Amsterdam - Jordaan or Museum area?
 

What are the differences in these two neighborhoods when choosing a hotel location? I am seeking an area where I can walk everywhere, no noisy nightclubs, but friendly cafes and shops. Thanks.

Jordan is a nice part of Amsterdam with little cafes and restaurants along the canals. It has a kind-of neighborhood-feel to it. In the summer, the houses all have pretty flowers out front and people sit outside at the cafes in the afternoons. The museum area is more in the center of town. <BR><BR>Getting around is not a problem in Amsterdam. You can either walk or take the trams and buses or canal boats.

It sounds as if the Jordaan are would be perfect for you. As the previous poster says, the Jordaan has a great neighborhood feel with plenty of lovely cafes and restaurants without all of the noise. Besides, Amsterdam is very walkable and this area is quite close everything.

I would tend to agree. The Jordaan is what you seem to be after.

I stayed by the Jordaan and loved it. The museum area is interesting as well and Vondelpark is nearby.<BR><BR>I be happy in either location. We just walked between the two.

Stayed in the museum area and loved it! It was quiet and residential, yet a block in any direction to the VanGogh, Rijks, and Stedelijk Museums (don't miss the wonderful VanGogh Gauguin exhibit on now). Also loved the concerts at the Concertgebouw, nice restaurants, and all transportation right there (including canal boat tours, the canal bus and the museum boat in front of the Rijksmuseum). The Jordaan is very close by and is lovely. Walked there several times during my week's stay. Did not want to stay near Central Station/Red Light area, and the museum area gives the option of an Amsterdam experience that I loved! The shops along the two streets in the museum area (Van Baerlestraat and P.C. Hooftstraat)are generally very expensive. I love finding "bargains" in such places, though, and came home with some "finds". I've traveled so much that souveniers don't interest me. So, it depends on your tastes--either area is nice.<BR><BR>Karen<BR>