We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In June, we took an epic family vacation to Europe, visiting six cities in four countries. I have so much to share and have been writing a blog post series for each city. Today, I want to share our three days in Amsterdam, specifically where we stayed. To be honest, I was very overwhelmed when choosing where to stay in Amsterdam, but we ended up loving our rental. And Amsterdam with teenagers ended up being an absolute blast!
And if you don’t have time to read this entire post now, here is the link to the Amsterdam apartment we rented. But I encourage you to read it. I have a lot of great information and first-hand experience to share!
Our Family Trip To Amsterdam With Teenagers
We came to Amsterdam on the Thalys Train after spending 4 days in Paris and 3 days in Brussels and Bruges.
Besides our pre-booked tickets for the Anne Frank House, which must be booked far in advance, we left our travel plans open. We wanted to explore on foot and knew that by days 8 through 11 of a trip abroad, we may enjoy the flexibility to take it easy if needed.
For that reason, my main focus was on determining where to stay in Amsterdam. I wanted to be somewhere safe and walkable. As I have mentioned, walkability is the most important thing to me when considering where to stay when traveling. We had only been to Amsterdam once before, and it was a quick overnight stay that only allowed us a little time to explore.
So, my first step was booking our place to stay in Amsterdam with teenagers. Let’s break it down!
Which Part Of Amsterdam Is Best To Stay In?
The best part of Amsterdam to stay in depends on your preferences, interests, and the kind of experience you’re looking for. Amsterdam is a city with quite a diverse range of neighborhoods, each offering a unique vibe.
That said, it’s important not to overthink it! But I would be remiss if I didn’t give a short overview of Amsterdam’s main areas!
Amsterdam Neighborhoods
Here are a few popular Amsterdam regions or neighborhoods to consider:
Old Centre
This is the heart of Amsterdam and a great choice to be close to major attractions like Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Amsterdam Centraal, and the Anne Frank House. The lively area has many restaurants, shops, museums, Dutch experiences, and entertainment options.
Jordaan
Known for its charming canals, narrow streets, and art galleries, Jordaan offers a more relaxed and picturesque atmosphere. It’s an excellent choice for those who enjoy exploring on foot and want to experience a more local side of Amsterdam. When researching, I saw this district named time and time again as the best area for families to stay in Amsterdam.
De Pijp
The vibrant De Pijp neighborhood is known for its diverse food scene, street food, outdoor markets, and the famous Heineken Experience. It’s hip and trendy, with a mix of cultures and a younger crowd. It is excellent for those looking for fun things to do at all hours of the day.
Oud-West
This area is a bit quieter than the city center but still close enough to attractions. It has a mix of boutiques, cafes, and green spaces, making it a more residential-feeling option. This area is adjacent to the famous Jordaan district and is not to be overlooked!
Oost (East)
This neighborhood has been gaining popularity for its creative and artistic vibe. It’s a bit further away from the center. Still, it offers a more laid-back atmosphere and a range of cultural activities. However, you will need to rely on public transportation or bikes to get to most of the popular tourist attractions.
I didn’t mention the famous Red Light District, part of the Old Centre, because we were traveling with teenagers. But that is another popular neighborhood to visit in Amsterdam, sans kids.
So, which is best?
Remember earlier when I said not to overthink it? Well, it’s true! Public transportation in Amsterdam is excellent, so even if you stay slightly outside the city center, you can quickly get around using trams, buses, and the metro. You can’t go wrong anywhere within the canal district, especially where Jordaan and Oud-West intersect!
Amsterdam: Hotels vs. Vacation Rentals
Hotel room size is the biggest hurdle you will encounter when looking for hotels in Amsterdam. As typical in most European countries, most rooms have an occupancy limit of two. Rooms able to hold a family of four are fewer and far between and tend to get booked up far in advance during popular travel periods.
For this reason, we often look for vacation rentals on Airbnb or apartments via Booking.com for our European travels. The extra space is always appreciated with older kids, and we often find it disappointing to return to regular hotel rooms these days! Remember when we rented that 3-story cave house on Santorini, and everyone had their own floor? Now, that was epic!
Where Did We Stay In Amsterdam With Teenagers?
We stayed in a fantastic little apartment in the Oud-West neighborhood. It was a great location, near the Jordaan neighborhood and within walking distance of many things, including the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, and the popular Leidseplein area.
Oud West has some treasures, such as Foodhallen, one of our favorite stops in Amsterdam. It was a really safe area in which we felt very comfortable allowing the kids to stay back on a couple of occasions. At the same time, Matt and I ventured out on our own.
Alright, let’s get into specifics! That’s why you’re here, right?
Central Rooftop Terrace Guest Suite via Booking.com
We rented a 2-room, 5th-floor apartment called the Central Rooftop Terrace Guest Suite on Booking.com. It had access to a shared rooftop terrace that we loved. And it was always just us up there!
Location: Nassaukade 315 in Oud West
Central Rooftop Terrace Guest Suite
Address: Nassaukade 315, Oud West, 1053 LR Amsterdam, Netherlands
It is located directly on the Singelgracht Canal, where it intersects Elandsgracht. You can see the exact location on the map below!
Booking.comCost Of Our 3-Night Stay in Amsterdam
This apartment was much less expensive than any hotel option, especially if we needed to book two rooms. The total charge for our three-night day from June 4th through June 7th, 2023, was €1,064.45 or approx. $1,153 USD. I considered this a big win at under $400 a night all-in during the summer travel season!
Our Stay at Nassaukade 315, Amsterdam
I’m sharing a quick review of our stay and what to expect if you book a stay at Nassaukade 315.
