Centraal Station is where most Amsterdam trips begin. Fast trains link it to Schiphol Airport, and the Eurostar runs direct from London. The free ferries to Noord leave from right behind the station.
The surrounding streets buzz with life. Haarlemmerstraat is lined with cafés and independent shops, Nieuwmarkt's terraces stay busy from morning to night, and some of the city's oldest brown cafés are just a few minutes' walk away. Our picks, all a short walk from the station, include stylish design hotels in landmark buildings and intimate canal-house boutiques on the Singel and the Keizersgracht.
They also make a perfect base for day trips to Haarlem, Utrecht or the windmills of Zaanse Schans. Step off the train, and you'll be checking in within minutes.
The 7 best hotels near Centraal Station, Amsterdam
Deep colours, low lighting and canal-view rooms with bathtubs, at the quiet northern end of the Keizersgracht, close to the Jordaan.
Boutique
Room sizes from 18 m²Read the full story
Keizersgracht, near the Brouwersgracht
Hotel Sebastian stands a few steps from the Brouwersgracht, often called one of Amsterdam's most beautiful canals. Café 't Papeneiland, a traditional brown café dating from the 17th century, is a three-minute walk away. The Noordermarkt, on the edge of the Jordaan, holds a popular farmers' market every Saturday. The Anne Frank House is a convenient seven-minute walk away, and Dam Square is about ten minutes away.
Moody, Atmospheric Interiors
Deep colours, rich fabrics and atmospheric lighting give the hotel an intimate, moody style that sets it apart from other boutique hotels in the city.
Rooms for Couples & Families
Rooms range from small doubles to larger rooms with a bathtub. Quadruple rooms sleep four, and the family room sleeps up to six. Many overlook the canal, while others face the quieter garden. All have air conditioning, soundproofing, blackout curtains and a minibar.
Breakfast & Bar
There is no restaurant, but breakfast is well reviewed, and the small bar is a good place for a cocktail before dinner in the Jordaan.
Each room celebrates a Dutch trade, from mapmaking to shoemaking, in a canal house ten minutes from Centraal Station.
Boutique
Room sizes from 19 m²Read the full story
On the Singel, near Centraal Station
The Craftsmen sits on a quiet stretch of the Singel, the innermost of the city's ring canals, about ten minutes' walk from Centraal Station. The western canals and the Jordaan are close by, with their pretty bridges, galleries and brown cafés. Dam Square and the Nine Streets are also a short walk away. The Nieuwezijds Kolk tram stop is about three minutes away.
Inspired by Dutch Craftsmanship
For decades, this was the Hotel Brouwer. Today, each room celebrates a traditional Dutch trade, from the cartographer to the shoemaker. Upcycled antiques and handmade details run throughout, including lamps made from old tools and an aircraft door reused as a wardrobe.
Individually Themed Rooms
Each room has its own character, from cosy doubles like The Cartographer to the loft-style Aeroplane Builder, which offers extra space. All have premium bedding, a walk-in shower, and an in-room safe, and most overlook the canal.
Breakfast & the Gallery
Breakfast can be served in your room or in the Gallery, and is carefully prepared. In the evening, the Gallery becomes a relaxed spot for drinks and small plates.
Two 17th-century buildings with bold, playful Dutch design, five minutes from Centraal Station and home to an acclaimed cocktail bar.
Luxury
Trendy
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Sustainable
On-site parking
Room sizes from 18 m²Read the full story
Between Centraal Station & Dam Square
Kimpton De Witt is on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, one of the main streets into the historic centre. Centraal Station is a five-minute walk away, and Dam Square and the Royal Palace are a short walk. To the west lie the Nine Streets and the Jordaan, two of the city's most attractive neighbourhoods for shopping, cafés and canal-side strolls.
Playful Dutch Design
The hotel opened in 2017 as the first Kimpton outside the United States. Designer Jacu Strauss kept the original beamed ceilings of the two 17th-century buildings. He then added bold art, humour and plenty of references to Dutch culture.
Colourful Rooms & Family Options
Most rooms are in the modern wing, decorated in blues and greens inspired by Delft tiles, with playful touches such as bird-shaped reading lamps. Premium rooms include a triple-occupancy category, and a Premium room with two double beds can accommodate families of four. The penthouse has its own rooftop terrace, spiral staircase and fireplace.
Super Lyan & Celia
Super Lyan is the cocktail bar created by acclaimed bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, known as Mr Lyan. It sits in a third historic townhouse and has been ranked among Europe's best bars. Upstairs, Celia serves modern American cooking with a Californian influence.
Freestanding baths, a snug bar and much-praised breakfasts, on the quieter harbour side of the old centre, ten minutes from Centraal Station.
