Keukenhof Express bus – 2023 FAQ
Taking the Keukenhof Express Arriva bus is the easiest way to travel to Keukenhof from Amsterdam, Schiphol airport and Leiden. Here is everything you need to plan your trip.
Update 11 January 2023: Entrance tickets to Keukenhof 2023 are already available online. Combi-tickets (entrance + Keukenhof express bus) to Keukenhof are expected online in February. If you want to get your tickets right now, you can book entrance ticket (€ 19,50) + Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (from € 21), which is also valid in the Keukenhof Express bus.
Important! The busiest season at Keukenhof has started. The tickets for some days are sold out. If the regular tickets are not available, try booking the Keukenhof tickets + bus tickets instead. Or book your ticket for another date in advance.
What is the Keukenhof Express?
During the Keukenhof opening season (from 23 March to 14 May 2023) there are special direct bus lines, called the Keukenhof Express, going to the gardens from:
- Schiphol airport (bus line 858)
- Leiden (bus line 854)
- Amsterdam RAI (bus line 852).
Keukenhof travel options in 2022. Source: Keukenhof.nl
Check the detailed travel instructions here:
Keukenhof Express bus schedule in 2023 and travel times
You can easily plan your trip with the 9292.nl online travel planner. You will immediately receive travel advice (timetable and the route options) from your departure location.
Travel time by the Keukenhof Express:
- bus line 852 from Amsterdam RAI. Travel time 35 minutes. The bus departs up to 8 times an hour.
- bus line 858 from Schiphol. Travel time 35 minutes. The bus departs up to 6 times an hour.
- bus line 854 from Leiden. Travel time 25 minutes. The bus departs up to 4 times an hour.
- bus line 50 from Haarlem. Travel time 40-50 minutes + 10 minutes walk. Bus 50 is a regular local line bus. It departs 4 times an hour. On Saturdays and Sundays the bus departs 2 times an hour.
Travel times can vary depending on the road situation.
Buy tickets to the Keukenhof Express + Keukenhof entrance >>
Keukenhof Express tickets
Keukenhof combi-tickets (entrance + return bus ticket) in 2022 cost:
- € 33,50 if you travel from Amsterdam RAI
- € 29,50 if you travel from Schiphol
- € 29,50 from Leiden
- € 29,50 from Haarlem, Heemstede, Hillegom
- € 29,50 from Katwijk, Noordwijk or Noordwijkerhout
- € 15,50 tickets for children (4-17).
Buy bus + skip-the-line tickets to Keukenhof >>
Combi-ticketes mentioned above include the Keukenhof entrance tickets and the transportation (return transfer).
You can also buy bus only tickets:
- € 16,00 – from Amsterdam
- € 11,50 – from Schiphol, Haarlem, Leiden, Noordwijk.
To book your bus only tickets choose Day Ticket Bus option during the booking process.
Please note. Due to the COVID-19 virus situation, strict regulations of the government will apply in Keukenhof 2022. A maximum number of visitors will be allowed per day and the Keukenhof tickets will have fixed time slots per day. The bus tickets also have a fixed departure time.
Important! The time you choose during the booking process is based on the departure of the bus. All buses departing 30 minutes before and 60 minutes after the chosen timeslot can be taken. For the buses back for the return transfers there are no timeslots. You can take any bus you want.
If you want to have flexible departure time, you can use a usual OV-chipkaart (Dutch transport card) or Amsterdam & Region Travel ticket (see what’s included in this ticket). Another option is Tulip Festival Card, a combi that includes Keukenhof entrance ticket + Keukenhof Express + two audio guides.
Can I buy Keukenhof combi-tickets at the bus?
No, you can’t buy Keukenhof combi-tickets from the driver.
You purchase a travel ticket from the bus driver only on buses 300, 341, 397, 50 and 90. The price depends on the distance you travel (travelling with an OV-chipkaart or a combi-ticket is much cheaper). Please note that you cannot pay for tickets in cash on the buses in the Netherlands.
What types of tickets are valid in the Keukenhof Express?
- combi-tickets
- day tickets
- OV-chipcard
- Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
- Holland Travel Ticket
- Tourist Day Ticket
So if you already bought your Keukenhof entrance tickets, you can buy one of the travel tickets mentioned above.
Day tickets for all Keukenhof Express buses cost €11,50 (except Bus 852: €16) for adults and €7,50 for children aged 4 – 11. These day tickets (dagkaarten in Dutch) are only available online, you cannot buy them from the driver. Choose day ticket bus only during the booking process.
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The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is a good option if you are planning to visit other places (Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Haarlem, Zandvoort, etc.) and use public transport in Amsterdam (see what’s included in this ticket).
The advantage of the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is that you can take any Keukenhof Express bus, it’s doesn’t have a fixed departure time and gives you more flexibility.
Can I use my GVB ticket in the Keukenhof Express?
No, bus 858 is operated by Arriva. Your GVB ticket, as well as I Amsterdam city card won’t be valid in the bus.
However you can use Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket. It is valid in the bus lines:
- 858 (Schiphol Airport – Keukenhof)
- 852 (Amsterdam RAI – Keukenhof)
- 854 (Leiden CS – Keukenhof)
- 50 (station Haarlem – Keukenhof).
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is also valid for 1-3 days of unlimited travel by bus, tram, metro and train in Amsterdam and surrounding areas (including Volendam, Edam, Marken, Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Zandvoort and Keukenhof. See the full list of included routes here >>). Great option is you are planning to travel a lot!
Order Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket online >>
You can also use the Tulip Festival Card, which is a combi of Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket, the Keukenhof entrance ticket, audio guides and discount codes
Amsterdam Travel Ticket is not valid in any of these bus lines.
