Hostels in Amsterdam
There are 44 hostels listed within about five miles of central Amsterdam, which is 3.7% of everything on offer in the city — unusually high - this is a genuine backpacker city. This page covers what that actually means for a trip: which hostels are here, how they rate against Amsterdam's hotels, and which are worth it if you are coming for a show.
How strong is the hostel scene in Amsterdam?
Two numbers answer that, and neither means much on its own. The first is how much of Amsterdam's accommodation is hostels rather than hotels — a city can have plenty of hostels and still be a hotel city. The second is how those hostels score against the hotels sitting next to them, which is the only fair benchmark, because guest scores drift by city and a 7.8 in one place is not a 7.8 in another.
| Measure | Amsterdam | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Hostels listed | 44 | Dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation within roughly five miles of the centre. |
| Share of all accommodation | 3.7% | Unusually high - this is a genuine backpacker city. Measured against all 1,205 properties listed in the same radius. |
| Average hostel guest score | 7.3/10 | Averaged across the hostels above. Supplied by our accommodation partner, not a StubOrder rating. |
| Average hotel guest score | 8.4/10 | The same measure for Amsterdam’s hotels, with hostels excluded so the comparison is not partly against itself. |
The short version: hostels in Amsterdam score well below the city's hotels, which is worth knowing before you book on price alone — a gap of 1.1 points. That gap is normal and mostly measures the product, not the management: a shared room with six strangers in it will rarely be scored like a private one, however well the place is run. It is worth reading the individual scores below rather than the average.
Hostels in Amsterdam, closest to the centre first
Distances are measured from the middle of Amsterdam. Pick your dates to see what a bed actually costs — hostel pricing moves more than hotel pricing does, because a dorm can sell out one bed at a time.
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Onefam Amstel
Sarphatipark 58, Amsterdam
Prime Location within Sarphati Park Hotel Sarphati Amsterdam offers a prime location within Sarphati Park, just a short 10-minute walk from the bustling city center. Ideal for exp…
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Amigo Hotel - Hostel
Linnaeusstraat 199, Amsterdam
Experience the charm of Amsterdam at Amigo Hotel - Hostel, where comfort and convenience unite in the heart of the city. Cozy Guestrooms Relax in one of our 34 well-appointed gues…
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Generator Amsterdam
Mauritskade 57, Amsterdam
Unique Designer Hostel in Former Zoological Building Designer Lounge and Bar, Dining Space, and Secret Bar Comfortable Rooms with Air Conditioning and Private Bathrooms Experience…
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ClinkCoco
Westeinde 18, Amsterdam
Charming Amsterdam Getaway at Cocomama Central Location: Nestled in the heart of Amsterdam, Cocomama is just steps away from iconic attractions like the Heineken Experience and Ar…
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Euphemia Old City Canal Zone Hotel
Fokke Simonszstraat 1, Amsterdam
Central Location Stay at Euphemia Old City Canal Zone Hotel to be centrally located in Amsterdam, within walking distance of Rijksmuseum and Flower Market. Explore nearby attracti…
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ClinkMama
Valkenburgerstraat 124, Amsterdam
Unique Eco-Friendly Hostel in the Heart of Amsterdam Shared Spaces and Social Atmosphere Ecomama offers a shared lounge and bar, perfect for mingling with fellow travelers. The sh…
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Amsterdam Hostel Centre
Leidsekruisstraat, Amsterdam
Central location near attractions Situated in the heart of Amsterdam, guests can easily access popular landmarks such as Paradiso, Vondelpark, and the Rijksmuseum within walking d…
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Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen - Hostel
KLOVENIERSBURGWAL 97, Amsterdam
Convenient Amenities Enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, tour/ticket assistance, and a vending machine. Unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge and start your day with a d…
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Intersail hostel Amsterdam
Oosterdok, Pier 4, Amsterdam
Recreation Opportunities Complimentary Amenities Convenient Location Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as bicycles to rent or take in the view from a terrace and a g…
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St Christopher's at The Winston - Hostel
Warmoesstraat 129, Amsterdam
Recreation and Views: Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a nightclub or enjoy the view from a terrace and garden. Dining and Drinking: At St Christopher's at The W…
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Durty Nelly's - Hostel
Warmoesstraat 115/117, Amsterdam
Discover the vibrant heart of Amsterdam at Durty Nelly's - Hostel, where comfort meets convenience just steps away from iconic attractions. Prime Location Perfectly situated a sho…
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Hostel The Globe
Stay at Hostel The Globe, your gateway to the vibrant heart of Amsterdam! Modern Comforts Experience seamless connectivity with complimentary wireless internet access available th…
Staying in a hostel for an Amsterdam event
A hostel makes most sense on exactly the kind of trip StubOrder sends people on: one or two nights, built around a fixed start time, where you are out of the building all evening. The bed is somewhere to sleep afterwards, not somewhere to spend the weekend, and the saving against a hotel on a sold-out event night is usually the largest saving available on the whole trip — event nights are when city hotel rates spike and hostel beds barely move.
