A Complete Guide to Visiting the Beautiful Keukenhof Gardens 2024
Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands, is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves flowers and gardens. Located just outside of Amsterdam, Keukenhof is the largest flower garden in the world. Over seven million bulbs planted annually. Visitors from all over come to see the colorful tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other flowers that bloom each spring. Here is a complete guide to visiting Keukenhof Gardens and beyond.
Visiting Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens is open annually from mid-March to mid-May, with peak tulip season typically occurring in mid-April. During this time, visitors can stroll through the gardens and admire the vibrant colors and fragrances of the thousands of flowers in bloom.
The 2024 season opens March 21st and ends May 12th. Open daily from 8:00 am and closes 7:30 pm.
Buying Tickets
Tickets to visit Keukenhof require an arrival time slot. So be sure to book your timed ticket in advance, as well as a parking ticket if you are driving. Tickets can sell out on certain days if you wait too late to book.
Admission prices for 2024:
- Adults – €19.50 online | €23.00 at the ticket office
- Children – €9.00 ages 4-17
- Parking – €8.00 for car | €10.00 for a camper
You can also purchase other adventures in Keukenhof such as a Whisper boat for €10.00 per adult and €5.00 per child, or even a park book for €7.00. You can purchase all your tickets here.
I recommend visiting Keukenhof Gardens when they open at or around 8:00am, as it gets extremely busy as the day goes on. We got there around 9:00am and when we were leaving around 11:30 am, it was extremely busy.
Keukenhof Offerings
The gardens are divided into different sections, each with its own unique theme and style. Visitors can explore the English landscape garden, the historical garden, the Japanese garden, and more.
There are also several pavilions that showcase different types of flowers, including hydrangeas, daffodils, and orchids. These pavilions offer information on the history of the flowers, facts, and even plenty of photo ops!
In addition to the gardens themselves, Keukenhof also offers a variety of activities and events. Visitors can take a boat tour of the surrounding tulip fields, watch flower arranging demonstrations, and listen to live music performances.
If you’re interested in a guided tour, they offer a group of no more than 25 people for €150.00. If that is something that catches your eye, you can book online in advance.
Tips and Tricks for Visiting
No need to worry about bringing any cash into Keukenhof, as the gardens are completely cashless and only take card. They have multiple souvenir stores all throughout the gardens, as well as a huge store right at the entrance. I did notice they almost all sell the same things.
Dogs are allowed inside the park only on a leash, but they are not allowed inside the pavilions or restaurants, except support dogs. Additionally, there can only be one dog per person. If you forgot any dog bags, they offer them free of charge at the ticket entrance.
Getting to Keukenhof
There are quite a few ways to visit Keukenhof Gardens. If you plan on exploring around the area or even country, most likely you’ll be renting a car or driving from your home area. We had our base out of Noordwijk, which was about a 20 minute drive to Lisse. It was easily accessible and we were able to enjoy all the beach side restaurants.
Another option is to take the Keukenhof Express Bus. The Express Bus leaves from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam RAI, Leiden Central Station, and Haarlem Station. You can choose to purchase a combiticket that includes roundtrip bus tickets and your entrance to Keukenhof.
A third option would be through either a guided tour or tour group that includes transportation. Additionally, some tour groups offer trips to visit Keukenhof paired with other attractions nearby.
Tulip Festival
If you’re planning a trip to Lisse and Keukenhof, be sure to check the dates of the annual Spring Festival. This festival typically takes place in mid-April and includes a variety of events and activities, including parades, live music, and fireworks.
The 2024 Tulip Festival takes place April 17th – 21st, with the parade on Saturday April 20th. A few days before the parade, you can watch the floats being decorated in Sassenheim. On the Friday evening, you can view the floats illuminated with thousands of lamps as they drive through Noordwijkerhout.
During the Saturday of the festival, one main highlight is the 42 kilometer (26 miles) parade route that showcases numerous colorful and decorated flower floats. The parade starts in Noordwijk Beach, travels through Voorhout, Sassenheim, Lisse, all the way to Haarlem.
There are many grand stand seating options along the route, as well as street standing to viewing all the beautiful flower floats. Depending on where you’re viewing the parade, it can last all day due to the length.
During the festival, many of the surrounding tulip farms also open their doors to visitors. This provides a unique opportunity to see the tulip fields up close and learn more about the tulip industry in the Netherlands.
Visiting the Surrounding Fields
While Keukenhof Gardens is undoubtedly the main attraction in Lisse, visitors should also make time to explore the surrounding tulip fields. The Netherlands is the world’s largest exporter of tulips, and the fields around Lisse are filled with colorful rows of flowers in the spring.
By Bike
One popular way to see the tulip fields is by bike. There are several bike rental shops in Lisse, and visitors can rent a bike and follow the designated tulip route. This scenic route takes visitors through the heart of the tulip fields, with opportunities to stop and take pictures along the way.
If you’re visiting Keukenhof, there is a bike rental across from the parking lot, so once you’re finished visiting, keep your car parked in the lot and head over to take a bike ride to see the surrounding fields.
A Local Tour Guide
Another option is to take a guided tour of the tulip fields. These tours are typically led by local experts who can provide insight into the history and culture of the tulip industry in the Netherlands.
The Tulip Barn
Another option to visiting tulips outside of Keukenhof is the Tulip Barn. The Tulip Barn offers a place for people to enjoy the tulips without harm, while taking as many pictures as they like. There are numerous props for your pictures all over the grounds, as well as a greenhouse for coffee and snacks.
The Tulip Barn opens their gates March 29th until May 12th. Tickets for the Tulip Barn are also timed tickets, so when you purchase online, you will choose a time slot. Hours for the Tulip Barn are 9:00 am until 7:00 pm.
Admission prices for 2024:
- Adults/ages 13+ – €8.50
- Children ages 3-12 – €3.50
- Family (2 adults + 2 kids) – €5.00
One thing to note while visiting the Tulip Barn is they have limited parking, so they recommend either public transportation or a scenic bike ride. You can take a short train ride to Hillegom station followed by a 15-20 minute walk.
How to Grow Your Own Tulips
If you’re inspired by the beauty of the tulips while visiting Keukenhof Gardens and the surrounding fields, you may be interested in growing tulips of your own. Here are some tips for growing tulips:
- Plant bulbs in the fall: Tulips are planted in the fall, typically between September and November, before the ground freezes.
- Choose a sunny location. Tulips need full sun to thrive, so choose a location that gets minimum six hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Prepare the soil: Tulips prefer well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Add compost or other organic matter to the soil before planting.
- Plant bulbs at the right depth. Tulip bulbs should be planted at a depth that is three times the height of the bulb. For example, a 2-inch bulb should be planted 6 inches deep.
Visiting Keukenhof is such a bucket list item that you have to visit once in your life to surround yourself with the beauty. The amount of education they also provide regarding the flowers is such a nice touch when visiting. If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it. I hope this complete guide to visiting Keukenhof Gardens helps you plan your trip!
