How to get to Keukenhof Tulip rows

How To Get To Keukenhof Gardens & What To Expect [2024]

Want to visit the amazing Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam and are not sure how to get there? Or what to expect when you do? Read on to learn more. This guide covers details on this amazing park, where to get tickets, how much they cost, how to get here, and all the other tulip activists and opportunities you can experience while the park is in town, like the Flower Parade and more.

Keukenhof is one of the biggest flower gardens in the world with around 7 million hand planted flower bulbs in a dazzling array of color on a 79 acre garden, something you can’t miss. And it’s not just tulips, although they are definitely a star with about 800 varieties, there’s also crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, lilies, and more, set traditional English style amongst beautifully wooded gardens and lakes.

Grounds at Keukenhof, how to get to.
Keukenhof Gardens

About Keukenhof Gardens

Keukenhof means ‘kitchen garden’, as Keukenhof started as an herb garden in the 15th century for the kitchen at Telylingen Castle (now in ruins). In the 17th century, Keukenhof Castle was built, and the estate grew. In the 19th century, the gardens were redesigned into the luscious English landscape that you see today. Now it’s one of the world’s largest flower gardens, visited by over a million people in the few short weeks it’s open.

May Tulips, Keukenhof Gardens, how to get to.
Early May Tulips at Keukenhof

The Best Time To Visit Keukenhof Gardens

The gardens are open late March to mid-May, when the flowers peak. The dowside to such a short window is that this park gets really busy. Especially on weekends and mid-day. Therefore, it’s best to visit early in the morning or late afternoon during the week, especially Monday through Wednesday.

Although Keukenhof is renowned for its tulips, there are also crocus, daffodil, and hyacinth, each peaking at different times. And these peak times fluctuate based on weather annually. Generally, however, the key times are as follows:

  • Crocus mid to late March
  • Daffodil mid-March to mid-April
  • Hyacinth mid-March to the third week of April
  • Tulips from the end of March to mid-May, with some varietals peaking early and some (like the larger ones) peaking later.

The busiest days at Keukenhof are the days surrounding the Flower Parade, which is Saturday April 20th for 2024. Tickets for Keukenhof will sell out far in advance on this day and the days surrounding it. If you want the full experience and don’t mind the crowds, this will be the best time for you to go. Otherwise, choose another day.

Tickets For Keukenhof

In 2024, the park will be open March 21st to May 12th. Tickets are on sale now at the Keukenhof website. They cost €19.50 for adults, €9 for ages 4-17, and children 3 and under are free. Parking is 8€. Tickets are best purchased online, in advance, however they can also be purchased at the box office for €23. They are sold for a specific date and arrival time, so you must determine which day is best for you in advance.

Unfortunately, this means you cannot select the day to visit based on the weather. Thankfully, I was very lucky and had a beautiful sunny day for my visit.

Entrance tickets combined with transportation are also available. These are called combi tickets. Combi tickets for 2024 can also be purchased now at Kuekenhof.nl.

If the regular day ticket you want is sold out, check to see if a combi ticket is available. You will pay more, but it may be worth it to you if you really want to visit Keukenhof on a certain day.

‘River of Flowers’ at Keukenhof

How To Get To Keukenhof Gardens

Sometimes it can seem intimidating to manage your own public transportation in another country. I understand as most of my travel is solo, and as much as I love it, it is daunting from time to time. But it’s definitely doable, and the Netherlands makes it super easy to get to Keukenhof on your own.

Keukenhof is in Lisse, which is 25 miles (40 km) southwest of central Amsterdam. The variety of ways to get here include the following.

Combitickets

There are 5 departure locations for busses to Kuekenhof again for 2024. The combitickets for the bus from Sciphol, Harlaam, and Leiden is €31.50. From RAI, the combiticket is €36.50. All include round trip transportation and your entry ticket to Kuekenhof Gardens. They all drop you off at the main entrance of Kuekenhof.

2024 Combiticket Routes

Schiphol Airport

If arriving directly from the airport, bus 858 departs from Schiphol at the exit of arrival hall 1. Departures are 6 times an hour, taking about 30-minutes to get to Keukenhof.

Alternately, from central Amsterdam, you can take the following buses to Schiphol airport and then take bus 858 to Keukenhof:

  • 397 from Leidseplein, Concertgebouw or Museumplein
  • 300 from Amsterdam Bijlmer or Amstelveenthen
  • 341 from Station Zuid

The cost for the 3 bus tickets above to Schiphol are not included in the combiticket. Only bus 858 to and from the airport in in the cost.

Europaplein (RAI)

This is the closest Kuekenhof bus (852) departure from Amsterdam city center. To get here, take metro 52. It departs every 5-minutes and takes about 8-minutes to get to the Express bus stop (Bus 852). Exit the Europaplein metro stop. Up to 10 buses an hour leave Europaplein for Kuekenhof, taking about 35-minutes.

