Best way to spend 5 to 7 hours in AMS?
Mar 13, 2011, 9:45 am
#16
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Why 30 minutes to the train station? It usually takes me well under 15 minutes coming from London. Remember the OP is making a day trip so no bags. I sometimes get from the plane to WTC in well under 30 minutes if I time it right.
Mar 13, 2011, 9:47 am
#17
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I'd go along with what Genius1 said and bag all the points at once by going to HEL....stay and make a weekend out of it.
Everyone understands English. The centre is compact and easily navigated by foot....especially nice down at the water side. HEL Vantaa is also one of my favourite airports.
Amsterdam although nice is rather over-rated in my opinion.
Everyone understands English. The centre is compact and easily navigated by foot....especially nice down at the water side. HEL Vantaa is also one of my favourite airports.
Amsterdam although nice is rather over-rated in my opinion.
Mar 13, 2011, 10:00 am
#18
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There is a city bus that goes from Schiphol to the Leidesplein; 4x/hour. Costs 4Euros 1-way. You can catch a canal tour there, walk over to the museums (Reijks, Van Gogh, etc), sit at a cafe in Leidesplein & watch the entertainment/people watch, etc.
Found this from a trip report I did in the Marriott forum:
"Bus: Runs 4x/hour & goes to/from Leidesplein & Schiphol. 30 minutes total transit time. Bus is red, & says 197. They have electronic signs at the Schiphol stops that will say which bus # & the schedule for the next hour. Pick-up is Stand 11 (I think) in front of Schiphol Plaza; just walk outside of the airport. Picks up across from from the Leidesplein on the bridge & drops off at Stand 8 (I think) directly in front to Schiphol Plaza. It is 4 Euros each way. First pick-up from the Leidesplein area is 05:14a.m. & the last is 00:05."
Cheers.
Found this from a trip report I did in the Marriott forum:
"Bus: Runs 4x/hour & goes to/from Leidesplein & Schiphol. 30 minutes total transit time. Bus is red, & says 197. They have electronic signs at the Schiphol stops that will say which bus # & the schedule for the next hour. Pick-up is Stand 11 (I think) in front of Schiphol Plaza; just walk outside of the airport. Picks up across from from the Leidesplein on the bridge & drops off at Stand 8 (I think) directly in front to Schiphol Plaza. It is 4 Euros each way. First pick-up from the Leidesplein area is 05:14a.m. & the last is 00:05."
Cheers.
Mar 13, 2011, 10:03 am
#19
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I agree that AMS is slightly overrated.
Mar 13, 2011, 10:08 am
#20
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It will take you 30 minutes to get to the train station (if you're lucky) and at least another 30 minutes to get to Amsterdam Central Station (if you're lucky) so that is already one hour gone (if you're lucky). To get back you need to make sure not to take the latest possible train but one before meaning that you will arrive at least 1:30hr before your flight departs. So that is at least another 2 hours gone (if you're lucky).
Red light district .....
Mar 13, 2011, 10:08 am
#21
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How can anything be overrated when someone is only spending 5-7 hours there? 
For a first-time European visit by someone who speaks English only, AMS is certainly a good choice. And this thread has given him/her a lot of options for the time period.
HEL sounds interesting though, based on what's been posted.
Cheers.
For a first-time European visit by someone who speaks English only, AMS is certainly a good choice. And this thread has given him/her a lot of options for the time period.
HEL sounds interesting though, based on what's been posted.
Cheers.
Mar 13, 2011, 11:05 am
#22
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Mar 13, 2011, 11:14 am
#23
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Mar 13, 2011, 11:22 am
#25
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Appeltaart is a good choice indeed. Met slagroom. However, we are talking Amsterdam so space-cake is more in tune...
Mar 13, 2011, 11:35 am
#27
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Mar 13, 2011, 11:44 am
#29
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I think we might have stumbled upon the answer to the OPs question. Not only will he pass the time but it will make his subsequent trip all the more interesting! ^
Mar 13, 2011, 11:58 am
#30
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You could pick any of the Scandinavian countries and find plenty of people who speak English too. Amsterdam will, however, be cheaper to visit than any of them. Also, the train to Amsterdam Centraal is cheaper than, for example, the Flytoget train in Oslo. CPH is a very short train ride from Copenhagen city centre, and there is quite a bit to do there, but mainly in the summer (Tivoli, Nyhaven etc.).