Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam – City Hall
by the TopOfHotel team
A modern 2018-built 3-star a 2-minute walk from the Metro with free breakfast folded into the rate — a genuinely good-value base for mid-budget travelers.
A modern 2018-built 3-star a 2-minute walk from the Metro with free breakfast folded into the rate — a genuinely good-value base for mid-budget travelers.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 89 rooms follow the standard Holiday Inn Express playbook — clean, tidy and genuinely functional, with reasonable ceiling height and the brand's dependable beds. Because the hotel opened in 2018, everything still reads fresh rather than tired, and reviewers single out the cleanliness and orderliness more than anything else. A handful of rooms look out onto Amsterdam's City Hall (the Stopera), which makes for a quietly pleasant view. At this size the place feels a touch more personal than a big chain tower, even if the design itself is strictly practical.
Food and amenities
The selling point that makes this hotel punch above its star rating is the free breakfast baked into the room rate. In a city where the morning spread usually runs €15-25 per person, that's a real saving over a multi-night stay. Guests describe it as varied and tasty — bread, cheese, eggs and hot drinks. Wi-Fi is free and the front desk runs 24 hours; there's parking nearby for anyone arriving by car.
Location and getting there
The Waterlooplein district right outside the door has a long-running flea market stacked with secondhand goods, vintage finds and souvenirs. Metro Waterlooplein is just a 2-minute walk, putting Centraal three stops away and Leidseplein and the Rijksmuseum within easy reach. The RAI convention centre is about 15 minutes by Metro, which makes this a sensible base for anyone in town on business as well as for sightseers.
Things to know before booking
It's roughly a 15-minute walk to Amsterdam Centraal, so you'll rely on the Metro rather than walk to the main rail hub. With only 89 rooms the hotel sells out fast in peak season and rates climb with demand, so book ahead if your dates are locked. And to be clear, this is functional chain decor — not canal-house character — so adjust expectations if you came for boutique charm.
Our take
For a mid-budget traveler who wants a clean, modern room, a Metro stop two minutes away and a real breakfast already in the price, the Holiday Inn Express City Hall is an easy, low-drama yes. It won't wow anyone, but at 8.3/10 across more than 3,200 reviews it does the important things right and leaves your money for the things you actually came to Amsterdam for.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Breakfast is included in the room rate, which is a bigger deal than it sounds in Amsterdam, where hotels commonly charge €15-25 per person for it. Reviewers call the spread varied and good, with bread, cheese, eggs and hot drinks.
- The 89 rooms opened in 2018 and still feel new and clean, with decent ceiling height and solid Holiday Inn Express beds. Cleanliness is the single most-praised point in guest reviews.
- Metro Waterlooplein is a 2-minute walk away, putting Centraal three stops up the line and Leidseplein, the Rijksmuseum and the RAI all within easy reach without a transfer.
- At 89 rooms it stays small enough to feel more personal than a big chain box, and the front desk gets repeat shout-outs for being friendly and genuinely helpful.
- Rates run roughly $91 to $186 a night, and with breakfast and Wi-Fi already in the price, the real cost of a stay is lower than the headline figure suggests.
- It's about a 15-minute walk to Amsterdam Centraal, so for the main rail station you'll lean on the Metro rather than stroll — fine, but worth knowing if you're arriving with heavy bags.
- With only 89 rooms, it fills up quickly during festival weekends and high season, and rates climb with demand — book well ahead if your dates are fixed.
- This is functional Holiday Inn Express decor, not boutique Amsterdam charm; if you want canal-house character or a memorable design hotel, this isn't it.
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 higher-floor room facing the Stopera (City Hall) — a handful of rooms catch that view, and the upper floors are quieter.
- Eat the included breakfast before you head out; it's a real meal and saves the €15-25 you'd otherwise drop at a café near the flea market.
- Hit the Waterlooplein flea market right outside the door in the morning for vintage finds and souvenirs before the day-trippers arrive.