Haarlem Station

Keukenhof Express bus line 850 leaves Haarlem Station for Kuekenhof up to twice an hour, taking 40-minutes. The bus departs from the bus station on the centre side of Haarlem station.

Leiden Central Station

Located directly south of Keukenhof, Keukenhof Express bus 854 leaves Leiden Central Station from the centre side of the railway station up to 6 times an hour, taking 30-minutes to get to Keukenhof. 

Bus Line 90

You can also take Bus 90 from Katwijk, Noordwilk, or Noordwijkerhout, which are located south west of Amsterdam. This is a regular bus line to Kuekenhof, so you just need the bus ticket and an entrance ticket, not a combiticket.

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Tulips At Keukenhof

Car

Renting a car provides you with the ultimate flexibility in travel, but will be more expensive than the bus. And while driving the roads in Amsterdam is relatively safe, driving in Amsterdam itself can be challenging, as the narrow roads are often full of cyclists and whizzing electric trams.

Driving is done on the right hand side of the road. Every country has different regulations, so check the rules for yours in advance. Americans can drive in Amsterdam with a valid drivers license and an International Driving Permit (IDP), which can be obtained from AAA.

Most rental car agencies require a credit card for the deposit, so if you do not have one, call in advance to find one that does not. You must be 21 to rent a car, and drivers under 25 may need to pay a young driver surcharge. Parking at Keukenhof is €8 (a camper is 10€). You can also purchase this online.

Taxi

The easiest, but most expensive option, is to take a taxi to Keukenhof. Uber is available in the Netherlands as of this writing (October 2023). The Uber price runs from about €50 to €70 each way. This is more than the cheapest car rental for the day and can run even higher for premium Uber options.

Tours

You can also book a 60 minute guided tour of Keukenhof. You book it on their website just as you would a day ticket or combined ticket. For 2023 the cost was $150. It does not include the entrance ticket to the park and is for groups of up to 25. These will also go on sale in mid-December and I will update the information here with any new details.

There are also plenty of tours are available from operators outside of Kuekenhof. They’re perfect if you want the ease of a guide and camaraderie of a group. However, these tours provide limited flexibility and usually visit the gardens at peak hours, when they are busiest. However, if this type of tour is your preference, check Trip Advisor or Viator for options.

How to get to Keukenhof Tulip rows
Rainbow Of Tulips At Keukenhof

What To Expect At Kuekenhof Gardens

First and foremost, be prepared for crowds. In 2023, almost 1.4 million people visited Keukenhof in the few weeks it was open. This is over 26,000 people every day!

If you want to take pictures, or just want to avoid the crowds, try to be at the park first thing, at 8 AM, or late in the afternoon. The park is open until 7:30 PM. Note that the latest admittance is 6:00 PM.

Second, the park is very large, so be prepared to walk. Keukenhof is 79 acres, which is about the size of 60 football fields! Soccer fields are more than twice the size of football fields, so less than half of those, but still, it’s big! Review the map below to select areas you want to see in advance. Otherwise, you’ll feel lost wandering the park. If you prefer to just roam, that’s fine too! It’s all beautiful!

Themes

Usually, the garden has a different theme every year. The theme for 2024 has not been announced, so maybe they will not have one (they also did not have one for 2023).

In 2022 the theme was “Flower Classics”. In 2021, it was “A World of Color”.

Map

Here is the most recent map. You can also pick up the latest map at the park entrance. Trails wind around the park to showcase the floral arrangements, a never ending display of color and texture. There are ponds, fountains, picnic benches, and even a maze made of greenery for kids and adults. Explore as much of the park as you can, but don’t feel too pressured to see it all.

One sight not to miss includes the flowers planted in the wooded area by the meandering stream (my favorite) and the old Dutch windmill on the right hand side of the park. In addition to the windmill, the latter area provides a view of the nearby tulip fields. Try to get to the windmill early (or late) as when crowded, which it usually is, you end up waiting for your turn to walk up and down the steps. This can be a bit frustrating.

Tulips fields next to Keukenhof Gardens, how to get to.
Tulip Fields Viewed From Keukenhof

Pavilions

When you need a break, or get hungry, there are several Pavilions to stop for food and beverages (and restrooms) and shops. They include the Willem-Alexander, located in the center of the park, Beatrix, Oranje Nassau, Juliana Tulpomania, Irene, and Wilhelmina.

Cash is not accepted at the pavilions. You can bring in your own food and beverages, but can only eat food purchased from the pavilion in the pavilion (which is respectful and makes sense).

There are also flower shows at the most of the Pavilions, including tulips, orchids, hyacinth, freesia, roses, and more.

