We're coming to Amsterdam 13 hr layover 11/1 7:55pm leaving 11/2 9:40am. We want to see city walk canals, go to cafe, walk by red light and Lil food. Please suggest our best options--- hotel by airport or hotel -where in city? Train or cab for transport? Never been there.. help please..
Posted by
Irving
3226 posts
Sight-seeing is best during the day not at night. Book a hotel room near the airport with a restaurant and visit Amsterdam another time.
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
674 posts
Airport hotel (e.g. Sheraton) that you can walk to. Drop bags. Taxi to RLD or metro (special train runs very frequently) to Niewmarkt. Check Google Maps for food ideas and what will still be open around Niewmarkt. Then, head the couple canals over to the RLD.
It will be getting late and after 1:00 AM the airport train only runs once per hour. So, I suggest a taxi back. Also, RLD will still be somewhat busy, but other streets will become very quiet. Probably safe, but you may not fee comfortable depending on your group and where you are from.
Agree that Amsterdam is more senic for canals and architecture during the day and more scenic for the sometimes gritty nightlife at night.
Posted by
Florida
1450 posts
I'd follow MaryPat's advice.
Posted by
241 posts
An Evening Canal Cruise would be really nice. We did one after dark and it was beautiful to see everything lit up.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you northwest... I guess were getting gritty for a few hours see what we can see and head back to airport area...
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2714 posts
I would also agree that given your arrival time you should save Amsterdam for another time. Assuming your flight is actually on time, you still need to get through passport control which can have incredibly long lines at times (I waited more than an hour at a similar evening arrival time). By the time you do that, get your luggage, get situated at an airport hotel, and get a train to the city center, it's going to be pretty late. If you're up for eating fried food from the Febo vending machines in the Red Light District with the intoxicated stag parties, go for it!
FWIW I have stayed at Citizen M hotel twice, it's extremely convenient to the airport.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11869 posts
Please suggest our best option(s)
MaryPat nailed it. ( Sight-seeing is best during the day not at night. Book a hotel room near the airport with a restaurant and visit Amsterdam another time.)
Assuming your flight arrives on time ( late in the day flights are more likely to be late as every little delay during the day had piled up), your likelihood of being ' in town' much before 10 is slim. ( off the plane, check into hotel get to transport to get to city...).
First priority will be eating (and how late do the canal boats cruise around? in the cold)
If your AM flight is to the US you need to be at the terminal by 7 at the latest, so a late night running around seems ill advised.
My $0.02