Things to do at the weekend in Leiden
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, consider exploring Leiden: a student city with the coziest vibes that is home to the oldest University in the Netherlands. In this guide, I will show you the best things to see in Leiden and how to discover the typical Dutch sights while not feeling like a guidebook-led tourist.
Looking for more day trips from Amsterdam? Check out my guides to what to see in Utrecht and day trip to Maastricht for a fabulous getaway in The Netherlands.
Getting around Leiden
How to get to Leiden: Leiden is only 40-minutes away from Amsterdam if you go by train, making it the perfect outing for a day trip or a weekend. One way ticket from Amsterdam Centraal to Leiden Centraal would cost 9,60 EUR.
The city center itself is quite small, with everything in walkable distance. However, there is a special bus line that runs along the museum route, called OV-museumlijn 10. A day ticket costs 4,30 EUR and lets you travel as much as you want between 10 AM and 5 PM. Payment is by card only, or you can use your cash at the VVV Leiden which is visitor information next to the train station. Realistically all the museums are in close proximity except for Corpus Leiden.
You can also rent a bike to get around. There are OV bikes available at the station, which is great if you have a name card for your travels. If not, you can rent a bike for as low as 10 EUR a day at Easy Fiets. I explored the city both on foot and on bike and got very different impressions, so I recommend doing a little of both!
Haarlemmerstraat is the main shopping street in Leiden. If you are looking for nice stores, don’t miss my favorite Oil & Vinegar if you are after gifts. For cozier boutiques, vintage and second-hand try the small streets like Pieterskerk-Choorsteeg. There’s an excellent store there called Second Trend filled with thrifted high brand clothes. You will find more stores in the Pieterskwartier neighborhood, such as the House of Items which is a lovely little gift shop.
Where to eat in Leiden
Bistro Malle Jan has a delicious and very affordable menu. In fact, the staff offers a plat du jour for 10,50 EUR which is a daily special. I was here for dinner and the place was completely full, so I recommend making a reservation.
Bistro Noroc is a cozy cafe in the heart of the Pieterskwartier, making it the perfect lunch stop after you’ve done some shopping. I recommend booking a spot for lunch as the place can be quite full. I’ve had a warm salad with grilled vegetables, chorizo and sour cream which was delicious.
Pakhuisleiden is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner as it’s close to all the major museums, and just two steps away from the Hortus Botanicus gardens.
Einstein cafe is the place to go if you want to grab a beer and some light snacks by the Leiden canals. There are great views to enjoy and plenty of typical Dutch side dishes. My meal here was comped by Leiden Discovery.
Cafe boat in Leiden canals
The cafe boat on the side of the canals where cafe Einstein serves some very nice lunch
More things you can do in Leiden for a longer stay:
The Naturalis Biodiversity Center is a history museum that features gigantic dinosaur skeletons, has over 40 million objects and is in the top five natural history collections in the entire world.
Take a trip to the Meijendel, the Dutch coastal dunes, rich in birdlife, walking trails and cycling paths. They are reachable with bikes but will probably require a day trip on their own.
Journey through the human body in CORPUS. This museum is great for families with kids, but is pretty pricey with tickets at 18,75 EUR and no kids under 6 allowed. Entrance is by certain time slots only, so advance booking is required.
Go on a steam train ride at the Stoomtrein Katwijk. The ride costs 9 EUR and will take you on a ride along Lake Valkenburg. The ride will last 30 minutes.
If you have the time, visit Volkenkunde – the National Museum of Ethnology. There are many fun activities awaiting, like a Maori Haka workshop. The museum celebrates indigenous peoples from all corners of the world, and will take you on a journey of ancient cultures and modern lifestyles.
I hope this helps you plan a wonderful getaway and get the most out of all the culture Leiden can offer. What are the things you’d like to do most in Leiden?
Looking for more day trips from Amsterdam? Check out my guides to what to see in Utrecht and day trip to Maastricht for a fabulous getaway in The Netherlands.
Getting around Leiden
How to get to Leiden: Leiden is only 40-minutes away from Amsterdam if you go by train, making it the perfect outing for a day trip or a weekend. One way ticket from Amsterdam Centraal to Leiden Centraal would cost 9,60 EUR.
The city center itself is quite small, with everything in walkable distance. However, there is a special bus line that runs along the museum route, called OV-museumlijn 10. A day ticket costs 4,30 EUR and lets you travel as much as you want between 10 AM and 5 PM. Payment is by card only, or you can use your cash at the VVV Leiden which is visitor information next to the train station. Realistically all the museums are in close proximity except for Corpus Leiden.
You can also rent a bike to get around. There are OV bikes available at the station, which is great if you have a name card for your travels. If not, you can rent a bike for as low as 10 EUR a day at Easy Fiets. I explored the city both on foot and on bike and got very different impressions, so I recommend doing a little of both!
Haarlemmerstraat is the main shopping street in Leiden. If you are looking for nice stores, don’t miss my favorite Oil & Vinegar if you are after gifts. For cozier boutiques, vintage and second-hand try the small streets like Pieterskerk-Choorsteeg. There’s an excellent store there called Second Trend filled with thrifted high brand clothes. You will find more stores in the Pieterskwartier neighborhood, such as the House of Items which is a lovely little gift shop.
Where to eat in Leiden
Bistro Malle Jan has a delicious and very affordable menu. In fact, the staff offers a plat du jour for 10,50 EUR which is a daily special. I was here for dinner and the place was completely full, so I recommend making a reservation.
Bistro Noroc is a cozy cafe in the heart of the Pieterskwartier, making it the perfect lunch stop after you’ve done some shopping. I recommend booking a spot for lunch as the place can be quite full. I’ve had a warm salad with grilled vegetables, chorizo and sour cream which was delicious.
Pakhuisleiden is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner as it’s close to all the major museums, and just two steps away from the Hortus Botanicus gardens.
Einstein cafe is the place to go if you want to grab a beer and some light snacks by the Leiden canals. There are great views to enjoy and plenty of typical Dutch side dishes. My meal here was comped by Leiden Discovery.
Cafe boat in Leiden canals
The cafe boat on the side of the canals where cafe Einstein serves some very nice lunch
More things you can do in Leiden for a longer stay:
The Naturalis Biodiversity Center is a history museum that features gigantic dinosaur skeletons, has over 40 million objects and is in the top five natural history collections in the entire world.
Take a trip to the Meijendel, the Dutch coastal dunes, rich in birdlife, walking trails and cycling paths. They are reachable with bikes but will probably require a day trip on their own.
Journey through the human body in CORPUS. This museum is great for families with kids, but is pretty pricey with tickets at 18,75 EUR and no kids under 6 allowed. Entrance is by certain time slots only, so advance booking is required.
Go on a steam train ride at the Stoomtrein Katwijk. The ride costs 9 EUR and will take you on a ride along Lake Valkenburg. The ride will last 30 minutes.
If you have the time, visit Volkenkunde – the National Museum of Ethnology. There are many fun activities awaiting, like a Maori Haka workshop. The museum celebrates indigenous peoples from all corners of the world, and will take you on a journey of ancient cultures and modern lifestyles.
I hope this helps you plan a wonderful getaway and get the most out of all the culture Leiden can offer. What are the things you’d like to do most in Leiden?