You can buy flowers and bulbs at Keukenhof. If you do, make sure you can bring them back to your home country and understand any procedures you need to follow or documents you need to have so they are not taken away from you at Customs.

Tulip Field Boat Cruise

There’s also an optional 45-minute boat cruise to see the tulip fields and learn more about them. This must be booked in advance and seating is limited. The cost for 2024 is €10 for adults and €5 for children (4-11 years old). Purchase on Kuekenhof.nl.

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Flowers At Keukenhof

How Much Time To Spend At Keukenhof Gardens

One of the advantages of not taking a tour is you can be flexible with how long you want to stay. You’ll want to stay at least 3-4 hours at a minimum.

If you’re really into flowers, or photography, or want to add the boat tour, plan to spend even longer. After all, unless you plan to visit annually, this is a limited time event.

More Tulip Events

In addition to visiting Kuekenhof Gardens, there’s much more to see and do nearby to celebrate tulips and learn more about them.

Visit Keukenhof Castle

Visit the Keukenhof Castle, where Keukenhof Gardens originated when it was built in the 17th century. The castle is located just across the street from the gardens. The grounds are free to walk around, but to tour the inside, you must purchase a guided tour.

Unfortunately, their website is only is Dutch, so you will need to use a web translation tool to read it in English.

Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, The Dutch Flower Parade

There’s an annual Dutch Flower Parade with floats made of flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, and, of course, tulips. It’s an explosion of color! This is a huge annual event, known to the Dutch as Bloemencorso Bollenstreek. One that requires about a year of preparation with many volunteers.

The Bloemencorso Bollestreek parade date for 2024 is Saturday, April 20th! Parade week starts the Wednesday before the parade and ends the Sunday after with many flower events in Holland.

The route is follows covers 26 miles (42 km), from the seaside village of Noordwijk to the historic city of Haarlem. There are many places to see the parade, but one of the best is in front of Keukenhof Gardens on Keukenhof Boulevard. The parade usually passes by Keukenhof around 3:30 PM.

As this is a very popular time to visit, Keukenhof will sell out early on parade day, and the days surrounding it, as most tulip lovers will want to visit both. If you only plan to visit the park (and not the parade), this would not be the best day to visit due to crowds and availability of tickets.

The Amsterdam Tulip Festival

The Tulip Festival lasts the entire month of April, with the city literally bursting with tulips…everywhere! Over 880,000 tulips, more than one for every Amsterdamer are arranged in more than 85 public areas of Amsterdam.

The displays in public areas are free. To learn more, see the Tulip Festival Details.

Ride A Bike Around The Bollenstreek

If the weather is nice, rent a bicycle and ride along the flower fields, or Bollenstreek, near Keukenhof (available same days the park is open). Note that you cannot ride a bicycle inside the park.

There are 4 color-coded Keukenhof Cycle Routes, ranging from 5 km to 25 km. They are easy to follow routes designed to optimize your experience.

  • The blue route is 5 km (3 miles) around the Kuekenhof Flower fields (< 1 hour). This is best if you have limited time and also goes by Kuekenhof Castle.
  • The purple route is 10 km (6 miles) by the flower fields of Lisse and Voorhout as well as other locations (1-2 hours).
  • The green route is 15 km (9 miles) and includes flower fields in Lisse, Hillegom, and Noordwijkerhout. You also pass the Tulip Experience Amsterdam and the Tulip Barn (1-3 hours).
  • The red route is 25 km (15.5 miles) and includes flower fields, the lake, the sea, and the dunes as well as the Tulip Experience Amsterdam and the Tulip Barn (2-4 hours).

You can start anywhere on the route, but parking and starting at Keukenhof is a good option (with the parking fee also purchased online).

For 2024, you can buy your bicycle ticket at the Keukenhof website for €11.

Tulip Experience Amsterdam

Tulip Experience Amsterdam is a show/selfie garden that also has a picking garden and a museum.

See their website at Tulip Experience Amsterdam for more details and ticket costs.

The Tulip Barn

The Tulip Barn is another attraction near Kuekenhof with a selfie garden with over 750,000 tulips. It’s open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM from March 29 to May 12, 2024.

See the Tulip Barn website for more details and ticket costs.

Amsterdam Tulip Museum

Although Amsterdam Tulip Museum is open year round (except select days of course), it’s a great stop to add to your list when visiting Keukenhof. Here you can learn about the history of tulips, how they came to atoll and, and about the tulip mania that swept the Netherlands in the 17th century.

This museum is open daily from 10 to 6. It’s closed Christmas Day and April 27th. The entrance fee is €5.

