Our Amsterdam Stopover: An Easy Two Days Without the Big Attractions
Amsterdam houses reflected in a canal. All photos by John O’Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
We were deep into planning a trip to Scotland when a KLM fare caught our eye. The price to Edinburgh was very good, with one catch. The route stopped in Amsterdam.
We usually prefer flying direct - fewer connections mean fewer chances to miss a flight or lose a bag. But John had been reading about KLM's stopover program, and it seemed pretty good. So we decided to try it.
Instead of rushing through Schiphol Airport, we spent two nights in Amsterdam, then we flew on to Edinburgh to start our planned Scotch adventure. KLM charged us nothing extra for the stop.
It was our first time in the city, but our adult son came along on this trip, and since he had been to Amsterdam before, we happily made him our unofficial guide.
| Our route | JFK to Amsterdam to Edinburgh on KLM |
| Time in the city | 2 nights, roughly two and a half days |
| Extra airfare cost | None. The stopover was free on our KLM ticket. |
| Where we stayed | WestCord City Centre Hotel, a short walk from Amsterdam Centraal |
| Into town from Schiphol | Direct train to Amsterdam Centraal, about 17 minutes |
| What we did | A walking tour, a canal cruise, and a lot of unhurried wandering |
| What we skipped | Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum |
| Best for | Couples who want an easy taste of a second country |
What is an airline stopover?
A stopover is a pause in your trip that lasts longer than a normal layover. A layover is usually a few hours, whereas a stopover can be a day, a few days, or longer. The clever part is the price. On the right airline, that extra stop adds nothing to your airfare.
You still pay for your hotel , entertainments and meals, of course. But in return, you get a whole extra city. Which can be pretty sweet!
KLM builds its network around Amsterdam, so the city is an easy place to pause. We treated it as a quick taste of another country, but you could just as easily stay longer and see the Netherlands properly.
So many aspects of flying have gotten more difficult lately. Points programs are becoming more restrictive; airlines sometimes nickel-and-dime you for every charge they can. This is one program that actually benefits the traveler.
A wide variety of boats on an Amsterdam canal.
Our two-day stopover in Amsterdam
We had already done a mountain of planning for the Scotland leg of this trip. So we decided to keep the Amsterdam stop simple. This meant passing on the big-ticket sights, including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum, and just enjoying the atmosphere and “seeing what we could see”.
With limited time, the canals alone were enough to keep us happy. They really are as pretty as everyone says. The whole city has an enchanting look - from its historic buildings with narrow brick facades and decorative gables, to the oodles of bicycles that are simply everywhere.
It became clear fast that eating and lingering over a drink are the local pastimes. Our lazy plan fit right in! ;)
From Schiphol, we took the train straight to Amsterdam Centraal. It runs constantly and takes about 17 minutes.
Our hotel, the WestCord City Center Hotel, was an easy walk from the station. That made arriving simple after an overnight flight. (We were also thankful for air-conditioning as Amsterdam was in the middle of a heatwave!) If you want to stay central like we did, you can check rates on Booking.com.
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We were definitely a little jet-lagged, not having slept well on the plane for some reason (always a crap-shoot isn’t it?). So we booked an afternoon walking tour to force ourselves to stay awake. Having the tour as a goal to “get to” certainly helped us stay awake long enough to adjust our schedule.
I was glad I did it because I hadn’t looked much into Amsterdam before the trip, as we had been focused on heavily researching Scotland. So I was happy to learn a bit about the city's history. I was surprised to learn that it was built on pillars, and that the canals were a man-made feature - quite an impressive feat of 16th- and 17th-century engineering. There was also quite a bit of World War II history to learn, and as readers of this blog may already know, that is a particular interest of mine.
Amsterdam was in the middle of an unprecedented heatwave, so it was extremely hot out, but our tour guide managed to get us from one patch of shade to another as she did her talks, which we much appreciated! Plus, she knew all the water stops, thankfully! Something to keep in mind when doing a stopover is that the weather might be much different than your ultimate destination. I was glad I had decided to pack a pair of shorts at the last minute, because I most definitely needed them!
We explored the Red Light District a little with our guide (in daylight). It was an interesting stop to check off the list that I’m not sure we would have done on our own. The history is quite fascinating.
Stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf
The walking tour also gave us the opportunity to visit the excellent and historic Hans Egstorf bakery for Stroopwafels. Having a stroopwafel was definitely on my list, and I really appreciated that our guide brought us somewhere with real history, and not one of the trendy Instagram spots. I will say it was delicious!
Our guide also advised that while the historic center of Amsterdam is kind of a “must” for a first-time visitor, it really doesn’t reflect how locals live, and she encouraged us to explore some of the outer neighborhoods. We definitely took that advice later during our time in Amsterdam.
That evening we had dinner at Foodhallen, a lively indoor food hall. It sits right on a light rail line, which made it easy to get there.
The following day we took the tram to Oud-Zuid, the “Old South”. We strolled around and grabbed a coffee. It is a less touristy section of the city: a vibrant, pleasant neighborhood south of downtown Amsterdam. It’s where the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are located, so you could easily fold one of these into a walk through this area. We were happy just soaking up a quieter side of the city.
We stopped at the Bloemenmarkt, billed as the world's only “floating flower market”. It is so impressively BIG! It seems to go on forever! You can buy almost anything there. I did wish I could have brought some bulbs home for the garden, but that’s a little bit complicated - they must meet strict U.S. Customs and Border Protection and USDA requirements. And we were trying to keep this leg of the trip decidedly uncomplicated, so all we did was look. Quite amazing to see the variety. Amsterdam isn’t just about tulips, you know!
Later that evening, we took a canal cruise at 6:30 pm. At that time of year, daylight lingers very late.
Not only is a canal cruise a fun activity - it’s also a great way to see the city.
There are lots of choices, both larger and smaller boats. We chose a smaller boat with excellent reviews. Most leave from the area by the main train station. Since canal tours are THE thing to do in Amsterdam, the area is crowded, but it’s fairly easy to find your correct tour.
It’s hard to describe how many bikes are in Amsterdam. They are everywhere.
Which airlines let you stop over on the way?
KLM is not the only airline that offers stopovers. Several carriers will let you break up your trip at their home hub. Some throw in a hotel. Others hand you discounts on tours, meals, or a second flight.
Here is a quick look at the main programs. Always confirm the current terms on the airline's own site before you book.
| Airline and city | Free time allowed | Hotel included | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLM, Amsterdam | Up to 12 months | No | No extra airfare on cash or award tickets. This is the one we used. |
| Air France, Paris | 1 to 4 nights | Paid bundle | New for 2026. Hotel, transfers, and tours booked together, starting around €449 per night. |
| Icelandair, Reykjavik | Up to 7 days | No | The airline that started the whole stopover idea decades ago. |
| TAP, Lisbon or Porto | Up to 10 days | No | 25% off an internal TAP flight, plus discounts at 150+ hotels and restaurants. |
| Finnair, Helsinki | Up to 5 days | No | No extra airfare on Classic and Flex fares. You book your own hotel. |
| Turkish, Istanbul | Up to 7 days | Yes, free | A free hotel night or two, plus free guided city tours on shorter layovers. |
| Qatar, Doha | 12 to 96 hours | Paid, subsidized | Four-star hotels from about USD 14 per night through Discover Qatar. |
| Emirates, Dubai | 8 to 24 hours | Yes, free | Free hotel, meals, transfers, and visa, but only on long forced layovers. |
| Singapore, Singapore | A few days | Paid, discounted | Discounted hotel and tour packages through the Singapore Stopover Holiday. |
KLM, Amsterdam
This is the program we used. KLM lets you stop in Amsterdam on the way to your final destination. The stop can run from a single day up to many months; your whole trip just has to finish within a year.
It works on regular cash fares and on award tickets booked with miles. No charge is added to your airfare.
You book it by choosing the multi-city option and setting Amsterdam as a stop. You cover your own hotel costs.
We found that Amsterdam’s leisurely vibe is actually perfect for a stopover like this. You can take in a museum or two and a canal cruise, or do absolutely none of that and just enjoy the unique atmosphere and nightlife.
Air France, Paris
Air France launched a new Paris Stopover program in the summer of 2026. This is a “hands-off” version of a stopover.
