Keukenhof is only open for a few short weeks each spring - which is exactly why it's worth planning properly rather than turning up and hoping.
The gardens open in mid-March and close by mid-May, with peak bloom typically landing in the second half of April. It's about 40 minutes from Amsterdam by car or organised tour, sitting right in the heart of the Bollenstreek bulb-growing region - which makes it easy to pair with a visit to the surrounding open tulip fields for a fuller spring day.
Once you're inside, a few spots are worth building your visit around. The park's historic windmill, built in 1892 and moved to Keukenhof a few decades later, is open and free to climb - the platform at the top gives one of the best views in the gardens, looking straight out over the surrounding tulip fields. Near its base, a quiet electric boat also departs for a cruise along the fields themselves, a calmer way to take in the colour than walking the paths alone. And when it's time to eat, Keukenhof has restaurants and cafés scattered throughout the gardens if you'd rather not plan ahead - or bring your own food and set up on the lawned picnic area facing the windmill, which is hard to beat as a lunch spot.
Because the season is so short and demand is high, both tickets and transport can sell out weeks in advance during peak bloom. If tulips are the main reason for your trip, this is one to book early rather than leave until the last minute.
→ Continue planning: Keukenhof vs Tulip Fields, Tulip Season Guide
