It’s definitely time for some outdoor fun after what has seemed like a bitterly cold winter, and there’s nothing more fun than Amsterdam’s annual tulip festival. There’s more, because this year, the festival celebrates its 75th anniversary and there are tons of places participating! Plus, as different kinds of tulips bloom at different times, we’ll be able to enjoy the festival from Thursday March 21 all the way through until Sunday May 12.
Where can we see the tulip festival?
Keukenhof Gardens
You can catch the metro to the stunning Keukenhof Gardens during tulip season and it stops at several places in Amsterdam, including:
- Noorderpark (52)
- Amsterdam CS (52)
- Vijselzgracht (52)
- De Pijp (52)
This line will take you to Europaplein where you can catch the 852 bus straight to Keukenhof.
You can also catch the bus from the following locations:
- Leidseplein
- Rijksmuseum
- Museumplein
This bus takes you to Schiphol airport where you can get the 858 bus straight to Keukenhof also. Alternatively, you can cycle to Keukenhof from Amsterdam but it will take you around 2 hours. The entrance fee to the gardens is €20, but if you want to travel on public transport we’d recommend getting a Tulip Festival Card. The card covers your public transport costs and allows you to skip the line at Keukenhof for €55 for 1 day, 66€ for 2 or 78€ for a 3-day pass.
The Flower Parade
This year’s parade will take place on April 2o. This amazing and unique floral parade has been running for 78 years now, which is phenomenal!
It will run through Lisse, Hillegom Voorhout, and Sassenheim and you can watch it from a grandstand. Alternatively, you can take a helicopter ride above the parade for €159 per person, which is definitely the fancier option (*checks bank account*). Make sure you book your helicopter ride ASAP though because there will be plenty of interest.