Weekend
A weekend in Amsterdam: three hotels and a plan for two nights
The train from Schiphol runs straight into Centraal. From there it is a short walk to the canal ring, where the weekend begins with a beer on tap in a brown café.
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In short: a weekend in Amsterdam
Two nights are enough for Amsterdam if you stay in the canal ring and book the museums ahead. Spend Friday in the Jordaan, Saturday at the Rijksmuseum and in De Pijp, and Sunday in the Vondelpark or on the ferry to Noord. Our first choice is the Pulitzer, 25 canal houses joined into one hotel.
Our first choice: Pulitzer Amsterdam. Check availability and prices at Pulitzer Amsterdam
Amsterdam is made for a short break. The centre is small enough to walk, the canals make every stroll worthwhile, and the flight from London is barely longer than the drive to the airport. The Eurostar runs direct from St Pancras if you prefer the train.
What spoils the weekend is queuing. The Anne Frank House has to be booked ahead, and the big museums are packed in the middle of the day. The plan below allows for that, and the hotels are where you want to be when the museums close.
The hotels we choose for a weekend in Amsterdam
One for the classic canal weekend, one more affordable on the Herengracht, and one in De Pijp, where Amsterdammers go out themselves. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com.
Pulitzer Amsterdam: the canal weekend
The Pulitzer is made up of 25 old canal houses between the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht, linked by courtyards and staircases. Every room is different and many overlook the water, so ask for a canal-facing room.
The hotel has two restaurants and a spa, and Dam Square and the Anne Frank House are a few minutes away. Choose the Pulitzer for a weekend inside the picture you have seen of Amsterdam.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pulitzer Amsterdam
The lobby on the Herengracht
The Hoxton occupies five canal houses near Dam Square. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
The Hoxton: canal houses for less
The Hoxton occupies five canal houses on the Herengracht, a few minutes from Dam Square. Rooms range from small to large, and the lobby is a meeting place for guests and locals alike.
You get the canal ring on your doorstep without paying for a grand hotel. Pick the Hoxton if you would rather spend the money on restaurants than on the room.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Hoxton
Sir Albert: a weekend in De Pijp
Sir Albert is in a former diamond factory in De Pijp, with tall windows and plenty of light. The Albert Cuyp Market and the neighbourhood's restaurants are just around the corner.
The museum quarter is a few minutes away, and guests praise the staff. Sir Albert suits anyone who has seen the canals before and wants a neighbourhood of food and bars.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sir Albert
More options are in our guide to the best hotels in Amsterdam, and the neighbourhoods are explained in where to stay in Amsterdam.
Friday: the canal ring and a brown café
The train from Schiphol takes around fifteen minutes to Amsterdam Centraal. From there you can walk to the canal ring in ten minutes, or take the tram if your hotel is in De Pijp.
The first evening belongs in the Jordaan. A brown café is Amsterdam's answer to the pub, with dark wooden walls, quiet music and beer on tap. Walk along the Prinsengracht afterwards, when the lights of the houseboats are reflected in the water.
Saturday: the Rijksmuseum and De Pijp
Be at the Rijksmuseum when it opens and go straight to The Night Watch before the groups arrive. If you have booked the Anne Frank House, save it for the afternoon. Tickets are released online, and you cannot visit without one.
For lunch, head to De Pijp. The Albert Cuyp Market is the city's largest street market, with fresh fish and stroopwafels made while you wait. It is closed on Sundays, so Saturday is the day.
In the evening, eat by a canal or in the Jordaan. Book ahead, because the small restaurants have few tables. If you like Italian food, we have gathered the places where the locals eat.
25 houses on the canal
The Pulitzer lies between the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Sunday: the Vondelpark and the ferry to Noord
Start Sunday at Spui. Behind a door lies the Begijnhof, a quiet courtyard with houses from the Middle Ages, and in the morning you often have it to yourself.
Hire a bike and do as Amsterdammers do: through the Vondelpark and along the Amstel. If the weather turns, the Van Gogh Museum is a good alternative, but book a time slot in advance.
Behind Centraal, free ferries cross the IJ to Noord, where old shipyards have become cafés and restaurants. The crossing takes a few minutes, and you are back at the station in time for the Schiphol train.
Turn a work trip into a weekend
Amsterdam is a busy city for conferences and meetings, and the Schiphol train makes it easy to move your return from Friday to Sunday. You get two nights in the city for the price of the hotel room.
Stay in the canal ring and you can walk to most places and take the tram to the rest. Ask about late check-out on Sunday, and check whether breakfast is included in the price you are comparing.
When is the best time for a weekend in Amsterdam?
Spring is high season, with tulips in April and May and full hotels. January to March is quieter, and the museums and brown cafés make rainy days a pleasure.
February half term, Easter and the May bank holidays are busier. King's Day on 27 April fills the city with people in orange. Book with free cancellation where you can, so you can secure the weekend early and move it if you need to.
Our first choice for a weekend in Amsterdam
Pulitzer Amsterdam
The Pulitzer is 25 old canal houses joined into a single hotel, with courtyards and staircases between them. No two rooms are alike, and many look out over the water. There are two restaurants and a spa, and the Anne Frank House is a few minutes away. Ask for a canal-facing room, and book the museums before you go so the weekend has no queues.
Frequently asked questions about a weekend in Amsterdam
How do I get from Schiphol to central Amsterdam?
Take the train. It runs from the station beneath the terminal to Amsterdam Centraal in around fifteen minutes, with frequent departures all day. From Centraal you can walk to the canal ring in ten minutes, or take the tram on to De Pijp and the museum quarter. Taxis are often slower at weekends and cost more.
Is two nights enough for a weekend in Amsterdam?
Yes, two nights are enough if you stay in the canal ring and book the museums ahead. That gives you the Rijksmuseum, the Jordaan, De Pijp and a Sunday in the Vondelpark. If you also want the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House and the windmills at Zaanse Schans, add a third night.
What should I book before a weekend in Amsterdam?
The Anne Frank House can only be visited with a ticket booked in advance, and the Van Gogh Museum uses timed tickets. The Rijksmuseum is easier, but booking still saves queuing. Tables at the small restaurants in the Jordaan and De Pijp should also be reserved before you travel, especially for Saturday night.
Which hotel is best for a weekend in Amsterdam?
The Pulitzer is our first choice for a classic canal weekend, with 25 canal houses and rooms overlooking the water. The Hoxton on the Herengracht gives you the same location for less. Sir Albert in De Pijp suits those who want to stay in a neighbourhood with a market and good restaurants.