redlou

I've got a stopover in Amsterdam in a couple of weeks, but have 5 hours in between my flights. Will I have long enough to take a quick visit into the town? I was thinking about going by train from the station in Schipol airport, are these reliable? Also can anyone recommend anything to see/do in such a short space of time? Thanks!!

yk

5 hours is a relatively short time. The trains are reliable. There are about 5-6 trains/hr, and the trip takes about 15 minutes.

If you decide to venture out to Amsterdam, you can either walk to the Dam and around the main city center area. Alternatively, you can hop on one of the canal cruise boats and take a 1hr canal cruise (which I think is probably better). There are many companies right outside Central Station, just pick the company that has the cruise leave next.

redlou

thanx alot yk! I never thought about a canal cruise but it seems like a good idea. Wish I had longer than 5hrs but guess i'll have to go back another time!

PJK

When we flew out of Amsterdam (to Nice, France) recently, our check-in was with a machine that read our passport and security was quick, maybe only 10 minutes. Don't know if I was just lucky or if that is the norm, but based on my experience, I think 5 hours would be worth going in to the old city. PJK

hopscotch

Contrary to yk, I think that the canal cruise is the absolute worst waste of time and money in Amsterdam -- a tourist rip off sans égal.

Depending on the day/month, time of day, and day of the week you have much better options. Post back with that info for better information.

redlou

Hopscotch - It'll be saturday afternoon/evening (3-8pm ish), in a couple of weeks. Quite like the idea of a trip on the canal, but not if its too pricey. Any other options?

TracyB

I also think the canal boat cruise is a good option..I think you can get a really good feel for Amsterdam when you have such a short time..I would take the canal boat cruise..Then walk from where the boat let's you off to Leidseplein...Stop along the way whereever you wish (for a beer or smoke or shop or all?) Then take the tram back to Central Station and then on to Schiphol..Or if you would rather see the old part of Amsterdam and the Red Light, you can easily walk there from where the boat let's you off...Anyhow, that's what i would do!! Have fun..It is not alot of time but at least you will get a good idea of what a beautiful city Amsterdam is...

lifetravel

Ah .... you're going to one of my favorite cities!!

I second the canal tour .... do that (without hopping off because of time constraints)and then spend some time on dam square .... perhaps sip a cup of cappuchino while you're there There are a lot of good areas in Amsterdam but if I had to pick just one, I would not miss Dam Square ... maybe it's all in my heard. Spending some time here together with a canal cruise would be a good way to take advantage of a stopover.

lifetravel

U'd think I would know to spell by now ...
cappuchino --> cappuccino. Well, you get the idea.

Colin

Due to the time constraints I would suggest skipping the canal tour as they take about an hour.

You'll probably only have 4 hours in the city.

I'd catch a tram to Prisengracht and stroll down the canal side. (but I like walking!) Walk past Ann Franks House, but you wont have time to enter.

You can count out any other museum really. Van Gogh or the Rijksmuseum would take too much time.

I liked to walk around Amsterdam, stopping off in corner bars for a coffee or a beer, it was just so relaxing.

Catch a tram back to Dam Square, do the Red Light district and the Coffee Bars if that's your bag.

And kick back some more.

It'll give you a taster of a city that you;ll be desperate to return.

__________________________________
Amsterdam Photos and other trip reports
http://www.colin-julie.com/Amsterdam.htm

redlou

Thanx TracyB and Lifestyle, will probably do the canal tour and depending on how the time is looking, probably Dam square aswel. Is it easy to find or should i try and get hold of a map? also do many people speak english as I don't know any dutch at all!

redlou

hi colin, sent my last post before id read yours. maybe an hour long cruise will be too long - i just dont know now, so confused! might just play it by ear and decide when we get there, but thanx for your suggestions!

yk

There are at least 3 (or maybe more) canal cruise companies when you walk out of Central Station. They are 8,50 Euros. I agree it's very touristy, but I do think it gives one a nice sum-up of the city, famous for its canals.

The cruise will drop you back at Central Station. From there, just follow the street that heads straight out from the Station, and you'll arrive at Dam Sq. I'm not crazy about Dam Sq because I find it rather dirty. There is a tourist info center (called "VVV&quot right next to the canal cruise boats and I bet you can get a free map there.

