Where to Stay in Amsterdam: Local’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods

While it’s easy to find a hostel, apartment, fancy hotel, or local guesthouse in Amsterdam, picking the best area where to stay in Amsterdam can make or break your trip. Amsterdam is a very diverse city and despite its size, each neighborhood in Amsterdam is different.

I’ve lived in Amsterdam, so this guide isn’t something that I created after a single short visit and is just one of many tips I have for visitors to the city. Here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in Amsterdam to ensure you’ll have a great time on your trip.

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Best Areas to Stay in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is relatively small with only 850,000 inhabitants sharing 219.3 km² / 84 mi². This is why I highly recommend visiting other parts of the Netherlands as well, as this country is full of charming towns and villages.

Map of Amsterdam Neighborhoods

Amsterdam can be divided into “The Ring” area and areas outside of the ring, basically on the outer side of A10 Highway. Areas within are also divided into smaller areas. Most hotel booking websites classify Amsterdam City Centre as the area within The Ring.

Amsterdam is broken up into 8 districts or boroughs (stadsdelen), which are divided into neighborhoods. These neighborhoods might seem confusing to a first-time visitor to Amsterdam, but they’re very helpful when it comes to getting around.

★ First Time in Amsterdam?