Ah Amsterdam, the land of stroopwafels, spectacular canals, and seductive red-light windows. Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, this bustling city offers plenty to see and do for tourists. From bumping techno clubs to niche museums and smokey coffee shops, there is really something for everyone to enjoy! While planning what to do is important it’s also just as important to book a good hostel in Amsterdam for your trip. A poorly located or run-down accommodation is an easy way to put a serious damper on your vacation, but fear not! We have done the heavy lifting for you by researching and compiling the best hostels in Amsterdam so that you know all your options and can find a hostel that matches your vibe!
5 Best Hostels in Amsterdam
ClinkNOORD
Are you on the hunt for a social hostel with a great location? Then ClinkNOORD might be the place for you! Located in North Amsterdam right beside the A’DAM Tower and Eye Film Museum, ClinkNOORD offers an excellent location close to the city’s best attractions. Not only will you be within walking distance of amazing attractions like the Nxt Museum, the WONDR Experience, and This is Holland, but you’ll also be right steps from the free ferry that leads across the river to the Red Light District and Amsterdam Central Station in 10 minutes.
The hostel is set in a classic 1920s historic building that has been renovated to reflect Dutch modern styles. After a day of exploring, you can return to the main lounge to play billiards, grab a cup of coffee from the on-site café, or borrow one of the books from the extensive collection. The outdoor terrace has faux grass and plenty of space to hang out with new friends, along with a ping pong table, giant Connect Four, and other games. End your day with a frothy pint at the on-site bar ZincBar, where live bands and DJs can be found.
ClinkNOORD offers private rooms with ensuites for up to four guests as well as mixed and female-only dorms that range from four to 14 beds in a room. Each dorm bed comes with a reading light, USB ports, and a locker.
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Flying Pig Downtown
The Flying Pig Downtown is as central as central Amsterdam gets and is a great hostel choice for those who want to stay in a party hostel. The on-site bar offers a daily Happy Hour with great prices, along with live bands, DJs, and activities. Travelers can mingle with new friends, play a game of billiards, or dance the night away with that cutie across the room. Bike rentals, tickets, and tours can all be arranged at the reception, and there are two lounge areas with TVs, couches, board games, movies, and foosball to enjoy. Other awesome amenities include a modern and clean communal kitchen, 24-hour reception, and a daily breakfast buffet (additional cost).
The private rooms at Flying Pig come equipped with a TV, fridge, double bed, and a private ensuite. For those looking to go the more traditional backpacker route, shared mixed dorms are available with configurations of anywhere from eight to 32 beds per room, and a six-bed female-only dorm is offered as well. Every dorm bed comes with a reading light and a locker beside the bed. The Flying Pig is located on Amsterdam’s shopping street, less than a five-minute walk from the Red Light District, Amsterdam Central Station, and Dam Square.
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Via Amsterdam
Via Amsterdam is located in the Diemen neighborhood of the city, which is a 20-minute walk and metro ride from Amsterdam Centrum. This is an excellent hostel for those who want to stay away from the busy streets of central Amsterdam, but still have great access to attractions.
Several top-notch amenities make this Via one of the coolest hostels in Amsterdam, such as their dedicated movie room complete with a projector and leveled seating and their awesome on-site bar and restaurant where guests can play several board games. Via’s lounge is decked out with hanging chairs, tables, and couches and is a great spot to meet new friends or chill with a book or laptop. Other awesome amenities include a 24-hour reception, laundry facilities, bike rentals, and luggage storage.
The hostel offers plenty of private and family rooms for big groups or solo travelers that can sleep up to eight people, along with mixed or female-only dorms with four or six beds. Each dorm bed comes with an electrical outlet, USB plugs, a reading light, and a locker.
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MEININGER Amsterdam City West
This is an excellent hostel in Amsterdam for couples and families looking for a clean and quiet room. MEININGER Amsterdam City West is located near Sloterdijk train station, which offers trams, metro, and trains across the city and can have visitors to Centraal Station in under 15 minutes from the hostel’s doorstep. The Holland Casino is also across the street.
