Should I stay in Leiden, and if so, what should I do there?
July 13, 2016 5:15 PM Subscribe
I'm attending a conference at Leiden University in about a month and a half, and urgently need to finalize my travel plans. I've never been able to visit Europe before, so I'm considering staying in Europe a few days after the conference. I don't want to spend a lot of time traveling, though, so I'm deciding between either spending the entire time in Leiden, or going to perhaps one other city.
Leiden is not generally talked about has high-up on people's tourist destinations, but at the same time, I've heard from people who really liked it. Should I stay there, or go to a second city?
My idea of a good time while traveling is pretty low-key. I enjoy walking around, taking pictures of pretty old buildings, and sitting in cafés. I also enjoy museums and libraries. I'm sure these things are available in Leiden. Are there best neighborhoods?
If I go to a second city it should be either Paris or Brussels, since I'll likely be flying out of one of these cities. I'm leaning toward Brussels, but both are pretty close. What do you think? If I do go to Brussels, what is the best way to do the things I like?
Leiden is not generally talked about has high-up on people's tourist destinations, but at the same time, I've heard from people who really liked it. Should I stay there, or go to a second city?
My idea of a good time while traveling is pretty low-key. I enjoy walking around, taking pictures of pretty old buildings, and sitting in cafés. I also enjoy museums and libraries. I'm sure these things are available in Leiden. Are there best neighborhoods?
If I go to a second city it should be either Paris or Brussels, since I'll likely be flying out of one of these cities. I'm leaning toward Brussels, but both are pretty close. What do you think? If I do go to Brussels, what is the best way to do the things I like?
And just now I read my own link and find out that the Boerhaave is closed for renovations. That sucks. Still, lots to do, and having been both places, from your description of your interests I think you'd enjoy Leiden more than Brussels.
posted by fifthrider at 5:28 PM on July 13, 2016
posted by fifthrider at 5:28 PM on July 13, 2016
Stay in a pension if they still exist. Eat Leidner Cheese. Totally good stuff.
posted by Oyéah at 5:37 PM on July 13, 2016
posted by Oyéah at 5:37 PM on July 13, 2016
I agree with fifthrider that you can certainly entertain yourself for a few days in Leiden itself; but you can also very easily spend a day or an evening in Amsterdam from a base in Leiden, it's just a short train ride away.
posted by nomis at 5:41 PM on July 13, 2016
posted by nomis at 5:41 PM on July 13, 2016
Leiden is centrally located between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Delft, so you can see nearly all of the Netherlands from one home base.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:43 PM on July 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by kevinbelt at 5:43 PM on July 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
If you've never been to Europe for the love of all go to Paris. You know all the places that are nicknamed "the Paris of [whatever]?" Go see the original.
posted by rtha at 7:33 PM on July 13, 2016
posted by rtha at 7:33 PM on July 13, 2016
Leiden is a nice town. It's a shame about the Museum Boerhaave being closed; fifthrider's other recommendations are great, too. Also the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Molenmuseum De Valk, the Burcht van Leiden, and the SieboldHuis, as well as Cafe Olivier if you like beer.
I think pretty much any neighborhood within the canal ring is nice to walk through. The area around the Koornbrug is a good spot for restaurants and cafes, especially if the weather is nice enough to sit outside.
If you decide to stay in the Netherlands and only visit one other city, I'd choose between Den Haag (10 minutes by train) and Amsterdam (30 minutes by train). I think Den Haag has more to offer when it comes to beautiful old buildings, but of course, Amsterdam is Amsterdam. But Leiden is so centrally located that you can easily also visit some of the smaller Dutch cities, like Delft or Gouda.
posted by neushoorn at 12:26 AM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think pretty much any neighborhood within the canal ring is nice to walk through. The area around the Koornbrug is a good spot for restaurants and cafes, especially if the weather is nice enough to sit outside.
If you decide to stay in the Netherlands and only visit one other city, I'd choose between Den Haag (10 minutes by train) and Amsterdam (30 minutes by train). I think Den Haag has more to offer when it comes to beautiful old buildings, but of course, Amsterdam is Amsterdam. But Leiden is so centrally located that you can easily also visit some of the smaller Dutch cities, like Delft or Gouda.
posted by neushoorn at 12:26 AM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
My recommendations are a bit museum / gallery oriented.
If you like early / medieval european religious art, I'd recommend the Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam. It's awesome and in a nice area with older buildings and interesting shops & nice cafes. Else, as others said, Amsterdam is a very short train trip from Leiden and has all sorts of historical buildings, museums and cafes.