Museum De Zwarte Tulp, or The Black Tulip Museum

The Museum De Zwarte Tulp, or the Black Tulip Museum is located in Lisse, about a 10-minute walk from Keukenhof. This little museum is located in a former shed barn and covers the history of the tulip, flower-bulb cultivation, and other details. I have not been to this museum, but reviews note that there is not much in English, although the website states there is an audio guide in English.

This museum is open from 1-5 Tuesday to Thursday and 11-5 Friday to Sunday, but closed on Mondays. The entrance fee is €10.

Keukenhof Tulip

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Where To Stay In Amsterdam

There are many great places to stay in Amsterdam. I’ve selected a few that get excellent reviews. There are a few in the budget and moderate category, but most accommodation with the best reviews are in the moderate to affordable category.

I’ve noted what other attractions are nearby to provide a sense of the area they are located in.

Budget

  • The Bee Hostel offers female only and mixed dorm beds around a 10-minute walk from the Rembrandt House and Dutch National Opera & Ballet. 

Affordable

  • The ecological-minded Hotel La Bohème is housed in an historic building in Amsterdam city center. Museum Square (which has The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum) is only a 10-minute walk away. Guests can enjoy a simple Dutch breakfast buffet every morning. 

Moderate

  • Amsterdam Central Guesthouse is centrally located in the city center of Amsterdam. The accommodations offers a shared kitchen. The Rembrandt House and Dutch National Opera & Ballet are both 1.4 miles away, while the Royal Palace Amsterdam is 1.9 miles away and the Anne Frank House is 2.1 miles from the property.
  • Canal House Inn, set in a traditional Amsterdam mansion, offers modern style rooms with a Nespresso machine and a refrigerator. It’s  a 15-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Railway Station and Rembrandt square.
  • Monet Garden Hotel Amsterdam is a boutique hotel near the canals. Most rooms have canal views and garden views. For an extra cost, they offer an extensive breakfast. Theres also a fireplace and a fitness center. Rembrandtplein is 2625’ away and the  Dutch National Opera & Ballet is nearby. 

Splurge

  • Canal House offers sumptuous, boutique-style rooms in the heart of Amsterdam on the Keizersgracht Canal. The Amsterdam Tulip Museum and Anne Frank House are less than a 5-minute walk from Canal House and Amsterdam Central Railway Station is less than a 15-minute walk away.
  • Right in the heart of the city overlooking the Royal Palace, the National Monument on Dam Square and the Rokin, you will find the newly opened high-end 5-star Suite hotel, Hotel TwentySeven. This luxurious accommodation has sixteen individually designed suites along with a diverse range of personalized services and fine dining experiences like BougainVille, awarded with a Michelin star. The Royal Palace is a 1-minute walk from the hotel.

Want To See More Of The Netherlands?

Amsterdam is truly an amazing city, offering things to see and do for virtually everyone. With its historic architecture standing proud along its beautiful canals, charming houseboat and bicycle culture, world-class museums, featuring famous Golden Age Dutch masterpieces, as well as a museum devoted to Van Gogh, and its famous coffee shops and the Red Light District, it’s an incredible cultural experience.

To learn more about the Netherlands, an overview of its top sites, how to get around, safety, scams, important money matters, and more, see my Netherlands Travel Guide.

Safe Travels!

Julie

Have you been to Keukenhof? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience. Please add a comment below.

Hello! I resigned from a corporate career in product development to explore the world. Although my goal was to travel for a year, 8 years later, I’ve been honored to have explored more than 60 gorgeous countries and met some unbelievably amazing people. Our world truly is a beautiful place! Follow me into the gorgeous unknown by subscribing below. You’ll receive details on fabulous destinations, comprehensive travel guides, travel tips and tidbits, and information on travel trends, like experiential, sustainable, and transformational travel. Where is your next gorgeous unknown? Julie

4 Comments

  • Abby

    Hi! I was a bit confused when I went to buy my combined ticket – does it include a round trip ticket to and from the gardens, or just one way? In the description, it just says “bus trip is return” so I’m not sure what that means! If it’s just one way, what is the time I’m selecting – the time the bus leaves, or the time I am supposed to enter the gardens? Thank you!

    • Julie

      Abby,

      I agree the wording on the Keukenohf website is a little confusing, but if you look in the FAQ section it clarifies the the combi-tickets are for round trip travel. To your second question, they also say that “with the combi-ticket you only reserve the departure time for the outward journey with the Keukenhof Express bus, not the arrival time slot for your entrance at Keukenhof or your return journey. The time of your return trip can you decide on the spot and does not need to be reserved.”
      I hope that helps!
      Julie

  • Maria

    I felt like I was there…the tulip gardens are beautiful and I could feel the sun in your pictures…ah Spring!!

    • Julie

      Maria, for some reason your comments went to spam, so am just seeing them. In retrospect, Amsterdam would have been the perfect place for you to join me. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, but the burst of spring weather certainly made it special…

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