Day Tripping to Visit the World’s Largest Bulbs Park in Lisse, The Netherlands
Keukenhof near Lisse is the world’s largest flower garden park. It is an easy day trip from Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, and other cities in Holland to visit this beautiful park to see the tulips and other flowers.
Keukenhof in the Netherlands claims to be the world’s largest flower park. Each year, Keukenhof is open only two months in spring each year to show off the best of Dutch tulips, crocuses, narcissus (daffodils), and other bulb flowers. The park is an easy day-trip destination from Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, and most cities in Holland. It is popular with visitors of all age groups – from families with small children to tour groups of pensioners that tend to recall that the park was better on a most memorable visit x years ago. Buy skip-the-line tickets online from Tiqets.
In 2021, Keukenhof is scheduled from 20 March to 9 May 2021 but it is unlikely that the park will open to visitors before April.
Visit Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands
The variety of flowers and colors at Keukenhof are overwhelming – around 7 million flower bulbs are planted in this famous 32-ha (80-acre) garden every year. The Dutch, of course, know a thing or two about tulips – using a mix of early, regular, and late flowering bulbs, tulips are usually seen for most of the two-month season. Crocuses, narcissus (daffodils), and hyacinths are more prevalent early in the season when Japanese cherry blossoms can also be seen.
The main attraction of Keukenhof is obviously the flowers but the park is truly a destination for visitors of all ages. Small children will enjoy the various playgrounds while a full-scale windmill, public art, and performances, as well as special displays add further entertainment to visitors of all ages.
Restaurants at Keukenhof are mostly self-service but budget-conscious travelers may bring along their own picnic.
- Several Bloemencorsos (flower parade festivals) are held in the Netherlands. One of the largest is the Bollenstreek parade at the end of April from Noordwijk through the bulb region and past Keukenhof to Harlem.
Book Keukenhof Tours at Get Your Guide:
Keukenhof Opening Hours
Admission to Keukenhof in 2021 will be by advanced reservation time-slots only — buying tickets in advance is highly advisable as the numbers will be restricted compared to previous years.
Keukenhof’s flower gardens are only open for two months in spring – end March (around the 20th) to mid-May. During this period, Keukenhof is open daily from 8 am to 7:30 pm. (Ticket counters close at 6 pm.)
In 2021, Keukenhof is scheduled from March 20 to May 9, daily from 8 am to 7:30 pm, but it is unlikely that any visits will be allowed before April. Standard ticket prices for Keukenhof are €19 (€9 for children 4 to 17).
Skip the lines and buy tickets online from Tiqets or GetYourGuide – mobile phone or email printed tickets accepted to go directly to the entrance gate. Mobile tickets may even be bought for immediate use if the queues are long.
- The best time to visit Keukenhof depends on the weather but mid-April to early May is usually the most reliable for tulips. Avoid weekends and school vacations. The garden is usually quieter early morning (up to 11:00) or late afternoon (after 15:00) than around lunchtime. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are usually quieter too.
Transportation to Visit Keukenhof in the Netherlands
Getting to Keukenhof is easy by car or public transportation. It is an ideal day-trip destination from Amsterdam or even directly from Schiphol Airport. Many guided tours with the option to see other sites too are available from especially Amsterdam.
By Car to Keukenhof
The easiest way to Keukenhof is by car – it is near Lisse, a small town situated in the province of South Holland between Harlem and Leiden. From highway A4 use exit 4 and from highway A44 use exit 3. The route is well signposted fro Keukenhof once close to Lisse. Ample, reasonably priced parking is available.
Suntransfers gives online quotation for pre-booked transfers, which may be convenient and even reasonably priced for small groups.
Cheap Public Transportation to Visit Keukenhof
Several public transportation options are available for visitors going to Keukenhof:
Travel to Keukenhof from Schiphol Airport:
Bus 858 (Keukenhof Express) goes directly to Keukenhof during the season. The bus departs from exit 4 of the arrivals hall (near Starbucks) and takes about 30 min. The combi ticket including bus and Keukenhof admission is €27.50 from Schiphol Airport (€14 for children 4 – 11).
Travel to Keukenhof from Amsterdam on public transportation:
Several options are available for travel by public transportation from Amsterdam to Keukenhof – the first option via Europaplein (RAI) is usually the best choice:
- Direct Keukenhof Express Bus 852 from Europaplein (RAI) Metro Station – easily reached by metro train from Amsterdam Central Station or any other metro station. This is generally the best choice from most parts of central Amsterdam. The combi ticket including bus and Keukenhof admission is €31 from Amsterdam (€13.50 for children 4 – 11).
- Connexxion Bus 397 from Amsterdam Centre (e.g. Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum, Museumplein) to Hoofddorp Station, change to bus 859 to Keukenhof. The combi ticket including both buses and Keukenhof admission is €31 from Amsterdam (€13.50 for children 4 – 11). (Direct bus options from Centraal station are also available but slightly more expensive.)
- From Amsterdam-Zuid Station use bus 341 or from Amstelveen Bus Station use bus 300 to Hoofddorp Station and then bus 859.
- In some cases, a train to Haarlem or Schiphol and then proceeding by bus to Keukenhof could also work out.
Further regional buses also run to Keukenhof during the flower season:
- From Leiden: Bus 854 (Keukenhof Express) goes directly to Keukenhof
- From Harlem: Bus 50 pass Keukenhof
- From Lisse: Bus 57 runs to Keukenhof
- From Katwijk and Noordwijk: Bus 90 goes to Keukenhof.
The public transportation and Keukenhof admission ticket combinations are sold online too by Tiqets – show the bus driver the mobile ticket or email printout and go directly to the entry gate at Keukenhof. Day-trip tour buses are faster but slightly more expensive – tours are available from many nearby cities including Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.
By Bicycle to Keukenhof
Keukenhof can easily be reached on bicycle – it is a beautiful ride as Keukenhof is in the heart of Holland’s largest flower build area. Tulip fields can be seen from Keukenhof but exploring the region by bicycle is particularly pleasant – rental bicycles are available from Keukenhof.
See Cycling at Keukenhof and the Tulip Fields for more details.
- Bicycles may be parked for free outside Keukenhof but may not be used or taken inside the flower park.
Day Trips to Keukenhof from Amsterdam
Keukenhof is a very pleasant day-trip (or rushed half-day trip) from Amsterdam. Several companies will offer guided tours from Amsterdam and other Dutch cities during spring, e.g. Get Your Guide or Tiqets. These tours often call en route at the Aalsmeer flower market near Schiphol airport, which is more a very interesting display of logistics than of the flowers that are sold.
Many transportation routes pass through Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt. Further pleasant day-trip destinations from Amsterdam include Zaanse Schans and Kinderdijk where historical working windmills can be seen year-round.
Many combination guided tours are available of Keukenhof and other small typical Dutch towns such as Zaanse Schans, Volendam, or Delft. Such guided tours are a great option to see many sights in one day when on limited time. Fun options at Keukenhof also include guided bicycle tours, self-drive electric car excursions, or even the occasional helicopter flights.