A myriad of pet-friendly private rooms are offered here, ranging from a standard single to a large six-bed room ideal for families and big groups. If you’re keen to save some money by staying in a shared dorm, you’ll be happy to hear the dormitories here are small and come with an ensuite. Dorm rooms are offered with configurations of four, five, or seven beds in a mixed or female-only setting.
The hostel offers fantastic amenities for all types of travelers, including a children’s play zone, an on-site bar, and fun games like billiards and foosball. Travelers can also make use of the on-site laundry facilities to freshen up their wardrobe or prepare their own meals in the hostel’s modern communal kitchen. Bicycle rentals and a buffet breakfast are also offered for a fee, along with on-site parking.
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Hostelle
Being a woman on the road can be tough, and Hostelle understands that notion, which is why they have created a safe space for female travelers by offering a women-only hostel experience. However, contrary to what you might think, this exclusivity doesn’t make the hostel more expensive. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest hostels in Amsterdam! But that doesn’t mean they’ve cheaped out on amenities. In the lounge, visitors can grab a book or board game and pop at one of the tables or couches. There are plenty of tables to set up a laptop and free coffee and tea are offered to help get you through the workday! Other great amenities include laundry facilities, bike rentals, a 24-hour reception, and a communal kitchen.
There are no private rooms offered at Hostelle, but you can book a bed in a dorm room with configurations ranging from four to 12 beds. Each room has its own theme and each bed comes with a privacy curtain, a locker, a light, and an electrical outlet. Hostelle is located beside Amsterdamse Poort shopping mall, about a five-minute walk from Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena Metro and train station, which will have you in Amsterdam Centrum in less than 20 minutes.
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More Great Hostels in Amsterdam
Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark
If you’re a traveler who likes to wake up and go for a morning stroll with their coffee, then staying at Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark would be a great choice. The hostel is located across the street from Amsterdam’s largest and most popular greenspace, Vondelpark, which offers tons of gardens and ponds to explore. Leidseplein, the main area for local Dutch youth to party, is only a stone’s throw away and several tourist attractions are also within a 10-minute walk, like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and MOCO Museum.
Aside from having an excellent location, Stayokay also is located in a beautiful old building with large windows overlooking the park. Start your day with a cup of joe from the on-site café or head over to the atrium to set up your laptop for a day of remote working. The on-site bar is the perfect place to unwind after a day of touring the city or as a starting point before heading out. Other noteworthy amenities include laundry facilities, a bike shelter, and 24-hour reception.
A variety of dormitory rooms are offered with configurations of four-, six-, eight-, or 20-beds in a female-only, male-only, or mixed setting. Private rooms can be booked with beds for up to six people, including a private ensuite.
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St Christopher’s at the Winston
St Christopher’s at the Winston is another fantastic Amsterdam hostel for those who want a lively party hostel with the Red Light District in their backyard. Located less than a five-minute walk from De Oude Kerk, the Red Light Secrets Museum, and Dam Square, St Christopher’s has a location that just can’t be beaten. You know what else can’t be beat? Their Happy Hour at their on-site bar and restaurant Belushi’s. If you’re craving some Western food and are looking for a cheap pint, all you have to do is walk downstairs! There is also an on-site nightclub in the basement with large TVs playing sports and DJs almost every night. The hostel also boasts an outdoor terrace, a pool table, and a 24-hour reception.
This hostel in Amsterdam with private rooms has decorated each dorm and room in a colorful theme, ranging from movies to psychedelic patterns and even Red Lights! Private rooms can sleep up to four guests and superior private rooms come with a top-floor balcony. Dorm rooms are offered with configurations of anywhere from four to 10 beds in a room, either bunk bed-style or individual beds, in a mixed or female-only setting.
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Cocomama
If you want to stay away from the Red Light District but are still within walking distance of great attractions, then Cocomama might be the hostel for you. The hostel is located on the edge of De Pijp, a five-minute walk from one of Amsterdam’s best markets, Albert Cuyptmarkt, and a 10-minute walk from the Heineken Experience. Metro and tram stops are close by as well, offering excellent access to the rest of the city.
