Cheap accommodation in Amsterdam: what you need to know
Yes, the hotel prices in Amsterdam knock our socks off too. So that you can still experience Amsterdam without having to pay exorbitant prices, we share our know-how with you:
What is a good and affordable hotel for us in Amsterdam?
For us, a good and affordable hotel in Amsterdam has to fulfill one main purpose:
We want to feel comfortable when we come back to the hotel after a long day of sightseeing.
In order to meet this requirement, a hotel does not have to win a design award, but simply has to be clean, offer good connections or proximity to the city center and, in the best case, also have a breakfast option.
And we are already happy.
How do you find a good and affordable hotel in Amsterdam?
Hotel prices in Amsterdam have risen rapidly in recent years. Every year it costs more to book.
That’s why we have now developed a personal battle plan so that we can still travel to Amsterdam more or less regularly.
These are our top tips for finding cheap hotels in Amsterdam:
#1 Book early enough! Early booking discounts make a lot of difference.
#2 Travel in the low season. Amsterdam is cheapest from October to February.
#3 Book a hotel outside the city. They are often cheaper, but still well connected to the center.
#4 Hostels are a great alternative. They may not always be too pretty, but they are cheap. And there are really good hostels with private rooms and breakfast.
Our recommendation
Amsterdam is not like London. In Amsterdam, it’s perfectly okay to spend the night outside the city center.
You can get to the city center quickly and cheaply by train or with a transport service such as Uber or Bolt.
That’s what we do now to save a few euros on accommodation.
We can highly recommend the Olympic Hotel and the Volkshotel from our own experience. Both hotels are great value for money and have excellent public transport connections to the city center.
Orientation: Cheap hotels in Amsterdam on the map
For better orientation, we have marked our recommended cheap hotels in Amsterdam, the central station and two important sights on a map.
Cheap hotels outside the city center
Outside the city center, Amsterdam is pleasantly quiet and, above all, cheaper than in the center. You don’t have to make any compromises here to be able to stay well and cheaply:
Volkshotel Amsterdam
The Volkshotel is our top tip among the cheap hotels in Amsterdam!
If you like it creative and are into urban lifestyle, you’ve come to the right place.
From the fair price, to the modern concept, to the super cool mix of people in the hotel, everything is just right.
The Volkshotel offers individual rooms from around 100 euros a night or sleeping cabins for under 70 euros. Great prices for an Amsterdam weekend getaway.
You can also expect a great rooftop bar with a fantastic view over the city and you have the option of booking daily breakfast and even wellness offers.
And the connection to the city center is at least as great as the hotel. From Wibautstraat, you can be at the central Waterlooplein, in the middle of the canal belt, in under 5 minutes by train.
To the Volkshotel Amsterdam
WestCord Fashion Hotel
The WestCord Fashion Hotel is chic and affordable. Yes, that’s actually possible.
In the low season, you can even get rooms here for less than 120 euros! That’s otherwise unthinkable in Amsterdam.
There is a great breakfast in the morning and in the evening you can relax from sightseeing in the spa and wellness area with indoor pool.
The hotel is located in Amsterdam-West, in a pleasantly quiet location next to Rembrandtpark. There are several train stops in the immediate vicinity.
From Surinameplein, you can be at the Rijksmuseum in under 15 minutes. From here, you can easily reach everything on foot.
To the WestCord Fashion Hotel
Olympic Hotel Amsterdam
The Olympic Hotel also impressed us with its fair prices, really chic design and first-class service.
The hotel offers breakfast options, an in-house restaurant, room service, a terrace and a bar. So you don’t have to make any compromises here and can still save money.
We also really like the floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms and the view over the city. A little dream for the price.
And the connection to the city center is also perfect. From the nearby IJsbaanpad stop, it takes around 25 minutes to get to the Rijksmuseum.
To the Olympic Hotel Amsterdam
Urban Lodge Hotel
The Urban Lodge Hotel is also great value for money.
At an average of 120 to 250 euros per night, you really can’t complain here.
We really like the rooms with their sweet combination of Dutch country house style and modern furnishings. Including white and blue, hand-painted tiles in the bathrooms.
In addition to the beautiful design, the good breakfast and excellent connections to the center of Amsterdam are also impressive. It takes around 15 minutes to get from the Sloterdijk stop to the Rozengracht, near the Anne Frank House.
To the Urban Lodge Hotel
MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam
Finding good and affordable family hotels in Amsterdam is a real challenge. However, the Meininger Hotel is a great option in our eyes.
Here you can even pay less than 150 euros for an overnight stay in the high season. In the low season, there are even offers for less than 80 euros per night.
The Meininger also offers good breakfast options and extra beds for small children. Dogs are also allowed in the hotel.
The location and connections are impressive. The Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station is right next to the hotel. From here, you can be at the Westermarkt, near the Anne Frank House, in around 25 minutes.
New West Inn Amsterdam
Funnily enough, the New West Inn in Amsterdam-West is the only hotel on our list that is cheaper in the high season than in the low season.
In spring and summer, you pay an average of 120 euros per night here. In fall and winter, it’s a whole 300 euros.
The façade may look less inviting, but you don’t have to make any compromises inside.
The New West Inn offers spacious rooms, a good breakfast, a bar and even a small fitness center and solarium.