Does the Keukenhof Express have any in between stops?
No, it is a direct and nonstop bus that brings you to the main entrance of Keukenhof.
Do I need to wear a face mask in Keukenhof Express bus?
It’s expected that the requirement to wear a face mask on public transport in the Netherlands will be lifted as of Wednesday 23 March 2022. So you won’t need to wear a face mask in the bus after this date.
You also don’t need to wear a face mask in the Keukenhof gardens.
Is the Keukenhof Express accessible to passengers in a wheelchair and mobility scooter?
Yes, it is accessible to the passengers in a wheelchair. There is a special space in the central part of the bus enough for 2 wheelchairs.
However mobility scooters are not allowed in the bus.
Are dogs allowed in Arriva Keukenhof Express?
Yes, small dogs are allowed in the Keukenhof Express. The dog is supposed to be on a leash and may not occupy a seat. Small dogs can travel in the bus for free.
Can I store my luggage in the Keukenhof Express?
No, the Keukenhof Express is a regular line bus, not a tourist coach. Which means the bus will leave as soon as it takes you to Keukenhof.
What time does the 858 AMS-Keukenhof Express begin service?
What time of day?
My flight arrives at 7:30 AM.
In 2019 it used to operate from 08:00 AM. The Keukenhof Express bus schedule for 2020 is not live yet, but I guess it will be something around this time again.
Is Kuekenhof Gardens open in June, 2020? or is the garden only open in April and May?
In 2020 the Keukenhof gardens are open from 21 March to 10 May.
I am not able to purchase the combi-ticket. It keeps stating date not available. Seems like it wants me to buy the Tulip Festival Card.
Hi Ruth, the combi-tickets should become available in the coming weeks.
Hi Ruth, starting from today, the combi-tickets are available for purchase online.
THE COMBI TICKET PRICE TODAY IS 27 OR 32.50 EARO?
The price of the combi ticket depends on your departure location, you can check the prices and book your tickets here – https://www.tiqets.com/en/search?q=keukenhof%20transport&partner=explorer&tq_campaign=en
When you purchase a combi ticket do you need to travel and go to the gardens on the same day or can you travel to and from on different day and visit the gardens on another day?
In general, the ticket is meant to be used for a day trip to Keukenhof.
It’s better to ask the service providers (Keukenhof and Arriva) directly if it will work the way you need it.
When will the new 858 bus schedule be posted for this year?
I’m not sure when (and if) Keukenhof will publish the .pdf brochures with the bus schedules this year. But you can already check it via the 9292.nl travel planner (website or app).
Do you know what time the Express Arriva
852 buses to Keukenhoff start in the morning from Amsterdam Rai station and when they might become available to book?
Hi Anne,
It is not possible to book Keukenhof express Arriva tickets at the moment, and the timetable for 2022 is also not available yet. More information will follow soon (hopefully in the coming two weeks)!
Good news! The tickets are already available online. As faw as I can see, Arriva buses from Amsterdam RAI start at 07:30 every morning.
If I buy a return ticket can I use it over two days?
Hi Sarah, no, unfortunately not. You have to use your return ticket on the same day.
Hello, I booked a ticket for entrance to the park. I just got the entry but do not have transportation and will need to take the 852 bus, and will be coming from Museumplein. I’m wondering what to do – I can’t figure out how to buy just transportation…Thanks in advance :).
Hello! You can buy a bus only ticket. They are now available online. After you pick the date and time, there will be an option to book Adult (12+) – Day Ticket Bus only. Have a nice visit to Keukenhof!
Is it possible to use the Combi ticket to leave on a different bus than when I arrived? I am leaving from Amsterdam so wanted to purchase the 852 combi ticket, but after the gardens I will go straight to AMS airport for my flight – so would I be able to then take the 858 on return instead of the 852?
Hi Dulchinea, that’s a good question.
It was always possible in the prevous years, so I expect that the answer is yes. But I’ll try to find an official proof of information. When I know more, I’ll update this comment.
hi.. is there any update on this? we are planning to request for a different bus coming back.. we take the (our combi-ticket) Amsterdam RAI to Keukonhof.. but we need to be in Leiden after the visit. is it possible to take the Keukenhof express going to Leiden on our return? Thanks a lot!
Yes, it’s possible, no problem!
When I book the Keukenhof combi-tickets, I realized that the return ticket must be used on the same day. We plan to stay in Lisse for a few days. The return time would be the first bus 25.4.2022 from Keukenhf to the Airport. Is this possible on bus line 585?
I couldn’t find a bus schedule. When will the buses start in either direction in the morning?
Hi Ene! You’re absolutely right, with a combi-ticket the return ticket must be used on the same day.
You can check the bus schedule here – https://9292.nl/reisadvies There is no schedule for 25 April 2022 yet, but the schedule for Monday 18 April 2022 says that the first Keukenhof Express bus 858 departs from Keukenhof at 08:35. Next buses depart every 10 minutes.
According to the 92929.nl travel planner, there is also a direct Arriva bus 361 from Lisse to Schiphol. It departs starting from 05:12 in the morning. It’s a regular bus, so there you can probably buy a ticket from the driver.
I wish to take the Keukenhof express bus from Leiden central, and then from Keukenhof to Europaplein. Is this possible with an OV chipkaart?
Hi Aurora! Yes, you can travel in both buses with an OV chipkaart. 9292.nl website can show you what your journey will cost.
When will Express bus + Keukenhof admission combo tickets from Leiden be available for the 2023 season?
Hi Bruce! Probably beginning of 2023. We’ll post an update as soon as they are available!