Keukenhof Gardens April 9th

It will always be worth the trip - they have lots of bulbs, not only tulips, in bloom. It is now open and the display in the greenhouse is magnificent I understand.
Spring is currently two weeks behind last year, so tulips are currently expected to be at their best in mid May. However should the weather warm up over the next week or so things could speed up.
I would say go, and enjoy it. If you like it and you are only three hours away you could always go again in May

I live in Lisse, about a 5 minute bike ride from my door to the Keukenhof entrance. We just returned from a week in Lisbon and I anticipated that the flowers would have progressed some - - - but they have not.

The fields are mostly just straw with some showing green shoots that are about 10-15 cm high. Today as we drove around a bit, we did see a small field of purple crocuses. The daffodils should be the first ones out but not a sign of them yet.

A lot can change in 2 weeks I have my annual pass and I am looking forward to using it!

May I take advantage of this thread?

After visiting Keukenhof, I want to go to Grote Markt in Haarlem around 5pm. Looking at the connexxion route map, #50 looks like the only bus covering this section. Is it correct that I need to walk to Lisse to catch the bus #50 to Haarlem?

Bus 90 may be closer. See http://tinyurl.com/y8hltjl.

Both bus 50 & 51 go between Leiden-Lisse-Hillegom-Haarlem, arriving at the train station at both ends of the route. Once in Haarlem, follow the walking signs to the Grote Markt, about a 10 minute walk.

Both buses can be caught north of Keukenhof on the N208 by the Nachtegaal Hotel, about a 10 minute walk so it is not necessary to go into Lisse unless you wish.

I located the Nachtegaal Hotel at this coordinate - per Google map (52.272009,4.564129).
Are you recommending going to Nachtegaal Hotel stop

this way?
Loosterweg Noord going north, then Zwartellan, then to N208

or this way?
Loosterweg Noord going south, then Stationsweg, then to N208

I have no reason to go to Lisse other than catching a bus. I was looking at the route map at coordinate (52.263201,4.557645)in Lisse by taking Loosterweg Noord going south, then Stationsweg, then Nassaustraat.

To get to the Nachtegaal:

It is possible to go via Loosterweg and there are flower fields to be seen, but the most direct route is via the exit to the N208. There are several entrances to the park.

Exit the Keukenhof at the gate where the public buses stop (fountain that looks like a dandelion gone to seed, player organ, tour bus parking).
Go straight out and across the tour bus parking lot until you reach the N208.
Turn left.
Wak past a gas station, a round-about, and at the new round-about is the bus stop across from the Nachetgaal.

On Google Maps, the entrance shown is for people arriving by car. The public bus follows the Westelijke Randweg.


I hope that's clear?

I visited the Keukenhof on Sunday and the only flowers that got the memo about it being spring were the crocuses

Most flowers were just emerging from the ground . . .

The pavilions were lovely, however, and there was no problem to take pictures free of people.

What a late start to spring!

hmm.. not clear yet.
Do I need to go to Stationsweg first?
The google street level photos I looked at from Westelijke Randweg looking towards Keukenhof had all the gate shut and locked.

The google map coordinate (52.265178,4.548596) looks like the closest exit from Keukenhof to the N208.

The street view picture was probably taken in one of the 10 months in which the Keukenhof is closed. . .

The Stationsweg exit is for vehicular traffic. As a pedestrian you get to walk straight across the parking area, indicated by those lines in the green. The circular area that is aqua coloured is the dandelion fountain and the actual exit from the garden. With it behind you, walk to the Westelijke Randweg, turn left....

Hello again.

Bus 90 on the N206 to get to Haarlem from Keukenhof.

I will start a new thread since this one has been taken over.