Boutique
Room sizes from 15 m²Read the full story
Prins Hendrikkade, near Nieuwmarkt
The Hendrick's sits on Prins Hendrikkade, along Amsterdam's old harbour front. Nieuwmarkt is a seven-minute walk away, a lively square ringed by cafés and restaurants around the medieval Waag. From here, streets lead to Chinatown and the old centre, and Dam Square is about a 12-minute walk away. NEMO and the Scheepvaartmuseum are also within walking distance.
Classic Dutch Style with a Maritime Touch
The interiors blend traditional Dutch character with modern comfort. Warm colours and elegant details are paired with subtle references to the city's seafaring past, and a fire burns in the lobby.
Cosy Doubles to Junior Suites
Entry-level rooms are cosy doubles, with several larger categories for more space, up to superior rooms and junior suites. All have air conditioning, rainfall showers, espresso machines and minibars. Some superior rooms have a large freestanding bathtub, and interconnecting rooms are available for families or friends travelling together.
Breakfast, Café & Bar
Breakfast is one of the hotel's strengths and is consistently praised by guests. During the day, a small café is available, and the snug bar is a pleasant spot for an evening drink.
Step off the train into a hotel full of contemporary art, with an indoor pool and a much-praised Portuguese restaurant.
Trendy
Swimming pool
Spa
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Pet friendly
Sustainable
Room sizes from 25 m²Read the full story
Opposite Centraal Station
Step off the train, and you're practically at the door. art'otel fills a grand historic building on Prins Hendrikkade, directly opposite Centraal Station, where trains, trams and the metro fan out across the city. Dam Square is a short walk down Damrak, and the Nine Streets, with their independent boutiques and canal-side cafés, are within easy reach.
A Hotel Built around Contemporary Art
The Rotterdam studio Atelier Van Lieshout created the sculptures, installations and furniture found throughout the hotel. The 5&33 gallery also hosts changing exhibitions by contemporary Dutch artists.
Modern Rooms with Canal Views
The rooms are modern and understated, in shades of grey, white, and black. Each features original laser-cut artwork by Atelier Van Lieshout, mood lighting, and a rain shower. Some rooms offer canal views, while others overlook Centraal Station or the inner courtyard.
ARCA & the 5&33 Bar
ARCA is led by Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa. It serves modern Portuguese cooking with Asian influences and is popular with locals and guests alike. The 5&33 bar hosts a daily aperitivo hour, with DJs from Wednesday to Saturday.
Pool, Sauna & Fitness
Guests can use the indoor pool, sauna, and Technogym fitness centre for free, and massages are available. A pool is a rare find this close to the station.
This small, colourful hotel looks different on every floor, just two minutes from Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
Boutique
Trendy
Sustainable
Room sizes from 14 m²Read the full story
Steps from Dam Square
You couldn't be much closer to the action. The Highlander is a couple of minutes from Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the busy shopping streets that radiate from them. Head west and the pace softens into the Nine Streets and the Jordaan, with their boutiques, cafés and pretty canals. A tram stops right outside, and Centraal Station is about a ten-minute walk away.
Bold, Colourful Design
The interiors are full of colour, pattern and personality. Each floor has its own look. It feels quite different from the more traditional hotels in the centre.
Individually Designed Rooms
Every room is designed differently, with a king-size bed, a rain shower and bold, eye-catching interiors. Each also has a Bluetooth speaker and Chromecast for streaming your own music and shows.
Breakfast & Bar
There is no restaurant, but a generous breakfast is served each morning. The bar and lounge are relaxed places for a drink.
Newspaper history, playful design and a lively cocktail bar, in the old centre a few minutes from Dam Square.
Trendy
Fitness centre
Restaurant
Sustainable
Room sizes from 19 m²Read the full story
In the Historic Centre, near Dam Square
INK occupies three historic buildings on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, the street that was once the heart of Amsterdam's newspaper industry. Centraal Station is 700 metres away, and Dam Square and the Royal Palace are a few minutes on foot. Head west, and the old centre gives way to the Nine Streets' boutiques, vintage shops, and canal-side cafés, with the Anne FrankHouse not far.
A Former Newspaper Headquarters
For nearly a century, the building housed the Dutch newspaper De Tijd. The hotel takes its name and identity from that history, with print and journalism references throughout.
Rooms with Newspaper-Inspired Design
Rooms feature comfortable beds, rainfall showers, and decor inspired by the newspaper's past. In some, a hand-drawn map of the city hangs above the bed, pointing out places worth visiting.
Press Room Bar & Restaurant
The Press Room Bar is a lively cocktail spot. The restaurant offers a relaxed setting for lunch and dinner.