There is always something going on at Cocomama, whether it’s a community dinner, a movie night, or a games night. The common areas feel more like living rooms, with comfortable couches, an assortment of books and board games, and a guitar. Savvy hostel stayers can make the most out of the communal kitchen, which is well-stocked with everything needed to prepare a meal.
Every room in Cocomama is Holland-themed, with colorful décor and large windows. Private rooms can sleep up to three people and come equipped with a private ensuite, a desk, and a coffee/tea station. If you’re looking to save some coin and stay in a shared dorm room, you can book a bed in a four- or six-bed mixed dorm.
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Generator Amsterdam
Located right beside Oosterpark, this is another great choice for those who want to stay in a quiet neighborhood in Amsterdam. Generator Amsterdam looks out into a beautiful park with running trails, a giant playground, tennis courts, and more. There are several great eats nearby along with some bars that are popular with the university crowd. The ARTIS Zoo, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam, and De Gooyer (the Netherlands’s largest windmill) are all a 15-minute walk away or less.
Generator Amsterdam is set in an old zoological building with many large open spaces for visitors to hang out. After a day of exploring the city, you can grab a pint at the on-site auditorium bar, which was once a lecture hall, or make your way to the on-site nightclub to enjoy an evening of booty-shaking good times. In the morning, you can start your day off with a cup of joe or a bite at the on-site café.
Several private rooms are available, which range from a standard double with an ensuite to a six-bed apartment complete with a kitchenette. Four- or six-bed mixed and female-only dorm rooms are also offered, along with a mixed dorm with luxury pod beds. Pod beds feature memory foam mattresses, vault-like anti-theft doors for privacy, a mirror, lights, USB plugs, hooks, and more.
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The Bulldog
The Bulldog, located in the heart of the Red Light District, is a great choice for those who want to immerse themselves in one of Amsterdam’s busiest neighborhoods. Not only will you have the original famous Bulldog Coffeeshop just downstairs, but the hostel also offers a fantastic rooftop terrace overlooking the city and its canals. The Bulldog offers several complimentary services to its guests, including free towels, luggage storage, and lockers. After a day of touring the city, visitors can head to the smoke-friendly (no tobacco) Lounge Bar for a meal, a cool cocktail, or to meet and play games with other travelers.
All of the private rooms come equipped with an ensuite, a Smart TV, and air conditioning and can sleep up to four people. Spacious dorm rooms are also offered, with configurations of six or eight beds in a mixed or female-only setting. All dorms come with an ensuite and each bed in a dorm has a reading light, electrical outlet, and a locker.
Amsterdam’s most popular attractions are on the hostel’s doorstep. Visitors will find sites like Dam Square, Royal Palace Amsterdam, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the Red Light Secrets Museum, and the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum within a 10-minute walk. As an added bonus, The Bulldog also has its own canal boat tour which guests can book tickets for at the front desk and the boat leaves right outside the hostel.
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Hans Brinker Hostel
Are you looking for a lively hostel near Leidseplein, the main party area of Amsterdam? The Hans Brinker Hostel might be for you. Situated a five-minute walk from the clubs and bars of Leidseplein, this youth hostel in Amsterdam offers an excellent location whether you’re looking to party or not. Museumplein is also only a five-minute walk away and is where you’ll find some of Amsterdam’s best museums, such as the Van Gogh Museum, MOCO Museum, and Rijksmuseum. Plus, Vondelpark, Rembrandtplein, and the Heineken Experience are a 10-minute walk away.
Inside, the hostel boasts a colorful eclectic-modern motif with funky patterns and pop culture references throughout. After hitting up Amsterdam’s attractions, you can return to the hostel and head out to the backyard to enjoy a drink with fellow travelers or enjoy a cocktail at the on-site bar. Free walking tours are also offered, along with complimentary towels, a 24-hour reception, and luggage storage.
To book a room in one of Hans Brinker’s dorms, you have to be under the age of 40. Dorms are offered with configurations of four, six, or eight beds in a mixed or female-only room. Each dorm bed comes with a large lockable drawer under the bed. Private rooms with ensuites can also be booked and can accommodate up to six people.
