Visit Tulip Fields for a Magnificent Spring Day in the Netherlands

We know — you’ve seen those epic photos of tulip fields and had to plan a visit to The Netherlands. Rows and rows of color are what make this stop a must-see. You simply have to jump on a bus at the airport, discover a tulip variety, and have lunch all before your next flight to another country in Europe. You don’t have to visit the red light district in Amsterdam (but you could-no judgment), instead, you can spend the day amongst beautiful gardens.

Tulips are my favorite flower, so I have wanted to visit these fields since I discovered them on the internet many years ago. Luckily, many people love tulips, so Keukenhof has made it extremely easy for people to stop and visit their gardens. Here’s how to visit tulip fields for a magnificent spring day in the Netherlands:

You Can Take a Bus Straight From the Airport to the Tulip Fields With Keukenhof

Visiting the tulip fields is so easy in The Netherlands that even during your layover it is very simple to get to Keukenhof. If you fly into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and have a long layover, store your bags there. If the lockers inside the airport are full, you will need to exit security with your bags and check them near the baggage claim. Keukenhof also offers lockers on-site. Buses are also available in Amsterdam if you are staying in the city.

Purchase your Keukenh combi ticket in advance (recommended) and print a copy with directions on how to find the bus. It is so easy! All the Keukenhof workers will be in shirts with their logo on it, and will immediate greet you (in English) when you walk outside the airport.

The employees will check your tickets as you stand in line to get on the bus to Keukenhof. The bus ride is pleasant and takes you straight to the gardens. If you didn’t want to see the gardens right away, you could rent a bike and explore the area before entering the gardens. Riding bikes around the area will get you those epic insta photos (just don’t go into the grounds, it’s the farmer’s biggest pet peeve).

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Employees setting up food carts at Keukenhof Gardens in Netherlands

Discover a Favorite Tulip Varietal That You Never Knew Existed in the Netherlands

If you arrive early, the gardens are still waking up. Even the workers were still walking out with their food trucks to set up for the day. Like most tourist destinations, the gardens will become more crowded as the day goes on.

Throughout the park, there are garden sections designed by various people & companies. The colors and designs are endless and include more than just tulips. There are daffodils, roses, and many other types of flowers.

Inside the flower showroom, you will learn that there are over 3,000 varieties of tulips in the world. Early, late, hybrid, fringe, etc. The work each gardener has put into their bulbs is extraordinary. Don’t bother purchasing any bulbs on your trip as customs will confiscate these when you get back to the states. You will have to purchase bulbs through one of the companies that are already shipping to the states.

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Tulip Gardens at Keukenhof in The Netherlands

Enjoy a Meal in the Tulip Gardens (not a field)

Next, it was time for some food as I was losing stamina from walking the park. There were many food trucks throughout the gardens, with dutch pancakes, potatoes, hot dogs, etc. So many many options to eat! There will be far more people in the park by lunchtime, so it may take some time to order and find a table, so get in line before you are hangry.

Instead of leaving the park, we decided to get a salad from the self-serve station in the Willem-Alexander Pavilion. Keukenhof takes recycling seriously, to there are sections to sort your dishes on a rack that was nearby. It is great to see the recycling options at Keukenhof, considering how large of a park it is.

Visiting Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in the Netherlands was a bucket list item for me that did not disappoint. I was so happy to spend my time here without doing the other stereotypical things tourists do when they visit Amsterdam. Because tulips are my favorite flower, I was on cloud 9 the entire time!

I highly recommend this option for a first-time visitor to Amsterdam or the person who doesn’t want to navigate public transportation to see tulip fields. Keukenhof has this whole tourist thing under control, making it an easy stop for anyone in the family.

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