Leidseplein Hotels Amsterdam

Guide to Leidseplein Hotels Amsterdam

Loved and hated in equal measure, this area of town draws revellers Dutch and foreign almost every night of the week. Aside from top quality music venues attracting world famous performers at reasonable prices, the area has an excess of bars, cafes, restaurants, clubs, and dance floors. Those seeking a quieter time should not be put off by this however, day time and early evening visits to the very scenic square and surrounds afford the chance for some good eating and laid back antique window shopping. The adjacent antique district is not to be missed!

Getting around
Leidseplein is probably best accessed by tram or bike. The main artery street leading into the square (Leidsestraat) is pedestrian only- even cycling is not permitted- so taking a tram is a good choice. The square sits firmly on the canal belt, and walking in almost any direction takes you onto wide canals skirting the city centre; a fine route if you are in no hurry.

Hotels
Leidesplein and the area toward Vondelpark have many stylish hotels. This area is quite ideal for most visitors. It offers easy access to the museums in Museumplein, a launching point for many boat tours, a plethora of dining and night life choices, and a relatively central location. If you plan to travel by car or with your own bike, it would be wise to examine parking options before departure.

Dining out
A decent mid-budget meal is probably easiest to find around Leidseplein. Higher end diners may want to ask for specific recommendations in their hotel. The streets leading off of the square, and many of the places on the square, are friendly, multi-lingual and serve up good food at fair prices. Good Tibetan and Nepalese food can be found at The Sherpa on Korte Liedsedwarsstraat. Wagamamas, though hardly unique to Amsterdam, is a treat every time. Where Nieuwe Spiegelstraat meets the Keizersgraacht you can find Reds: A small but excellent restaurant. Try the lobster, you won't regret it.

Shopping
Leidsestraat has everything from clothing to souvenirs to movie memorabilia and health food. For shopping, or window shopping, of a whole other variety, step into the Antique district; Amsterdam's old school show room. The streets around Kerkstraat and Nieuwe Spiegelstraat have art galleries, antique shops, curiosity shops, and characters to go with them. These streets are particularly beautifully lit around Christmas and it is an area of Amsterdam that especially warrants a little time to stroll through. Cultural properties, jewellery and art work vary massively in quality and price so shop with a critical eye.

Night Life
Leidseplein and Rembrandtsplein compete for the title of best night-life for tourists; one battle that Leidseplein seems to be winning. The area is home to Melkweg and Paradiso, two fantastic music venues that draw artists of all sorts from all over the world. Both venues have their fingers on the pulse and it is worth researching ahead of time what will be on during your visit (particularly considering some people make the trip to Amsterdam just to hear gigs in these two venues). On the next street north of Melkweg is The Last Water Hole: A much smaller, grittier place that is all rock and roll. For a few quiet drinks, search out the smaller local bars on the side streets. Part of the reason Leidseplein gets a bad rep with the locals is because of the abundance of terrible late night dance bars: Most places offering free drinks with entry are probably best approached with caution. If you are particularly intrigued by coffee shops, consider heading away from the busier ones around the square to the more easy going smoke shops on the canals. Roookies on Korte Leidsedwarsstraat is nevertheless an exception to this rule.

Index of hotels near Leidseplein