Amsterdam is one of the most visited destinations in Europe. The Dutch capital has many attractions for all ages and receives millions of tourists yearly, although many sights are aimed at an adult audience. Despite being a destination with so many attractions, Amsterdam has many things to see during a layover.
Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport is the Netherlands’ key air travel gateway and a crucial center for KLM Airlines. It’s also one of the busiest airports in Europe. The airport offers a variety of shops and places to eat that can pleasantly make a layover pass by. But if you’ve got time to spare, consider exploring Amsterdam’s sights.
This article gives tips on what to do in Amsterdam if you have at least 6 hours to spare. You’ll learn how to best experience this welcoming city.
As someone who loves traveling, I recommend taking a quick train ride from the airport straight into the city’s heart. It’s fast and efficient – the perfect way to maximize your visit.
However, to get to know the city better, we recommend staying in Amsterdam for at least a couple of nights (see the best areas to stay in Amsterdam).
A Perfect Amsterdam Layover
General Tips
The first thing to keep in mind before traveling to the Dutch capital is that, depending on your nationality, you might need a visa to travel to Amsterdam. As expected, European Union citizens do not require a visa to enter the Netherlands. However, you will need a visa to visit Amsterdam from other places.
On the other hand, you do not require a visa to travel to Amsterdam if you’re American, Canadian, or Australian, as long as your stay does not exceed 90 days (read the complete list of countries that require a visa to travel to Amsterdam).
As for the time, provide an hour and a half to make sure you don’t miss your flight. The airport is about 17 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station, so getting around isn’t too complicated.
You can walk to all the attractions mentioned in this guide from Central Station, but, to save time, you can also book a tour bus and boat tour in Amsterdam to save time and money.
You can also get tickets for Amsterdam’s main attractions in advance, as iconic sites like the Anne Frank Museum tend to sell out quickly.
Visit Amsterdam in a Few Hours: Things to See
To start your journey, take the train to Amsterdam Central Station from Schiphol Airport. At the stations, you can purchase train tickets using touchscreen machines. You can choose the language, route, and payment method (cash or card).
Upon reaching the grand Central Station, which showcases architecture inspired by Gothic and Renaissance styles, you need to walk southwest along Damrak Street until you arrive at the first stop of this route: Dam Square, right in the midst of Amsterdam.
In Dam Square stands the National Liberation Monument, a towering marble monolith over 20 meters tall that honors those who fell during the end of World War II.
Nearby Dam Square is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, built in the 17th century. In this palace from the Dutch Golden Age, the royal family hosts official receptions and state banquets. The palace is also open for public visits every day except during royal events.
It is advisable to get tickets for the Royal Palace in Amsterdam at least two weeks in advance to avoid the queues that form at the entrance to this spectacular building.
On the other hand, if you’re more into pop culture than history, the wax museum of Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is a good option for you. It is also located next to Dam Square.
This famous museum, originally based in London, will allow you to take the best selfies next to statues of celebrities such as George Clooney, Van Gogh, or Adele, to name just a few. Getting tickets to Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is also a good alternative for traveling with children.
Continuing to the right, crossing one of Amsterdam’s charming canals, you will reach the renowned Red Light District.
This historic district is known for its showcases where sex workers have been exercising their profession freely and legally for centuries. There is so much respect for the “oldest profession in the world” in Amsterdam’s Red Light District that you will find the first monument to sex workers and a Prostitution Museum.
While it is true that to see the Red Light District at its maximum splendor, it is better to visit it at night if the time of your flight does not allow you to wait until late afternoon, you should know that touring it during the day also invites you to get lost among its narrow streets with bars, sex shops, coffeehouses where you can legally consume cannabis and shops.
If you are traveling with your family, it is a better idea to visit the Red Light District in the morning, for example, to see the oldest building in Amsterdam: The Oude Kerk church, originally built using wood as the main material, but renovated in 1306, where it was given a Gothic style.
In order not to miss out on the many fun facts about the Red Light District, it is a good idea to book a tour.
From the Oude Kerk, you can continue to the right, passing the three main canals of Amsterdam: Herengracht, Keizersgratch, and Prinsengracht. From the Prinsengracht, you should head south and, if you have time and your appetite is already making itself felt, you can stop in Jordaan, one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful neighborhoods, known for its excellent food scene.
Continuing south, you will come across the house where Anne Frank and her family took refuge during World War II, Anne Frank Huis, one of the busiest attractions in the Dutch capital.
The house, now a museum, exhibits historical documents, family photographs, and the original diary of Anne Frank, one of the most famous books in the world. Tickets to the house sell out quickly, so it is necessary to buy them well in advance or book a tour about the life of Anne Frank.
A few steps from the Anne Frank Huis is the Westerkerk, the main Protestant church in Amsterdam, with the bells Anne Frank said she heard in the pages of her diary. This Renaissance-style church has a tower from which you can get excellent views of the city.
In front of the Westerkerk, you will see the Homomonument, a small tribute to members of the LGBT community who have been persecuted for their sexual orientation. The Homomonument is formed by a pink triangle on the ground, symbolizing the triangle that queer people were forced to wear on their uniforms in Nazi concentration camps.
Continuing south, you will have to turn left on the Raadhuisstraat until you reach the Kalverstraat, where you will continue south. This is one of the main shopping streets of Amsterdam, a paradise for shopping.
At the end of Kalverstraat, continuing southwest through the canals, you will see the entrance to the Vondelpark, the largest park in Amsterdam, with lakes, slides, and an open-air theater, among other attractions that make it the green lung of the city par excellence.
If you have enough time, you can walk around the Vondelpark; otherwise, head east to see the Rijksmuseum, dedicated to the art and history of Holland from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Although the museum site alone is impressive, buying tickets for the Rijksmuseum will allow you to admire works by artists such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer.
The Rijksmuseum is located on Museumplein, Amsterdam’s Museum Square, where you will also find the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Diamond Museum, as well as green areas that are ideal for picnics.
From Museum Square, you can take the streetcar to Amsterdam Central Station, from where you can return by train to the airport, but if you still have energy and time, it is also possible to walk back to the station, heading north.
What did you think of this guide on what to see in Amsterdam during a layover? Remember that you can organize it according to the Amsterdam attractions you are most interested in seeing and the times of your flight connection.