Things to do in
Leiden

Our most recommended things to do in Leiden

Leiden: Guided City Canal Cruise

Leiden: Guided City Canal Cruise

Explore Leiden from a different angle on a comfortable canal cruise. Learn about the city from your captain, see the Leiden City Hall from the water, and pass under many of Leiden's famous bridges. Board your cruise in the city center and begin your adventure through Leiden's 17 miles of canals. Cruise through the historic city center and pass the City Hall, the luscious Hortus Botanicus Garden, and the Museum De Lakenhal. As you explore the canals of Leiden, cruise under many of its 88 bridges. Sit back and enjoy the view while your captain tells you fascinating facts about Leiden and the sights you pass. If you wish to enjoy a drink or a snack as you cruise, you can purchase one at the departure point before boarding.

Leiden: Electric Boat Rental

Leiden: Electric Boat Rental

See the many canals of Leiden on board a private boat. Cruise to your own destinations, with no itinerary, and yourself as captain to direct the adventure. First, board the boat with your friends and family. Depart from the dock and begin your exploration of the 88 canals that encircle the city center. Then, dock at one of the many parks along the water, and discover why some call the city Singelpark. Hop back on board the boat and continue around the 28 kilometers of canals. Finally, you'll arrive back at the dock and climb back on dry land with a new appreciation of the city. Leave your cruise with a better understanding of the canals, your boating skills, and Leiden.

Leiden: Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket

Leiden: Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket

Discover the unique plant collections of the Hortus Botanicus Leiden in an hour and a half with this admission ticket. Enjoy flowering bulbs in the spring or take a relaxing walk under the colorful ancient monumental trees in the autumn, the garden is worth visiting during any season. After exchanging your ticket at the Hortus Botanicus Leiden front gate, begin your adventure through the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands at your own pace. Witness the historical garden founded in 1590 where the first tulips in Europe were grown. Walk through the Front Garden and admire the recently built glasshouse, the Clusius Garden, and the Japanese Garden where the historical exchange of plants between Japan and the Netherlands can be admired. Imagine yourself in the jungles of Southeast Asia while being surrounded by the collection of tropical orchids and more. Unwind in the gardens and have a relaxed walk under the monumental trees. See a collection of carnivorous plants, rare tropical orchids, and seasonal favorites such as the Jadevine (flowering in March-April), the Victoria amazonica (flowering June-September), and the Chinese Lotus (flowering in July). Be in awe of a collection of almost thirty trees, some of which are over a century old and be sure to visit the souvenir shop and Grand Café before your experience is over.

Noordwijk: Space Expo Entry Ticket

Noordwijk: Space Expo Entry Ticket

Space Expo is a space museum in Noordwijk. Nestled just behind the sea and dunes, the museum offers an in-depth look at the fascinating world of space travel. From designing and building space missions on Earth to launching them into space, you can explore every aspect of this thrilling field. One of the museum's highlights is the original Soyuz capsule used by astronaut André Kuipers on his space journey. Additionally, you can explore a life-size model of the International Space Station (ISS) and experience what it's like to live and work in orbit. Exclusive Tours and Activities On weekends and during school vacations, Space Expo offers exclusive tours aboard the Space Train to visit the next-door European Space Agency (ESA). This unique opportunity provides an inside look at the cutting-edge work being done in space technology and exploration.

The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour

The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour

This tour is all you need to discover Leiden! It takes you past hidden gems and famous landmarks, all while telling you the great stories of these places. Learn where Rembrandt went to school, why Leiden is the city of keys and many more facts, all told through immersive stories in both text and audio. This tour is created by Awesome Places, a content creator with over 400 thousand followers on different social platforms, and a local to the city of Leiden. This tour will take you through the most awesome places in Leiden. Now, get ready to embark on an amazing journey through the beautiful city of Leiden.

Leiden: Museum of World Cultures

Leiden: Museum of World Cultures

Open your view of the world with a visit to Wereldmuseum Leiden – the National Museum of Ethnology – a museum about people located just 5 minutes from Leiden's central station. Housed in a historic building, the museum is home to large successful exhibitions, small surprising exhibitions for the enthusiast, innovative public programs, leading scientific research, and many international collaboration projects. After entering the museum, explore the exhibitions that take you from Bali to Guatemala, from Oceania to the Arctic, and from Mecca to Djenné. Come to see how, despite all our differences, we are all in one sense the same: human beings. Feel your sense of the world expand as each object in the collection tells a human story. Be touched by stories that embody universal human themes, such as celebration, mourning, decoration, prayer, love, and conflict.

Leiden: Paddleboard Rental to Explore Leiden's Canals

Leiden: Paddleboard Rental to Explore Leiden's Canals

Enjoy Leiden in the most unique and sporty way in search of the most beautiful and nicest places. Do you have experience? Get on immediately and paddle past many sights in 2 hours. Is it the first time? Then you start with an instruction at the harbor office to quickly master the supping. After the instruction, your tour begins to the many beautiful places that the city has to offer. The city where Rembrandt was born with the Academy Building where he studied, the canals, city gates, bridges, windmills and the courtyards along the water.

