Flying Pig Downtown
Amsterdam's original backpacker institution since 1994
Wonderful
4,243 reviews
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Compare prices for Flying Pig Downtown in Amsterdam
74%
Solo travelers
80%
Would stay again
88%
Made friends here
3 nights
Avg. stay
Our Honest Take
From the Hostelpedia team. No BS, just real advice
Flying Pig Downtown is the Amsterdam hostel that set the template for every social hostel in the city. Thirty years in, it still works because the formula is dead simple: a bar that actually functions as a bar (not a reception desk with beer taps), a location so central it borders on absurd, and staff who've been running bar crawls long enough to know every bouncer on Warmoesstraat. The terrace catches golden-hour sun over the canal, and the smoking lounge is Amsterdam being Amsterdam. That said, the building is old, the stairs are Dutch-steep, and the 10-bed dorms facing Nieuwendijk are loud until late. It's the best hostel in Amsterdam for night-one socializing. It's the worst for a good night's sleep.
🎯 Insider Tips
- 1Request a courtyard-facing dorm. Nieuwendijk is a pedestrian shopping street that stays noisy until midnight, and weekend crowds linger even later.
- 2Hit the shared kitchen for breakfast. Amsterdam restaurants charge €12+ for eggs and coffee. Albert Heijn supermarket is 3 minutes away on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
- 3The bar crawl on Friday is the best-attended social event. Show up at 9pm or you'll miss the group.
- 4Use the free ferry behind Centraal Station to reach NDSM Wharf in Noord. Street art, craft breweries, and zero tourists. 15 minutes door to door.
🔥 Why We Love It
The bar and terrace create a genuine social scene. Happy hour pulls in solo travelers, couples, and repeat visitors who come back specifically for this vibe.
Two minutes from Centraal Station is not marketing. You can literally see the station from the front door.
The smoking lounge is a unique Amsterdam touch. Legal, social, and the kind of thing that only works in the Netherlands.
Shared kitchen saves real money in one of Europe's most expensive food cities.
Thirty years of backpacker heritage means the staff know every trick, shortcut, and hidden bar in Amsterdam.
📖 The Full Story
Flying Pig Downtown has been the first stop for backpackers in Amsterdam since 1994, and it earns that reputation every single night. Nieuwendijk 100 puts you two minutes from Centraal Station, which means you drop your bags and you're already in the city center. The Red Light District is a five-minute walk south, Dam Square is around the corner, and the canal ring starts at your doorstep.
The bar is the engine of this hostel. Happy hour runs daily and the crowd spills from the basement bar to the terrace, which catches afternoon sun and canal views. The smoking lounge is one of the few legal spots in a hostel where you can light up, and it's a social hub in its own right. Bar crawls, live music nights, beer pong, and pub quizzes fill the weekly calendar. You will meet people here whether you want to or not.
The shared kitchen is well-stocked and saves you from Amsterdam's brutally expensive restaurant scene. Dorms range from 4-bed to 10-bed, all with personal lockers and reading lights. The building is a converted canal house, so expect steep Dutch stairs and compact rooms. There's an elevator, which is rare for Amsterdam hostels in century-old buildings.
Flying Pig Downtown is not a quiet hostel. It's not trying to be. If you want to sleep by 10pm, look at Stayokay Vondelpark instead. If you want to meet 20 people on your first night and stumble back from Leidseplein at 3am knowing exactly where you are, this is the one.
✨ The Vibes
💬 What Travelers Say
Kelly
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 2026-03
“Excellent value for money, great location and good vibes! Loved coming back to chill here. Took my son for his 18th birthday and the staff made it special. The terrace is the best spot in Amsterdam.”
Vedrana
🇭🇷 Croatia · 2026-04
“Great location, elevator which is a big bonus since the stairs are steep and narrow. Smoking area and the terrace were excellent for meeting people.”
Tania
🇭🇷 Croatia · 2026-04
“Near the station, grocery stores nearby, my bed was comfortable, it was warm, clean, loved it!”
Milan
🇳🇱 Netherlands · 2026-03
“The comfort, the chill area, it was an amazing experience after all!”
📍 What's Nearby
Amsterdam Centraal Station
2 min walk
Dam Square
5 min walk
Red Light District
5 min walk
Anne Frank House
12 min walk
Albert Heijn supermarket
3 min walk
Jordaan neighborhood
10 min walk
📋 House Rules
- •Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 10:00
- •18+ only, valid ID required
- •No outside alcohol in common areas
- •Quiet hours 23:00–08:00 in dorms
- •No smoking in rooms (smoking lounge available)
From
€30/night
Compare prices across booking sites
Room Types
Mixed Dorm (10-bed)
€25
Budget bunk beds with personal lockers and reading lights. Shared bathroom on the floor.
1 guest
Mixed Dorm (6-bed)
€32
More spacious dorm with lockers, power outlets, and shared bathroom.
1 guest
Mixed Dorm (4-bed)
€38
Smallest dorm option with lockers, reading lights, and shared bathroom.
1 guest
Private Double
€95
Canal house private room with double bed. Shared bathroom. Book early, these sell out fast.
2 guests
🏠 Amenities
🏨 Other hostels in Amsterdam
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