4 Best Hotels in Oud-Zuid, Amsterdam

Design-savvy travelers on a budget will enjoy the cosmopolitan vibe, lavish public spaces, and airy guest rooms with their high-tech gadgetry (most things in the rooms are controlled by an iPad), but not everyone will love the sci-fi-like see-through glass tubes that contain the toilet and shower. Tucked away near the financial district, this link in a quickly expanding Dutch chain is popular with suited business types as well as a mix of young and older international guests who mingle informally at the canteenM bar and in the lounges broken down into living room–like compartments. Less social types can also hang out in their rooms enjoying AirPlay or Chromecast casting through their widescreen Smart TVs. There are two other CitizenM hotels in Amsterdam; one is a short walk from Schiphol Airport and the other is centrally located near the River Amstel.

The cliché that “beauty comes from the inside” certainly rings true at this modern hotel that seems to float on the waters of the five canals that converge nearby, a spectacle enjoyed from many rooms as well as the waterside terraces. Architect Will Erens' exuberant decor include a rich use of patterns and materials like velvet, leather, and marble. The surrounding Apollolaan district is within walking distance of the major museums and other attractions, but guests who wish to stay put can enjoy a waterside meal at the Harbour Club Zuid or at The Living Room, by Bodon, which serves French brasserie fare in an over-the-top setting with an original Parisian Patisserie bar and intimate sofas and tables.

This bulky, modern hotel, with spacious (though slightly dated) rooms looms over a tree-lined street within walking distance of the upscale boutiques on Cornelis Schuytstraat, the Royal Concertgebouw concert hall, Big Three museums, and Vondelpark. While the property lacks any sort of historical allure, you'll find plenty of charm in the lovely streets nearby. Adjoining rooms, family suites, and free baby beds make this a good choice for families.

This unique and stylish 1895 landmark, which once housed a school, is a training ground for students of the country's top hotel-management programs, which accounts for the fresh-faced staff and eager though sometimes hit-or-miss service. Individually designed rooms are modern with warm colors, if a bit on the dark side. The location in the ominous-sounding Duivelseiland ("Devil's Island") neighborhood between Zuid and De Pijp is convenient to the Big Three museums, the Eastern Canal District, and the eclectic De Pijp neighborhood, with its shops and restaurants and a busy daily market on Albert Cuypstraat, is also within easy walking distance.