Hostels near Amsterdam Central Station
Three hostels near Amsterdam Centraal are published here, and they are different enough that the choice matters. The Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is the social one, with dorms, private rooms, a bar and free breakfast. Budget Hotel Tourist Inn blends hostel beds with budget hotel rooms and is described as kid-friendly. THIS HO(S)TEL is the stylish option a few minutes' walk from the station, with air conditioning, a smoke-free policy and an on-site restaurant and bar. I describe them from the listing data only, with their guest ratings and review counts, so you can pick by atmosphere, bed type and budget rather than by name alone.
Amsterdam is compact and walkable, with canals, museums and a relaxed, open culture. Around Centraal the energy is constant, which suits a hostel stay built around trains and short city walks.
Three hostels, three kinds of traveler
A hostel near Centraal is the cheapest way to sleep within walking distance of the trains, the canal ring and the Dam Square area. The area is busy and Amsterdam is expensive, so a bed or a private room in a hostel often decides whether a short trip is affordable. The three listings below are not interchangeable, and I separate them by who each one suits.
The Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is the one I would choose for a first trip with friends or a solo journey where meeting people matters. It offers dorms and private rooms, a bar, a restaurant, a smoking lounge and free breakfast, and it holds a guest rating of 8.6 from more than 2,700 reviews, a large sample for a hostel. It is a short walk from Amsterdam Centraal, so arriving by train late is easy. Expect an evening crowd downstairs, and ask for a private room if you want a quiet night.
Budget Hotel Tourist Inn is the practical choice for families and travelers on a tight budget who still want a private room. The listing describes it as a hostel and budget hotel with cozy dorms and private rooms, free breakfast and Wi-Fi, an on-site restaurant, and a kid-friendly, smoke-free policy. Its rating is 8.4 from about 1,700 reviews. It makes sense when you want the price logic of a hostel without the party atmosphere, and I would compare the room types on the property page before booking. Whatever the format, book the dates that matter first and compare the cancellation terms on the property page before paying anything.
THIS HO(S)TEL is the most design-minded of the three, and the listing places it a few minutes' walk from Amsterdam Centraal. It offers streamlined rooms with Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a smoke-free environment, plus an on-site restaurant and bar, with breakfast available. It has the highest rating of the group, 8.8 from just over 1,000 reviews. I would choose it for a couple or a solo traveler who wants a modern room in a hostel format, and who values air conditioning in summer. As always with a hostel, read the most recent guest reviews on the property page to see how the rooms and the noise have been judged lately.
None of these is far from the platforms, which is the real advantage of this area for a short stay. You can drop your bag, walk to the canals or take the free ferry to Noord, and be back at the station without a taxi. The listing data does not cover dorm sizes or locker details, so I would check those on the property page, and I would avoid reading a hostel's lively bar as a promise of a quiet night. This is where the listing data stops, so the rest of the decision belongs on the property page and in the latest reviews.
A traveler's perspectiveFor most travelers I would choose THIS HO(S)TEL, because the highest rating of the three and air conditioning make it the safest hostel pick within a few minutes of Amsterdam Centraal. If the goal is to meet other travelers, I would go to The Flying Pig Downtown Hostel and book a dorm bed. For a family or a traveler who wants a private room at a hostel price, Budget Hotel Tourist Inn is the one I would shortlist. My advice is simple: pick the atmosphere first, then compare the room types.
4.4Guest scoreHostelTHIS HO(S)TEL
Hip hostel with a restaurant and bar, steps from Centraal Station
View hotel →Why guests love itTHIS HO(S)TEL is a hip hostel a few minutes' walk from Amsterdam Centraal, which keeps arrivals by train easy with children. Streamlined rooms come with air conditioning and Wi-Fi in a smoke-free building, breakfast is available, and the on-site restaurant and bar save a search for dinner. With a guest score of 8.8 from 1,026 reviews, I would suggest it to families with older children who want a sociable, central base at a hostel level of comfort.
4.3Guest scoreHostelThe Flying Pig Downtown Hostel
Lively hostel with free breakfast, a bar, and a smoking lounge
View hotel →Why guests love itThe Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is a lively hostel a short walk from Amsterdam Centraal, with private rooms as well as dorms. Free breakfast and a bar and restaurant make it practical, but the smoking lounge and party feel are worth weighing before booking with children. Parking is available for families who drive. With a guest score of 8.6 from 2,714 reviews, I would suggest it to families with older teenagers who want a sociable, central base rather than a quiet one.
4.2Guest scoreHostelBudget Hotel Tourist Inn
Cozy dorms and rooms with free breakfast near Amsterdam Centraal
View hotel →Why guests love itBudget Hotel Tourist Inn is a relaxed hostel and budget hotel near Amsterdam Centraal that welcomes children and is completely smoke-free. Families can choose a private room rather than a dorm, and the complimentary breakfast saves time and effort every morning. A restaurant on site covers other meals, and free Wi-Fi is included. More than 1,600 guests give it a score of 8.4, a strong result for a 2-star address so close to the station.
Local tips
- 1Book early for weekends and summer, since popular hostels near Amsterdam Centraal sell out first.
- 2Choose a private room at The Flying Pig if you want the bar nearby but a quieter night.
- 3Check the room types at Budget Hotel Tourist Inn before booking, because it offers both dorms and private rooms.
- 4Ask THIS HO(S)TEL about its air conditioning and breakfast options when you book, as the listing says breakfast is available rather than included.
- 5Walk or cycle to the canal ring from Centraal and take the free ferry to Noord for a different view of the IJ.
- 6Compare the rating and the review count on each property page, since the three hostels range from 8.4 to 8.8 over very different numbers of reviews.