The two things to check before you book are the ones that catch people out. First, front-desk hours: a support act running long can put you back at 23:45, which is no use if reception closes at 23:00 and there is no night code. Second, whether the rate is per bed or per room — a private twin at £70 and a dorm bed at £35 each are the same money for two people, and the private room is the better buy.
What is on in Amsterdam
- From about $661.00View Tickets
- From about $511.00View Tickets
Distance from a specific venue
The hostels above are measured from the centre of town. If you want to know what is actually walkable from the doors of one building, each venue has its own accommodation page that sorts every nearby property by real distance.
- Stays near Johan Cruijff Arena
- Stays near AFAS Live
- Stays near Melkweg
- Stays near Paradiso - Amsterdam
- Stays near Royal Theater Carre
Dorm bed or private room?
This is the decision that actually determines what your stay is like, and it is not the same decision as hostel-or-hotel. Almost every hostel in Amsterdam sells both, at prices that overlap with the cheaper end of the city's hotels.
| Dorm bed | Hostel private room | |
|---|---|---|
| Priced by | The bed. Two people pay twice. | The room, like a hotel. |
| Best for | Solo travel, and meeting people. | Two people, or anyone who wants a door that locks. |
| Bathroom | Usually shared down the hall. | Often private, but check — many are not. |
| Getting in late | Fine, but you will wake people. | No issue. |
| Luggage | A locker, usually needing your own padlock. | In the room. |
| Versus a cheap hotel | Much cheaper, especially on event nights. | Often similar money — compare properly. |
The rule of thumb that holds nearly everywhere: travelling alone, take the dorm; travelling as two, price the private room against a budget hotel before assuming the hostel wins. On an ordinary weeknight the hotel sometimes does. On the night of a sold-out event, the hostel almost always does.
What to check before booking a hostel
Hostels vary in ways hotels mostly do not, and the variation is in the policies rather than the rooms. None of the following is unusual, and all of it is easier to find out now than at 1am.
- Age limits. Some hostels are 18–35 only, some refuse under-18s without an adult, and a few are over-18 with no upper bound. This is a property-by-property rule, not a city rule.
- Reception hours and curfews. A genuine curfew is rare now, but limited front-desk hours are common. If your event finishes late, confirm there is a night entry code.
- Whether the rate includes linen. Mostly yes; occasionally a few pounds or dollars extra at check-in, which quietly changes the comparison against a hotel.
- Lockers and padlocks. Nearly every dorm has lockers. A good number expect you to bring your own padlock, and the ones sold at the desk cost more than one from home.
- Deposits. Some hostels take a key or damage deposit in cash at arrival and return it on checkout — worth knowing if you are travelling cardless.
- Cancellation terms. The cheapest hostel rates are frequently non-refundable, which matters more than usual when the trip depends on an event that could be postponed.
Two of these — cancellation terms and what the rate actually includes — are shown on the booking screen once you pick dates, so check them there rather than assuming.
Plan the rest of the trip
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a private room in a hostel?
Most hostels sell private rooms alongside dorm beds, and they are usually cheaper than a hotel room of the same size. Whether a given property has one is shown when you pick your dates — if only dorm beds come back, that hostel has no privates free for that stay.
Are there hostels near the venues in Amsterdam?
The hostels on this page are measured from the middle of Amsterdam, not from any one venue. For distance from a specific building, use that venue's own accommodation page — each one is linked above and sorts every nearby property by real distance from the doors.
Is a hostel a sensible place to stay for a concert or a game?
For a one- or two-night trip built around an event, often yes — you are out of the building most of the evening anyway. The things to check are the front-desk hours and whether there is a curfew, because a show that ends at 23:30 is no use if reception shut at 23:00.
Does StubOrder sell hostel beds and tickets together?
No. Tickets come from our resale marketplace and accommodation from our booking partner. They are two separate bookings with separate confirmations, and neither depends on the other.
Are hostels in Amsterdam any good?
Amsterdam's hostels average 7.3/10 in guest scores against 8.4/10 for the city's hotels, so they score well below the city's hotels, which is worth knowing before you book on price alone. Those scores come from our accommodation partner, not from StubOrder.
How many hostels are there in Amsterdam?
Our accommodation partner lists 44 hostels within about five miles of central Amsterdam, out of 1,205 places to stay in total — 3.7% of everything listed here. That count includes both dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation.
