If you’re planning a spring trip to the Netherlands, visiting the Tulip Experience Amsterdam would probably not have been on your radar. Most tourists flock to the Keukenhof Gardens instead. I hate crowded spaces, so after doing a quick Google search for alternative tulip fields, I came across the Tulip Experience Amsterdam. I went on this tour, which was self-guided, and can be booked with GetYourGuide and Viator.
🌷 Things to Know Before You Visit
Before diving into my Tulip Experience Amsterdam review, here are a few useful things to know:
| 🌼 Opening season: Typically mid-March to mid-May (peak blooms = mid April) |
| 🕘 Opening hours: Around 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry is usually 5 PM) |
| 🚍 Getting there (public transport): Take the train from Amsterdam Schiphol to Leiden, then a bus (like Keukenhof Express) toward Lisse Total journey time: 45–60 minutes |
| 🌷 Fun tulip fact: Tulips actually originated in Turkey, not the Netherlands. The Netherlands became famous for tulips during the 16th/17th century. |
🚍The Journey There
I took a tour from Amsterdam, which made things really easy. Well….semi-easy. I had to take a free ferry (line 3) from behind Amsterdam Central Station to the other side of the river. The ride was less than 5 minutes, and it was interesting. So many locals bring their bikes onto the ferry. So when it stopped…everyone who was standing had to wait for the 30+ bikes to cycle off first. It was a 5-minute walk from the ferry station to the tour desk, and a 45-minute coach ride to Lisse, which is where the tulip experience is located. The drive goes past the airport, which is also literally located next to the motorway. I saw a freshly landed plane cruising to its gate from my coach. The first time I flew to Amsterdam as an 18 year old, I was actually a bit scared when the plane was landing, because I could see the motorway when we were close to touchdown.
🌷 The Tulip Fields (Early Season Reality)
Now, let’s get onto the honest part of this Tulip Experience Amsterdam review. I went on 1st April and not many tulips were fully in bloom yet. I would estimate that only 30% of the tulips were ready. There were daffodils, and some lavender (which was annoyingly closed off for access), but not many tulips. I visited at the start of the tulip season, so I thought there would be more. But I guess this comes with its pros as well. It wasn’t crowded at all; there were 13 of us on a tour bus that could hold around 40 people. This meant that there was plenty of space to take photos without other people in them. There were other tour buses, but I guess that they were probably less than half full as well. I also got lucky with the weather; it was sunny and around 15°C, which made the whole experience really enjoyable.
📸 Photo Spots & Props
A big highlight in this Tulip Experience Amsterdam review was how photo-friendly the place is. Instead of just taking photos of or with flowers, it allows for different types of photos. There are many “props” in place for unique photos, which is perfect for content creators and influencers. I don’t create content or post very often, but this place inspired me to start making more of an effort again. The props included giant wooden clogs, vintage bikes, a tractor, and a windmill.
These props also made up for the fact that most of the tulips were not ready yet.
🥐 The Must-Try Tulip Pastry
There is a cafe inside, and it has plenty of tables. They sell many cafe type things like coffee, sandwiches, and ice cream. But I knew exactly what I wanted the second I laid eyes on it. The raspberry tulip pastry! They had 2 two flavours, raspberry and peach. I paid £7.50 for it…but hear me out….it was so worth it! This thing was unique, and I’ve never seen or tasted anything like it in my life. The raspberry petal bit was like a soft creamy mousse that genuinely tasted like fresh raspberries. The base was a buttery biscuit, and it was filled with a sticky sweet almond flavoured paste. This snack was probably the best thing I tasted the whole trip. The cafe was also selling tulip ice cream and tulip-infused lemonade.
🌷 Picking Your Own Tulips
Well…I can’t write about the Tulip Experience Amsterdam without mentioning the picking garden. Each ticket allows you to pick 5 tulips and take them home. There is a designated area indoors to do this. Unfortunately, there were only yellow tulips available for picking when I went. I wanted pink ones! to match my pink outfit that day. The tulips lasted for longer than I expected. I did this activity on day 1 of my trip and they were still fresh throughout my stay. I had left them on top of a wooden panel behind my bed. It was lovely waking up to the tulips every morning, and I decided to leave them for housekeeping when I checked out.
Final Reflections
- There is a souvenir market with a few stalls, but most of the stuff in there can be found at the local souvenir shops in Amsterdam. The only unique things I saw were tulip flavoured beer and wine.
