I was wondering if combining the two places in one day to and from Amsterdam would be too much of a rush.
I will be in Amsterdam for 10 days and planning on a few day trips - Kuekenhof Gardens, Edam/Volendam/Marken, Haarlem, plus Delft and Leiden. The gardens are weather dependent - rather a sunny day than rain but will take what I get ;-) thus the question about combining the day trip if really bad weather delays a few plans.
Any thoughts about this are appreciated.
We plan to visit Keukenhof and Leiden on a day trip from Amsterdam. Train to Leiden, bus to/from Leiden -Keukenhof, then time in Leiden before returning to Amsterdam. Seems like it will work as far as I can tell. There are a few combi ticket options for admission and transport. Delft and The Hague may be a good combination for another day. We have done a few trips out of Amsterdam, all easy and fun. The Waterland bus was a favorite that we will repeat; last time we too did Edam/Volendam/Marken. Passed Monnickendam but it looked nice. Great train schedules make for many choices. We are considering a day in Hoorn along with the Waterland next month. I have also learned about Naarden on this site not long ago as another day trip option that appeals. Good luck. We did visit Delft and Leiden in one day, but I regret it now as they both sort of ran together into one blurred memory. You might have a better memory. Have fun!
The logical thing to do is combining Leiden with your visit to the Keukenhof. It's after all the starting point of one of the Keukenhof Express buses.
Delft is best combined with The Hague (Den Haag). They are five minutes apart on frequent trains and it makes a good combination via Vermeer. Delft the city where he worked, the Hague where you can enjoy his paintings in the Mauritshuis museum.
You'll find Volendam and Marken very touristy and very crowded. Hoorn is a historical former port-town and, in my opinion, more enjoyable. It's only 35 mins from Amsterdam on frequent trains.
Thank you both for the quick response to my question.
I hadn't thought about combining Leiden with Kuekenhof. That sounds more practical and something I will do then.
I looked up Hoorn in RS guidebook but still torn about which one is best. I realised Volendam was very touristy but liked the idea of the little ferry ride and the tiny landlocked sea village.
I just saw RS' e-mail about Amsterdam - the mayor has decided not to promote the city - due to hordes of tourists etc. see below from his website. Very funny! Don't think that's going to help :-))
Farther north, in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is thriving. In fact, it's getting so crowded with tourists that the mayor — concerned about the flood of cheese stores, chocolate shops, and kitschy tourism changing the city into a kind of amusement park — recently decided to stop promoting the city, even recommending visitors consider Rotterdam or Delft instead.
All those attractions close to Amsterdam are getting victim of their popularity.
If you want a nice boat trip, consider a visit to Kinderdijk and Dordrecht. Kinderdijk is justified famous for its impressive windmill complex; Dordrecht unjustified not famous for its wonderful position on a crossroads of rivers and a very nice historical centre. Take the train to Rotterdam Centraal, have a leisurely walk to the Erasmusbrug, take the so-called Waterbus to Kinderdijk, have an hour and a half to enjoy this all, take the next Waterbus to Dordrecht, use all afternoon for the city, and take an early evening train back to Amsterdam. When the weather is fine it is one of the most Dutch outings you can get. This gives you the train schedules, and this is the schedule of the Waterbus. This map shows you the route from Rotterdam Centraal station to the Erasmusbrug (reckon with half an hour to be on the safe side).
I found both the OP cities to be rich enough destinations to spend a full day in each. I would add that Delft is only a public transit ride from Den Haag, which is an even bigger city, with plenty to see. (Can you say: "The Girl With A Pearl Earring"?)
You are quite right to plan day trips from Amsterdam, which has plenty of worthwhile daytrips available. Perhaps you should think more carefully about the content of each trip. While I don't mean to slam Edam or Alkmaar, you could say that Delft is an equally attractive (if less expansive) medieval center, which has the additional attractions of painting and ceramics history. Thus, I would downgrade a trumped-up cheese market in favor of a (crowded) Delft. You didn't mention the early-morning flower auction at Alsmeer, which was a must for us, ahead of cheese auctions. But that's personal preference.
See if the search box top center gives any past posts about public transit to Keukenhof. That's a crucial factor. I can't give advice because we had a car while outside Amsterdam. Do you understand how crowded Keukenhof is, and that you should go on a weekday if you possibly can?
With public transport the flower auction at Alsmeer is somewhat of a dead alley. You have to return to (if I remember correctly) Hoofddorp or Schiphol to go on. I'd give it a miss.
Hello tonfromleiden and tim
Thank you for your suggestion and directions quoted here: If you want a nice boat trip, consider a visit to Kinderdijk and Dordrecht. Kinderdijk is justified famous for its impressive windmill complex; Dordrecht unjustified not famous for its wonderful position on a crossroads of rivers and a very nice historical centre
I skipped over Kinderdijk, (didn't know about Dordrecht - sounds interesting - will look them up) as I thought it was a bit too far for a return trip to Amsterdam as I need to go to Rotterdam but your directions and explanation to Kyle in a latter thread today makes it sound quite doable. I have my Chipkaart covering train travel as well so I am covered there.
I saw from your comments that Kuekenhof is very busy but that's ok. If it's too much I can go to Leiden sooner in the day. I'm expecting crowds! and plan to leave AMS early in any case and only during the week. I presume you take the bus from Kuekenhof to Leiden? There is an express bus apparently in the reverse direction according to RS guidebook. From Amsterdam I take the 197 to the airport and from there another bus to the gardens; and take the train from Leiden to Amsterdam.
I look forward to spending the day in Delft. I may have to skip the Vermeers unfortunately if I do the Kinderdijk junket...
I think I will be busy enough as it is. I do plan on walking a great deal in Amsterdam - I spent a day in Amsterdam on the way back from Rome about 3 years ago and wanted to come back as it had such a nice feel to it. (This was Nov. 1, cold and blustery - Rome was 30 Degrees Celcius when I left. What a contrast!)
Thanks again for all your suggestions. I really appreciate it.
Let's hope the weather is fine to enjoy it all.
