Plan your visit to Keukenhof | Timings, transport, tips & visitor information

Handy tips

• Reserve early: Entry tickets sell out during peak bloom weeks, especially mid-April weekends.
  
• Arrive at opening: Crowds build rapidly after 11am, with entry queues reaching 30–60 minutes.
  
• Check bloom forecast: Flower blooming varies yearly depending on weather; peak tulip bloom typically lasts 2–3 weeks.
  
• Use pavilion schedules: Indoor exhibitions rotate weekly, so checking the event calendar prevents missing seasonal displays.
  
• Bike the flower fields: Renting bikes near the entrance allows you to explore the surrounding tulip farms within 1–2 hours.
  
• Avoid midday tours: Tour buses arrive between 11am and 2pm, creating peak congestion across main garden routes.

Before you book tickets

Choosing the right Keukenhof ticket depends mainly on how you plan to travel and how much of the Dutch flower region you want to explore.

• Standard entry tickets provide access to all gardens, themed zones, pavilions, and exhibitions inside the park. However, visitors travelling independently may face parking congestion and transportation planning challenges during peak bloom weeks.
  
• Skip-the-line timed entry tickets allow visitors to select preferred entry slots, ensuring guaranteed access during the limited seasonal opening window. These are recommended because daily visitor capacity is capped, and walk-up tickets often sell out during high-demand weekends.
  
• Guided tours typically include round-trip transport from Amsterdam or nearby cities along with park admission. These tours simplify travel logistics and often include visits to Zaanse Schans, countryside tulip farms, or Dutch cultural attractions.
  
• Combo experiences combine garden access with regional sightseeing like Zaanse Schans, canal cruises, or countryside flower tours, helping visitors maximise their spring travel itinerary.

Note: Opening dates vary yearly depending on bloom cycles and weather conditions.

​Detailed timings

Facilities

• Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available at the pavilions in the park.
  
• Lockers: Small bags and items can be stored in the lockers near the main entrance.
  
• Restrooms: Located near pavilions and main visitor zones.
  
• Lost and found: All items lost in the park are posted online. You can either pick them up or arrange to have them delivered.
  
• Parking: There are parking facilities available at Keukenhof for cars, coaches, and bikes. The parking lot is open from 8am to 7pm. Car parking costs €9. 
  
• Audio guides: Available through the mobile app for self-guided tours.
  
• Gift shops: Available near exit areas, selling bulbs and souvenirs.
  
• Cafés & restaurants: Multiple dining spots across the park.
  
• Bike rental: Available near the entrance for tulip field exploration.
  
• Visitor information desks: Located near the main entrance and major pavilions.

Where to shop

• Keukenhof Gift Shop (Main Entrance): Sells flower bulbs, gardening tools, tulip souvenirs, and seasonal merchandise linked to Dutch flower culture.
  
• Pavilion Flower Shops (Inside Exhibition Halls): Offer themed floral souvenirs, orchid plants, seeds, and curated flower gift products available during exhibitions.

During the Tulp Festival, you can also find tulip-themed merchandise across the Netherlands, especially in Lisse and Amsterdam.

Insider tips 

• Most visitors arrive between 11am and 2pm via tour buses, creating peak congestion across major garden routes. Arriving right at opening time typically reduces wait times by 30–45 minutes and provides better photography opportunities during your visit to Keukenhof.
  
• The gardens span nearly 79 acres with over 15 km of walking paths. Visitors who try to cover everything often experience fatigue after 3–4 hours. Choosing two or three pavilion exhibitions and one garden loop helps create a balanced visit to Keukenhof.
  
• The windmill viewing platform provides one of the best vantage points for the surrounding tulip fields, but queues can build during midday. Visiting this viewpoint early morning or late afternoon offers clearer views and shorter waiting times.
  
• Flower bloom timing varies yearly depending on temperature patterns. Checking weekly bloom forecasts can help visitors decide whether early, mid, or late season suits their visit to Keukenhof.
  
• Bike rentals outside the main entrance allow visitors to explore commercial tulip fields within 1–2 hours. Many travellers report this as a highlight they wish they had planned earlier when researching how to visit Keukenhof.
  
• If you really want to go all out, don’t miss the Amsterdam Flower Parade on April 18, 2026, which passes Keukenhof. One of the largest parades in the world, you’ll spot floats decorated with beautiful flower arrangements, including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more.
  
• There are plenty of restaurants within Keukenhof, but if you want to save your money, you can bring your own food and drinks to the gardens, especially if you have little kids with you. You can have a picnic on one of the many benches or picnic tables available around the garden.
  
• Keukenhof can be windy between March and May, so skip thin or skimpy clothes. Depending on the weather forecast for the day, carry a light jacket in case it gets chilly. Unless you want to blend with the garden, skip wearing green. Opt for comfortable footwear since there’s a lot to walk.
  
• There are six pavilions at Keukenhof, each unique. Some also have ponds nearby where you can spot geese, peacocks, and mallards. Wilhelmina Pavilion has a pond that features swans. Irene Pavilion, the original entrance to Keukenhof, has an old organ barrel that plays melodies. Oranje Nassau frequently hosts flower exhibitions, while Julianna Pavilion is unmissable, especially if you want to know about the history of tulips and their various stages of growth. Beatrix Pavilion is the place to go to if you want to see orchids. 
  
• You can visit an actual tulip field near Keukenhof, like the Tulip Experience Amsterdam, the Tulip Barn, and Tulip Farm De Tulperij. You should also consider going on a guided tour of Zaanse Schans, a tour of Volendam, or a windmill cruise in Warmond.