Discover Leiden and find a hotel

There are several specific ways to plan a city break in Leiden: canals and bridges, historic buildings, museums and walking tours each offer a different focus. The historic city centre has a total of 28 kilometres of canals and waterways, as well as 88 bridges. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, it helps to first consider whether you’d rather spend your time exploring art and the city’s history, going for walks or enjoying the waterways. The places and routes provide specific points of reference that you can choose according to your interests.

Canals and botanical history

Hortus botanicus Leiden is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands and Western Europe. It was founded in 1590 in the centre of Leiden. This means that part of the city’s history dates back to the 16th century. Alongside its buildings and waterways, the botanical garden adds its own thematic focus and offers another way to understand Leiden.

In Leiden, you can rent a boat or book a canal cruise. These are two different ways to include the waterways in your travel plans. Providers and arrangements may change, so check in advance which option suits your visit.

Museums and buildings

Leiden has 13 museums, all within walking distance of one another. If you’d like to include several museums in your stay, this provides a practical framework for a museum-focused trip around the city. Museum De Lakenhal began as Leiden’s municipal museum in 1868. Its collection includes works by Old Masters such as Lucas van Leyden, Rembrandt van Rijn and Jan Steen, as well as modern artists such as Theo van Doesburg, Jan Wolkers and Erwin Olaf. The works currently on display may vary.

The city’s architectural history can also be traced through specific dates. Pieterskerk is Leiden’s oldest parish church and was consecrated in 1121 as a chapel for the count’s court. Its present form took shape between 1390 and 1565. These two dates distinguish the church’s early history from the later development of its present appearance.

Burcht van Leiden is one of the oldest surviving examples of a castle in the Netherlands. Molen De Put was rebuilt in the 1980s and stands on the north bank of the Rhine. The church, castle and mill represent different aspects of Leiden’s history. You can consider each of these historical themes separately when planning your time in the city.

Walking tours and routes

Two walking tours offer different ways to find your way around. The Leidse Hofjes Route is 5 kilometres long and takes approximately 2 hours, depending on your pace and the number of stops. This is a guideline for planning your time, not a fixed duration. The Leidse Loper is a city walk through Leiden that passes historic monuments and distinctive sightlines. You can choose between a route with an approximate duration and a walk characterised by the sights it passes.

Cycling can also be part of your plans for exploring the city and region. Information and inspiration are available on cycling routes, bicycle parking, bike hire and dismount points. Cycling offers another way to plan your trip, alongside walking tours and the options available on the canals.

Arriving in the city centre

Leiden Centraal station is a five-minute walk from the city centre, and buses run every few minutes. This gives you a practical point of reference when planning your exploration of the city. If you’d like to take the bus, check the latest departure times in advance, as public transport services may change.

For the broader travel overview: Leiden.