Where to stay in Amsterdam
Most visitors want to be near the water. The canal ring is organised around three main canals, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht, and that gives you an easy way to find your bearings. Inside the ring, the Singel is the older city moat. The Jordaan, a historic quarter that grew up around workers and craftspeople, lies in the buffer zone of the World Heritage site.
This page describes areas, not individual hotels. It also explains the taxes that change what you pay. If a canal cruise is part of your plan, look at Amsterdam canal cruises first, because a base near the canals makes boat trips easy to fit in.
Check current rates for places to stay in Amsterdam on Trip.com.
Amsterdam hotels by area
Where the main areas sit and what is close by.
| Area | Character | Close by |
|---|---|---|
| Herengracht and Keizersgracht | Planned as grand residential canals for wealthy merchants | The Golden Bend on the Herengracht, with very large mansions |
| Prinsengracht | More warehouse-style houses with pointed gables than the Herengracht | The Westerkerk and the house at Prinsengracht 263 |
| Jordaan | Former working-class and craft quarter | Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht |
| Nine Streets | Small shopping streets in the canal district | Shops and canal-house museums |
| Near a station | Quick links by train or bus | Amsterdam Centraal, 14 to 17 minutes by train from Schiphol |
For most first visits, a base inside the canal ring or in the Jordaan keeps the main sights within reach on foot, with the canals as your guide. Tell the hotel what matters to you and check the room description, because a location alone does not tell you what a room offers.
Amsterdam hotels and the tourist tax
What sits on top of the room rate in 2026.
The 12.5 percent tourist tax
The city charges 12.5 percent of the overnight price without VAT. It covers hotels, hostels, apartments, bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals and campsites. Check whether a quoted price includes it.
21 percent VAT
Since 1 January 2026, short stays in hotels, guesthouses and holiday accommodation carry 21 percent VAT. This also applies to stays in 2026 that were paid for in 2025. It is a national tax and separate from the city tourist tax.
The €15 day tax
The city's daily tourist tax of €15 applies to cruise-ship stopovers. It is not a general charge for every visitor and it is not added to each hotel night.
Holiday rentals
The tourist tax also covers apartments and short-term rentals. That does not mean every houseboat may be rented out. If you want to sleep afloat, read our houseboat guide and check the rules with the host.
Our picks: tours along the canals
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken day trip
- Clog-making demonstration
- Cheese making and tasting
- Boat ride to Marken
A live guide in English and Spanish rides with you on an air-conditioned coach. Going inside a working windmill is only part of the all-inclusive option.
Check availability →
Canal cruise with skipper and host
- Live commentary
- Local skipper and host
A canal cruise with live commentary. Unlimited drinks and small snacks belong only to the option that includes them, so pick that option when you book.
Check availability →Amsterdam tours and canal cruises
Canal cruises, walking and bike tours and day trips from Amsterdam, with live prices and availability.
Amsterdam hotels and getting around
If you arrive by air, the Schiphol train station sits directly below the terminal. Amsterdam Centraal is 14 to 17 minutes away, with eight trains an hour. Bus 397 runs by day, and the night bus N97 runs after dark, to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein. The Schiphol airport guide has the fares and the taxi rules.
Choose an area that suits how you will move. If you plan a Rijksmuseum visit, note that the museum needs a time slot, and the same goes for the Van Gogh Museum. For the full picture, see things to do in Amsterdam.
How to compare Amsterdam hotels
A short checklist before you book.
Compare the same basis
Compare prices only for the same dates and the same number of guests, and check whether the tourist tax and VAT are included. A price without the 12.5 percent tax is not the amount you pay.
Warehouse or merchant house
The Herengracht is mostly grand residential houses. The Prinsengracht and Uilenburg have more warehouse types. Both can sit in the same hotel search, so look at the address and the street, not only the name of the canal.
Think about your first day
Work out how you will arrive and where you will go first. From Schiphol, the train takes 14 to 17 minutes to Centraal, and bus 397 serves Museumplein.
Schiphol airport guide →Read the room details
A canal address does not tell you what a room offers. Check the room description and the house rules before you book.
Find your hotel in Amsterdam
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages to read next.
Jordaan and the Nine Streets
Two canal neighbourhoods, kept apart.
Prinsengracht
Canal houses, the Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House address.
Herengracht and Keizersgracht
The Golden Bend and the merchant houses.
Schiphol airport
Trains, taxis and transfers to the canals.
Amsterdam hotels: frequently asked questions
Which area suits a first visit to Amsterdam?
For a first visit, the canal ring and the Jordaan put the canals and many sights within walking distance. The right area depends on your plans.
How much tourist tax do I pay in Amsterdam?
The city charges 12.5 percent of the overnight price without VAT. It applies to hotels, hostels, apartments, bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals and campsites.
Has hotel VAT changed in 2026?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, short stays in hotels, guesthouses and holiday accommodation carry 21 percent VAT. The city tourist tax is a separate charge.
Do cruise passengers pay a different tax?
The city's daily tourist tax of €15 applies to cruise stopovers. It does not apply to every visitor, and it is not added on top of each hotel night.
Can I stay on a houseboat?
Do not assume it. The tourist tax covers short-term rentals, but that does not give every houseboat permission to be rented out. Check the rules with the host before you book.