I do like Colin's suggestion of taking a tram to Prisengracht and walk along the canal. Alternatively, you can walk over to the Jordaan area and walk around there.

yk

Assuming it takes you 1 hour to get to Amsterdam and 1 hour to get back, plus an extra hour to arrive back at the airport, you'll have 2 hours to sightsee. Just keep the canal cruise as an option.

All the Dutch speaks perfect English. You won't have any problems not knowing any Dutch.

lifetravel

here are some pictures .... if it helps

lifetravel

I really need to learn to wait a little before clicking post ... here's the link
http://hashmath.smugmug.com/gallery/269641

redlou

i like the idea of the canal boat, but my sister who's coming with me really wants to see the sex museum. She heard it was close to central station, is this true? do you think there will be time to do both if we don't visit dam sq? also, are all the cruises an hour, or are there any shorter ones (half an hour, for example)?

lifetravel

The sex museum is a waste of time in my opinion ... yes, we did go there but we had 3 full days....... if your sister would like to see the wilder side of amsterdam, a walk through the red light district is a better option. You mentioned that you have until 8pm. Try going there between 6.30 and 7.30 pm and you will see it come to life. We went there for a walk around at around this time and saw "things" starting up. Anything later than that might be too seedy in my opinion. The red light area has some good architecture.

My two cents ...

lifetravel

To answer your question ... yes the sex museum is close to centraal ..... you could walk there in 5-10 minutes if I remember correctly.

Regarding the canal cruise times, I'm not really sure how often they run so I can't help you on that. But I'm sure someone else will have the answer.

hopscotch

Redlou, with 5 hours between flights you'll have 3 hours in the city. Here's a plan.

Buy the Lonely Planet Amsterdam plasticized pocket map before you go. It's the best dam Amsterdam map I've seen. ISBN 1-86450-081-6 for 6 bucks at Amazon.com. You might also need a compass if it's a typical cloudy day.

At Schiphol airport, stash your carry-on in the luggage room on the lowest level of the airport. There are lockers and there is an attended room. Carry only your day bag into Amsterdam, but do not put any valuables in it. Those stay on your person. Keep your camera on the strap around your neck but keep one hand on your camera at all times.

Buy a <i>retour</i> (round trip) ticket to Amsterdam Centraal in Schiphol and go down the escalator to the train platform. Ask anybody where the train station is and you'll be directed in English immediately. Make sure your wallet is in a tight front pocket or under your shirt after you buy the ticket. Keep about &euro;50 in another pocket. When you arrive at Centraal, follow the herd to the south end of the station and then walk straight ahead.

You'll be on the Damrak. About 500 meters ahead is the Dam. Some dam fools call it the Dam Square but it is just the Dam. After observing the penile structure in front of the Hotel Kraz, cut across toward the palace on your right to Kalverstraat and continue south to Muntplein. Make a sharp right on Singel (a canal) and go to Helligeweg and make another left which will take you over the Singel and on to Leidseplein, a square of cafes and good times. But you are too early with your schedule to really hang it all out. Your travel agent should have given you an overnight layover.

Continue SW over the canal where you'll see the Marriott. Turn left and in about 300 meters you'll see the Rijksmuseum, my favorite in all of Europe. Rembrandt and Frans Hals were geniuses. The Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum are just south. For your short stay I would recommend that you beg a free entrance to the gift shop and get a few items.

Continue easterly on Stadhouderskade to the Heineken Museum. I've lived in Holland for 4 years and never entered the place! Turn left, north, and make your way NE to Waterlooplein for the outdoor market. Then go for Achterburgwal and Voorburgwal for red lights, live sex shows, and hash houses just so you know that it is really there, or sample the goods if you wish.

From there, mosey over to Het Spui on the other side of the Dam and have a drink in the ancient brown bar, Hoppe with the weekend locals. On the weekend I would probably prefer the Cafe Luxembourg, an almost Vienna coffee house type of place, and that is just two doors to the left. Actually, the Hoppe is better after work on a weekday. Look for the Luthern Church on the Lonely Planet map and you'll be close. I recommend a <i>jonge jenever</i> to whet your whistle. Just say &quot;ya nay ver&quot; and you'll get the unique Dutch gin.

Then go about 100 meters north on the west side of Spuistraat to the Luden restaurant for a nice traditional meal. If you run out of time, ask the waitress to call a cab to wisk you back to Schiphol. Amsterdam taxi drivers are also an experience unique. Hold on to your seat.

Finally, I wouldn't care if the canal boat tours were free, but you could pay me to do it again.