Amsterdam Hostels

Amsterdam has more than its share of hostels, because it has always pulled in young travelers on tight budgets, and plenty of them come for the nightlife. The center is compact, so if you pick a hostel in one of the three main neighborhoods you can do most of the city on foot. Pick the wrong one and you'll either be kept awake all night or spend your evenings on a tram.

Below you'll find what each neighborhood is like, what hostel beds cost now, and the hostels we'd start with in each area.

What hostel beds cost in 2026

Forget the €10 dorm beds of the 2000s. St Christopher's, which runs three of the best-known hostels in town, says dorm beds typically run €35 to €55 a night depending on season, with weekends priced higher. Expect the top of that range, or more, on summer weekends, King's Day and the Amsterdam Dance Event in October.

On top of the bed price, Amsterdam charges a tourist tax of 12.5% of the overnight price (excluding VAT), and it applies to hostels just like hotels. The city plans to raise it to 16% in 2027. Some booking sites add it only at checkout, so compare final prices.

Two more money tips:

• Book direct. St Christopher's gives 5% off, a welcome drink and 25% off food when you book on its own site, and Stayokay gives members 10% off.
• Book early for April through August. The famous places fill up weeks ahead.

Which neighborhood is right for you?

Most budget beds cluster in three areas, and they feel very different.

Centraal Station and the Red Light District

The cheapest and busiest area, right where the train from Schiphol drops you. You're steps from the canals, Dam Square and the Red Light District, which means noise and crowds late into the night, especially on weekends. Great if you're here to go out. Less great if you want sleep. More in our Centraal Station area spotlight, plus lists of hostels near Centraal Station, hostels near Dam Square and hostels in the Red Light District.

Rembrandtplein

The square and its side streets are packed with bars and clubs, and the Amstel and the canal ring are right there. Fewer hostels than near the station, but well placed if nightlife is the point. See our Rembrandtplein spotlight.

Leidseplein and Vondelpark

Leidseplein has its own nightlife, but walk a few minutes toward Vondelpark and the Museum Quarter and things calm down fast. This is the best area if you want the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum on your doorstep and a park to lie around in during summer. See our Leidseplein spotlight and hostels near Vondelpark.

What Amsterdam hostels are like

Many hostels here are party hostels, and even the ones with strict rules on drinking in the dorms get loud. A place that calls itself the Flying Pig isn't hiding what it is. If you just want a cheap bed and an early night, choose carefully: Stayokay's hostels are the calmer, more family-friendly choice.

If you do want the social side, hostels are the easiest place in town to meet people, and most have their own bar with nightly events. Dorms range from four beds to big shared rooms, and several hostels offer female-only dorms. Private rooms cost about what you'd pay at a one-star hotel, with the bonus of a kitchen and a common room. For the rowdiest options, see our best party hostels, and for groups, hostels for stag and hen parties. If price is all that matters, try the cheapest hostels in Amsterdam.

Recommended hostels

Centraal Station and Red Light District area

St Christopher's at The Winston, Warmoesstraat 129. A hostel-hotel hybrid on one of the oldest streets in the Red Light District, a short walk from Dam Square and Centraal Station. Rooms were designed by local artists, the dorms have privacy curtains and lockers, and Belushi's bar downstairs runs happy hours, live music and events most nights. Expect noise on the street side.

Flying Pig Downtown, Nieuwendijk 100. One of the most famous hostels in Europe, a few minutes' walk from Centraal Station on the shopping street just across Damrak from the Red Light District. It bills itself as a party hostel, with a bar, nightly activities, a shared kitchen and 24-hour reception. Reviews from 2026 praise the location and staff, though at least one found parts of it worn. It fills up fast, so book ahead.

Rembrandtplein and old center

Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen, Kloveniersburgwal 97. An HI-affiliated hostel in a canal house between Nieuwmarkt and the Rembrandtplein nightlife, with a bar that looks out over the canal. It got a full makeover in 2024 and now runs without gas, on solar panels and a heat pump. Central, but quieter than the party hostels. Hostelling International members get a discount.

Leidseplein and Vondelpark area

Flying Pig Uptown, Vossiusstraat 46. The Downtown's sister sits right by Vondelpark, about five minutes' walk from Leidseplein and close to the Van Gogh Museum. The bar is a social hub with beer pong, karaoke and pool, but the street outside is calm. The stairs are steep and plentiful, so it's a poor choice if you have mobility issues.

Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark, Zandpad 5. A big, modern HI hostel inside the edge of Vondelpark, with en-suite dorms and private rooms, a bar and lounge, and Leidseplein about 15 minutes away on foot. Less rowdy than the Flying Pig, and our pick for a good night's sleep in a great location.

A little farther out

Stayokay Amsterdam Oost, Timorplein 21. In the Indische Buurt in Amsterdam East, about 15 minutes by tram from the center. Modern rooms with their own shower and toilet, and a bar-restaurant downstairs. You give up the walk home from the bars, and you get a real neighborhood with local cafés instead.

The Flying Pig group also runs a hostel in the beach town of Noordwijk, if you'd rather sleep near the sea and visit Amsterdam as a day trip.

FAQ

Do I pay tourist tax at a hostel?

Yes. It's 12.5% of the overnight price in 2026, for dorm beds and private rooms alike. Check whether your booking price already includes it.

Are Amsterdam hostels only for young people?

No, but the party hostels skew young and loud. Travelers who want a quieter stay tend to prefer Stayokay, or a budget hotel. Our recommended budget hotels page is a good comparison.

Can I smoke in my hostel?

Assume not inside. Tobacco can't be smoked indoors in Dutch hospitality businesses, so ask at reception where you can go, and remember that smoking cannabis on the street in the Red Light District can bring a 100 euro fine.