We recently had a six-hour layover in Amsterdam, and instead of spending those six hours sitting around the airport, we decided to head into the city and make the most of our time.
We’re going to show you exactly how we did it. From getting out of Schiphol Airport and into Amsterdam, to the route we took, what we ate, and how we made it back to the airport with plenty of time before our flight.
We’ll also share all the tips we learned along the way so that if you ever have a long layover in Amsterdam, you’ll know exactly how to plan it and make the most of every minute.
From Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam City
What to plan before you arrive
Before you even land, have a rough itinerary ready. Know the main places you want to see, create a walking route between them, and have an idea of roughly how long you want to spend at each stop. It doesn’t have to be planned down to the minute, but having a clear route will save you so much time.
It’s also worth having a general idea of where things are inside the airport. Don’t worry, Schiphol is incredibly well signposted, so it’s very easy to navigate, but just knowing what your first few steps are will make everything feel much less overwhelming.
Another thing I’d really recommend is dressing for your destination, not where you’re flying from. We were coming from South Africa where it was winter, but Amsterdam was in the middle of summer. I wore comfortable flowy pants that worked well for both the flight and walking around the city, and then I packed a tank top and sunglasses in my hand luggage so I could quickly change in the airport bathroom before heading into Amsterdam. You could even get changed on the plane before you land if you want to save even more time.
These are tips you can use for almost any long layover in Europe, not just Amsterdam.
What to do at Schiphol Airport
As soon as we got off the plane, we made our way straight towards baggage claim.
Check in your luggage from starting point to final destination
We made sure our luggage got checked in from where we departed all the way to our final destination, this way we avoided waiting for our luggage and didn’t need to check anything in on our way back. Once you’ve left Baggage Claim follow the signs for Schiphol Railway Station. It’s pretty much right on the other side of the door.
Store your hand luggage at the airport’s lockers
Before heading into the city, I highly recommend storing your hand luggage. It’s honestly one of the best decisions we made. There’s nothing worse than trying to explore a city while dragging suitcases around.
The baggage storage is only about a five-minute walk from the train station, following the signs towards Departures, so it’s really convenient. We paid just €7 per suitcase for 24 hours, which was absolutely worth it. You pay when you collect your luggage, and they’ll give you a ticket when you drop it off. Make sure you keep that ticket somewhere safe because you’ll need it to collect your bags later.
Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station
Once we were luggage-free, we headed back towards the railway station and bought our train tickets at the yellow ticket machines. We bought return tickets from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station, which cost €12.60 per person. I’d definitely recommend buying the return ticket straight away so it’s one less thing to think about when you’re heading back to the airport.
After buying your ticket, you’ll need to validate it by tapping it on one of the tall yellow card readers just before you head down to the platforms.
Then simply head downstairs and catch the next train. They run every few minutes, so there’s no need to stress about booking a specific departure time.
From there, it’s only about a 15-minute train ride into Amsterdam Centraal.
Things to do in Amsterdam
Now, check what time it is and make sure you have at least 2 and a half hours to 3 hours from the time your next flight leaves, including the tram ride to Amsterdam Centraal and the train there. We ended up not needing so much time, but it’s better to be safe in case there is a delay or the airport is very busy. The remaining time is yours to spend exploring the city.
Picnic at Vondelpark
For our route, we planned to walk from Amsterdam Centraal all the way to Vondelpark for a picnic lunch. Along the way, we made sure our route took us past Amsterdam’s most famous canals (Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht) and some landmarks like the Magna Plaza, the Nieuwe Kerk and the Royal Palace.
Ready-made food from Albert Heijn supermarket
Before heading to the park, we stopped at Albert Heijn to pick up lunch. It’s one of our favourite supermarkets in the Netherlands because the quality is always so good.
They have loads of fresh ready-made meals, pasta salads, sandwiches, fruit boxes, snacks, smoothies, juices—pretty much everything you could want for a picnic without having to prepare anything yourself. It’s not the cheapest supermarket, but it’s definitely not overpriced either, and for the quality, we think it’s absolutely worth it. You could also pick up some cheese from the Amsterdam Cheese Company. The Netherlands are known for their amazing cheese like Gouda, Edam or Maasdam. The Amsterdam Cheese Company has many different types in all sorts of sizes and flavours that you can sample before you buy. Their great to add to your picnic or take some home as a souvenir to add to a charcuterie board.
Picnic over sitting at a restaurant
The reason I recommend this over eating at a restaurant is because it saves so much time. When you’ve only got a couple of hours, sitting down for a meal can easily take an hour or more between waiting to be seated, ordering, waiting for your food, and then paying the bill.
With a picnic, you’re combining two activities into one. You still get to enjoy a really nice lunch, but you’re also spending time in one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful and iconic parks instead of sitting inside a restaurant.