First, as you will read in the Booking.com listing and the reviews, this unit is on the top floor of the building. This historic building, built in 1890, does not have an elevator. Therefore, you need to walk up 5 total flights of narrow stairs to access the unit. I will note that this is very common in Amsterdam. It added to the experience for us!
All reviews rave about the location. In fact, this property has a fantastic location score of 9.4! Central Rooftop Terrace Guest Suite in Amsterdam is located 0.7 mi from Anne Frank House, 0.9 mi from Rijksmuseum, and 0.9 mi from Royal Palace Amsterdam.
This apartment offers both canal and city views. Upon entering, you have a short hallway, perfect for luggage. From the hallway, there is a small toilet room with a sink and a larger bath space with a shower and sink/vanity.
The bulk of the space is broken up into two main rooms/bedrooms. Note that one bedroom is in the same room as the kitchen/dining area. Each room has a double bed, which can be split if desired. Both rooms have windows with canal views!
They look very similar, but these are, in fact, two different sleeping areas. As you can tell, the space is minimal, which we prefer while traveling. As Airbnb hosts ourselves, we appreciate as little clutter as possible.
The dining area has a table with four chairs. And the kitchen area offers a combi microwave, a small fridge, and coffee and tea makers. There are plenty of dishes and glassware on hand as well.
We were greeted with a bottle of wine from our host, Aletta, which is always a nice treat after a day of travel.
What made this rental so special was the rooftop terrace. And while it is shared between two apartments, we never encountered anyone else. I loved enjoying my coffee or wine up there, basking in the warm summer sunlight. Aletta enjoys gardening, and there were flowers in full bloom, some of my favorites too!
We even caught a sunset up there on one of the nights! The spiral staircase was located just a couple of feet from the door to our apartment, making it a quick, easy, and even charming walk up to the terrace.
What We Liked About Our Booking.com Amsterdam Rental
We loved having two separate sleeping areas! The kids could have separated their beds but ended up just sharing. Abby loved the window seat and spent hours sitting there with the window open, feeling the fresh air and watching boats passing along on the canal below.
Staying in a historic Amsterdam home in a fairly residential neighborhood allowed us to feel like locals. We enjoyed visiting the grocery stores and pizza shops around the corner.
I also appreciate the cancellation policy offered by the host and Booking.com. It allows a cancellation up until 14 days before your trip. This gives me an extra piece of mind!
Additionally, as I mentioned above, the location was perfect for us! We preferred walking over biking and public transportation, as the June weather was near perfect.
The Only Downside Of Our Rental (If It Even Is Negative)
You have to be aware of the stairs. Honestly, they weren’t a big deal for us. Abby and Jake are 12 and 14 and navigate them better than Matt and I. However, this is not the place for you if you have mobility issues or young kids. Furthermore, we travel with one carry-on bag and a backpack per person. Getting those bags up the stairs at check-in and checkout was doable. However, you may encounter some difficulty if you travel with larger, heavy suitcases when traveling.
But this is how people live in Amsterdam. Homes are tall and narrow and often several stories. We felt like locals, making the trip more immersive for the kids!
The only other downside is not having two full bathrooms. This wasn’t much of an issue when Abby and Jake were little. Still, now that they are older, we often encounter bathroom bottlenecks when trying to get the door while traveling. And I would have loved access to a washer and dryer. But we knew both in advance, so we were prepared.
Public Transportation + Walkability Nearby
I mentioned the location of the Central Rooftop Terrace Guest Suite earlier, but I want to elaborate here. We walked everywhere and loved it. The bike scene in Amsterdam is no joke, and I would not recommend attempting it on your first visit. There are a lot of rules and more bikes than vehicles on the road. You will see what I mean when you get there!
Amsterdam has an excellent tram system. When we arrived via train to Amsterdam Centraal, we could quickly get on the tram with our luggage. It dropped us off a half block from our rental at the Amsterdam Elandsgracht Tram Stop. We could have hopped on the tram here and taken it anywhere. You can use an Amsterdam City Card for the fare.
TIP: Use Google Maps when traveling with the directions set to Transit. You will get detailed step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. This is by far the easiest way to navigate while in a foreign country.
Within a few blocks, you can also access car rental, electrical boat rental, supermarkets, and more. A large bus station is located just across the canal, and you can use that as a connection to Schiphol Airport (40 minutes) and Amsterdam Centraal (10 minutes).
Visiting Amsterdam with Teens
Visiting Amsterdam with teenagers offers a vibrant experience filled with cultural exploration and youthful excitement. Beyond its picturesque canals and historic sites, the city boasts attractions that will engage teenagers’ interests, from the thought-provoking Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum to the interactive NEMO Science Museum.
Families can enjoy leisurely walks along the iconic paths, explore vibrant neighborhoods like Jordaan and De Pijp for their trendy shops and world eateries, and even embark on canal cruises for a unique perspective of the city. If you stay at the Central Rooftop Terrace Guest Suite, you simply turn left out the front door and can walk straight to the iconic Rijksmuseum.
Amsterdam is a wonderful city for first-time European visitors as well. It’s very safe, and there is a fun surprise around every corner. The central Canal District is large enough to explore for several days, yet manageable! The location of our Amsterdam vacation rental was perfect for doing all of the above.
And if you have a family of cat lovers, add the KattenKabinet cat museum in Amsterdam to your list. We really enjoyed it and couldn’t keep it a secret!
10+ Europe Travel Essentials To Get Before Your Trip
On that note, if you are planning your first trip to Europe, check out the European travel essentials I recommend. You’ll thank me later!
I have additional products in my Family Travel List on my Amazon storefront.
Get the Amsterdam Go City Card
Consider this option if you want to do and see many popular tourist experiences while in Amsterdam, Netherlands!
Pin This Amsterdam With Teenagers: Accommodations Blog Post
