Best Airbnbs in Amsterdam

Amsterdam suits the privacy of an apartment unusually well. Canal houses reveal their proportions more clearly when there is no lobby downstairs, while houseboats place the movement of the water beneath the rooms themselves. The best stays give you more than somewhere to sleep: a kitchen worth using, windows that hold the morning light or a neighbourhood that begins directly outside the door. If you are looking for the best Airbnbs in Amsterdam, these are the properties we would choose first, selected for their architecture, setting and connection to the way the city is lived.

best for

• Longer weekends and slower stays

• Kitchens and private living space

• Canal houses and houseboats

• Travelling at a neighbourhood pace

skip if

• You want daily hotel service

• Luggage and steep stairs are difficult

• A staffed reception matters

• You prefer predictable room layouts

Why Book an Airbnb in Amsterdam?

An apartment changes how Amsterdam is experienced. Mornings begin at the window rather than in a breakfast room, and the day can return to a kitchen, terrace or living space that feels separate from the visitor economy outside. The city’s architecture makes that difference particularly noticeable. Narrow canal houses, converted lofts and boats were shaped by domestic life long before they became places to stay. The right property preserves those proportions and lets them guide the experience. It also gives longer visits more flexibility, particularly when cooking, privacy or space to share matters more than hotel service.

Hotels

Loft apartment

2 Guests // 1 Bedroom // 1 Bed // 1 Bathroom

Why stay here

A former police house overlooking Noordermarkt gives this loft a setting few Amsterdam apartments can match. Five arched windows face the seventeenth-century Noorderkerk, bringing the square and its changing daily life into the open-plan room. A mezzanine, chef’s kitchen and Art Deco bathroom make good use of the generous scale, while French doors lead to a quieter rear terrace. On market mornings, Noordermarkt begins directly below. The rest of the Jordaan extends in every direction, making this a property where the immediate surroundings can provide most of what the stay needs.

Best for

Market mornings, cooking at home and couples who want the Jordaan in view.

Loft apartment in canal district, Dining Table, Vintage furniture

Loft apartment in canal district, Exterior of building with Sunlight

Luxury Houseboat

4 Guests // 3 Bedrooms // 6 Beds // 2 Bathrooms

Why stay here

This 1912 houseboat combines the character of an older vessel with the practical advantages of a well-equipped contemporary home. The kitchen is substantial enough for proper cooking, while the upper lounge and deck open the interior towards the canal. Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms make it better suited to families or friends than most central Amsterdam properties. Its position keeps markets, museums and neighbourhood streets within reach, yet the water creates a degree of separation once everyone returns. Golden hour from the upper level is the defining moment, with the canal carrying the last light around the boat.

Best for

Families, shared meals and groups who want both central access and outdoor space.

Luxury houseboat Amsterdam Centre!, Kitchen and Living room

Luxury houseboat Amsterdam Centre!, Roof with Turf growing and canal view

Spectacular Loft

2 Guests // 1 Bedroom // 1 Bed // 1 Bathroom

Why stay here

The 1882 building gives this Oud-West loft its strongest features: exposed brick, original timber and enough ceiling height to make the open room feel generous. A visual artist shaped the interior around those elements, adding warm materials, a sculptural bathtub and a small balcony without crowding the architecture. Vondelpark is close enough for the morning, with the museums and centre easily reached by foot or tram. The stairs are steep, as they often are in Amsterdam, but the reward is a private space above the street with light, height and a stronger sense of retreat.

Best for

Vondelpark mornings, long baths and couples comfortable with steep stairs.

Spectacular Loft - central & quiet, view to the balcony

Spectacular Loft - central & quiet, Bedroom with exposed brick

Charming canal apartment

2 Guests // 1 Bedroom // 1 Bed // 1.5 Bathrooms

Why stay here

This ground-floor Jordaan apartment places the canal almost level with the living room windows. That proximity changes the experience, bringing passing bicycles, boats and the softer northern light into the room throughout the day. A compact kitchen and sitting area make it easy to spend time at home, while the king-size bed and heated bathroom floor add comfort without changing the apartment’s domestic character. Galleries, independent shops and small restaurants sit nearby, but the quiet address provides some distance when the day ends. A strong choice when the view and neighbourhood matter more than additional space.

