botanical gardens (hortus botanicus)

The botanical gardens of Leiden are a unique quiet spot in the center of the town. One of the treasurs is the Clusius garden, a replica of the garden where Clusius made his first steps in discovering the genetica of the plants.Another strong aspect of the botanical gardes is the japanese garden. Due to the strong connections of Leiden and Japan there is a separated japanese influenced part of the hortus.In the glasshouses there is also a fantastique diversity of plants to discover.

The Hortus, which lies along the Witte Singel, is one of my favourite places in Leiden. Don't expect a massive botanical garden - it is quite small but very nicely laid out with paths and benches to stop at, lawns too. It is rich in history. A beautiful place to see in Leiden.

The Botanical Gardens in Leiden are a treat for 3 reasons. The outdoor, garden/park is well laid out, runs by the singel, and is a relaxing area in which to stroll on a nice day. The glass-enclosed (greenhouses) gardens are interesting, and extensive. Finally, the cafe is a good place to enjoy a beer, or coffee. A combination of history, nature and facilities make the "Gardens" a worthwhile hour or two.

I expected more. But because of the season there was not that much to see. Luckily you can visit the observatory for free

Really nice gardens - our son loved the carnivorous plants in the tropical glasshouse and the Japanese garden. Even in Winter, it was nice - although I suspect even better in Summer.Lovely little café on site.Don't miss the observatory tour - it was a nice surprise and interesting - the guide made a special effort to translate everything into English for us too!

Nice afternoon walk in leiden, great for families . Very hot in the tropical rooms. Lots of carnivorous plants

Very nice place to visit, located at Leiden University with very rare plants and trees, a must to see !

very beautiful and peaceful place, so many special plants and just like the oasis; also can use museumcard is a good point

This is a very quiet and relaxing place full of beautiful flowers and trees. There is a lot of interesting history surrounding the gardens and is also a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Take as little or as long amount of time you want. A short quiet stroll unhounded by bikes, or learn about plant evolution and enjoy the occasional art installation. A reasonably priced expanded cafe helps for a break. The national Museumkaart allows for free entrance. I have been a number of times and there is always something new to discover.

Although Leiden is a small city it is punctuated by parks and open spaces. The university has a botanical garden which has full and open access for a small fee. Spent several hours there simply wandering about.

We come here with our children three or four times a year. Kids love exploring all the paths. The restaurant is lovely when the weather permits sitting outdoors.

A must see if you are in the area. Beautiful historic garden, both inside and out. Very old cool trees and exotic plants, brought to the Netherlands from all over the world.We enjoyed the walk around.

We spent a couple of hours walking round. The children enjoyed playing in the big fir trees. A lot of money though 35 euros for 4 adults and 2 kids.

The garden offers excellent exhibits of plants including a catwalk if carnivorous plants in the architecturally pleasing glass houses. This is worth a wander for sure.