Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations in the world and it can be hard to know where to stay in the city. That’s why I have compiled this list of the best hostels in Amsterdam.
The city welcomes backpackers from all around the globe, and with a host of hostels to choose from, it can be hard to know which ones are good and which ones aren’t.
With over 100 hostels to choose from, it’s certainly not an easy task! Every hostel is different, and you also have to decide whether you want to stay in a party hostel or a chilled one.
Whether you’re doing a 3-day itinerary of Amsterdam or looking for cheap accommodation in Amsterdam, this is the guide for you!
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
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Table of Contents
Best Hostels in Amsterdam
- Overall best hostel in Amsterdam – Cocomama
- Best hostel for solo travellers in Amsterdam – ClinkNOORD
- Best cheap hostel in Amsterdam – Ecomama
- Best hostel for couples in Amsterdam – MEININGER Amsterdam City West
- Best party hostel in Amsterdam – St Christopher’s at the Winston
- Best hostel with a private room in Amsterdam – Amsterdam Hotelboat
Amsterdam Hotelboat
Amsterdam Hotelboat is one of the quirkiest hostels in Amsterdam!
The city is famous for its houseboats, so what better way to spend your time in Amsterdam than by staying in one of them!
The boat has a sun deck with excellent views of the city centre. There are also shared bathrooms and common rooms, free tea and coffee, and you get breakfast on board too!
Space on the boat is limited with 16 double rooms and one 4-bed dorm available. If you want to stay here, you will book in advance to avoid missing out on what could be an experience of a lifetime.
The Bulldog
The Bulldog is perhaps the most well-known of Amsterdam’s hostels and, arguably, one of the most well-known hostels in the world!
Its location, in the heart of Amsterdam, makes it an ideal place to stay during your trip. It’s only a short walk to the Red Light District and Dam Square.
The facilities are great, with comfortable rooms and beds. There is even a coffee shop attached to the building, where you can meet fellow travellers from across the globe.
You get breakfast, wifi, towels and linen included in the price, which is fantastic. A lot of hostels charge extra for these features, especially wifi!
The Bulldog is undoubtedly one of the best hostels in Amsterdam and is an ideal place to stay if you want to be in the heart of the city.
CityHub Amsterdam
CityHub Amsterdam may appear to be an ordinary hostel, but it has a few interesting quirks!
The most obvious quirk is the beds. Instead of standard bunks, beds are enclosed in hubs, which are essentially your own private cabin.
The hostel isn’t directly in the city centre, but it’s close to the cool area of De Hallen. Plus, the centre is only a short walk away!
The communal areas in the hostel are great. You have a lot of space to relax, and there are games around too! There is also a bar connected to the hostel should you wish to socialise with fellow travellers!
ClinkNOORD
Although ClinkNOORD is not located in the city center, it is located in the hip area of Amsterdam Noord, which is just 10 minutes away from the centre.
The hostel offers a wide range of dorms, with rooms sleeping 4 people to as many as 14. There are also several private rooms, should you need some space to yourselves!
One of the best things about clinkNOORD is that it has a wide range of activities. This is great if you’re a solo traveller, as you can meet fellow travellers. There’s regular live music, DJ and cocktail-making workshops.
Due to its proximity to Amsterdam Central Station, it’s an ideal place to base yourself if you plan on doing some day trips from Amsterdam during your trip.
ClinkNoord is undoubtedly one of the best hostels in Amsterdam for solo travellers. If you want to meet people while you travel, it’s the place to be.
Cocomama
Cocomama is without a doubt one of the best youth hostels in Amsterdam!
The hostel is in a great location close to central Amsterdam, and it combines the features of a hotel into a budget hostel.
Cocomama has a fully equipped kitchen, which is a great way to keep costs down. Plus, the hostel organises many activities to partake in as well!
There is even a house cat, if that doesn’t sway your decision to stay at Cocomama I don’t know what will!
Ecomama
If you’re looking for budget accommodation in Amsterdam, you can’t do much worse than check out Ecomama!
This hostel is a great choice. There is a nice atmosphere in the hostel and the rooms are spacious and comfortable, with enough space to store your belongings.
Ecomama has a fully equipped kitchen, a movie lounge and a book exchange. Plus, there is also a cafe out front that serves great food!