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Ecomama
If you want to stay near Amsterdam Centraal and the Red Light District but not in it, then book a stay at Ecomama! The hostel boasts a chill, laid-back vibe with a fun, funky, and colorful motif. In the main lounge, guests can play on the swing, enjoy a few jumps on the mini trampoline, play guitar, grab a board game, or read a book on one of the couches. The on-site bar and restaurant is a great spot to meet other travelers or you can order a drink and head to the backyard terrace to soak up some sun. Washers and dryers are available for those who need to catch up on laundry and there is a communal kitchen for those who want to prepare their own meals. There is also a tee-pee lounge area that has been set up with a projector for movie nights!
You can choose to book a bed in a dorm room or enjoy some privacy in one of the private rooms. Private rooms come with or without ensuite bathrooms and can sleep one or two guests. Mixed and female-only dorm rooms are offered with configurations of anywhere from four to 12 beds in a room. Each bed comes with a personal reading light and a locker.
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THIS HO(S)TEL
Located directly on the Damrak, you could not ask for a more central hostel or a hostel closer to Centraal Station. The location is especially handy for those leaving on early morning flights or trains as with Centraal Station right on the hostel’s doorstep, you will only be a few steps away from access to the airport and international trains. Several popular attractions are a stone’s throw away, like Amsterdam’s shopping street, the Red Light District, De Oude Kerk, and the Sexmuseum Amsterdam.
What really sets this Amsterdam hostel apart though is its unique approach to pod life. Instead of stacked individual pods in a shared room, hostel stayers will find a hallway of what THIS HO(S)TEL calls cubes. These are larger pods that can sleep two people and feature a small storage area and rack for clothes, electrical plugs, personalized climate control remotes, and an area to store luggage. The only shared personal space is the bathrooms.
Downstairs, visitors will find a fantastic on-site restaurant and bar, Fiona, which serves up delicious Mexican eats. If you arrive too tired to converse with other humans (we’ve all been there), you can use the hostel’s app to check in to your room and gain access at any time!
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Hostel Van Gogh
If you have a love for art and high-end shopping, then you better Gogh book a room or bed in this hostel-hotel. The building is split into two sections, a hotel side and a hostel side. Luggage storage and a 24-hour front desk reception are offered, along with bike rentals and complimentary towels. Dorm rooms come with bunk beds with individual security safe for valuables and each bed comes with a personal light. Now the private rooms are what shine here, as they come with private bathrooms, a desk, a mini-fridge, a TV, and a Nespresso machine. All of the hotel’s rooms have been decorated using Van Gogh wallpaper, too!
Hostel Van Gogh is incredibly located just a block from the luxury-brand shopping street of Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat and Museumplein, where the MOCO Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and Rijksmuseum can be found. There are several tram and bus stops just a short walk away, which can get you to central Amsterdam or around the city in no time.
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Durty Nelly’s Inn
This is another great hostel choice in Amsterdam for those who fancy staying in the Red Light District. Durty Nelly’s Inn is located right beside De Oude Kerk, which is where the first red light windows started to pop up many moons ago. This means you’ll be within a 10-minute walk of Centraal Station, the Erotic Museum, Dam Square, and Amsterdam’s famous shopping street.
While you might be in the Netherlands, this Irish-themed hostel offers up some fantastic amenities; one of those being an on-site Irish bar! The bar offers a 20% discount to hostel stayers and regularly hosts DJ nights, live sporting events, and live music. There’s also a pool table for those who are keen to show off their skills.
Only travelers aged 18 to 40 are allowed to stay in the hostel and there are no private rooms offered. You can opt to book a bed in a 20-person mixed dorm or in a 12-person female-only dorm. The mixed dorm comes with beds with privacy curtains, a USB plug, an electrical outlet, and a reading light, while the beds in the female-only dorm have a locker and a reading light.
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Now that you’re an expert on the best Amsterdam hostels, it’s time to put your new-found knowledge to work and book your hostel! Regardless of which of these awesome accommodations you choose, we know you’ll have a memorable trip (so long as you don’t smoke those memories away with one Miss Mary Jane)! For more tips and insights into planning your Amsterdam adventure, be sure to check out our comprehensive Amsterdam itinerary next!
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