Hortus Botanicus

The basics

Some Amsterdam canal cruises pass by this landmark, allowing you to admire the architecture from the water, but to explore the grounds you’ll need a ticket. Hortus Botanicus began life as a herb garden for Amsterdam’s doctors, so it’s much more compact than sprawling sites such as Kew Gardens or Keukenhof Gardens. Many travelers spend an hour or so seeing the varied plant life here, though it’s easy to while away more time in the pretty café.

Things to know before you go

• Hortus Botanicus is a great choice for families, photographers, garden design fans, and history buffs.

• Admission is discounted for children and students (5–17), and entry is included with the I amsterdam City Card.

• Cash is no longer accepted at Hortus Botanicus: Don’t even think about trying a check! Cards and digital payment apps are fine.

• Large bags or backpacks are not allowed in the gardens, and there aren’t any lockers. You can store luggage on Valkenburgerstraat or Peperstraat for a fee.

• The Climate House is closed for renovations until summer 2025.

• The gravel paths in the garden are generally accessible for wheelchair users, but may be too narrow for mobility scooters in places, while parts of the greenhouses are not accessible to either wheelchairs or scooters. There is a wheelchair-friendly bathroom in the café and a wheelchair available for loan.

How to get there

Hortus Botanicus sits along the Nieuwe Herengracht canal, about a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk or cycle south of Amsterdam Central Station. The nearest metro is Waterlooplein (Lines 51, 53, and 54), and tram options include the #14 to Mr. Visserplein.

When to get there

Hortus Botanicus is open daily, with something to see at any time of year. If you’re there around Christmas and New Year’s, you can catch the Hortus by Night experience on select evenings, when the gardens are lit up with holiday lights. During peak season, visit midweek to beat the crowds.

The Netherlands’ best gardens

During tulip season, travelers flock to Amsterdam to catch the Keukenhof Gardens in bloom, while the Japanese Garden in Clingendael Park near The Hague wows visitors for the few weeks of the year that it’s open. Outside those times, head to Paleis Het Loo near Apeldoorn for formal, French-style knot gardens with fountains, or Mondo Verde, outside Aachen, which has family-friendly recreations of international gardens.