Day Trips from Leiden

The world-famous tulip garden and surrounding flower fields, an unmissable spring experience from Leiden. Bus 854 departs from Leiden Centraal directly to Keukenhof (30 minutes). The garden is open only from mid-March to mid-May and is one of the most visited attractions in the Netherlands; visit on a weekday morning before 11:00 for the best experience. The surrounding Bollenstreek fields along the Leidsevaart and Herenweg cycle routes are equally spectacular and less crowded. The cycling route from Leiden through the tulip fields in April is one of the finest spring rides in the Netherlands.

The Dutch seat of government and one of the finest city day trips from Leiden, just 10 minutes by Intercity train. The Mauritshuis holds Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson. The Gemeentemuseum houses the world’s largest Mondrian collection. Escher in het Paleis is extraordinary. The Binnenhof political complex, the Peace Palace, and the Panorama Mesdag round out a full cultural day. Scheveningen beach is 20 minutes from Den Haag Centraal by tram 1 or 9. All Den Haag museums are covered by the Museumkaart. See the Den Haag city guide.

The historic pottery city with one of the finest historic centres in South Holland: the Markt, the Nieuwe Kerk, the Oude Kerk, Royal Delft factory, and a canal network that rivals Leiden’s. The Thursday and Saturday markets on the Markt are excellent. The TU Delft campus is one of the finest in Europe. A natural complement to Leiden for expats exploring South Holland. See the Delft city guide for full coverage of restaurants, museums, and attractions.

The capital is under 40 minutes from Leiden by the fast Intercity Direct, making day trips straightforward. The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk, Anne Frank House, and Vondelpark are all easily reached. Amsterdam is also excellent for specific areas: the Jordaan for canal-side architecture, De Pijp for food and markets, and the eastern harbour for contemporary architecture. See the Amsterdam city guide.

One of the most architecturally striking cities in Europe with the Markthal, the Erasmusbrug, the Cube Houses, and Fenix Food Factory in the Katendrecht neighbourhood. The Museum Boijmans van Beuningen (in temporary storage but exhibitions continue), the Kunsthal, and the Maritime Museum round out a full day. Excellent food scene and one of the most exciting restaurant scenes in the Netherlands. See the Rotterdam city guide.

A beautiful small city with one of the finest Grote Markt squares in the Netherlands, the Frans Hals Museum, the medieval Sint Bavo Church, excellent independent shopping on the Gouden Straatjes, and easy access to Zandvoort beach (10 minutes further by train). A good alternative to Delft for a historic centre day trip with a different character. See the Haarlem city guide.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: 19 18th-century windmills in a polder landscape that is one of the most recognisable images of the Netherlands. Reach by train to Rotterdam Centraal (45 minutes from Leiden) then the WaterShuttle from Willemskade, operating Friday to Sunday. The windmills operate on specific dates: check kinderdijk.nl for the current schedule. Admission around €12. Best combined with a Rotterdam morning.

One of the most underrated cities in the Netherlands with a beautiful medieval centre, the Dom Tower (the tallest church tower in the Netherlands), remarkable canal-level wharf cellars now serving as restaurants and cafes, the Centraal Museum, and the Rietveld Schröder House (UNESCO). A full and rewarding day from Leiden. See the Utrecht city guide.