DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
by the TopOfHotel team
A large, just-renovated 4-star where the real draw is the 11th-floor Sky Lounge and a 3-minute walk to the trains.
A large, just-renovated 4-star where the real draw is the 11th-floor Sky Lounge and a 3-minute walk to the trains.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station sits on the north side of Amsterdam Centraal, right on the IJ river, in a modern tower holding 557 rooms. The whole property came out of a full renovation in early 2025, and it shows — guests describe the rooms as fresh, clean and contemporary rather than the tired chain look. Expect a crisp modern palette, soft Hilton bedding and an in-room coffee machine, with reviews consistently praising cleanliness and bed comfort. The rooms worth chasing are the ones facing the IJ: travelers say the river view, with ferries and the occasional cruise ship sliding past, is what makes the upgrade pay off.
Food and amenities
The signature is Sky Lounge Amsterdam on the 11th floor — a bar and restaurant with a near-360 sweep across the canals, rooftops and harbour. It is a genuinely good evening spot, and one of the better free city views you'll find, so grab a window seat before sunset. Beyond that there are three restaurants on site, so you can eat without leaving the building, and the breakfast buffet earns regular praise as one of the hotel's strong points. There's also a fitness centre, plus the warm DoubleTree cookie that lands in your hand at check-in.
Location and getting there
Walk out the door and it's about 3 minutes to the north exit of Amsterdam Centraal — very convenient if you're arriving by international rail on Thalys or Eurostar, or hopping the direct train to Schiphol Airport in roughly 20 minutes. Right beside the hotel, a GVB ferry crosses the IJ to Amsterdam Noord in a few minutes — a free, frequent hop to the A'DAM Lookout, the EYE Film Museum and the neighborhood's newer food and drink scene.
Things to know before booking
This is a 557-room hotel, so service and housekeeping can feel less consistent than a small boutique, particularly at peak check-in and checkout. Reviews from the pre-2025 stay window reported renovation noise and disruption, so check the most recent reviews to confirm the work is fully finished before you commit. And rates climb sharply in peak season and event weeks toward the top of the roughly $343 range, so book well ahead if your dates land around a major Amsterdam event.
Our take
If you want a big, full-service base in the best possible spot for trains, this delivers — a fresh post-2025 refit, a riverfront setting, three places to eat, and that 11th-floor Sky Lounge view as the standout. Book a river-facing room, manage expectations on the scale of the place, and it's an easy, well-located stay rated 8.3/10 by Booking.com guests.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Sky Lounge Amsterdam on the 11th floor gives a near-360 view over the canals, rooftops and the IJ river that very few central hotels can match, and it doubles as a restaurant and evening bar.
- The whole hotel finished a major renovation in early 2025, so the 557 rooms come across as fresh and contemporary rather than worn — guests specifically praise the clean, modern feel and comfortable Hilton beds.
- Three on-site restaurants mean you can eat to your mood without leaving the building, and the breakfast buffet is consistently called out as a strong point in reviews.
- The location is hard to beat for rail travelers — the north exit of Amsterdam Centraal is a 3-minute walk, putting Thalys, Eurostar and Intercity trains almost at the door.
- A GVB ferry right beside the hotel crosses the IJ to Amsterdam Noord in a few minutes, an easy free hop to the A'DAM Lookout, EYE Film Museum and the neighborhood's newer bars and food halls.
- At 557 rooms this is a big operation, so service and housekeeping can feel less consistent than at a small boutique, especially at busy check-in and checkout times.
- Reviews from the pre-2025 stay period reported renovation noise and disruption, so it is worth checking the most recent reviews to confirm work is fully wrapped before you book.
- Peak-season and event-week rates climb sharply toward the top of the $343 range, so book well ahead if your dates fall around major Amsterdam events.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Amsterdam
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room on the river side at check-in — the IJ-facing rooms are the ones guests say justify the upgrade over courtyard-facing units.
- Head up to Sky Lounge Amsterdam on the 11th floor about 30 to 45 minutes before sunset to claim a window table before the after-work crowd fills it.
- Skip a taxi and take the free GVB ferry next to the hotel across to Amsterdam Noord for the A'DAM Lookout swing and the EYE Film Museum — it runs frequently and costs nothing.