Quick question: I have found nice places to stay within or close to my $150/N budget in Leiden and in Delft. I am not particularly interested in Delft pottery but the town seems charming. Leiden is a much larger city—which has pros and cons.
In the evening I stroll. I do not “dine” so a posh restaurant scene is not especially important.
Which would make a better base for a couple of days of exploring by rail and bike?
Thanks
With Leiden, you would pretty much explore Leiden, with maybe some biking in the flower fields if the right time of year. Easily more than enough to keep you occupied a couple days.
With Delft, your easy options for exploration expand greatly, with Den Haag and Rotterdam minutes away, adding up to an abundance of opportunities, from art, to architecture, museums on several subjects, shopping, nightlife, beach, just about anything. You could easily spend a week or more, but what that does is gives you more choices that may match your interests over Leiden.
Leiden to Haarlem is only 20 minutes by train, Delft to Haarlem is 40 minutes. Personally I would not change hotels for such a short distance. You can easily day trip to both cities from Haarlem. Why not check out another part of our country? There is so much more to The Netherlands than the densely populated western part. Given how you seem to like to bike, national park The Hoge Veluwe might be of interest.
Thank you. Perhaps Delft, then, as it gives me more flexibility.
This is all rather impromptu — next week — due to a change in Eurail travel plans and suddenly and unexpectedly having a few days to fill in Belgium and the Netherlands..
I had looked into Amersfoort, Utrecht and towns further east to explore the national parks but I am constrained by a hard date to be in Amsterdam (from Harlem ) for the Eurostar. I could find nothing further afield that matched my days and budget. I will get as far north as Hoorn but yes, that is still on the classic tourist trail .
I hope to come back in the autumn for a proper week’s cycling tour of the eastern and southern Netherlands.
Utrecht is almost as rich a destination as Leiden. Amersfoort is very pretty but small, and a walk from the train station.
