5h 45m Layover in Amsterdam

As long as your plane arrives more or less on time, it's doable. Since your connecting flight is to Nice, there will be no passport control when you reenter the airport, and if you already have your boarding pass, no need to check-in, just go directly to the gate. Obviously at that time of the morning all the sites will be closed, but there are some very pretty neighborhoods very near Centraal Station to stroll through. Here's a taste: http://tinyurl.com/4rvlzvc The Pancake is also a great place for breakfast: http://www.pancake.nl/indexeng.php

If for some reason your flight from Singapore to AMS is delayed and you cannot get to the city, you could check out the art at the Rijks Museum inside Schiphol Airport. It is inside the airport, so you do not have to go through passport control to get to it. Also, you will find that the security check of people and hand luggage at Schiphol airport is done at each gate. That saves time because you only have to stand in line with the people on your flight. Have fun in Amsterdam. It is one of my favorite cities. Penn

I agree. There are some great streets SW of the Central Station. Go to the west end of the station cross over the bridge south then crossover bridge to the west. Nice residential area along the canals. If exiting a trolley, ensure you don't step into the bike lane. My wife said I looked like Gumby flying through the air! Neither the bike nor I was hurt-camera however, failed to survive. Have a great time there!

Ya, but risky. One advantage to Schiphol is that it is a great airport to hang out in. We pass through on Dec 14th and it took over an hour to get through immigrations. We landed about 15 minutes late (0745) BUT were sitting in the 32nd row opposite the door side which means about a 20 min delay in exiting the airplane. A lot of planes from the US arrive in this time period so there are a lot of people in the airport. The line for passport control was long and slow and made slower by people short connection times being bumped in front of us. So I doubt anyway for you to exit the plane and clear immigrations within 30 mins unless sitting in first or business class. And then the other thing you are missing is personal transit time in other words walking. Schiphol is a good size airport and you could easily use another 15 mins walking just to get to the train station and the same for the train station in Amsterdam. At best you might have a solid hour in Amsterdam. I always view the five to six hour layover as a sucker play. You think you should enough time to do something but you really don't. Enjoy the airport.

I've done that with a 4.5 hour time frame with 2 kids in tow and having to store luggage first before leaving the aiport. And it works because Schiphol is well connected to the city centre and the city centre itself is very compact and walkable. That said, if you arrive with a delay in Schiphol you obviously need to adjust your plans accordingly. Enjoy!

It is doable. I did it and walk almost 3 hours around Amsterdam. There is a different passport line when you are going out of the airport than for connecting flights.

Thanks all for the advices and tips. Very helpful info! The pancakes looks delicious Michael Schneider! Yes, if there is any considerable delay, I will have to change the plan when I arrive, and probably hang out in the airport or check the museum inside the airport. But if I think I will still have even 1 hour or 1.5 hour, I'm still okay with that, unless I'm really tired or jet lagged after the overnight flight.

Hi all, I have another question regarding this. 1. Is there a departure airport tax that needs to be paid in Schiphol airport when taking my flight from Amsterdam to Nice by KLM? 2. Is there any fee to exit the immigration or customs (to visit the city) and to go back through the immigration (to take the AMS-NCE flight)? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

At Schipol you won't have to pay any fees leaving our entering the airport.

Great! Thanks Michael.

It's entirely doable as others have said. Last time I landed about that time of morning in Amsterdam (less than a year ago), I was on a train in less than half an hour after getting off my plane -- and I'd had to change a train ticket and wait in line to do it! All without running and whilst being fairly sleepy, and I'm middle-aged and not interested in suffering... That said, if you end up with a delay or other reasons to spend more time in the airport, there is lots to do there: the seated clothed massage is excellent and really de-jet lags you; the Rijksmuseum mini museum has been mentioned (and is totally free), the shopping is extensive (notably diamonds and the museum shop, much more variety than most airports!), there's a vast array of food, and if you're really exhausted there's a hotel for short stays that's airside (ie you don't even have to go through passport control) -- tiny rooms, but with immaculate bathrooms, hair dryer, tv, radio, alarm -- perfect for a nap and refresh yourself. There's even a casino if that floats your boat. Happy travels!

Hi SJ, thanks for the reply and suggestions! Yes, I hope there won't be any delay. However, I see the weather prediction, that it's going to be a bit cold in Amsterdam. If it's too cold, I'll probably not go outside, as I won't be wearing winter clothes.

In a recent travel item on the web, Amsterdam was rated as the top airport for things to do- they menyioned the Museum and shopping among other sights

Penn, In checking out the Rijks musuem at the airport, while waiting for a flight back to the States, I had to pass through passport control afterwards to return to my gate. So, passport control to get to my gate and passport control to return to my gate after seeing the Rijks museum. Edwin