The nearest train station is Hoekenes. From here it takes about 30 minutes to get to the Rijksmuseum and the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.
To the New West Inn Amsterdam
Cheap hotels in the center of Amsterdam
The advantage of staying overnight in the center of Amsterdam is that all of Amsterdam’s sights are super close and you don’t necessarily have to use public transport.
However, you’ll need a lot of luck to find hotels for under 200 euros a night. We will show you central, affordable hotels that convince us:
Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Landmark
Penthouse style in Amsterdam? It is possible. At the Inntel Hotel on Amsterdam’s harbor.
The hotel is super modern, with an industrial touch and affordable despite its perfect location and fantastic view.
In the low season, you pay less than 200 euros for an overnight stay. And even in the high season, the prices are fully justifiable.
However, the hotel is also booked out very quickly. That’s why you should always book early at Inntel.
We are most impressed by the Panorama City double room. In this room you have plenty of space and a wonderful panoramic view of the harbor without having to pay extra for the luxury.
In addition to a good breakfast, the Inntel Hotel also offers an in-house restaurant, a bar and an indoor pool.
To the Inntel Hotel Amsterdam
Hotel CC Amsterdam
At Hotel CC, you stay right in the middle of the action. In the oldest district of Amsterdam – De Wallen.
The hotel is a beautiful, historic canal house located north of Amsterdam’s famous red light district.
Both the main train station and the harbor as well as all sights are within walking distance.
From August to February, you pay less than 200 euros for an overnight stay at the Hotel CC. And now watch out: In January and February, there are even rooms for less than 100 euros! In the high season, accommodation is comparatively expensive.
The rooms vary greatly in size. Our favorites are, of course, the rooms with a canal view. And on average, you only pay around 10 euros more than for a room without a beautiful view.
There is also a good breakfast selection and coffee and tea in all rooms.
To the Hotel CC Amsterdam
ibis Amsterdam Centre
The ibis Amsterdam Centre offers consistently fair prices all year round. As in most cases, you pay a little more in the high season than in the low season.
The average price for an overnight stay is around 200 euros.
Otherwise, the hotel naturally impresses with the typical, good ibis concept of a cozy atmosphere, good breakfast, in-house restaurant and bar and modern design.
The location at the central station is perfect for a short trip to Amsterdam. The ibis is really only a stone’s throw away from Amsterdam Centraal. And you can also easily reach all the sights on foot.
To the ibis Amsterdam Center
Cheap hotel alternatives in Amsterdam
Not in the mood for a normal hotel? Then take a look at these cool hotel alternatives in Amsterdam. They’re really cheap and really special:
De Bedstee Boutique Capsules
De Bedstee is a super cute capsule hotel in Dutch vintage style.
Capsule hotel means that you don’t sleep in a normal room, but in a capsule. And it basically consists of a bed – single or double – and some space for your belongings. Of course, you can still lock up.
In addition to the private capsules, De Bedstee has a large shared bathroom, a launderette and a good breakfast.
Because the capsule hotel is a hotel in mini format, you also pay around half the normal hotel prices for everything. In the high season, an overnight stay costs between 100 and 200 euros. In the low season, just under 90 to 100 euros.
In addition to the fair prices, the location is also really great. De Bedstee is close to the Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum. It is therefore not absolutely necessary to use public transport. You can easily reach everything on foot.
To the De Bedstee Boutique Capsules
THIS HO(S)TEL
Another good and affordable hotel alternative in Amsterdam is the This Ho(s)tel. It’s a cool mix of hotel and hostel.
You can choose between a normal but very small room and a capsule. Depending on your choice, the price will vary accordingly. You pay around 20 euros more for a room than for a capsule.
On average, you pay 150 euros per night at This Ho(s)tel. In the low season it is 100 euros.
In addition to affordable accommodation, This Ho(s)tel also offers a good breakfast, a modern shared bathroom, a bar and a terrace.
But the highlight is definitely the location. You are only a 7-minute walk from the main train station and a 10-minute walk from the central Damplatz.
To THIS HO(S)TEL
ClinkNOORD Hostel
A great budget accommodation for young people in Amsterdam is the ClinkNOORD Hostel.
The hostel offers private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, mixed dormitories and female dormitories.
You pay an average of 200 euros per night for a private double room. The cheapest option is a bed in a large dormitory for around 60 euros.
We really like the fact that the hostel offers workspaces as well as an optional breakfast buffet. For example, an atrium, a lounge area, a café and a library.
However, due to its location in the north of Amsterdam, you are forced to take the free ferry from Buiksloterweg to Centraal Station across the IJ every time. This is the only way to get to the city center.
To the ClinkNOORD Hostel
Hostelle – women only hostel
Hostelle is also good, cheap and safe. An Amsterdam hostel for women only.
Here you share a dormitory with 3 to 11 other women and pay between 30 and 100 euros per night.
In addition to the dormitories, the hostel has a shared bathroom, a garden, a library and a laundry service.
Breakfast is not available. However, the hostel provides a fridge, microwave and kettle so that you can cater for yourself.
The location near the Johan Cruijff ArenA offers good connections to the city center. You can be at the Rijksmuseum in 30 minutes by train.
To the Hostelle Amsterdam
These were our tips for cheap hotels in Amsterdam!
Do you have any tips for cheap accommodation in Amsterdam? Then write us a comment. We look forward to hearing from you!