JoeTro

Hello.

I'm in super early stages of thinking of a March or May 2015 trip to Amsterdam. March would be great, as a friend would be there then, but I could probably only manage something like 5.5 days. I'm thinking of daytrips to Hague, Rotterdam, and somewhere to see the flowers, which I worry leaves me too little time for Amsterdam (love a ton of good art museums). Weather would also not be as good. If I went in May, I could maybe squeeze something like 6.5 or even 7.5 days, which seems a lot more doable.

So ... is it worth a shorter trip, maybe cutting out a day trip? Is there a great day trip idea I'm missing? Zeeland? Somewhere more around the water?

PalenQ

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ite-things.cfm

Well been going to Amsterdam at lest yearly for too many years to say - 5.5 days would be enough for most - I'd spend three full days in Amsterdam and 1.5 on day trips - Haarlem right on Amsterdam's doorstep is as nice as any regional Dutch town - check out also Zannse Schanse, just a short train trip from Amsterdam or Haarlem:

https://www.google.com/search?q=zaan...=1600&bih=1075

Delft is a favorite with many. I love Rotterdam because I prefer modern avant=garde archtiecture to a serioes of old towns.

suec1

If May, early May for the tulips at Keukenhoff - an amazing sight! So if May gets you there for the tulips, I'd definately pick that. There is plenty to do for 6/7 days esp. if you like museums as well.

PalenQ

www.keukenhof.nl

cYes indeedy all the flowers and more you want to see at the Dutch horticultural industry's finest products, all on show in this pulchritidinous blooming event.

On your own take a train to Leiden and then frequent shuttle buses from there to the Keukenhof Gardens entrance.

JoeTro

Thanks. I think there's a bus from the Airport, too.

So, now I'm even more confused about possible day-trips. I definitely want one for Keukenhof (can maybe also walk around Leiden), a second probably for The Hague, and maybe a third for some combination of Haarleem or Delft or Rotterdam. Perhaps there's a way to streamline some of this?

I do move fairly quickly, and I know that all these places are pretty close to each other, but I'm just not able to see a clear path.

Dukey1

There is most definitely a bus from Schiphol which will take you to Keukenhof.

PalenQ

The Hague and Delft are easy combos - I recently did each each on the same day - Den Hagues's relatively few worthy sights - the Mauritshuis and adjoining old royal digs are in a compact area a short walk from the Central Train Station - then you walk thru the heart of The Hague to Den Hague H.S. (Hollands Spoor) train station for trains to Delft or you can take a tram from The Hague to Delft.

Delft is not a huge city but IME has a bevy of sights - get a walking tour map at the VVV (Tourist Office) and enjoy.

PalenQ

http://www.royaldelft.com/static.asp?myid=135&menu=3

To me a nice addition to Delft's lovely old looks is the Porcelen Fles - Royal Delftware headquarters with museum and factory where you see the famous ceramics being craft4ed - also can buy seconds. It is about 2 km outside of town -= a lovely walk there along a canal but if doing so would take a few hours extra.

menachem

I'd group The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam in one: they're all on the same trainline.

Amsterdam - The Hague is about an hour by train
Amsterdam - Rotterdam by Intercity Direct is 40 minutes. (direct train, goes from Schiphol directly to Rotterdam central)
Rotterdam - Delft is 15 minutes
Delft - The Hague is 15 minutes
Rotterdam - The Hague is 30 minutes.

But why not visit Utrecht (25 minutes from Amsterdam by train)?

PatrickLondon

Utrecht has the museum of mechanical musical instruments - hardly water-based (if that's what you're looking for) but fun all the same:
http://www.museumspeelklok.nl/?Language=en
http://autolycus-london.blogspot.co....d-to-have.html

PalenQ

Utrecht is to me as fine as any Dutch regional town though so few folks here ever consider going there - close to Amsterdam - 30 minutes or so by train - neat old canals - take a boat tour thru them - great shopping, etc.

JoeTro

Thanks. I guess I'm mostly an art museum kind of person, but at least getting to wander through a couple of the other cities would be nice too. So, maybe something like a long day at Hague - Delft - Rotterdam and part of a day (could even start at 8) at the bulb fields would be do-able. Then, I could always quickly visit Haarlem.

PatrickLondon

Haarlem has the Frans Hals Museum. You might also want to check when the market's on.

Bitter

Haarlem's square and St. Bavo's church is a great visit. Have lunch or dinner on the square. If memory serves a scenic city gate and cute bridges are nearby. Also, nearby is the Teyler's museum, albeit not really an art museum, it has a little something for everyone.

PalenQ

Haarlem is also known as cannabis city for its pioneering of de-facto legalization of marijuana - the city's coffeeshops are legend - there is a cannabis museum - you never know what different strokes push the spokes for one!

suze

I was in Amsterdam solo for 4 days at the start of one of my Europe trips. That was a decent amount of time but I did not do any day trips, only stayed right in the city, getting around on foot.

JoeTro

Thanks for the tips. Helpful to plan. Maybe ideally a week for me, then, with about 4-4.5 days in Amsterdam and 2 days for day trips. Definitely must do tulips/bulbs and a long day trip to like Hague, Delft, Rotterdam.

PalenQ

Hague, Delft, Rotterdam.>

Chose two of these not three IMO - two are very large cities with a myriad of interesting stuff. Delft is small but if you want to go to the Delft Ware factory/plant that takes time to (and IMO is highly recommendable!).

Rotterdam to me could consume the most time - all day in my case and I've got to go back again to mop up!

PalenQ

. Definitely must do tulips/bulbs>

Here is a neat way to reach the Keukenhof if you like walking a few miles - take the train to Haarlem - have a look at this neat old city - as nice as any in Holland IMO! And then take the train to Hillegom - a station right in the middle of the flower fields.

I tiptoed thru the tulips from here (well other blooms as well - a pulchritudinous sea of bloom - tuilps may well be done by May) - walk on side roads right thru the heart of the flower fields to the Keukenhof - then take the shuttle bus to Leiden - spend some time looking around that neat ole town. Take train back to Amsterdam.

Or from Haarlem's train station take bus #100 that goes right thru the heart of the flower fields to the Keukenhof.

Bitter

One caution about the Keukenhof: I think if you go in May, the tulips might be decapitated. (They were when we visited). Still a nice park.

Years ago we did a day trip to Delft and the Hague. We enjoyed Delft's square. Hague was underwhelming (as a tourist destination) but maybe others have had better experiences.