- Leiden is home to the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575 by William the Silent as a reward for the city's resistance against the Spanish.
- The city celebrates 'Leiden Relief Day' every October 3rd, commemorating the end of the 1574 Spanish siege, during which citizens famously received white bread and herring.
- Leiden features a 'Wall Poems' project where over 120 poems by international poets are painted on the exterior walls of various buildings throughout the city.
- The city's canal system is the second-largest in the Netherlands, surpassed in length only by Amsterdam.
- The university was the site of the first academic botanical garden in Western Europe, the Hortus Botanicus, established in 1590.
About Leiden
Leiden is a historic university city defined by its 28 kilometers of canals and its role as the birthplace of Rembrandt. The city serves as a global hub for scientific discovery, anchored by institutions like the Naturalis Biodiversity Center and the Oude Sterrewacht. Visitors can climb the ancient Burcht van Leiden for panoramic views or explore the extensive botanical collections at the Hortus Botanicus Leiden. It hosts one of Europe's oldest universities, shaping the local architectural landscape with centuries-old academic buildings.
Highlights of Leiden
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
Features an extensive collection of fossils and natural specimens, including a famous T. rex skeleton.
Parks
Contains the oldest academic botanical garden in the Netherlands with a diverse range of tropical plants.
Museums
Houses a world-renowned collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities.
Historical places
This medieval shell keep provides a historical vantage point overlooking the city's rooftops.
Museums
Offers deep insight into global cultures through an impressive array of ethnographic artifacts.
Museums
Displays significant historical scientific instruments that defined the development of medicine and science.
Historical places
An iconic 14th-century church that serves as a central landmark in the city's historic core.
Museums
A well-preserved seven-story windmill museum that demonstrates traditional milling techniques.
Top things to do in Leiden
The 116 highest-rated places in Leiden, ranked by travellers.
1
Parks
Founded in 1590, Hortus Botanicus Leiden is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the...
2
Museums
Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden is a world-class research institution and natural history museum focused on the...
3
Museums
The National Museum of Antiquities, known as the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, is the national archaeological museum of the...
4
Historical places
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Museums
6
Museums
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Historical places
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Museums
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Venues
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Historical places
11
Parks
12
Museums
13
Parks
14
Temples
15
Temples
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Places of interest
17
Museums
18
Parks
19
Beaches and ponds
20
Parks
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Venues
22
Temples
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Parks
24
Historical places
25
Venues
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Beaches and ponds
27
Beaches and ponds
28
Beaches and ponds
29
Places of interest
30
Parks
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Leiden on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Leiden
May to September, as the weather is mild and the city's parks and outdoor canal-side dining are at their peak.
2-3 days, allowing enough time to explore the major museums and walk the historic city center.
The city center is highly walkable and compact, supplemented by an efficient local bus network and extensive bicycle paths.
The area surrounding the Pieterskerk and the historic Rapenburg canal offers the most authentic atmosphere, being within easy walking distance of major sites.
Mid-range; while museum entry and dining are standard for Western Europe, the city is generally more affordable than nearby Amsterdam.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 116 curated attractions in and around Leiden, ranked by traveller ratings.
Hortus Botanicus Leiden is the highest-rated place to visit in Leiden right now.
The largest category is museums, with 29 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague.
Explore more of Netherlands
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
