Amsterdam is one of the most famous cities in the world and attracts tons of tourists every year to come to see its famous attractions.
When planning a trip, accommodation is often the first thing you start looking into, and if you’re looking for something affordable, hostels are the perfect solution. However, hostels can be a mixed bag when it comes to quality and safety.
That’s why I’ve answered some of the most common questions about hostels in Amsterdam and their safety to help you on your way.
Generally, sleeping in a hostel in Amsterdam is absolutely safe. Amsterdam offers a wide variety of hostels for you to stay at, no matter the kind of traveler you are.
Like booking any accommodation for your trip, it’s always good to do some research ahead of time to ensure you’re getting exactly what you’re looking for. You will often find smaller and more local hostels in the suburbs and larger hostel chains in the center.
Hostel chains like St. Christopher’s Inns and Generator are better known and have reputations for being reliable and trustworthy.
Large hostel chains like these often have hostels in cities all over Europe and are a surefire option if you’re in need of a bed to sleep in.
Many hostels like this might cost you a bit more money, but they provide a safer environment for you to stay in. Smaller hostels can often be trustworthy, but it might take some more research to find the perfect one.
Don’t let this discourage you from booking a smaller hostel. Hostels outside of the center can give you a more local experience, and it’s often cheaper than the bigger hostels in the center.
I’ve stayed in both small and large hostels, and I found that both offer a completely different experience that made my trip unique.
Just like the city itself, the hostels in Amsterdam are a safe space for you to stay in. If you are a woman traveling alone, you might find yourself being more cautious about hostels and the culture that comes with them.
Luckily, larger hostel franchises in the city offer options that can make you feel safer and more comfortable during your stay.
Larger hostel chains often offer female-only dorms to make you feel more comfortable and offer the chance to make friends that might be on the same path as you are. Dorms like these often have their own bathroom and shower and might even have their own floor with other female-only dorms.
Things you can look out for when looking at hostels as a female solo traveler are details like curtains for the beds or reading reviews of other female travelers that have booked the hostel before you.
Putting a little more time into your research can give you the reassurance you need to travel and enjoy your stay.
Yes, most hostels in Amsterdam are trustworthy. There are many hostels everywhere in Amsterdam, and there will always be a few that won’t be as trustworthy.
There are things you can look out for to make sure you don’t book the wrong hostel.
When you’re looking for a hostel, look at details like whether they have lockers in the dorms, good staff, or a number you can call when you have a problem. These are all great signs of a hostel you can trust.
Hostels are only as good as the employees that work in them.
If previous reviews mention how much employees have helped or how responsive they were to a problem, that is a great sign of a trustworthy hostel. Staff is there to make sure you have a wonderful stay, as well as a safe one.
Depending on where you are, finding a safe hostel can often be difficult. Luckily, Amsterdam has a ton of excellent and safe hostels for you to stay at, and I’ve listed a few tips for you to find the perfect one.
1. Book through well-known websites:
Websites like Booking.com and Hostelworld are the best websites to find a hostel. Previous guests will often leave reviews, rate the hostel based on their experience, and are not shy about giving their opinion.
Every factor of your hostel experience is rated individually to give an overall rating at the end, ranging from cleanliness to location.
Looking at the most recent reviews on these websites can give you a good idea of what your experience can be like when staying there or what to look out for.
Comparing websites can give you a better idea of the hostel, as different websites might have different reviews.
A bonus when comparing these websites can be that one of them might offer certain perks like a free breakfast or a discount on your next booking.
2. Look carefully at reviews and ratings:
Pay attention to the number of reviews the hostel has compared to the overall rating. Some hostels have a great rating but only a few reviews. This doesn’t give a good indication of whether this is the hostel you’re looking for.
If a hostel has a great rating and hundreds, maybe thousands of good reviews, that’s usually a good sign that the hostel is safe and trustworthy.
I often found hostels that had excellent ratings but fewer reviews. All the reviews talked about how amazing the hostel was, but the photos and location did not reflect that. It made the reviews less reliable and prevented me from booking with them.
3. Think about the right location:
Make sure to look at the location of the hostel you’re checking out. Find a hostel that is near the attractions you’re interested in and close to public transport.
Walking around the city at night can be daunting if you’re coming back late. Knowing where your nearest tram/metro stop is can make it easier to get back to your hostel safely and reduce the time you have to walk through the city at night.
4. Do not be afraid of the term "party hostel":
Don’t be put off by the term "party hostel." This often just means that the hostel hosts events for you to meet people and socialize.
It also means that there’s most likely a bar attached to the hostel for you to have a drink or a bite to eat. These events can range from beer pong tournaments to pub crawls and are often a lot of fun.
Making friends early on in your trip is a great way to feel more comfortable and safer, as you have people around that know who you are and could have your contact in case something happens.
An important benefit of hostels like this often means that there’s security by the door to maintain order while you make friends inside during the evening.
Little things like this can make you feel much more comfortable when staying in a hostel.
Amsterdam is an incredible city with much to offer, and if you’re on a budget or want to meet new people, hostels are often the way to go.
Whether you’re traveling alone, with friends, men, or women, this article answers the questions you might have had about hostels in the city.
There’s a hostel for everyone, and if you follow my tips, you’ll find the perfect one to make your trip even better.
