Hi, I have the aption to get a cheaper airfare to Asia in early May but it has a 9 hour layover at Amsterdam airport. We have never been to Amsterdam, is there anything to see/do in the 7-8 hours that we would have available? We could rent a car if necessary but would prefer to use public transport. I am not very interested in museums etc, like to see scenic areas & maybe the town if there is time. Please advise ASAP as I have to buy the tickets tomorrow. Thanks in advance for all the help.

With a 9 hour layover, you could spend a pleasant day in Amsterdam. Take the train that departs right from the airport for the 20 minute ride to Centraal Station. If it were me, I'd walk up Damrak, the street that heads straight out of the train station, about 4 blocks to the Canal Boat tours. The tours are about an hour and will give you a nice overview of the City. You would also have time to see one of the museums (I love the Anne Frank house) and have a nice meal or two. Amsterdam is small enough to walk around the main areas. If you don't want to walk, hop on one of the trams.

Have a great trip!

In seven or eight hours, you can go to almost any part of the Netherlands.

There is fast public transportation to downtown Amsterdam, and you can see a fair amount of it and its picturesque canals in a few hours.

Thanks, that was quick! we get in about 6.30 am. I did want to see the tulips if possible, have been reading about Keukenhof on an older thread - is that the best place to go for the tulips? Would they be in bloom in early May?(8th)If we could do such a trip in the morning & then spend an hour ot two in town that would be perfect but maybe too ambitious? Our flight leaves at 3.30, I have no idea of what the distances are like so all input is welcome. The airport actually seems pretty interesting too! Thanks.

Here's the Web site for Keukenhof:

http://www.keukenhof.com/

As far as I can tell, it will be too late for the tulips, but there will be many other flowers open.

If it's between The Hague and Amsterdam, it's not that far away: Amsterdam-The Hague is 50 minutes with a fast train. I couldn't find a train connection to Lisse, but if there is no train, there must be buses.

Remember to allow at least 2 hours to get back through the airport security. Will your luggage be checked through or will you have to rent a locker for a few hours? I suggest the train into AMS and do a boat ride and get oriented then plan for the next few hours you have and grab a good meal. Liedseplein area is the happening place and you can catch some street acts in the plaza and have a beer
or two.

If you look at http://www.schiphol.nl/ (the official website), go to the English version & click on "airport information", then transfer you'll get a lot of information on what to o

Thanks for the suggestions, our luggage will be checked through, but do we really need to be there 2 hours ahead o the flight departure? I was planning on an hour.

I had a similar layover several years ago. On the way out, I took a train to The Hague, about 30 minutes. Highly recommended. On the way back, I took a bus to Haarlem - about 20 minutes. Also very nice.

There is a tourist information desk inside Schiphol airport, they can give you all kind of options.

Yes, you do need the 2 hours. There are two security screenings, one at the ticket counter and another at the gate. Don't fool arond with it, they are serious (albeit polite) Plus it's a big terminal. Not a terminal to try a mad dash.

the two hours is not a bad idea, although if you ask me 90 minutes will do it to, but you'll have to hurry.
Anyway, the keukenhof is pretty, I take friends there a lot and they all love it. Bring a camera (with macro lens if you have it) for nice shots.
Further, a canal trip is indeed my first suggestion, and since you say you dont like museums (I only rarely do to, yet manage to have fun all over the world) what about a (guided or not) tour of the red-light district for something totally different. (I have joined fodor's today and already suggested the red-light district to like 4 people, hope people don't think I am a pervert. I take all my foreign friends there and they all thinks its interesting to see)