stocked with canal houses, and waterside cafes and restaurants. Step outside and you’re already charmed.

This glitzy, amenity-packed five-star is housed in two early 20th-century buildings, set opposite one another on the Spuistraat, just around the corner from the Royal Palace.

The larger, a former telephone exchange, is livelier, with scenesters flocking to the glass-walled W Lounge and rooftop pool and bar for adventurous cocktails and panoramic city views.

The quieter, more refined bank building is home to the gorgeous Michelin-starred brasserie, The Duchess, and the Away spa, situated below ground in the former vaults.

The hotel’s location though is excellent – you’re in the nicest, most picturesque part of the city, inside the Canal Ring.

Five 17th-century canal houses make up this retro-style boutique hotel, with more than half of its 111 rooms overlooking a particularly pretty stretch of the Herengracht.

Like its sister outposts in London and New York, The Hoxton draws a hip crowd with its cool vintage decor and low-key clubby vibe.

The living-room-like lobby bar is a favourite local hangout, while the sleek Lotti’s brasserie benefits from a retractable glass roof on warm days. Rooms are on the snug side, but feature lovely details such as classic herringbone floors and original beamed ceilings.

The hotel’s location is excellent – you’re in the nicest, most picturesque part of the city, inside the Canal Ring. From here you can wander or cycle Amsterdam’s lovely canals with ease. It’s a short tram ride to the big museum at Museumplein (Museum Square).

Twenty-five interlinked canal houses nestled between the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht form this luxurious hotel, a glorious fusion of the Golden Age and the modern day.

Bespoke contemporary furnishings in shades of teal and plum, contemporary art and quirky design touches enliven the historical interiors, from the common areas to the 225 guest rooms. The best and brightest of them overlook the canals, while the four cavernous themed Collector’s Suites boast private entrances.

The large garden courtyard is ideal for warm-weather drinking and dining, while the cosy, clubby Pulitzer’s Bar is a refined spot for a classic cocktail.

The convenient location in the Canal Ring is almost perfect. Step outside and you’re surrounded by all the cafes, bars and shopping of the Nine Streets and the quaint Jordaan.

Set in the trendy De Pijp neighbourhood, this property was the first in the Sir Hotels mini-chain, known for transforming historic buildings into affordable boutique boltholes.  

The 19th-century diamond-cutting factory now houses 90 stylish guest rooms, outfitted in a minimalist fashion with modern, dark-wood floors and furnishings. Many feature high ceilings, tall windows and canal views (albeit not one of the grander canals).  

There’s a cosy lobby lounge with a gas fireplace and comfy leather seating, but the real fun is at the adjacent Izakaya bar and restaurant, a buzzy local favourite serving Japanese-influenced small plates and unique shochu cocktails.

This upscale hotel from the trendy Kimpton brand gets top marks for location, just a five-minute walk from Centraal Station and close to the pedestrian shopping district and the major sites around Dam Square.

Though it’s housed in three 17th-century buildings, the property feels cool and contemporary, with chic coffee and cream-hued rooms, featuring classic works by Dutch artists.

An inviting, open-plan lobby features comfy seating areas where guests can enjoy free perks, including an all-day tea station and daily wine happy hour.

It’s also home to Super Lyan, a super-hip, neon-lit cocktail bar from the mastermind behind London’s White Lyan and Dandelyan, serving inventive cocktails in a fun, retro setting.

A top-notch location for art-lovers, this five-star is just a stone’s throw from Amsterdam’s Big Three museums – the Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk.

Italian designer Piero Lissoni transformed the 19th-century former music conservatory into a sleek, urbane oasis, while retaining many of the original Art Nouveau details of the landmark building.

A soaring, glass-enclosed atrium houses the lobby lounge and brasserie, outfitted with low-slung leather seating; a swanky gathering spot for well-heeled hotel guests and fashionable locals.

The 129 spacious bedrooms are modern and minimalist, dressed in muted tones and featuring luxurious limestone bathrooms. If you’re in need of pampering, the hotel’s Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre boasts a hammam and a Watsu pool for custom hydro-treatments.

Fans of contemporary art and cutting-edge design will delight in the seriously over-the-top interiors of this luxe canalfront hotel.

Styled by top Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, the public spaces are a riot of colourful, oversized furnishings complemented by avant-garde sculptures and looping experimental videos.

The quirky design scheme carries over to its 122 modern rooms, accented with Delft-inspired tiles and bold artwork. Join the fashionable crowd in the lobby’s sleek Bluespoon Bar for innovative craft cocktails.

The location here is excellent. You’re in the southern end of the character-filled Nine Streets, within the Canal Ring – the most picturesque part of the city. The big museums, designer shopping and Vondelpark are a short stroll away.

From the row of bright-green apples beside the bed, to the dapper black suits worn by staff, everything at The Dylan is designed with utmost precision.

Contemporary furnishings and striking colour (and lack of colour) schemes in public areas and bedrooms contrast yet combine well with the 17th-century canal-side buildings.

The Michelin-starred Vinkeles, which serves contemporary French dishes in the complex’s former bakery, offers some of the best fine dining in the city.