Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Leiden?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Leiden?
Many travelers spend one to two days in Leiden during their visit. After all, the scholarly city has plenty to explore such as the famous sights and museums, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife scene.
Leiden is a charming and historic city that offers a perfect blend of culture, education, and scenic beauty. It is a student city and it has an intellectual atmosphere, with many museums and historical landmarks to explore. Visitors can stroll along the picturesque canals, visit the famous Hortus Botanicus, or enjoy the vibrant cafes and restaurants scattered throughout the city.
Do you have one or two days to visit Leiden? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Leiden?
With only one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the university and other sights. After all, With a variety of sights and attractions, Leiden is a fairly popular choice for tourists. To fully embrace Leiden, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate one to two days to wander through the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, enjoy an evening out, and browse the shops. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend a day in Leiden
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Leiden, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. There are a huge number of museums around town. Some are affiliated with the museum, while others are not. Some of the favorites include the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden), Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Boerhaave Museum, the Corpus Museum, and the National Ethnological Museum.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tulip Experience Ticket Tulip Garden Museum and Indoor Picking ($14)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. There's a diverse food scene with many international flavors such as Japanese, Chinese, and French. The cafe culture influences the culinary scene and you'll find many cozy cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat.
Leiden is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot, with many of its attractions, cafes, shops, and historical sites located within walking distance of each other.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Leiden?
Many visitors choose to spend around a weekend in Leiden. This would give you the chance to explore the university and the famous sights and museums, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife scene. Since many visitors prefer to spend around one to two days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the scholarly city.
Leiden, Netherlands
How to spend 2 days in Leiden
With a weekend (two to three days) in Leiden, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Perhaps the most famous spot in Leiden is the Hortus Botanicus, so make sure you set aside some time to check it out. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The large student population means that there is a good nightlife scene. There are a variety of bars, pubs, and cafes where you can enjoy a drink, with options ranging from cozy, intimate spots to larger, more vibrant venues. The Oude Markt area, with its charming historic setting, is a hotspot for nightlife, offering a mix of traditional Dutch bars and international-themed pubs.
The public transit in Leiden is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The Leiden Central Station is the main hub for trains, which connect the city to other towns throughout the country. Around town there are buses that are reliable and convenient.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Leiden, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.