The Amsterdam Tulip Festival 2026 runs from March 19 to May 10, 2026, and people travel from all over the world to see it.
Keukenhof in Lisse is the main attraction, with over 7 million tulips planted across its grounds and 800 different varieties spread across 32 hectares. Amsterdam adds free flower displays at more than 85 spots across the city.
If you know the right dates, prices, and timing before you go, the trip is much easier to plan and far more enjoyable.
Where Is the Tulip Festival in Amsterdam?
The main venue is Keukenhof, at Stationsweg 166A in Lisse. It is about 40 minutes from Amsterdam by car or bus.
The town of Lisse sits in the Bollenstreek, which is the part of the Netherlands where most of the country’s flower bulbs are grown. On the drive in, you pass open fields full of flowers stretching as far as you can see on a clear April morning.
Back in Amsterdam, the city puts up its own free tulip displays in parks and public squares throughout the festival.
The Bloemencorso Flower Parade on April 18, 2026, travels through several towns nearby and is completely free to watch from the street. If you can arrange your trip around that date, it is well worth it.
Amsterdam Tulip Festival 2026 Dates & Opening Hours
Keukenhof opens on March 19 and closes on May 10, 2026. It is open every single day during that period, from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
The last entry is at 6:15 PM, so do not arrive late in the day. The park is large, and you need a few hours to see it properly.
April weekends fill up fast because the park uses a timed-entry system where each time slot holds a fixed number of visitors. Once a slot is full, it is gone. If your trip falls in April, booking early is not optional. It is simply part of planning the trip.
Keukenhof Tulip Festival 2026 Tickets & Prices
Buying your ticket online costs less and guarantees your entry slot. Buying at the gate on the day is more expensive and risky, especially in April when availability runs low.
| Category | Online Price | On-site Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | €21.00 | €25.00 |
| Children (4–17) | €10.00 | €14.00 |
| Children under 3 | Free | Free |
| Groups of 20 or more | €20.50 | — |
When you book online, you save €4 per adult. For a family of two adults and two children, that adds up to €16 saved without doing anything extra. You also lock in the time slot you actually want, which in April is worth more than the money itself.
Keukenhof 2026 Combitickets (Transport + Entry)
A combiticket gives you park entry and a return bus journey from your city in one purchase. Parking near Keukenhof fills up early in April, and the roads into Lisse get busy as the morning goes on. which is why most visitors find it the easier choice.
| Departure City | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam RAI | €38.50 | €17.50 |
| Haarlem | €33.50 | €15.00 |
| Hoofddorp | €33.50 | €15.00 |
| Leiden | €33.50 | €15.00 |
If you are staying in Amsterdam, the RAI combiticket at €38.50 is the simplest option. The bus leaves from Amsterdam RAI station, takes you straight to Keukenhof, and brings you back to the same spot.
Best Time to See Tulips in Amsterdam in 2026
The best time to visit is mid to late April, somewhere between April 10 and April 25. This is the time when the tulip fields are at their fullest and most colourful.
If you visit in late March, you will see crocuses and a few early tulips. If you visit in the first week of May, the best displays are already winding down. The exact peak shifts a little each year depending on the weather, so mid-April is a good target.
If you can only pick one day, April 18 is a strong choice. Keukenhof is at or near peak bloom, and the Flower Parade passes through the region on the same day. You get both in a single trip.
How to Avoid Crowds at Keukenhof Tulip Festival
Skip weekend visits if you possibly can. Saturday and Sunday afternoons in April are the busiest times in the park, and the difference between a quiet Monday morning and a packed Sunday afternoon is huge.
These four steps make a real difference:
- Visits on weekdays (Monday to Thursday) are noticeably quieter than on weekends.
- Book the 8:00 AM entry slot before the rush begins.
- Move away from the central paths between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. That window is when the park gets most crowded.
- Book your ticket online at least two weeks before your April visit.
Weekend slots in April sell out within days of going on sale. If your dates are fixed to a Saturday or Sunday, book as soon as tickets become available.
Keukenhof 2026 Parking, Transport & Route Tips
Driving to Keukenhof is easy, but parking fills up earlier than most people expect in April. Sort out your route the night before and save an offline map on your phone.
- Car parking: Book online in advance; it costs less than paying at the gate and guarantees your spot.
- Camper vans: Camper vans have a dedicated space at parking area P2, though overnight parking is not allowed there.
- Electric cars: If you drive an electric vehicle, head to parking area P1, where charging points are available on site.
- Bikes and motorbikes: You can park your bike or motorbike in the dedicated area near the entrance, separate from the main car parks.
- Route tip: If you are coming from Amsterdam, use P1. If you are coming from Rotterdam, use P2 as they are more convenient and better positioned.
Download an offline map before you leave home. The GPS signal around the park becomes unreliable when traffic is at its worst, and everyone’s navigation app starts rerouting at the same time.
Free Tulip Displays in Amsterdam
Amsterdam fills its parks and public squares with tulips throughout the festival, turning everyday city spaces into free flower displays.
The displays appear in places like the Rijksmuseum garden and Vondelpark and are free to visit. No ticket, no booking, no waiting. You simply walk through the city, and the flowers are there.
This is a great option if Keukenhof does not fit your schedule or your budget. It also works well as an add-on. Spending the morning at Keukenhof and the afternoon walking the city displays gives you a full day of flowers without spending twice.
Conclusion: Visit the Amsterdam Tulip Festival 2026 in mid-April for the best bloom
Keukenhof runs from March 19 to May 10, 2026. The best time to go is mid to late April, and the Flower Parade on April 18 makes that date the strongest single choice of the season.
Adult tickets cost €21 online, and the Amsterdam RAI combiticket is €38.50. Book a weekday slot, arrive at 8:00 AM, and add the city’s free displays to your day at no extra cost.
Book your April slot early because the good time slots go fast.
FAQs
Mid to late April, roughly between April 10 and April 25, is when the bloom is at its fullest. The exact timing shifts slightly depending on that year’s weather.
Keukenhof is open every day, with Tulip displays available at more than 85 locations across the city, including the Rijksmuseum garden and Vondelpark.
There is no single theme this year. Keukenhof gave designers and exhibitors open creative freedom, so each exhibition reflects its own concept rather than a shared idea.
Adults pay €21.00 online or €25.00 at the gate, and children aged 4 to 17 pay €10.00 online. Children under 4 get in free, and Groups of 20 or more pay €20.50 per person online.
