For many travelers, a trip to the tulip fields in the Netherlands is a bucket list item. Along with those tulip fields, you’ll find Keukenhof, which boasts the best gardens in Europe. In this post, we’ll talk about all of the things you’ll need to know so you can plan the perfect day. Plus, I’ll give all of my tips for visiting the Keukenhof gardens.
What is Keukenhof
Keukenhof is a garden in the Netherlands. They boast that it is the most beautiful spring garden in the world. While I haven’t visited every garden in the world, I can agree that it is a truly beautiful garden. And I have no doubt that it is one of the best in the world.
The Keukenhof history goes back several centuries, but the gardens we experience today only date back to the 1900s. In 1949, flower experts decided to use the grounds of this former castle to showcase their flowers. It was clearly a success because now, over 70 years later, it’s one of the top attractions in the Netherlands.
Where is Keukenhof
Keukenhof is in the small town of Lisse in the Netherlands. One of the easiest ways to visit is by car. There is plenty of parking and since Lisse is not a huge city, the drive should be pretty easy.
If you try to use public transport, you might be frustrated and disappointed. Fear not! It’s actually super simple to get to the Keukenhof, depending on where you’re coming from. Seasonal buses provided by Keukenhof connect the gardens with Amsterdam, Amsterdam Schipol, Leiden, and even more. One of my tips is to use the provided buses for visiting Keukenhof. It removes one layer of stress.
I utilized the bus from Leiden and it was super simple. When you purchase your ticket for the Keukenhof, you can also choose to purchase the public transportation ticket. The bus from Leiden had a stop right at the Leiden Centraal train station. An attendant was checking our tickets before we were allowed to board the bus. And that was it. We boarded and were brought straight to the entrance of Keukenhof. When we were done, we boarded the bus and were brought right back to Leiden Centraal.
When to Visit Keukenhof
Despite being a world-famous attraction, Keukenhof is only open for two months every year. So if you are visiting the Netherlands and want to visit Keukenhof, you’ll need to make sure that you time your visit appropriately. Typically, a good rule of thumb is to plan your visit between mid-March and mid-May (although you will want to verify your dates).
In 2024, Keukenhof will be open from March 21 through May 12.
You can visit at any point in the season. Gardeners work hard to plant flowers so they will be continuously flowering for the entire two months when Keukenhof is open. However, from personal experience, if you visit right when Keukenhof opens (in mid March), not everything will be flowering yet.
If you’re looking for the best of the best, one of my tips for visiting Keukenhof is timing for visit for mid April. It’s right in the middle of the season. Just keep in mind, this may be when crowds are the highest.
Daily Hours of Keukenhof
Despite only being open for two months per year, Keukenhof has long hours. It will typically open at 8:00am, with busses leaving from Amsterdam and Leiden even earlier so guests can arrive by 8:00. Keukenhof typically closes around 19:30 (7:30 pm). But it’s always a good idea to confirm the times before you visit.
To avoid crowds, it’s recommend going right when Keunkenhof opens or to wait until later in the afternoon. I arrived shortly after opening and can confirm that crowds were definitely lighter early in the day. As the day went on, I started to see more and more people on the walking paths and that can make it difficult to get all the perfect flower pictures.
One of my biggest tips for visiting Keukenhof is to pack layers. If you visit early in the morning, it can be quite cold (especially in March).
Purchasing Your Ticket
Tickets can be purchased online, in advance, but can also be purchased at the entrance. Entrance tickets purchased online come with a two hour window. While not technically required, I recommend purchasing your ticket in advance if you know you’re going to go no matter what the weather does. You can purchase your ticket from the official Keukenhof website.
I waited to purchase my ticket until the night before. It had been a little chilly for the week I was in Europe and it rained for at least a few minutes every day. I was hesitant to visit so early in the season, but if I did go, I wanted decent weather. Finally, I just decided “screw it, I’m going” and booked my ticket. For me, booking the night before worked out, but I still recommend booking early if you know you’ll be visiting.
What to Do At Keukenhof
Now that I’ve covered logistics and a handful of tips for visiting Keukenhof, let’s talk about what to do when you actually visit.
Walk the paths
There are numerous walking paths that weave all around the gardens of Keukenhof. One of the best things you can do is to pick up a map and follow the paths to reach all of the displays. Yes, you’ll have flowers lining the paths, but you’ll also find intricate designs in certain areas of the gardens. If it’s a nice day, take your time and enjoy the flowers.
Pavilions
Along with the planted flowers outside, you’ll also find a handful of pavilions. Some of these sell food, but you’ll want to pay attention to the others. Each week a new exhibition takes over the pavilions and they are just stunning. Even if you visit early in the season and not everything is in bloom, you can be sure that you’ll find amazing displays in the pavilion. When I visited, the Alexander-Wilhelm Pavilion had what I have to assume is every single possible tulip variety ever identified. Another pavilion featured an orchid exhibit. And another walked visitors through the tulip history of the Netherlands and taught you more about tulips than you ever wanted to know.
Entrance into the pavilions is included in your entrance fee.
Get Some Food
As mentioned, several of the pavilions sell food. I didn’t sit down for a real meal here and instead just grabbed a stroopwaffel at one of the other stands just to eat a little something. But if you get hungry, there are restaurants here so make sure to bring some money.
Rent a Bike
Bikes are not allowed inside the Keukenhof. However, you can rent a bike nearby to cycle through the tulip fields outside of Keukenhof. Had it not been so cold (and more flowers and tulips had been in bloom), this is something I definitely would have done.
Ride a Boat
This is something I skipped because it pretty cold. But there is a boat ride if you are interested.
How Long Do You Need at Keukenhof
For a non-rushed experience, plan to give yourself at least a half day. If you are visiting on a nice day when there is more in bloom, you may want a little more time. But in general, if you just want to walk the paths through Keukenhof and visit the pavilions, a half day is a good amount of time. If you want to rent a bike and explore the surrounding fields or if you plan to have a meal here, you should plan more time.
My Experience
I visited on the third day of Keukenhof’s operating season. I am so glad I went, but I do wish that I could have had just a bit more flowering. However, I do have to assume that crowds were lower because of this.
Final Thoughts
Keukenhof is famous for a reason and it absolutely should be added to any spring itinerary in the Netherlands.
Continue Your Adventure
Keukenhof: Can’t make it to Keukenhof? Take a photo tour of these fantastic gardens.
Amsterdam: The capital of the Netherlands is full of amazing museums, canals, and so many fun things to do. Learn how to spend one perfect day in Amsterdam.
Delft: For a smaller town away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, consider a visit to Delft.
Leiden: Like Delft, Leiden offers a smaller town away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. Plus it makes an excellent base for exploring the area.
Rotterdam: The second largest city in the Netherlands has a completely different feel than Amsterdam. Check out Rotterdam when you visit the Netherlands.
Netherlands: Start planning your perfect trip to with my Netherlands Travel Guide.
Itineraries: For those with limited time, try a long weekend in the Netherlands. For those with more time, try my 10 Days in Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam itinerary.