Each spring, most of our Instagram feeds are flooded with picture of perfectly manicured flower fields. And not far from Amsterdam, is one of the most beautiful flower fields of all – the tulip fields! Seeing the famous Dutch tulips is a special event (they even created a theme park in honor of them). And the delicate flowers blossom for just a few weeks in the spring. From mid April to the end of May, the tulips transform parts of Holland into a colorful patchwork. And the truth is pictures just don’t do mother nature’s masterpiece justice; you have to see for yourself! So of course, during our recent visit to Amsterdam (check out the travel guide here), we had to visit the tulip fields! Read along for a complete guide to visiting and seeing the beautiful tulip fields!

Tulip Season

The Netherlands has a long spring season with cool nights which is the ideal setting for tulip-growing. And for a few short weeks in spring, the Netherlands’ famous flower fields become a blanket of colorful tulips. So timing your visit is imperative! The tulip fields generally start to bloom mid-April and the season lasts until about mid-May. To increase your probability of seeing the tulips in all of their splendor, May is your best bet. For precise conditions of the tulip fields, I recommend signing up for the Tulips in Holland Newsletter to receive weekly flower updates.

What To Do

Also known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is one of the most famous tulip and flower gardens in the world. The garden, established in 1949 in Lisse, is only open from March to May to display its more-than-7-million flower bulb blooms. The perfectly manicured flowers make it one of the best places to discover many different kinds of tulips. But because it’s only open for a few weeks it can get crowded so the best times to visit are early in the day or late in the afternoon on weekdays (open from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm)!

Another option is renting a bike and riding through the actual flower fields which are outside of Keukenhof. This is what we did and I absolutely recommend it. The bike rental is right outside of Keukenhof. You cannot take the bikes into the theme park but you can pedal through many of the trails that surround the flower and tulip fields. You’ll even find many pop-ups selling tulip bunches!

Of course, you can always walk the trails around the tulip fields. It’s not a short walk but if you’ve got several hours to kill and don’t feel like cycling, this is a great option.

Getting to the Tulip Fields

Of course, you can drive (or catch an uber) there but taking public transportation is quite simple. If you are coming from Amsterdam you can take the train from Central Station to Schipol Airport or take the 397 bus to Schipol Airport. Once at the airport look for the colorful Keukenhof Express Buses (you won’t miss them). There can be a bit of a line for the bus to Keukenhof, especially in peak season. So you want to be sure to get there early or be prepared to wait in line. It will drop you off right at the entrance of Keukenhof in about 30 minutes.

Cost to Visit

If you decide to take a taxi from Amsterdam, the ride should cost between €45-50.

The train ride from Amsterdam to Schipol costs €5.30

The 397 Bus from Amsterdam to Schipol is €6 one-way or €10 round-trip. (note: each one-way ticket is valid for 90 minutes).

The 858 Bus from Schipol to Keukenhof €6.50 or €10 round-trip

The entry fee for Keukenhof is €18

The Combi-Ticket includes entrance to Keukenhof and return tickets from Schipol on Bus 858 and to Amsterdam on bus 397 and costs €29.50, which is cheaper than buying each ticket individually. If you’re planning to visit Keukenhof, I recommend this for sure.

Bike rental starts at €10 and visiting the fields is completely free!

Eat

Het Tussen Station is a remodeled train station that is so quaint and cozy. It’s the perfect spot to stop for breakfast, lunch or high tea! The food is so tasty, the drinks are great and the atmosphere is perfect. It’s located on the trail along the fields so be sure to stop by.