5 hours in Amsterdam

I would suggest a canal tour. Many of them start from right near the train station, where you would arrive on the train from the airport.

How much time you have depends on where you will be arriving from and where you’re flying out to. You will probably have time for a canal cruise, but that might just be it. If you share your flight details we can give you specific advice.

Coming from the US and continuing to Copenhagen.

Arriving from the US means you will have to go thru passport control/immigration on your way out. On your your way back into the airport, you will only need to go thru security. Currently Schiphol Airport is having major issues due to a lack of security personnel. Waits of 2 to 3 hours just to go thru security are not unheard of unfortunately. No one knows what the situation will be like in December, so I suggest you come back at a later time.
Like I said, you definitely do have time for a canal cruise and a stroll thru the city, but perhaps not for much more.

5 hours is how much time we have to explore the city, factoring in already a little over 3 hours total to get through passport control on the way in, and then security on the way back. Of course we will add more time if waits still seem to be very long. But let’s say we still have 4-5 hours to kill. Seems like the average cruise is an hour or so, am I correct? Any other suggestions beyond that? A cool part of the city to head to for lunch?

I would take a tram from Centraal station south (either tram 12, 13, or 24), and walk around. I would not take a canna cruise because you dont see as mjuch from down in the canal as from street level (and you might be cold just sitting in December). Let's say you take tram 13 and get off near the Anne Frank huis. Walk around the 9 streets heading southeast toward the Leidseplein, then head to the Riksmuseum - you could just spend an hour there and see The Night Watch and the paintings in the room it is in, and maybe take a quick spin around a few other rooms (but really I could spend an hour standing in front of the night watch). Then you could go to Puri Mas and have Rijstafel for lunch and then walk to Speigelgracht and walk a few blocks of it that are closed to cars, then walk a block or two further east to catch tram 24 heading toward Centraal station and if you have time, you could get off around Dam square (one of my favorite places is the Our Lord in the Attic museum but you you likely wouldn't have time) and see the Red Light district area (personally, I avoid central Amsterdam because its the most touristy in the ugliest way but people seem to want to see this part so) before heading back to Centraal station and the airport...

Thanks, Jessica - this gives me a lot to look into!

“ personally, I avoid central Amsterdam because its the most touristy in the ugliest way but people seem to want to see this part so”

Jessica, all the places you recommended are in central Amsterdam. I think what you meant to say is that you avoid the Red Light District?

Dutch Traveler - I know. I meant central as in Dam Square vs outer canal rings. I like to stay outside the outer rings or further and ride bikes into the canal areas to see things if I want. But I avoid Dam Square and surroundings and its seems like many visitors head there first and I find it the most tourist-burdened area (not to be confused with touristy or crowded bc certainly, the Leidseplein area and others are heavily touristed too)

Oh, since you are going to Copenhagen, then I wouldn't necessarily suggest a canal cruise, because Copenhagen also has canals, and you can do a canal cruise there.

We've done them in both cities. We really enjoyed them, and the one we did in Amsterdam was in the early evening last November, just as the sun was setting. It was magical, and, after all, the canals are part of what Amsterdam is known for and what sets it apart from most other cities. We weren't at all cold, either. The boat was enclosed with windows. However, I don't know if December would be a whole lot colder than November. That said, it might not be the best use of your time given that you will be able to do that in Copenhagen.

I'd suggest the Anne Frank museum and/or the Van Gogh museum, depending on your interests, and, if weather permits, just walk around and look at the architecture and the canals.

We returned from Amsterdam in late August after a week in that wonderful city.

We did a safari in East Africa prior to the week in Amsterdam.
The Schipol Airport this summer had some terrible problems with cancelled flights, people in line for more than four hours to go through security and missing flights. Both times we checked in at Schipol it took 2.5 and 2 hours to checkin and go through security.
This was after much of the major problems had passed earlier in the summer.

You have eight hours for your layover, but not necessarily five hours to explore the city.
You have to go through immigration. Assuming your luggage was checked all the way, no problem there.
You could take a taxi into the city, or to a museum, that would cost you 50 Euros. You could take the train to the main train station for much less.

Assuming you arrived at the train station downtown 1.5 hours after you arrived, you should return to the airport at least three hours prior to your flight departing. That would give you 3.5 hours to wander around Amsterdam. You could do a canal cruise, ours took an hour. It was OK, but not worth the hassle of leaving the airport.

Yes, you could go to the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum, but we spent three hours at each and you don't have that kind of time.

Wander around the city, yes, go to Dam Square, visit the massive old church there, that is good. The Anne Frank House requires reservations, so unless you plan to make reservations, forget doing that.

Personally, I would stay at the airport.