InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam
The city's grande dame: a 19th-century riverside palace hotel on the Amstel, long the address for visiting royalty and celebrities.
The call
Worth it if you only have one day and you're traveling as a couple.
Short answer
Is InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam worth it?
InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
Old-world grandeur on the water — marble, a sweeping staircase, and large classic rooms with river views.
- 02
Formal and quietly opulent, a world apart from Amsterdam's boutique scene.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You only have one day
Short trip or not, keep InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam is an easy yes.
You're planning for two
InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam rewards a trip built around romance.
Think twice if
You're watching the budget
InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam can strain a tight budget. Go only when it is a priority.
You're traveling with kids
With kids, InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam needs the right timing and tolerance.
History and culture matter to you
InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam offers some history & culture, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
What you're near — and what you're not
- The Amstel river and quiet embankment walks
- Carré theatre
- A short tram to the centre
- It's set apart from the museum quarter and main shopping streets
- Not a walk-everywhere central base
What you're paying for
Large, classically appointed rooms and suites, many with Amstel river views and marble bathrooms. This is a traditional luxury property — expect formal service and grandeur rather than modern minimalism. For the full effect, request a river-facing room.
Plan it well
- Cost
- very high
- Timing
- Year-round; river views command a premium
- Booking
- Direct or luxury OTA; concierge-led service
- Getting there
- Riverside on the Amstel, short tram or taxi to the centre
Sources and method (2)
- Opened 27 April 1867 as a Second Empire palace hotel on the Amstel, designed by Cornelis Outshoorn for Samuel Sarphati; the building has been fully restored to its original palette. amstelhotel.com ↗
- Houses fine-dining restaurant La Rive with river views and a noted wine cellar. amsterdam.intercontinental.com ↗