Keukenhof Essential Guide 2026: Tickets, Best Time to Visit & Travel Tips

Keukenhof Essential Guide 2026

This page covers the essential questions you need to plan a smooth Keukenhof visit in 2026 — when to go, how to get there, how long to stay, and how to combine Keukenhof with real tulip fields.

Best time to visit Keukenhof (2026 bloom calendar)

Keukenhof Gardens is open from March 19 till May 10, 2026.

Best weeks

The best period to visit Keukenhof is between April 15 and May 5. Tickets for Keukenhof Gardens 2026 cost €25.00 if purchased at the box office. It is recommended to book tickets for Keukenhof Gardens online in advance due to limited availability.

Best days

Mondays and Fridays are generally the quietest days to visit.

Best time of day

Always visit early in the morning. We recommend taking the very first bus to Keukenhof to avoid crowds and enjoy the park at its most peaceful.

Weather matters

Weather plays a huge role in your experience. On sunny days, the colors are brighter and the tulips open more beautifully. Rainy days can still be atmospheric, but sunshine truly completes the experience.

Blooming information

In March:

• Mainly hyacinths, crocuses, and daffodils are in bloom
• After the daffodils and crocuses, early tulips begin to bloom in the outdoor gardens

Important: Tulips do not bloom in early March.

From April 10:

• Tulips usually start blooming from around April 10
• The best time to visit Keukenhof for tulip blooms is typically in mid-April, depending on the weather, which is considered the peak of tulip season

Keukenhof by the numbers

• 32 hectares of flower gardens
• 7 million bulbs planted each year
• 800 different types of tulips
• Three different flowering periods throughout the season

More than 7 million flower bulbs are planted by hand in the autumn to flower in spring at Keukenhof. Bulbs are planted in layers and specific arrangements to ensure continuous blooming throughout the season.

Important Note for Tulip Lovers: Keukenhof opens as early as March 19, but if you are a true tulip lover, be aware that visiting before April 10 means you will likely not see blooming tulips yet. If tulips are your main reason for visiting, we strongly recommend coming after April 10.

Can I visit both Keukenhof and the tulip fields?

Yes, this is possible — but only through a tulip fields excursion. This is the tour you should book if you want to see real tulip fields in addition to Keukenhof. During these excursions, you will have the chance to admire the beautiful tulip fields, known for their vibrant colors and picturesque landscapes.

Recommended combination

We always recommend combining your visit in the following way:

Day 1: Spend one full day at Keukenhof, combined with:

• A cycling tour, or
• A Flower Garden excursion, or
• One of the available combination tours

Day 2: Join us on a Real Tulip Fields Experience

We’re not suggesting this to push a tour — we recommend it because it’s genuinely the most complete tulip experience. Learn more about our Tulip Tour from Amsterdam.

Tour options from major cities

Guided tours are available from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, making it easy to organize your trip. Many guided tours include a visit to the Tulip Experience before heading to Keukenhof Gardens, where you can learn about tulip cultivation and walk through vibrant fields.

Boat trips along the tulip fields are also available for visitors at Keukenhof, offering a unique perspective of the flowers. Some guided tours even allow you to collect tulip bulbs to take home.

Combine with other attractions

You can also combine your visit with other attractions such as Zaanse Schans.

Is Keukenhof suitable for children?

Yes, Keukenhof is suitable for children, and many families visit the park to take beautiful family photos.

However, it is important to know that Keukenhof itself does not offer many interactive children's activities.

What children can do at Keukenhof

• Visit the windmill
• Take a boat cruise
• Enjoy the Miffy playground, a family-friendly feature designed for young children
• Visit the petting zoo, where kids can interact with animals

Better alternative for families: Tulip Barn Holland

For families with young children, we strongly recommend visiting Tulip Barn Holland instead. Tulip Barn is fully designed for children and families and offers:

• Small tractor rides
• Swings between the tulips
• Walking paths through the flowers
• You can actually walk among the tulips here, which also makes it perfect for Instagram photos

Tulip Barn entry price: €10 for adults, €4,50 for children

How long can I stay inside Keukenhof?

You may stay in Keukenhof from your booked entry time until closing time at 7:00 PM.

Average visit duration

• Standard visit: Around 3.5 hours
• Extended visit: If you want to see everything and enjoy a relaxed lunch with coffee, expect to need 4.5 hours

How do I travel from Amsterdam to Keukenhof?

Keukenhof Gardens is located close to Amsterdam, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and other Dutch cities like Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Delft.

Travel options from Amsterdam

By your own car or taxi

• Keukenhof Gardens can be reached by car within 30 minutes from Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, and The Hague
• There are two large car parks at Keukenhof where you can buy a day parking ticket

By train

• Take a train to Hillegom and bike to Keukenhof (approximately 5 km)

By tour shuttle bus

• The Keukenhof Bus Express is a popular option
• Public transport buses do not leave from Amsterdam Central Station but from Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam RAI
• There are four different pickup locations in Amsterdam, all for the same price

Combi tickets

You can buy a combi ticket that includes a round-trip bus ticket and skip-the-line entry to Keukenhof. When purchasing tickets, it is important to select a specific date and time slot to avoid sell-outs.

Food and drink at Keukenhof

Keukenhof offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafés, and food stalls throughout the park.

Dining options:

• Multiple restaurants
• Cozy cafés
• Quick-service food stalls
• Vegetarian and vegan options available
• Visitors may also bring their own picnic

Practical info: shopping & accessibility

Shopping

Shops throughout the park sell Dutch souvenirs, tulip bulbs to take home, and Keukenhof merchandise.

Accessibility

Keukenhof is wheelchair accessible with paved paths, accessible restrooms, and mobility scooter rentals. The Keukenhof bus is also accessible.

Photography at Keukenhof

Professional photography

Professional photographers can be booked for photoshoots at Keukenhof.

Best light for photography: 10:00–11:00 AM

Drone rules

⚠️ Important: Drones are strictly forbidden in Keukenhof and the bulb region due to Schiphol flight paths.

Combining Keukenhof with tulip fields

Bike rentals

When renting a bike at Keukenhof, you can choose a 3-hour or full-day rental. A map is included to explore the surrounding tulip fields.

Rental location: Keukenhof Parking Lot P1

Join a tulip tour

Want to experience the tulip fields with a guide? Book your tulip tour with us and enjoy a fully guided and immersive experience.