I am booking a flight to Kenya summer 2013 and a reasonable price has a 14 hr layover in Amsterdam. Is that enough time to explore the city a little? Is the city worth exploring? Are people allowed to leave the airport then return when connecting like this? Another option would be to pay a little more for a shorter layover, I'm just wondering if the city is worth making the trip to see. Any ideas are helpful! Thanks!

Schipol to Amsterdam is a short trip and trains are frequent. But depends on time of day if if will be 'worth it' for you. If you had midday 8 hrs in the city you can do and see a lot!

Don't ignore other cities around the airport. They would also be worth exploring.

I would definitely do it (you can rest/sleep from Schipol to Kenya!)

Amsterdam is a lovely city and easily walkable.
Take a boat tour of the canals, if interested, visit Van Gogh museum
stroll around the narrow. streets and
numerous bridges. Summer is the best time to visit .

If I have as little as 3 or 4 hours I leave the airport and go to Amsterdam (by train 20 min.) or Haarlem (by bus 30 min.). With a longer layover, I go to Utrecht or Leiden (still beautiful, but less touristed and more Dutch).

You go through 'baggage claim' and then there are lockers just beyond that where you can stow any excess carry-on. Just return back with maybe 2 hours before your flight in order to pass back through security.

As wintersp says -- it depends on <i>which</i> 14 hours it is. Landing at 9PM and departing at 11AM -just get a hotel at the airport.

"<i>Are people allowed to leave the airport then return when connecting like this?</i>" Yes -- UNLESS you are from a country that requires a visa.

So . . . tell us when you arrive/depart and where you are from?

I'm from the united states of America and I'd be arriving in Amsterdam around 6:30 am.

Then yes, you can leave the airport and you'll have most of a day free so definitely go into the city.

Thanks! I know it's going to be a long trip to Kenya from the US with the layover and everything, but I'd still like to get the most out of it! Thanks again!