We have a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam in route to Venice. 2 questions: 1) Do we deal with immigration/customs in Amsterdam only? 2) Is it worth leaving the airport to take a mini-tour into town to kill the time or will it be a hassle getting back in through security to make our connection? Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
You go through immigration in Amsterdam, through customs in Venice. Customs in Europe is just formality. Go through the green light gate - nothing to . I went to Europe at least twenty times and was never stopped. I had 6 hour layover in Amsterdam like you, took train from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal and just walked around. No hassle getting back. You would go through security anyway because each gate has its own one.
Posted by
OP
Snohomish, WA, United States
10 posts
Thank you for your note and it sounds easy to me!
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
There is some problem with editing my message, so I am adding it this way: go through the green light gate - nothing to declare. My original message was not showing the word "declare" and was not taking it via edit.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA, USA
32 posts
We did this a few years ago and would do one thing differently: We locked our bags in a locker before leaving the airport. That part was easy. Problem was, we entered a different part of the airport for our departure and couldn't get back to our bags! Finally made it with several more trips through customs, but I would suggest FIRST finding your departure gate, lock the bags near there if you have carryons, and then leave. Allow plenty of time to re-enter, you have to go through security TWICE in Amsterdam, first entering the airport and again with a short interview at the departure gate. We took the train to Amsterdam, had breakfast and spent a few hours in the Dutch Resistance museum, which was fascinating. Enjoy your trip!
-Kathy (Also from Snohomish)