You pick a package that bundles a four- or five-star hotel, airport transfers, and a few tours. Everything is arranged for you.
The trade-off, of course, is the cost. This is a paid package rather than a free stop, starting around €449 per night per person.
You need a connection of at least 27 hours to qualify. You can also just extend your connection and book your own hotel if you prefer.
Debbie and John in Paris.
Icelandair, Iceland
Icelandair started this whole idea of stopovers decades ago. You can stop in Iceland for up to seven days at no extra airfare.
The “free routing” is the real draw on a transatlantic flight. Iceland sits almost exactly on the "Great Circle" flight path between eastern North America and Western Europe. Stopping there doesn't feel like a detour; it feels like pulling over at a rest stop on a highway you were already driving down.
For many travelers, a few days chasing waterfalls and hot springs is reason enough to fly this way.
You cover your own hotel costs.
TAP Air Portugal, Lisbon or Porto
TAP runs one of the most generous programs out there. You can stop in Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days at no extra airfare.
You also get 25% off an internal TAP flight during your stay. That puts a second Portuguese city within easy reach.
On top of that, the program unlocks discounts at more than 150 hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Award tickets are not eligible, so book a cash fare.
View of Porto and the Douro River.
Turkish Airlines, Istanbul
Turkish Airlines is the one to know if you want a free hotel. Extend your Istanbul layover, and they cover the room.
Economy passengers generally get a free night at a four-star hotel. Business passengers get two nights at a five-star.
Some long-haul departures earn an extra night on top. You apply after booking, so allow time for the confirmation.
There is also Touristanbul, a set of free guided city tours for shorter layovers. It is a lot of value for a connection.
Qatar Airways, Doha
Qatar Airways subsidizes hotels heavily through its Discover Qatar arm.
Four-star rooms start around 14 US dollars a night. These are subsidized paid rooms, not free ones, though the rates are hard to beat.
Your Doha transit must be between 12 and 96 hours. You can add a stop on the way out and again on the way back.
For the price of a cheap dinner, you get a night in a smart hotel and a look at the city.
Amsterdam building reflected in a canal at sunset.
Would we do a stopover again?
Yes, without hesitation. In fact, we would go looking for one.
A stopover can add a whole extra city to your trip for no additional airfare. In our case, it added a new country to our list. That is a rare kind of bargain in travel today.
Amsterdam turned out to be an easy, low-key way to start a big trip. The canals alone were worth the stop, and we really enjoyed ourselves. Since it felt like a bonus, we didn’t stress it too much, and that’s a nice way to start a vacation
If you spot a fare that pauses at an airline's home hub, take a good look at it. You might get two trips for the price of one.
Airline Stopover FAQs
How long can you stay on a KLM stopover?
As long as you like, within reason. KLM allows a stop from one day up to several months. The only firm rule is that you must complete your full trip within a year.
Does an airline stopover cost extra?
Not on your airfare. With KLM, the stop in Amsterdam added nothing to our ticket price. You still pay for your hotel, food, and anything you do in the city.
How do you get from Schiphol Airport into central Amsterdam?
The train is the easy answer. It runs directly from under the airport to Amsterdam Centraal in about 17 minutes. Trains leave several times an hour, and you can tap a contactless card to pay.
Can you enjoy Amsterdam without visiting the museums?
Absolutely. We skipped every famous museum and still had a wonderful time. The canals, the neighborhoods, and a good canal cruise were plenty for a short stay.
Which airlines give you a free hotel on a stopover?
Turkish Airlines is the standout for a free room in Istanbul. Qatar Airways offers heavily discounted hotels in Doha. Most others, including KLM, leave the hotel to you.
Is two days enough for an Amsterdam stopover?
For a relaxed first taste, yes. Two nights let us settle in, wander, and take a cruise without rushing. If you want the major museums too, give yourself a third day.
About the Authors
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John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer and photographer with 30+ years of experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
Some well-reviewed Amsterdam activities:
Other European travel posts:
KLM let us add two nights in Amsterdam on the way to Scotland, at no extra airfare.
Here is how the stopover works, what we did without the big museums, and which airlines run the best programs.