Escape the City - citygame in every NL en BE city

Escape the City - citygame in every NL en BE city

In the city game Escape the City, you go head-to-head with Dr. Crypto. He has been spotted in your city and has captured several people! It all begins with a video in which Dr. Crypto leaves a message: "Nine individuals are scattered throughout the city and imprisoned in heavily secured rooms. Can you crack the codes to free as many people as possible?" With this message, the city game Escape the City begins, and the clock starts ticking. Soon, your group is swept up in the game, and the adrenaline rises. You'll find yourselves searching the city for clues, abruptly stopping to solve a challenging brain teaser, and then continuing your exploration of your favourite city. During the game, you'll discover streets you've never seen before and various tasks will appear on your mobile. That's when the real work begins. Sometimes, you'll need to closely examine your surroundings, while other times, a new puzzle will appear on your screen. For each room you manage to open, you earn money. Can you puzzle together as much money as possible?* Explore the city while playing this challenging outdoor escape game. *Please note that, in general, players solve around 4 to 5 rooms. It is very rare to crack all 9 codes in 90 minutes. What’s your strategy? Choose the rooms wisely. Escape the City is a fully GPS-guided city game. You decide where in the city and with whom you want to play. You are not dependent on external guides and can start the game whenever you want. The number of teams and their composition is entirely up to you. You pay per team. We recommend creating teams of 2 to 6 people. Playing in a team of at least 2 people is also a great idea to discover the city. Shortly after your purchase, you'll receive all the necessary materials from City Adventures in your inbox. The clear 4-step plan explains what to do and which app to download. You'll also receive the game code for your unique playing area. Want to play last minute? No problem. You can always contact the City Adventures team per phone to start quickly. !! Standard we offer Escape the City as an activity of 90 minutes. Would you like to play longer? That's possible. Please contact our office per phone before you start the citygame!! Escape the City is a fantastic activity for your day out, group outings, company outings, team-building events, or family days. There is also a junior version which is very suitable for families and children's parties. Who will you challenge in this outdoor escape game?

The Hunt - minimal booking from 2 teams or more

The Hunt - minimal booking from 2 teams or more

Play this tactical and exciting game 'The Hunt' with colleagues, friends or family. As a criminal, disappear from the radar with your team, crack as many safes as possible and stay out of the hands of the hunters. A group of bank robbers has just escaped from prison and is now trying to crack all the safes in the city. The hunters must stop them! With our city game you take on the role of both a criminal and a hunter. The roles are reversed halfway through. Which team has the best tactics and who shows the most courage? Do you do this alone or do you work together with the other hunter teams? The Hunt guarantees a good dose of action and team building with your city or village as the playing field. You can specify the number and composition of teams yourself, so that our citygame fits perfectly with your group activity. During the citygame The Hunt, you'll discover streets you've never seen before and various tasks will appear on your mobile. That's when the real work begins. Sometimes, you'll need to closely examine your surroundings, hide behind cars or trees end keep a close eye on the radar in real life and on your gps map where the hunters are. The 90-minute playing time for The Hunt is divided into two equal rounds. One round you are a dangerous criminal and the next round you empathize with your role as a smart hunter. Who is outsmarting whom? In the app you will see a map with all locations where safes can be cracked. The more valuable the safe, the longer it takes to crack it. But watch out for the Hunters. The location of the criminals is tracked with a GPS signal, which of course helps you as a hunter enormously. Once every 5 minutes and when a crime is committed you will see the location of the criminals. Can you follow their path and then cleverly arrest them and deliver them to the police station? Explore the city while playing this exiting citygame. The Hunt is a fully GPS-guided city game. You decide where in the city and with whom you want to play. You are not dependent on external guides and can start the game whenever you want. The number of teams and their composition is entirely up to you. You pay per team. We recommend creating teams of 2 to 6 people. You play the Hunt from 2 teams and preferably in even teams! Shortly after your purchase, you'll receive all the necessary materials from City Adventures in your inbox. The clear 4-step plan explains what to do and which app to download. You'll also receive the game code for your unique playing area. Want to play last minute? No problem. You can always contact the City Adventures team to start quickly. The Hunt is a fantastic activity for your day out, group outings, company outings, team-building events, or family days. There is also a junior version which is very suitable for families and children's parties. Who will you challenge in this citygame?

Holland Four City Charm Tour

Holland Four City Charm Tour

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the picturesque cities of Delft, Leiden, The Hague, and Haarlem from Amsterdam. See historic architecture, visit the birthplace of Rembrandt, and discover some hidden gems with your guide. Have a comfortable trip from your accommodations in Amsterdam on your way to your first stop in Delft. Take a walking tour, passing canals, Medieval buildings, and churches. Learn about the history of William of Orange. Next, take in the mix of modern and old architecture in The Hague. See the impressive Houses of Parliament and walk the historic streets of this administrative capital. Visit Leiden; an extraordinarily beautiful hidden gem and birthplace of Rembrandt. Take in the fabulous Market Square and stroll the alleys and courtyards on your last stop in Haarlem.

All activities

Frequently asked questions about Leiden

What top attractions are a must-see in Leiden?

The must-see attractions in Leiden are:

See all must-see sights in Leiden

What are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in Leiden?

These are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in Leiden:

See all deals and discounts in Leiden on GetYourGuide

What are the most popular museums and exhibitions in Leiden?

These are the most popular museums and exhibitions in Leiden:

See all museums and exhibitions in Leiden on GetYourGuide

Top Attractions in Leiden

Things to Do in Leiden

Cities in Netherlands

Other Sightseeing Options in Leiden

Want to discover all there is to do in Leiden? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Leiden

Overall rating

4.3
(108 reviews)

I really enjoyed the whole tour and especially the fact that I went through small passages that I would not have seen otherwise. The fact that I could do the tour at my own pace was also a big plus.

The spots were very interesting and the hidden passages that it takes you through were surprising. The explanation is adequate, but at some points it may be a little short. I recommend it.

Very nice exhibition designed with a lot of attention to detail. Maybe some of the signs could be written in German, as has already been done in some cases👍👍👍

very interesting information about leiden. friendly and informative captain on the boat.

Guide was very knowledgeable in the history of Leiden.