A stay at DoubleTree by
Highlights
- Central location; walk everywhere
- Comfortable room sizes
- Luminair, the rooftop bar that has stunning views and an incredible menu
- Generous breakfast buffet and on-site coffee shop
- Trams, buses, ferries and trains nearby
Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted.
A chain hotel near a major train station is not where I expect to have a memorable stay. In most cities. Usually, it’s a compromise. DoubleTree by
Centraal Station is the main train station in Amsterdam and the area around it is clean, safe and central. Amsterdam is a city meant to be walked and we walked everywhere, even though it was wintertime.
Inside, the Doubletree Amsterdam delivered far beyond expectations: a spacious river-view king room with modern finishes, a concierge team that made our last-minute plans happen, a generous breakfast included, LuminAir, the excellent rooftop bar with art-inspired cocktails and a delicious menu, and standout coffee from Australia’s Lot Sixty One Coffee attached downstairs.
Rooms
Our king room had enough space for my husband and I to open suitcases and not trip over each other. The river view added a calm, luxurious feel to mornings and evenings. We used the espresso maker, teapot and fridge and refilled our glass water bottles at the filling station near the front desk. The room size stood out in a good way. I appreciated the extra shelving in the bathroom so we could each have an area for our toiletries.
Location: Central, Walkable and Safe
The DoubleTree Amsterdam Centraal is located between Amsterdam’s historic canal district and the IJ waterfront, giving us easy access to both. Trams, buses and trains are immediately accessible. Our stay felt safe, navigable and very convenient. We walked the canals, neighborhoods, cafés, shopping streets and to the Heineken Experience.
The area around Amsterdam Centraal Station is active and secure, even in the evenings. During our stay, the station and surrounding streets were decorated and lit for the holidays, adding to a festive atmosphere.
Amsterdam’s Historic Canal District
When you walk out the front entrance of the DoubleTree Amsterdam Centraal, you’re immediately oriented toward the heart of historic Amsterdam. Within minutes, you’re stepping into:
- the Amsterdam Canal Belt
- Damrak and Dam Square
- the medieval core of the city
From here, we walked easily to:
- canal neighborhoods
- the Nine Streets shopping area (designer to vintage clothing, jewelry, etc.)
- cafés, local shops, and higher-end retail
- the Heineken Experience
Behind the Hotel: The IJ waterfront
Walk out the back of theDoubleTree Amsterdam Centraal, and you get an entirely different experience.
Behind the DoubleTree is the IJ, a broad stretch of open water with wide walkways, museums and farmers markets. This side feels more open and more urban.
Ferries, Day Trips and Easy Navigation
Just behind Centraal Station, near the hotel, is the ferry terminal, where free ferries run every few minutes across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord. These ferries are easy to use, well-marked, and we felt safe.
We walked from the hotel to the bus terminal to take a day tour to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken. I loved seeing the windmills and small towns outside of the city. And we walked to the Albert Cuypstraat farmer’s market on the other side of town.
Food & Drink
DoubleTree by
Adjacent is the Australian-based Lot Sixty One Coffee has all of the morning coffee options and accouterments that coffee lovers love.
LuminAir, DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station’s Rooftop Bar
Winner of the 2025 HBMEO Best Hotel Bar Award, LuminAir deserves its own section because it really is that unique. Even if you stay elsewhere, grab a cocktail and a bite here. My daughter and I loved it.
From the LuminAir rooftop, you look directly over Amsterdam Centraal Station and the IJ waterfront, where ferries move across the water and an expansive view of the city skyline.
The menu is colorful and creative, inspired by Dutch artist Lynn Spoor. “…every cocktail reflects a distinct hue found in the sky.” I ordered the Horizon (green): bourbon, wasabi, avocado and soy and Sophia recommends Glamstar Martini with gold leaf (glittery). All of the food is gorgeously presented. The standout is the sushi platter – huge and deliciously fresh. We ended with the mini magnums – 3 indulgent mini ice cream pops that I must have again when I return to Amsterdam!
Service
The concierge team is friendly, knowledgeable and practical. Recommendations felt tailored to us, rather than templated, especially when it came to walking routes and neighborhood suggestions. It made the city feel approachable right away. We were very last minute with canal tours and day tours and they found tickets for both.
Ideal for First-Time or Return Visits
This location works especially well if:
- it’s your first trip to Amsterdam and you want simplicity
- you’re traveling with adult kids and may split up during the day
- you want flexibility without overplanning transit
- you value easy arrivals and departures
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