One of the things that draws everyone to the Netherlands is the famous tulips. In fact it is one of the things that the country is known for. I know that I was extremely captivated by them before I became a Dutch resident. Don’t get me wrong, I still love tulips but now I can plant them in my own garden.
Now before we dig into all the different Amsterdam tulip tours, I want to emphasize that the tulip fields are not in Amsterdam. They are a distance off. The most prominent and well known tulip fields are in and around the Keukenhof gardens.
Getting from Keukenhof from Amsterdam can seem daunting but it really isn’t so if you are up for the challenge of tackling the Dutch public system on your own, by all means do! It is super easy to get around using the train and other modes of transport and almost everyone speaks English so it’s easy to have a conversation should you get stuck anywhere.
Okay, that being said, if you are nervous or have a time crunch then taking one of the numerous Amsterdam tulip tours is definitely the way to go. I’m going to help you decide which of these Amsterdam tulip tours are best suited for you.
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🌷 Heading to Keukenhof gardens? Make sure that you book your ticket in advance or it may get sold out! 🚌
Table of Contents
When Are The Keukenhof Gardens Open?
Every year the Keukenhof gardens opens for 8 weeks in spring. The gardens usually open at the end of March and close somewhere at the start of May. This year the Keukenhof gardens will open on the 20th of March 2025 which is a Thursday. The last day of the season is on the 11th of May 2025 which is a Sunday.
The timings of the garden are from 8 am to 7:30 pm. Note that during this time, the gardens will be open everyday including Sundays and holidays.
What’s The Best Time To Visit Keukenhof?
What you need to know if that thousands of people visit Keukenhof every day. When we visited we entered at opening time and there were plenty of people getting in. When we exited however the whole parking lot which was formerly empty was full. We had to stop to think about which way we had entered.
With that experience in mind I would say that irrespective what day you pick, head there early. That’s the best way to get less people at the location.
What is When it comes to the best time season wise I would say that the best time is during the 4th and 5th week after it has been opened. This is when all the flowers are in bloom. At the beginning of the season, you will find that some are in bloom and at the end many of the early blooms have died.
Amsterdam Tulip Tours
1. Keukenhof Entry Ticket + Shuttle Bus
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (4960 Reviews) Price: $36.93 per person Duration: Valid for 1 day 📍Meeting Point: This is Holland, Overhoeksplein 51 in Amsterdam Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Now before I talk about all the different Amsterdam Tulip Tours, I have to mention that you can book your entry ticket online and you should. This is because there are thousands of people who head to Keukenhof every day. The place gets packed and if you don’t have your time slot booked out, you probably will not get in.
The beauty about booking the entry ticket on Getyourguide is that you can also book a shuttle bus that takes you right to the doors of Keukenhof. You don’t have to worry about transport at all.
“Hassle free transportation to the Keukenhof with multiple bus options on the return transport.”
Sarah (read more reviews now!)
Plus there are many buses that go to and fro so you can take your time at the gardens before heading to catch a bus back. I find this incredibly convenient and super handy. In fact, it is one of my preferred ways to explore the tulip fields.
2. Guided Amsterdam Tulip Tours
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (2,350 Reviews) Price: $37.66 per person Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes 📍Meeting Point: Tours & Tickets Amsterdam, De Ruijterkade 34, 1012 AA Amsterdam, Netherlands Details: Read more on Viator!
There are loads of Amsterdam tulip tours that head out every day during tourist season. In fact, it is one of the busiest times of the year. Now while I will be discussing all the different types of Amsterdam tulip tours available, it would be remiss of me not to talk about the standard options that are the most popular. So if this is something that you want to do, make sure to book your ticket in advance.
The tours come in two options: the guided tour and the self guided tour. The self guided tour participants are provided with a multi lingual audio guide and you can explore the Keukenhof gardens using this so you can set your own pace.
“Not only was the bus and bus driver very pleasant, but the guide on the bus was fantastic, Dash friendly, funny, and helpful! Would do this again, without a doubt!”
Judith (read more reviews now!)
The guided tour obviously have their own guide onboard. Make sure to select your language of instruction carefully before you book though because the tours are available in multiple languages. All groups meet in front of the Central Station in Amsterdam which is pretty convenient.
