Amsterdam flights and travel guide

Book a flight to Amsterdam and join the Dutch in a brew at one of Amsterdam’s outdoor cafes on the canal. Known to many as one of the world’s best hangouts, Amsterdam boasts something for every traveller. The city is an idyllic blend of old and new – 17^th-century buildings coexist with 20-something students and generation-Y tourists. Millions of travellers book flights to Amsterdam every year to take part in the well-known parties throughout city. But after romp through the Red Light District take a tour through some of Amsterdam’s historic sites.

Home to Ann Frank, gable houses and Golden Age canals, Amsterdam is steeped in history and culture. Amsterdam is the fourth most travelled-to city in Europe making it highly populated year-round. Students book flights to Amsterdam to roll their own in the smoking coffee houses while businessmen book Amsterdam flights and woo clients after a monumental board meeting. Travel to Amsterdam during the spring and you’ll witness the tulips blooming among the canals; summers are packed full of people enjoying the outdoor environment and winter, while cold, can be the best time to book cheap flights to Amsterdam.

Get plenty of rest on your flight to Amsterdam – whether you’re heading to the Dutch city for business or pleasure, there’s much to do and see in Amsterdam.

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Amsterdam climate

Amsterdam's weather varies based on the time of year. Spring welcomes blooming tulips and fields of flowers, but rain showers are likely. The summer months see extreme heat and humidity, but it's also when Amsterdam is packed with tourists and there's always something happening in the city or along one of the famous canals. The weather turns cold in the winter, but this is the best time to book cheap flights to Amsterdam.

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When to fly to Amsterdam

Peak Season

Amsterdam sees its peak tourist season in the spring and summer. The daffodils and tulips break through the winter weather and welcome spring. Summer sees endless tourists and travellers drinking and dining in the open air cafes along the canal. Flights to Amsterdam and hotels book up fast during the peak season so it's wise to plan ahead.

Off Season

From mid-October to mid-March, the weather is pretty unpredictable in Amsterdam. The one constant is the rain, so if you're flying to Amsterdam during the fall make sure to pack plenty of rain gear. Cheap flights to Amsterdam are usually found during the winter months when the weather is extremely cold.

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Getting downtown Amsterdam

Schiphol  (AMS)
Distance: 13km southwest of Amsterdam
Drive time: 10 mins

You can get into town by bus, tram, taxi, or shuttle.

Connexxion Schiphol Hotel Shuttle runs frequent shuttles to over 100 hotels. Check the Schiphol Web site for up-do-date information about ground transportation.

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Getting around Amsterdam

It’s easy to walk around Amsterdam in just a few hours. You need to keep an eye out though – cars have the right of way and bikes, trams and buses crisscross the city. Rent a bike to speed up your pace without turning the city into a blur. Amsterdam is a very bike-friendly city. Bike lanes and bike racks are plentiful. Make sure the light on your bike is working; you can be fined for riding without a light after dark. To travel beyond the city, it’s easy to take the train or bus. It’s cheaper to rent your car in the city. The Netherlands highway system is very good.

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Amsterdam insider information

• Vereniging voor Vreemdelingenverkeer (Association for Foreigner Travel), abbreviated to VVV (pronounced fay-fay-fay), is nationwide. VVV Amsterdam provides information, has brochures and maps, makes reservations for hotels and tours, and sells reduced-rate passes for attractions.
• You can buy an all-day pass for the Canal Bus, which takes you to Amsterdam’s major attractions and provides historical commentary along the way. If you have less time or want to spend a day going only to museums, the Museumboot (Museum Boat) takes you to most museums, and the ticket includes half-price entry.
• Museumplein and Vondelpark are the area where you will find the three major museums—the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum —as well as the Concertgebouw concert hall, a variety of restaurants, Amsterdam's most elegant shopping area, and its best-known park. There are also small hotels that are a much better bargain than those along the canals and in the center of the city.
• The Anne Frankhuis, the building where the Franks and two other families hid from the Nazis for two years, is just as they left it, and remarkably like the descriptions in Anne’s diary. The adjacent building contains exhibits about the occupants of the hiding place, including the original diary.
• If you walk along the canals after dark, you will see Amsterdam at one of its loveliest times. Subtle lighting bathes many of the 17^th century houses, and bridges are festooned with lights.
• The Jordaan is an up-and-coming area of Amsterdam that still houses artists and students but is home to an increasing number of trendy restaurants and boutiques.
• The tour of the Heineken brewery gives you a good view of beer-making, and the entry fee entitles you to some of the product.

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Amsterdam airports

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

The airport is 13km southwest of Amsterdam. It is 57km from The Hague and 73km from Rotterdam.

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