Hey Folks:
Four fairly active seniors coming to Amsterdam for first time. Where should we stay? We definitely want to do a canal ride, see Anne Frank House and visit Rijksmuseum.
Looking to stay under $300 a night all in per room for 2. Thank you one and all for any suggestions.
We did something very similar last year. Stayed at the Movenpick, Amsterdam City Center. Not purely in the city center but very close to the train station and 100 yards from where our ship was docked.. Not all cruises dock there so you would have to check.
We prebooked tickets to the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum. It was a little tricky because Anne Frank tickets go on sale later than the museums.
In our case, we were able to check into the ship early on departure day, go see more of the city, and return in the late afternoon for departure.
Enjoy the trip
Here are previous discussions with lots of recommendations:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/looking-for-amsterdam-hotel
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/amsterdam-canal-hotel-recommendations
Hi All:
Thanks for the responses. I checked out the links and booked the Doubletree, but am now considering cancelling that and booking Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre instead. Prices are comparable.
Just need to figure which is better for getting around and seeing the sights. I do know to book Anne Frank House and other hihgly sought attractions as far in advance as allowed. Thank you for taking time to respond.
Are you on an ocean cruise, or a river cruise?
If an ocean cruise and it is departing from Amsterdam (not Ijmuiden for Amsterdam, which is miles away) then it will be leaving from the PTA [Passenger Terminal Amsterdam] , which the Movenpick is part of.
In terms of location for watching all the boat traffic on the river the Movenpick is a splendid location. And there is a tram stop right outside. I would stay there in a heartbeat.
If it's a river cruise then you could be leaving from any of a number of berths scattered round the city, some of which are pretty isolated- that berth probably hasn't been allocated yet.
I don't believe you are on an ocean cruise as the only one booked in is the Ambience at 1300 on the 16th, leaving at 1230 on the 17th.
I would be mildly surprised (and very pleased, in equal measure) if you were booked on the Ambience. The prior one is MSC Euriba on the 13th.
Ocean cruise sailing 10/18/26 from Amsterdam. Thanks for input. Talking over w my travel partners
So you're on the Rotterdam for her Transatlantic to Fort Lauderdale via Bruges, Portland, Falmouth (England) and Bermuda, she berths at 0700 from Lerwick (Scotland), nothing to beat seeing your ship there below you as you have breakfast.
Watch the elegant ballet act as the ship turns with tug assistance mid river to come alongside, amongst all the other river traffic.
On departure you have around 2 to 3 hours steaming down the North Sea Canal before locking out at Ijmuiden at around 8pm, with it's total contrast of holiday beaches juxtaposed with one of the largest steelworks in the Netherlands. I'm always on deck for that sail in (normally before 4am) and sail out. Breakfast on the sail in and dinner on the sail out can wait for me.
Stay at the Doubletree. It's a shorter walk to the where all the trams meet in front of Centraal Station.
There is a tram in front of the Movenpick, but you will most likely have to transfer once you get to Amsterdam Central to a tram going to Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House.
If you are at the Doubletree, you would walk the short distance to the tram point and board the correct tram to your destination. Couldn't be easier.
Also, from the airport, you should take the train from Schipol airport to Amsterdam Central. You will have luggage and it's an easy walk and wheeling your luggage from Amsterdam Central to the Doubletree. It's much further to the Movenpick.
Look at a Google map as where each hotel is. You'll see that the Doubletree is closer to the sites you want to go.
Also, you don't say which cruise line or river or ocean cruise. If you are taking a Viking River cruise, the double tree is more convenient to the Viking Dock. The Viking river cruises port at De Ruijterkade 140 which is around the corner from the Doubletree, a very short walk with luggage.
We did this same transatlantic on the Rotterdam in the other direction in April. We arrived in Rotterdam and spent 2 nights at the Hotel Thon which is walking distance to the cruise ship terminal. We then took a train to Leiden where we spent three nights and were able to do day trips from there. It is also very convenient to Schipol airport as well as to Amsterdam. We have also enjoyed staying in Harlaam on past trips because of ease to airport and lower hotel prices than Amsterdam.
We are also active seniors and love Amesterdam museums but prefer staying a train ride away in a quieter city.
