Since it left such an impression the first time around, I decided to re-visit Amsterdam this May. I spent a week there and ended up moving between four different hostels! This was mainly because part of my stay fell on a weekend and weekends are notoriously busy in party cities like Amsterdam. So since I couldn’t book a continuous stay, I decided to split them up and explore a few different hostels.
Here are my honest impressions of each hostel:
1.Flying Pig Uptown
I wish I spent more time here! It was by far my favourite, and it was also the hostel I stayed in during my first visit to Amsterdam! It took me staying at three other hostels to realize that this one was the best. It’s in a quiet neighbourhood overlooking the famous Vondelpark. It’s also a 5 minute walk from the museum district and a 20 minute walk from the Red Light District! So it’s central enough to be within walking distance of famous attractions, but secluded enough to give you a break from all the crowds of tourists.
Flying Pig Uptown is also in a more local area of the city, so you’ll get to experience a less touristy version of Amsterdam. Also, if you want to party with the locals, it’s a 9 minute walk from Leidseplein Square, a place with many local bars and nightclubs.
The hostel itself has super friendly staff and a social, cozy common area with a bar. The only downside is the stairs..Half of the hostel is made up of steep stairways (and no elevators). So this might be a struggle, especially if you have heavy luggage. But braving the narrow stairways is worth it in my opinion.
Rating 4.75/5
- Cozy, social atmosphere
- Quiet location, but within walking distance of main tourist attractions
- LOTS of stairs
2. Meininger Hotel Amsterdam
Meininger is a hotel AND hostel in one. It was the furthest from the city centre, but probably had the nicest interior. It was newly renovated, spacious, and even had its own convenience store! Not to mention, it had a big breakfast buffet every morning (for €10). The hotel and rooms were clean, and there were a lot of extra amenities.
Meininger is right next to the Sloterdijk train station, so yes, you have to take a train from Centraal to get there. It may seem like a long trip, but the train ride only takes a total of 5 minutes! You just have to navigate the busy Amsterdam Centraal Station, buy an intercity ticket (usually about €5), and get off at Sloterdijk station. I actually liked this aspect because it gave me an excuse to use Amsterdam’s train system. The Netherlands in general has really good public transport, you can easily travel between cities. For example, a trip from Amsterdam to Utrecht is about €13 and takes 30 minutes.
The only con of this hostel was its spaciousness. If you’re a solo traveller, the common areas aren’t the best for meeting new people. Everything was quite spread out, so it didn’t have that cozy feel.
Rating 4.5/5
- Very clean, beautiful dorms/common areas
- Has its own convenience store (which sells snacks and toiletries)
- Is a short train ride from central Amsterdam
3. Flying Pig Downtown
I also stayed at Flying Pig Downtown. This hostel was right in the middle of a busy tourist shopping area. So every time you walked out, you’d find yourself right in the middle of a hoard of tourists. It’s also very close to Amsterdam Centraal Station (a 5 minute walk). So it’s a very central location. If you want to be right in the middle of the action, definitely stay here.
It’s also known as a party hostel, so it attracts a slightly younger crowd. I wasn’t a fan of the overall layout and it didn’t have the same cozy vibe that the Uptown hostel did. It’s still a good option if you want a hostel that’s very central and has lots of people coming in and out though. Another plus was that it had a lot of cool murals on the walls (as seen above).
Rating 3.5/5
- Big hostel with many guests
- Very central location
- No real ‘vibe’
4. The Bulldog Hostel
This was the first hostel I stayed at. It’s literally a 5 minute walk from the Red Light District and has a very rocker type vibe, with its red walls and smoke filled hallways. It has a distinct aesthetic, think of The Sex Pistols or The Rolling Stones or any punk band of the 70s/80s. Besides the big bar downstairs, there weren’t many other places to socialize in, so I wouldn’t say this hostel is the best for solo travellers. Also, if you decide to take the stairway from the lobby to upstairs, take at your own risk…it is VERY steep and narrow.
Rating 3/5
- Interesting/fun theme
- Central location
- Mediocre rooms/marijuana tinted hallways