For as long as I can remember, seeing the tulips in Holland has been at the top of my bucket list. And during a recent trip to Amsterdam, I finally had the chance to do just that.
On a bright and sunny day in April, Anna and I took a day trip to Lisse. Located just half an hour from Amsterdam, Lisse is one of the best places to see tulips. Pictures simply cannot do the tulips justice. I audibly gasped when I saw the fields for the first time, utterly mesmerized by the sheer beauty of it all.
The entire countryside resembled a colorful patchwork quilt. Thousands of rainbow-colored blossoms speckled the fields, looking like a page out of the world's most magical coloring book. I felt like a kid in a candy store, but instead of candy there were feathery violet tulips bobbing next to cotton candy pink buds and pumpkin-colored bulbs flanking cream-colored flowers. It was, in a word, breathtaking.
When to go: Peak tulip season varies slightly from year to year depending on weather, but most of the tulips are in full bloom by April. Keukenhof is open each year from March through May.
Where to see the blooms: Lisse is one of the best places to see tulips in Holland. Start by exploring Keunkenhof, a 79-acre spread which is one of the world's largest flower gardens. The surrounding tulip fields are also a great place to see still more of the famous flowers.
How to get there: If you are in Amsterdam, you can get to Keukenhof by bus or car. We took a bus from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Keukenhof, but there are plenty of other bus stops throughout the city. The bus stops right in front of the entrance, so you don't have to worry about getting lost. You can also rent a car and head there on your own. (Holland doesn't currently allow Uber, so unfortunately you won't be able to hitch a ride that way.)
What to do: Plan to spend an entire day in Lisse. Start by exploring Keukenhof. A giant tapestry of seasonal flowers and plants, the flower gardens are awe-inspiring in their own rite. You can pack a picnic lunch to take with you, but you can also grab food from one of the multiple cafeterias and snack carts lining the property. In addition to sandwiches, salads, and drinks, the cafeterias offer local treats such as bitterballen. Once you are done walking through Keukenhof, you can rent bikes from nearby rental kiosks and explore the Dutch countryside on your own. There are dozens of tulip fields all around Keukenhof. Pick a random backroad and get gloriously lost amid the beautiful fields.