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Rows of red, orange and yellow tulips in bloom at Keukenhof gardens

Keukenhof: the world's finest tulip garden

Keukenhof in Lisse is the largest flower garden in the world: seven million bulbs planted across 32 hectares of parkland, open for roughly eight weeks each spring. Leiden is the closest city with a full range of hotels, and the direct bus takes just half an hour.

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When is Keukenhof open?

Keukenhof opens from around the third week of March until mid-May each year; exact dates are published by the garden every autumn. Tulips usually peak in the second half of April, while daffodils and hyacinths dominate late March and early April. Check the current season's dates before booking flights.

How to get from Leiden to Keukenhof

The Keukenhof Express bus 854 departs from the bus station at Leiden Centraal and reaches the garden entrance in about 30 minutes. Combination tickets that include the bus and garden entry are the cheapest and fastest option — you skip the ticket queue at the gate. Arriving by car means long queues on peak weekends; the bus is genuinely better.

Keukenhof main entrance in Lisse, the stop for Keukenhof Express bus 854
Bus 854 stops right at the main entrance

How long do you need?

Allow three to four hours for the garden itself, plus time for the flower shows in the pavilions and the windmill viewpoint over the bulb fields. Arrive before 10:00 or after 15:00 to avoid the busiest hours, and avoid the weekends of King's Day and Easter if you can.

Path between pink and red tulip beds at Keukenhof
Allow three to four hours for the whole park

Seeing the tulip fields around Leiden

The commercial bulb fields are outside the garden, in the Bollenstreek between Leiden, Lisse and Noordwijk. Rent a bike, take the train towards Haarlem for free views from the window, or follow the signposted flower routes by car. The fields are private land — enjoy them from the roadside and never walk between the rows.

Close-up of red and yellow tulips in the Dutch bulb region near Leiden
Tulips peak in the second half of April

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Keukenhof from Leiden?
Take Keukenhof Express bus 854 from Leiden Centraal bus station; the journey takes about 30 minutes and buses run every 15–30 minutes during the season.
Do I need to book Keukenhof tickets in advance?
Yes. Keukenhof sells timed online tickets and there is no guarantee of entry at the gate on busy days. A combi-ticket including the bus from Leiden is the easiest option.
When do the tulips bloom near Leiden?
The bulb fields around Leiden and Lisse usually bloom from early April to early May, with tulips at their best in the second half of April.

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