Hotel accommodation is mainly located centrally and close to the main tourist attractions. Hotels vary from the ultra-modern purpose built establishments to adapted traditional Amsterdam buildings. There is also ample accommodation in the form of first-class and deluxe hotels near Schiphol airport, which is only a 15 minute train ride from Centraal Station.

There's plenty of choice of accommodation around Rembrandtplein, and this area makes a very convenient base for exploring the city. One of the best bets around here is the NH Caransa, a fairly modern, purpose-built hotel that appeals to a mix of tourists and business travellers with its convenient location and good facilities. A charming alternative is the College, housed in a traditional old school building near the Museumplein, which makes it a great spot if you want to make the most of Amsterdam's cultural attractions. Although the building itself is traditional, the interior decor is bang up to date and very elegant. There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby too where you can relax after a hard day's sightseeing.

Staying a bit further out from the centre isn't a bad option. Amsterdam's excellent public transport and pedestrian-friendly streets means that anywhere in the city is reasonably convenient for the central attractions. South of the city centre you'll find some exceedingly pleasant areas of the city, or if you fancy something traditional in ambience you can find many of the city's distinctive canalside buildings now converted into hotels. Often these aren't as luxurious as the more modern hotels that have sprung up in the city, but they are nonetheless popular with tourists looking to capture something of the essence of old Amsterdam.

The busiest season is April to October, and of course Christmas and New Year, when booking well in advance is strongly advised.