The Hague and Delft are close enough that you can base yourself in either and see both, so the choice is about atmosphere and price. The Hague's centre puts you among the museums, Scheveningen puts you by the sea, and Delft puts you in a small canal town. Hotels in the centre of The Hague tend to be pricier on weekdays, when diplomatic and conference trade fills them, so weekends can be cheaper. Breakfast is often an extra charge in the Netherlands, so check the terms of each rate before you book.
The museum quarter and Lange Voorhout
This is the grand end of The Hague, with the Mauritshuis, the Escher museum and Panorama Mesdag within a short walk. Hotel Des Indes on Lange Voorhout is the splurge, a five-star Leading Hotels of the World member with a spa, an indoor pool, a classic restaurant and the Escher museum about a minute away. Choose it for an anniversary or a trip where the hotel is part of the point. Breakfast is available for an extra charge, and valet parking is available at a daily fee if you drive.
Noordeinde and the historic centre
A little farther along, Noordeinde is the city's smart shopping street. Hotel Indigo The Hague Palace Noordeinde, opposite the royal palace, is a boutique hotel in a former bank, with a cocktail bar in the old vault and a brasserie. The Mauritshuis is under a kilometre away on foot. It is a good choice for couples and design-minded visitors, and it sits between the splurge and the budget end. The hotel has no car park of its own, so arrive by train or taxi and ask the front desk about discounted garages.
Scheveningen
If you want sea air, base yourself by the beach and ride the tram into town. Strandhotel Scheveningen, on Zeekant, is a small hotel about a minute from the sand and six from the pier, with beach-view rooms, a rooftop terrace and a bar. It has no lift, so ask for the ground-floor room if stairs are a concern. For a budget stay, easyHotel The Hague Scheveningen Beach on Gevers Deynootweg offers compact air-conditioned rooms, family rooms and a location about three minutes from the beach, with extras such as cleaning and baggage storage charged separately. Scheveningen is quiet and windy in winter, which suits walkers.
Delft
If the old town is your priority, stay in it. Hotel de Koophandel, on the Beestenmarkt, is a three-star hotel a minute from the Nieuwe Kerk and three from the Vermeer Centrum, with simple rooms, a continental breakfast available for a fee and a square of restaurants outside. It is the best choice for couples and solo travellers who want to be on foot. Trains to The Hague take about a quarter of an hour, so you can still reach the museums easily, and in the evening Delft is calmer than the city.
Seasons and rates
Prices in both towns move with the calendar. Summer weekends at the beach are the most expensive, while winter weekdays by the sea can be a bargain, and the centre of The Hague is often cheaper at weekends than on weekdays. If you are flexible, compare a few dates before you book, and look at whether free cancellation is offered, since plans for a short city break can shift with the weather and the museum calendar.
Which should you choose?
For a luxury city break, book Hotel Des Indes. For design and a central address at a lower price, choose Hotel Indigo. For the sea, Strandhotel Scheveningen offers more character and easyHotel offers the lowest price. For canals and a slower pace, Hotel de Koophandel in Delft is the pick. Families should look at the family rooms at the Strandhotel and at easyHotel, and bear in mind the tram time into the museum quarter.
Practical advice
Parking in the city centres is limited and costly, and both towns are easy by train and tram, so a car is rarely needed. Ask for a quiet room if you sleep lightly, especially on the Beestenmarkt and in the busy centre on weekends. Rates are generally lower in November than in summer, but the Christmas period and conference dates can fill the centre, so book ahead. Check each hotel's breakfast terms, pet rules and check-in hours before you travel.
