Public transportation in and around Leiden is by bus and train. Check the travel planner at 9292.nl (website or app) for routes and departure times. OVpay was recently introduced in the Netherlands: paying your train or bus fare by checking in (and out!) with your debit card, credit card, or mobile. It is still possible, but no longer necessary, to use an OV-chipkaart. 

By train

Leiden Centraal is the main railway station, at 10 minutes walking distance from the city centre.

Coming from London by Eurostar, you will have to change trains at Rotterdam Centraal.

Coming from France by Thalys, you will have to change trains at Rotterdam Centraal.

International trains from Berlin (ca. 6½ hours) and Vienna (ca. 14 hours) run to Amsterdam Centraal, from where you can take a train to Leiden Centraal (ca. 40 minutes).

From Dutch airports to Leiden

From Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport: Trains to Leiden Centraal depart every 10 minutes. The trip takes about 20 minutes. Taxi fares from Schiphol to Leiden are ca. € 90. You are strongly advised only to take a taxi from the official taxi stands.

From Rotterdam-The Hague airport: Bus 33 takes you to Rotterdam Centraal Station from where you can take a train to Leiden Centraal. The trip takes about 65 minutes. Taxi fares from Rotterdam The Hague airport to Leiden are ca. € 90.

From Eindhoven Airport: Take bus 400 or 401 to Eindhoven Centraal Station. From Eindhoven Centraal you can travel to Leiden Centraal, by changing trains at Schiphol or Utrecht Centraal. The trip takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Travel by car and parking

Leiden can easily be reached by car (motorways A4 and A44), but the historic centre is car-unfriendly; there is no free parking. If you come by car, we advise you to either book a hotel outside the city centre, or park at Parking Haagweg (€ 21 per day). Haagweg operates free shuttle buses for their clients: from the parking lot to any location in the city centre, and back (every day until 20.00 hrs). 

Warning: Stadsgehoorzaal (location of the festive opening and the congress dinner) is at Breestraat, a street which is forbidden for private cars. Taxis and the shuttle buses from Parking Haagweg are allowed in Breestraat. Buses stop in Breestraat as well.

Getting around the city

Within Leiden, most destinations are at walking distance. If you want to explore the countryside around Leiden, or visit the beach, you can rent a bike from Fietspoint Oldenburger located at Leiden Centraal train station, EasyFiets located at Parking Haagweg, or elsewhere.

Uber does not operate in Leiden. There are several taxi companies; ask your hotel desk.