Best for

Canal-level living, slower evenings and couples who want the Jordaan outside.

Charming canal apartment in Amsterdam, Living room with View over Canal

Charming canal apartment in Amsterdam, Bedroom details

Modern Houseboat with Terrace

3 Guests // 2 Bedrooms // 2 Beds // 1 Bathroom

Why stay here

Moored on one of Amsterdam’s older canals, this 1904 houseboat brings water into the daily rhythm of the stay. Pale timber, plants and soft textiles keep the interior light, while the open living area leads naturally towards the private terrace. Passing boats and changing reflections replace the usual street view, making even time spent indoors feel connected to the city. Museums and markets remain within reach, but the boat offers a reason to return earlier than planned. It works particularly well in warmer weather, when the terrace becomes another room and the canal stays present from morning onwards.

Best for

Terrace mornings, warmer months and guests curious about daily life on the water.

Amsterdam Modern Houseboat with Terrace, Living room Interiors

Amsterdam Modern Houseboat with Terrace, Rooftop terrace

Great studio in city center

2 Guests // 1 Bedroom // 1 Bed // 1 Bathroom

Why stay here

This Jordaan studio sits behind the busier street in a quiet courtyard, giving it an unusual separation from the neighbourhood around it. The interior stays simple, with warm materials, soft textiles and enough open space for two. A private terrace adds somewhere for breakfast or a late drink when the weather holds. Step outside and the Jordaan returns immediately, with bakeries, cafés and canals within a few streets. The appeal comes from that contrast: a central position for the day, then a room protected from much of the movement and noise that usually accompanies it.

Best for

Quiet weekends, courtyard breakfasts and couples who want the Jordaan close.

Great studio in city center / Time Out’s favorite, Kitchen

Great studio in city center / Time Out’s favorite, View of living room

Iconic 1632 Canal House

4 Guests // 3 Bedrooms // 2 Beds // 2 Bathrooms

Why stay here

Built in 1632, this Prinsengracht house retains the height, materials and formality of an old Amsterdam home. Oak floors, tall windows, antique furniture and an open fireplace give the rooms historical weight without making them feel preserved for display. The long dining table suits evenings at home, while the canal outside keeps the centre of the city close. This is a property to choose for the building itself. Its age will bring irregularities alongside character, but that is part of living inside a house that has occupied the same stretch of Amsterdam for nearly four centuries.

Best for

Shared dinners, historic interiors and groups who want the house to shape the trip.

Iconic 1632 Canal House, Cosy living room

Luxury water-side flat in the Canal District

2 Guests // 1 Bedroom // 1 Bed // 1 Bathroom

Why stay here

The canal controls the room here. Tall sash windows bring the water close, with polished floors catching the changing light and a seating area positioned to make use of the view. Warm tones, art and a fireplace give the apartment enough presence without competing with what is outside. The Nine Streets and Jordaan are within easy walking distance, but the strongest moments may be the quieter ones: coffee beside the window before the bridges become busy, or returning after dinner to the canal lights below. It offers Amsterdam at domestic scale, with the city remaining visible throughout the day.

Best for

Canal views, quiet mornings and couples planning to explore mostly on foot.

Luxury water-side flat in the Canal District, Living room, view over Canal

Luxury water-side flat in the Canal District, View of Fireplace

Where to Eat Nearby

Café Caron

Set on Frans Halsstraat, one of De Pijp’s better streets, Café Caron feels rooted in the neighbourhood rather than styled for it. The Caron family runs it like a proper French bistro: seasonal cooking, a short menu that shifts often, and a cellar built around Burgundy. In a part of Amsterdam shaped by cafés, terraces and good places to eat, it is one of the tables that helps define the street.

Airbnbs or Hotels in Amsterdam?

An Airbnb gives the stay more privacy, domestic space and freedom around meals. It also brings greater variation: stairs may be steep, layouts irregular and service limited to the essentials. Hotels offer a staffed arrival, housekeeping and public spaces that can connect the building to the city in a different way. Choose an apartment when the kitchen, view or experience of the property is central to the trip. Choose a hotel when ease, service and a dependable room matter more.

STAY ELSEWHERE IN Amsterdam

Best Airbnbs in Amsterdam

best for

skip if

Why Book an Airbnb in Amsterdam?