3. Flower Fields + Cultural Bike Tour (Small Group)
⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (92 Reviews) Price: $50.12 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍Meeting Point: The main entrance of Keukenhof Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
If you really want to explore the Netherlands, you really should hop on a cycle at some point or the other. Cycling around Keukenhof is super easy. The cycle paths are well demarcated and there isn’t much of an incline. In fact, I was a hesitant cycle rider (back then) and I actually enjoyed the ride.
Now when you visit Keukenhof gardens, you will find that aside from the millions of tulips in the actual gardens, there are fields and fields of tulip fields next to it. Exploring these by cycle is one of the epic activities that you can indulge in.
This particular tour takes you on a guided ride around the area and you can explore some iconic spots that many people miss when they visit.
“It was a great way to get acquainted with: the area beyond the Keukenhof Tulip Garden, some history, farming, the tulip fields, and see the VAST array of tulips… some 70 different examples. Our guide Ingrid was a delight!! Our guests truly enjoyed themselves.”
Ingrid (read more reviews now!)
You also get a chance to visit the iconic gardens too but I think it gives you a deeper understanding of the area, how the tulips grow and the history behind it.
Plus it is a fun way to spend the day rather than just visiting the gardens and heading back to Amsterdam.
4. Private Amsterdam Tulip Tours
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (22 Reviews) Price: $558 per group (max 7 people) Duration: 5 hours 📍Meeting Point: Hotel/Cruise port/Airport pick-up and drop-off Details: Read more on Viator!
Now if taking the public transport is not your thing then you have two options in had. Either book a group tour or a private tour.
Group tours can really annoy people who love their own independence to explore and discover a location. If you are one of these people then think about taking one of the private Amsterdam tulip tours.
“OUTSTANDING!!! A trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to Keukenhof. We had an absolutely wonderful time walking around the tulip grounds. It’s a shame it’s only open for 6 weeks. Our driver was Sam… absolutely the best!! It was our daughter’s 15th birthday and he even brought her a small gift.”
Greg (read more reviews now!)
Here you will be ferried to and fro in not just a private vehicle but your very own Mercedes-Benz V-Class, S-Class, or E-Class. Not only is it extremely comfortable but you can see the gardens at your own pace. This is also great if you are traveling with young kids and want the added comfort.
Plus you have pick up and drop options that you can set which means that you could ask for a pick up from your hotel itself which is pretty handy.
5. Combine The Tulip Fields With Another Experience
Something that you might want to consider is to combine the Amsterdam tulip tours with another popular sight in the Netherlands. Now many of the day trips from Amsterdam can fit in with this but it is important to understand that many of these trips aren’t possible unless you have a car.
Luckily there are many Amsterdam tulip tours that offer this experience. Here are a couple that I would recommend considering.
🌷 Heading to Keukenhof gardens? Make sure that you book your ticket in advance or it may get sold out! 🚌
Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam Tulip Tours
Which Are The Best Months To See Tulips In Amsterdam?
Everyone will tell you that the best months to see tulips in Amsterdam is between mid April and mid May. This is usually when most of the Amsterdam tulip tours are booked out because everyone wants to be there when the fields are in full bloom.
After living here for two years, I can however tell you something that many people won’t. The flowering of the tulips depends on the weather. If it has been unseasonably warm then the tulips will flower early. If it has been a long winter. I’m not talking about just how cold it is but when the cold ends. The ground will thaw late and the bulbs will sprout late. That means the flowers will flower late.
No one can really predict what will happen very far in advance and generally how much you see is all on chance. Mid season for the Keukenhof gardens is great because you hedge your bets both ways.
Is It Worth Going To See The Tulips In Amsterdam?
This is a tough one and I’ll tell you why. The tulips in Amsterdam are gorgeous. Keukenhof is gorgeous. Its as plain and simple as that. Since it is so beautiful, it attracts people from all over the world. It is one of the busiest times of the year in the city and everyone who visits heads out on one of the Amsterdam tulip tours.
Crowds aren’t my favorite so I always try to figure out a way to avoid them which is why I say that peak tulip season in Amsterdam isn’t for everyone.
There you have it! These are some of the best Amsterdam tulip tours that I could find. Each one gives you a chance to see the tulips in a slightly different perspective. One thing that you have to understand is that the crowds to Keukenhof are always going to be a part of your visit. So head out early and be prepared for them.
Have you been to Keukenhof? What was your experience like? Would you head there again? Let us know in the comments below!
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