Stay in Amsterdam

There is no one best location to stay in Amsterdam. It really depends on what you are planning to see and do while you're there. Many people have good things to say about the Jordaan neighborhood, but there are a lot of great neighborhoods in Amsterdam.

It would help if you can add some detail. How do you plan to get around while you're there? How are you arriving and departing? By 4-star, does that mean you like tourist-class or business-class hotels with room service and many amenities, or do you prefer boutique hotels with more character and charm? What are you planning to do while you're there? Do you want a central location so you can walk to many of the most interesting sights? Or will you be comfortable riding trams? Or will you take taxis? Do you like a neighborhood with local eateries that appeal to residents? Or do you like to eat in classier restaurants that are frequented by tourists?

Hotel recommendations are easily found in your Rick Steves guide books for Amsterdam. You have that, right?

Because, you're spending serious money on your trip, and trying to save 20 bucks by not buying a guidebook would be, you know, not real smart...right?

hi csorcabal
it's your decision about location to stay, i've stayed in the jordaan on a houseboat and on prinsengracht in an apartment near the amstel and really liked near amstel. you may not like that area. lane has given you lots of options to help you decide. when you ask for a 4 star hotel what does that mean, you want full bells and whistles with no dutch charm and pay the price for it, small rooms, no elevator/lift to climb up many stairs/steps with luggage many floors, mobility issues, they do not rate rooms there like the USA. It's an expensive and crowded city, stay close to dam center, canal view, tourist central where it could get very loud with no sleep at all, walking-biking-trams-taxis, what's your budget and dates. we really loved amsterdam, it's a fun city with lots to do. look at things you want to do, and make reservations early, especially anne frank house. do you want hotel, studio, bnb? let us know and can help you?
aloha

We stayed at an airbnb in the De Pijp area. We were about 15 min walk from the first canal/Heineken museum. There was a tram that would take you to Museumplien in 5 min (the street we were on was less than a minute walk to the tram). At the time (last year) they were working on a tram line that would take you to the first of the canals with connections to other tram lines, so you wouldn't have to walk. Tons of restaurants and less than 10 min to the Albert Cuypmarkt.

Here's one take on Amsterdam neighborhoods, from EuroCheapo: https://www.eurocheapo.com/amsterdam/hoods/

And another take, from TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g188590-c156882/Amsterdam:The-Netherlands:Where.To.Stay.In.Amsterdam.html