Land in AMS from FCO at 3PM. Flight to USA leaves the next morning at 10AM. Would like to leave the airport hotel for dinner. Any recommendations of what to do or see? It's basically only for an evening. I am thinking of taking the train out to Amsterdam. Would this be a good choice or is there somewhere closer that is better? thanks!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
I've done this a few times at AMS. Once I took the train into town and stayed there and just took an early train back to AMS the next morning. Another time I booked an airport hotel took the train into town just for the evening. The advantage of staying in Amsterdam was that I could stay out late (I'm a photographer, like taking night shots) and have to get back to the airport hotel...but that does mean I had to get earlier the next morning. The trains are pretty reliable to AMS and not far. (Not like Paris where CDG airport is a long way from the center of Paris.)
Haarlem might be another option, if Amsterdam doesn't appeal to you.
Posted by
OP
161 posts
Thank you! I love your idea of Haarlem. It may be more manageable to see given the short timespan.
Posted by
Indianapolis, IN
369 posts
There's also a bus directly from Haarlem to the airport. Bus 300 maybe? We can highly recommend the ML Hotel in Haarlem, whichis just behind the church so it's convenient to the main square where there is a good selection of nice restaurants and night life.
Posted by
8239 posts
We did both of what you suggest. We had a safari in Kenya/Tanzania last August and had separate tickets to Africa, so we stayed one night at the Hilton right by the airport then returning from Africa we did a week in a small hotel near the Anne Frank House.
You won't have a lot of time, since by the time we get your luggage walk to the hotel, check in, it will be 5 PM. Then taking the train will take some time. Taxis cost about $50 from the airport to the city center. I think the train fare runs about $12, but I am not sure.
We spent a lot of time walking around the downtown area, exploring restaurants. If you do plan to dine downtown, be sure to do your research for restaurants. We had mixed results from the restaurants that we picked.
One restaurant that we loved was a Greek restaurant near the Anne Frank House. It is called The Two Greeks. The name is spelled in Dutch, which I can't remember. We dined there twice. You may need a reservation, since it is very popular.
If you stay at the Airport Hilton, the restaurant there is excellent. Also, I know there is a Sheraton near the airport as well. There is an indoor walkway from both hotels to the terminal with a people mover.