I expect Leiden itself has lovely old buildings and cafes, though I've not explored them myself; you could have a nose around and always travel further if you are bored? Train costs in the Netherlands are based on where you are going and don't vary by how early or late you book your tickets, which gives a lot of flexibility (when I was last there, 4+ years ago... so worth checking).
For your departure choices, I'd prefer Brussels to Paris. Of course it is a matter of taste... I found Brussels to feel less commercial, smaller area so easier to make my way around in a short time period, and well suited to burrowing in cafes and bars. I particularly enjoyed the contemporary art museum Boijman van Beuningen, and the Magritte museum at the Royal Museums, plus the rummage / vintage market called the Marolles flea market.
If you are going to Paris, the choices of what to do are wider, and so recommendations depend on your tastes. That said the Musee D'Orsay is great for impressionist art, the Louvre for a wide mix of early and more recent art. If you like contemporary art the Pompidou is great. And I love the Sainte Chapelle for the stained glass.
posted by yesbut at 4:48 AM on July 14, 2016
If you like early / medieval european religious art, I'd recommend the Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam. It's awesome and in a nice area with older buildings and interesting shops & nice cafes. Else, as others said, Amsterdam is a very short train trip from Leiden and has all sorts of historical buildings, museums and cafes.
I expect Leiden itself has lovely old buildings and cafes, though I've not explored them myself; you could have a nose around and always travel further if you are bored? Train costs in the Netherlands are based on where you are going and don't vary by how early or late you book your tickets, which gives a lot of flexibility (when I was last there, 4+ years ago... so worth checking).
For your departure choices, I'd prefer Brussels to Paris. Of course it is a matter of taste... I found Brussels to feel less commercial, smaller area so easier to make my way around in a short time period, and well suited to burrowing in cafes and bars. I particularly enjoyed the contemporary art museum Boijman van Beuningen, and the Magritte museum at the Royal Museums, plus the rummage / vintage market called the Marolles flea market.
If you are going to Paris, the choices of what to do are wider, and so recommendations depend on your tastes. That said the Musee D'Orsay is great for impressionist art, the Louvre for a wide mix of early and more recent art. If you like contemporary art the Pompidou is great. And I love the Sainte Chapelle for the stained glass.
posted by yesbut at 4:48 AM on July 14, 2016
I actually live in Leiden, if you want specific recommendations, feel free to memail me, I'd be glad to help :)
Reading your post, i think you'll really like Leiden. It is also conveniently located and cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam (my favorite), Delft and Utrecht are all less than an hour away by train and make great day trips. Also seconding all museum recs above, the botanical gardens and the museum of anthropology are my personal favourites.
posted by leopard-skin pill-box hat at 5:35 AM on July 14, 2016
Reading your post, i think you'll really like Leiden. It is also conveniently located and cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam (my favorite), Delft and Utrecht are all less than an hour away by train and make great day trips. Also seconding all museum recs above, the botanical gardens and the museum of anthropology are my personal favourites.
posted by leopard-skin pill-box hat at 5:35 AM on July 14, 2016
And if you're perhaps interested in Japanese culture (I just noticed your username), it might be fun to check out the Japanese connections in Leiden, especially in the botanic gardens and the Siebold Huis.
posted by leopard-skin pill-box hat at 6:00 AM on July 14, 2016
posted by leopard-skin pill-box hat at 6:00 AM on July 14, 2016
You will be 40 min away from Amsterdam by train, and 20min to Rotterdam - You can easily stay at another Dutch town too if you wanted, and then travel to Leiden in the morning/evenings.
Leiden is cute - and *might* be interesting for a non-european for a couple of days, but really, Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht would keep you entertained much longer.
posted by Thisandthat at 6:32 AM on July 14, 2016
Leiden is cute - and *might* be interesting for a non-european for a couple of days, but really, Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht would keep you entertained much longer.
posted by Thisandthat at 6:32 AM on July 14, 2016
Leiden is absolutely gorgeous, with none of the (ahem) annoyances of Amsterdam, but if you're over here you might as well visit a second city — when else would you be so close? Both Brussels and Paris are convenient either by train or plane. How long is your conference? Would it be possible to take a day trip to Amsterdam or Den Haag before heading to another country?
posted by Brittanie at 7:29 AM on July 14, 2016
posted by Brittanie at 7:29 AM on July 14, 2016
Response by poster: So it looks like flights out of Brussels are better right now, so Brussels it is. I'm thinking 1 day in Leiden before the conference, 1 in Amsterdam after the conference (still staying overnight in Leiden), then heading down to Brussels and either staying 1 or 2 days there? This seems like a sensible plan to me, but please let me know if I'm missing anything.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 9:56 AM on July 14, 2016
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 9:56 AM on July 14, 2016
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posted by fifthrider at 5:24 PM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]