Can Americans leave Amsterdam airport during layover? (2024)

Can Americans leave Amsterdam airport during layover?

At least 3-4 hours recommended

If you are allowed to travel to the Netherlands without a visa, you can go through passport control. This means you can leave he international transit zone. You can visit Amsterdam or other places in the Netherlands during your transit period.

Even though it's easy to get into the city from Schiphol airport, anyone with a layover that's less than 5 hours should stay at the airport. A 4-5 hour layover in Amsterdam doesn't provide enough time to comfortably get to the city center without rushing or risking a missed flight.

Do you have to go through security again for connecting flights? That depends! If you travel to a non-Schengen country, you'll need to go through additional security and passport checks. If you stay within the Schengen region, no additional checks are needed.

Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover, provided your passport allows you visa-free entry to the country you're in, and you have enough time between flights. In fact, some people intentionally book flights with longer layovers (which are often cheaper) so they get to see a new city.

These factors may cut into your layover time. So considering all of this if you are left with 5 hours or more you can definitely leave the Amsterdam Airport. If you have 4 hours, you can leave but you will not be able to see as much. Under 4 hours I would not recommend leaving the airport, unfortunately.

Once you clear customs, you're free to leave the airport.

Amsterdam is about 25 miles from Schiphol. If your layover is four or more hours, you can take the train, taxi, or private car into the city. I'd stick to the canal belt area (Grachtengordel) and see the sights in that area.

First of all, you don't even need to leave the airport. There are many shops and restaurants located before and after security for a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam or less. For overnight layovers, you still don't need to walk outside, even if you want a hotel!

KLM does not provide a hotel for long layovers, however they do offer several services to make your wait more comfortable. KLM offers complimentary meals and drinks in the lounge, as well as free Wi-Fi access so you can stay connected while waiting for your next flight.

If you have an excessive layover time you may be wondering: Can I leave the airport between connecting flights? The short answer is yes. It is possible to exit and reenter the airport.

Do you go through customs in Amsterdam for connecting flights?

You will, however, go through immigration/passport control in Amsterdam. Unless you have an unreasonable delay, this should be plenty of time. As noted, you won't have to clear customs, but you will have to go through passport control and security.

Most of the time, your baggage will be automatically sent to your connecting flight. The only exception is if you're travelling on two separate tickets. In that case, your baggage will be delivered to baggage reclaim area. All you need to do is collect your baggage from the carousel and check it in again.

You then need to walk from the gate to passport control and the luggage/customs area – this process can take anything up to 60 minutes, depending on gate location, immigration queues and number of border posts open.

How long does a layover need to be to leave the airport? Because layovers are your choice, you can leave whenever you like, but seasoned travelers, including McGee, seldom leave airports for less than six hours. After all, airports themselves aren't usually in bustling, interesting areas.

While skiplagging is not a crime, it can result in bans from major airlines. In July, American Airlines banned a teenager from flying with the airline for three years after he booked a flight from Gainesville, Florida, to New York City with a layover in Charlotte, where he lives, Insider reported.

Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.

To leave the Amsterdam airport and explore for part of the day: 5 hrs. Thanks to excellent train connections between the airport and the city, you can quickly and easily get to the heart of Amsterdam and be within walking distance of many major sites.

Other types of visa for the Netherlands

There are also other types of visa besides the short-stay Schengen visa. One example is an airport transit visa, which you may need if you are transiting through a Dutch airport. You can find more information on visas for the Netherlands on Netherlands Worldwide.

The general price for a Schengen transit visa is EUR 80.

What is not allowed in Amsterdam airport?

Customs and hand baggage

Some restricted items may be permitted in limited supply or forbidden outright, when travelling to or from the Netherlands. Restricted items include drinks, tobacco, medicines, meat, fish, (products made of) protected animal and plant species, as well as large sums of cash.

Most (but again, not all) airports connect international terminals airside. When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).

During domestic layovers, you are free to leave the airport. If your domestic layover is longer than one hour, you should expect to receive two boarding permits. If you want to check out local points of interest, make sure you get your second boarding pass and print it out before you leave.

Answer — Yes, You Will Make Your Flight

Schiphol is an easy airport to navigate. There is plenty of signage to point you to the plane and immigration is well staffed. For an international to Schengen connection, 75 minutes is more than adequate.