- Was this tour worth it? Yes it was, for convenience. Your ticket and transport is included, and you’re free to do whatever you want after getting off the bus. There isn’t an official guide, but you can ask the driver for suggestions and anything you want to know about tulips or the Netherlands. I found Dutch tour guides/drivers to be one of the friendliest out of all the countries I have visited. It doesn’t feel like they are performing for tips, and they are genuinely passionate about their culture and happy to share it with you.
- Is 2 hours enough there? I think it’s enough time if you go at the beginning of the season (like I did). But you might want more time there when it’s peak tulip season and all the fields are properly open.
- It’s very close to Keukenhof Gardens, which is the main tulip spot for tourists. This means you could easily visit both in one day, and some tours do offer this.
This sounds like a fun tour. I love taking photos etc, so the idea of there being crops sounds fun! And the tulip pastry looks so good😍
It was definitely worth it 🙂
What a beautiful and informative post! This really captures the magic of tulip season in the Netherlands! I love how you highlighted the experience beyond just the photos; learning about the history and even picking your own bouquet sounds like such a memorable touch. It’s interesting that places like the Tulip Experience combine fields, a museum, and interactive elements all in one visit, which makes it feel much more immersive than just walking through gardens. This definitely moved Amsterdam higher up on my spring travel list. Thanks for the inspiration!
Yes I agree, the fact that there is an educational opportunity (the museum) and the chance to pick your own makes it very unique. Glad you feel inspired!
Never heard of the tulip pastry, it looks epic! And from your description, that raspberry flavour sounds divine. I would love to try it if I visit Netherlands in spring time.
That tulip pastry was out of this world! Never tasted anything like it before. I think it’s specific to the cafe in this tulip field, because I never saw it anywhere else in the Netherlands.
There are so many ways to see the tulips in the Netherlands. This is a great way to see them for convenience. Too bad you missed the height of the season. It can be spectacular. Can be tricky to plan the timing. Late April is usually your best bet, but you are right, you never know because of the weather! I guess you will just have to make a return trip! 🙂
Yes, I am tempted to return next year just to see if I can catch them fully bloomed.
The tulips in Amsterdam are really on a whole other level!
Theyre so cute! I love tulips
I’ve been to Amsterdam twice and missed the tulips both times! Thank you for your honest review so I know what to expect when I go one day!
you’re welcome 🙂
This is such a helpful and honest review! I like that you mentioned the bloom timing, because that can really make or break the experience. It’s great to see a less crowded alternative to Keukenhof, especially for photos. And that raspberry tulip pastry sounds amazing—definitely something I’d try right away too! Your photos are incredible—I’d love to go there right now!
Yes, I wanted to highlight an alternative because many people think Keukenhof is the only place to see the tulips 🙂
This has been on my bucket list for a couple of years. I never seem to be in Amsterdam at the right time. Last time I missed the tulips by a couple of weeks
It’s very unpredictable. I asked the driver when the best time to catch the tulips was, and he said they can never predict it because of the weather. :/ Hopefully you get to see them some day!
I appreciate the honest review of your tulip experience. I think we’d enjoy visiting without the crowds (enjoying the quieter experience, as well as photo opportunities and the tulip pastries), even if it means somewhat fewer tulips in bloom.
Agree with you on that
I would love to visit the tulip fields in Amsterdam. Great tip about going early in the season and taking a tour to learn more from the driver/guide. Also very helpful to know about the public transport options.
Yes I think it’s a lot easier to go on a tour bus, unless you drive/uber it there.
What a great event to attend, especially combined with a trip to the Gardens. Tulips are my favourite flowers.
Definitely worth a visit during Spring 🙂
I would love to go to Amstredam one day. Those tulips look beautiful and they had pink too. Wow. Nice story thanks for sharing. I don’t know much about Amsterdam but I didn’t know about this place. This is on my bucket list.
Glad you were inspired! It’s definitely worth a visit
I didn’t realise tulips were from Turkey… I wonder how they became such a big symbol of Netherlands?! You definitely did seem to get very lucky with the weather in early April 🙂
I think one of my tour guides said something about the tulips coming to the Netherlands through trade and the Ottoman Empire (don’t quote me on that).
I love tulips – I’d love to visit the Netherlands one day to see the fields in bloom. It’s interesting what you said about Dutch drivers being the friendliest in Europe; I’ve never done a tour there, only a short city break in Amsterdam
Yes I found most Dutch people in general to be very friendly 🙂
Looks like a wonderful experience! Would love to do this next time I got to Amsterdam.
Definitely recommend it 🙂
What a wonderful tulip experience. I’m sorry there was only one color tulip available. It would be fun to have a multicolor bouquet. I’d like to try out that tulip flavored beer.
Yes it would have been nice to have options 🙁 still grateful for the tulips though