It’s one of the best cheap hostels in Amsterdam you can stay at!
Flying Pig Downtown
The Flying Pig Downtown is one of Amsterdam’s top hostels and is conveniently located close to the city centre.
The rooms here are some of the best in the city. Every bed has a reading light, while if you stay in a private room, they come with a little fridge and TV.
The hostel also has a guest kitchen, free wifi throughout the building, a book exchange, and a lively bar! It’s certainly one of the best hostels in Amsterdam for solo travellers!
The staff here are very friendly and willing to help you with any problems you might have. There’s no curfew either, so if you stay out late, you simply scan your card to get back in!
Generator Amsterdam
The Generator is one of Amsterdam’s top hostels.
It is located slightly outside of the city centre but it only takes 10 minutes to walk into the heart of Amsterdam. The hostel also provides rental bikes should you want to get around quicker!
The hostel itself is great, with excellent facilities. The rooms are spacious and comfortable with the majority of them coming with en-suite bathrooms.
The staff at the hostel are fantastic and will help you make the most of your trip to Amsterdam. They also know the best places to go, and some lesser-known places too, which you should explore!
Hostel Van Gogh
As the name suggests, this is an Amsterdam hostel with an emphasis on Van Gogh.
It’s conveniently located in the centre of the city close to three of Amsterdam’s best museums, the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Art Museum, and, of course, the Van Gogh Museum.
Hostel Van Gogh is also close to some of Amsterdam’s best bars and coffee shops. Famous clubs such as Paradiso and Jimmy Woo are a stone’s throw away too.
The hostel is beautifully furnished, and the rooms are spacious and clean. All rooms also have an en-suite bathroom, that comes with free shower gel. Every room has an LCD TV too!
Hostel Van Gogh is undeniably one of the best hostels in Amsterdam, and one you should definitely consider staying at!
Lucky Lake Hostel
This hostel is not in Amsterdam, it’s 30 minutes outside of the city, but if this doesn’t bother you, it’s a brilliant place to stay!
Lucky Lake Hostel is, believe it or not, situated close to a lake. Instead of a single building, you have several individual trailers and cabins where you sleep instead. It’s certainly one of Amsterdam’s quirkier hostels!
The hostel may be outside of Amsterdam, but it provides a free shuttle service to the nearest metro stop, where you can catch Metro 54 into the city.
One of the best features of Lucky Lake Hostel is the outdoor communal kitchen, which comes with a BBQ. Plus, you can play table tennis, swim and kayak in the lake or ride a bike in the beautiful Dutch countryside!
Lucky Lake Hostel may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s an Amsterdam hostel you should consider when visiting the city!
MEININGER Amsterdam City West
The MEININGER Amsterdam City West hostel may not be in the centre of the city, but it’s still one of Amsterdam’s best hostels.
The hostel is only 15 minutes and just two minutes away from Sloterdijk Railway Station. It’s convenient if you need to get into the city, and back to the airport quickly.
The rooms here are spacious and comfortable, and the hostel has a 3-star rating, which means it’s a quality hostel. There is also a games room where you can play pool or table football, or simply chat with fellow travellers.
There is also a guest kitchen, free luggage storage and safe deposit boxes. One thing to note is you can’t check in until 3 pm, but that doesn’t detract from the fact it’s one of the top hostels in Amsterdam.
St Christopher’s at The Winston
If you’re wondering where to stay in Amsterdam, and want to stay close to the centre, St Christopher’s at the Winston is a good choice.
It’s not far from the Red Light District or the numerous coffee shops that exist in the area. St Christopher’s is more of a party hostel, so if you want a quiet place to stay, it may not be for you.
However, if you want to party, you will enjoy staying here! There is a Belushi’s Bar in the hostel which has great offers on food and drink. Plus, there is the Winston Nightclub too, should you fancy a more raucous party!
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the building even has an elevator. Something unusual for buildings in Amsterdam, especially in the centre of the city!
If you’re looking for a party hostel in Amsterdam, St Christopher’s is the place to stay!
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Tom is a travel addict who first left England to spend a year Down Under. Not satisfied with this, he then went to New Zealand, about as far away from home as he could get. He is now planning his next adventures in Europe and Canada while maintaining this blog. Check out the about me page to learn more!