Vondelpark is definitely a place I’d include if you’ve got a few hours in Amsterdam. It’s peaceful, full of people relaxing, walking and cycling, and it’s the perfect place to relax before heading to the busy airport.
Try a stroopwafel
On our walk there, we couldn’t leave Amsterdam without trying a stroopwafel, two thin waffle cookies with a caramel syrup filling in the middle, it has a crispy outside and a chewy, gooey center.
We stopped at Melly’s Stroopwafels. There are many places along the way but this cute little shop caught our eye.
They sell the smaller packaged stroopwafels that are great for taking home as souvenirs, by the way we’ve already tried some now that we’re home and they are delicious, but they also sell these huge freshly made stroopwafels.
There are loads of toppings to choose from, including chocolate with M&Ms, chocolate and hazelnut, chocolate and pistachio, and chocolate with shredded coconut. I went for the chocolate-covered stroopwafel topped with little fudge cubes, and it was absolutely worth it. It was soft, warm and the caramel was melty and delicious. 10/10
Try Dutch fries
Another option instead of having a picnic is getting different local foods to go at different places like the stroopwafels, or fries at Fabel Friet. Fries are extremely typical in the Netherlands and a staple in the local snack culture, they are thicker and crispier than other fries, typically served topped with mayonnaise, curry ketchup or a warm peanut sauce, mayonnaise and chopped onions. A lot of places nowadays, like Fabel Friet, offer many different more modern toppings like truffle mayo and parmesan.
Try Dutch pancakes (“Poffertjes”)
Another typical dessert you can get on the go are poffertjes. Pronounced as pof-er-tyas.
Poffertjes are small, fluffy Dutch pancakes. They’re soft and light, and are usually served warm with butter and a generous dusting of powdered sugar. A great place to try them on the go is Pat’s Poffertjes. We didn’t have time to stop here this time but people seem to rave about them and they look absolutely delicious. If you do have time to sit down we recommend trying the Dutch Pantry. They serve very tasty classic Dutch food and we especially loved their poffertjes. We talk more about them in our 24h in Amsterdam video and our 3 day Netherlands road trip itinerary so definitely go check that out if you’re planning to stay a little longer.
How to make your way back to Schiphol Airport
Take the tram back to Amsterdam Centraal Station
When it’s time to head back to the airport, I’d recommend taking the tram back to Amsterdam Centraal instead of walking. It’ll save you quite a bit of time, and you won’t feel like you’re rushing to catch your train.
The tram system in Amsterdam is really easy to use, and there are plenty of trams heading to Amsterdam Centraal every few minutes.
All we did was open Google Maps, type in Amsterdam Centraal as our destination, and it gave us a few different tram routes from our exact location. We simply chose the first one that arrived.
How to pay on the tram
Paying is really straightforward too. You can just tap your phone or contactless bank card when you get on the tram, or you can buy a ticket beforehand using the GVB app and scan the QR code on your phone. Just keep in mind that cash isn’t accepted.
One important thing to remember is that, no matter how you pay, you need to tap out when you leave the tram. If you forget to tap out, you could end up being charged for the full length of the route instead of just the journey you took.
At Amsterdam Centraal
At the station, you’re looking for the platform that is heading to Schiphol Station or Hoofdorp that stops at Schiphol station.
Once you’re back at Schiphol Airport, you’ll be right where you started. If you left your luggage in baggage storage, don’t forget to collect it before heading to your gate. Then, if you don’t have any bags to check in, just make your way through security and to your gate.
And that’s it! You’ve just spent a few hours exploring Amsterdam during your layover.
Our biggest piece of advice
Our biggest piece of advice is don’t let yourself get stressed. If you don’t end up seeing absolutely everything on your list, that’s completely okay. The whole point of leaving the airport is to enjoy a few hours in a new city. If you’re rushing from one place to the next the entire time, it kind of defeats the purpose. And in my experience, the more you rush, the more likely you are to make mistakes that actually end up costing you time.
If you have enough time, leave the airport. Instead of spending hours waiting around, you can experience a beautiful city and make the most of your trip. And as you can see, it’s really easy to get from Schiphol into Amsterdam and back again.
Related reads you’ll love…
Planning to stay longer in the Netherlands? Check out our 3 day Netherlands Itinerary or our 24 hours in Amsterdam.
If you’re looking for more Dutch gems beyond Amsterdam, don’t miss 9 Underrated Cities to Visit in Europe in 2025 where we featured the beautiful town of Alkmaar – known for its traditional cheese market and canals that give off serious Amsterdam vibes (without the crowds). It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed day trip or a weekend escape. Check out this video for more hidden European spots to add to your list!
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