Amsterdam’s most luxurious hotels, from canal houses to cool design stays

Best with room balconies

The InterContinental Amstel Hotel takes its name from the 31km-long river, which passes under the Skinny Bridge and the Blawbrug on its way through the city. It received its first guests in 1867. Today, it has 79 rooms and suites with city or river views, plus a health club with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and gym. The in-house Bols Spritz Room bar overlooks the water, Amstel Lounge serves afternoon, The Dining Room is open for lunch and dinner, and the Wine Room can be booked for private dinners. Weesperplein metro and tram station is a short walk from the entrance.

Address: Professor Tulpplein 1, 1018 GX Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for wellness

The Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium (formerly the Conservatorium Hotel) occupies a neo-Gothic building that opened in 1897 as the National Postal Savings Bank. It sits in the Museum Quarter, opposite the Stedelijk Museum, and has 129 rooms, the Mediterranean restaurant Ottolenghi, and the city’s largest hotel spa with an indoor pool, treatment rooms and a fitness centre. The Lounge, beneath a glass atrium, serves an all-day menu and afternoon tea.

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 50, 1071 DB Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best with a pool

The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam opened in 2014 and was renovated in 2024. It spans six interconnected 17th- and 18th-century canal palaces along the Herengracht, part of the city’s UNESCO-listed canal ring, and has 93 rooms, suites and lofts. Goldfinch Brasserie serves meals, Peacock Lounge does afternoon tea and The Vault Bar mixes cocktails. The Guerlain Spa has an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, gym and treatment rooms. The hotel’s courtyard garden, with a central fountain, is the largest private one in the canal ring.

Address: Herengracht 542-556, 1017 CG Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for canal views

Founded by publishing heir Peter Pulitzer, Pulitzer Amsterdam joins 25 interconnected 17th- and 18th-century canal houses along the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, near the Nine Streets. It has 223 rooms and suites, from standard rooms to split-level and multi-room setups. Themed suites, such as the Book Collector’s and the Porcelain Collector’s, are furnished with art and antiques, and the library holds books by Pulitzer Prize winners. Dine at restaurants Jansz or Pulitzer Garden, or grab a drink at Pulitzer’s Bar. Guests can also use the 24-hour duplex gym, rent bikes or book one of two restored canal boats for a private tour.

Address: Prinsengracht 323, 1016 GZ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for business

Opened in 2020, the nhow Amsterdam RAI in the Zuidas business district stands out on the skyline; its body a stack of three rotated triangular shapes. It has 650 rooms, each with a mural and floor-to-ceiling windows, some looking out at nearby Beatrix Park and Martin Luther King Park. The best views are from the 17th-floor terrace. Eat Latin American food at the hotel’s restaurant, Selva, rent a bike to explore nearby, or book a personal trainer for a session in the 10th-floor gym.

Address: Europaboulevard 2b, 1078 RV Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for city centre location

The Diamond opened in 2024 on Leidseplein, in the part of Amsterdam where people once traded precious gems, and the hotel’s name and design are a nod to that past. Its glass-paned exterior is lit from within, so it shimmers like the Koh-i-Noor, one of the world’s largest cut diamonds. Step inside and you’ll find only 36 rooms, all in soft natural tones with rattan-panelled walls and rainfall showers. Book a Deluxe City View room and you’ll look out over the square. Downstairs, the Grand Café is an easy place to grab a bite, and the steakhouse serves Latin American, Caribbean and Mediterranean dishes.

Address: Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 1-3, 1017 RP Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for families

The Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam has had many lives. It began as a 15th-century convent, then became royal lodgings, the headquarters of the Dutch Admiralty and, finally, Amsterdam City Hall. It opened as a hotel in 1992 with 178 rooms and suites, including 12 Canal House Suites. Choose from two restaurants, Restaurant Bridges and Oriole Garden Bistro. Or book afternoon tea at Library ‘Or’. Grab your coffee every morning or a drink after a day of sightseeing at café and bar The Flying Dutchman. Rainy day? Unwind in the two-floor underground spa.

Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best boutique hotel

Hotel TwentySeven opened in 2017 on the upper floors of a 1916 building on Dam Square, opposite the Royal Palace. The interiors are Neo-Baroque and maximalist, with Nepalese carpets, Italian curtains, French wallpaper and hand-blown chandeliers. There are just 16 rooms, made up of three junior suites and 13 full suites, each with a lounge sofa and handmade silk carpets. The stone bathrooms have two-person jacuzzis and double rain showers. Downstairs, Restaurant Bougainville by Chef Tim Golsteijn holds a Michelin Star.

Address: Dam 27, 1012 JS Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for couples

The Dylan sits on the Keizersgracht in the Nine Streets, in a 17th-century canal building that was once Amsterdam’s first theatre, where Rembrandt is said to have worked as a production assistant. Its 41 rooms blend the historic setting with modern comforts. Restaurant Vinkeles holds two Michelin Stars, Bar Brasserie OCCO is open all day and Ate is a tiny chef’s table for fine dining. There’s also a garden courtyard, a fitness centre and a private boat for canal cruises.

Address: Keizersgracht 384, 1016 GA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best with an outdoor pool

Just steps from Dam Square and the Royal Palace, W Amsterdam occupies two heritage buildings: the former KAS Bank and the Royal Dutch Post’s telephone exchange. It has 238 rooms, a rooftop pool and a W Lounge with a fireplace and cosy seating. For food and drink, there’s Mr Porter, a steakhouse, and The Duchess, a brasserie.

Address: Spuistraat 175, 1012 RR Amsterdam, Netherlands