Food and drinks
Evening Atmosphere Leiden City centerEvening Atmosphere Leiden City center
Koornbrug in LeidenKoornbrug in Leiden
Culinary delight

Private Leiden City Tours with a Local Guide

Explore Leiden's museums, markets and hidden corners on foot, by bike, or however you like to move.

Discover the Leiden You Won't Find in a Guidebook

Happy couple visiting LeidenHappy couple visiting Leiden
Leiden Coat of Arms
Boat, birds and park at Plantsoen LeidenBoat, birds and park at Plantsoen Leiden
Leiden terrace at canal by nightLeiden terrace at canal by night

A private, personal way to experience Leiden

Discover Leiden runs private, guided tours through the city, on foot, by bike, or at your own pace. Every tour is exclusively yours, just you, your group and a local guide, with no strangers and no fixed script. Whether you're drawn to Leiden's food, its history, or want something more active, your guide shapes the day around what actually interests you, not a one-size-fits-all route.

Visiting Leiden as a tourist?
Come explore with us!

If you're visiting Leiden as a tourist, a private guided tour is one of the easiest ways to get beneath the surface of the city without planning a route yourself. Your guide handles the "what to see and when," you just show up and enjoy it. If you'd like more than one kind of experience, we also run tours that combine several interests, food and history in one afternoon, or a more active day that still makes time for the sights, so you can build a day around what interests you rather than picking just one thing.


What kind of tour are you looking for?

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Taste Leiden - Food, Drinks & local stories
‍Explore Leiden Culture - History, Art & Hidden gems
‍Get active in Leiden - Cycling, Canals & Adventure
 

View of churchView of church
Enjoy food and drinks during a guided tour in LeidenEnjoy food and drinks during a guided tour in Leiden

Why book a private tour?

Your own pace: No large group to keep up with or wait for, your guide moves at your speed.

A local guide: Your guide knows Leiden's streets, stories and hidden spots that don't make it into guidebooks.

Food, culture or activity, your choice: Pick the tour that matches what you're actually in the mood for.

Your group, your experience: Whether you're travelling as a couple, a family or a group of friends, the day is shaped around you.

Flexible & personal: Want to adjust the route or combine interests? Just ask.

Overview

Tour options

Culinary Tour

€249
/per person
4-5 hrs · Private ·2 people minimum

Embark on a journey through Leiden's culinary heritage with our Culinary Tour. Enjoy a Gin Tasting, sample Dutch cheeses, try artisanal chocolates with our Chocolate Workshop, and taste local apple pie.

Your guide then leads a Dutch pub crawl through the heart of Leiden, with traditional drinks and snacks along the way, and a Classic Leiden Dinner to finish. Along the way, your guide shares the stories and history behind each stop.

Includes:
Private local guide
Gin Tasting
Dutch Cheese
Chocolate workshop
Artisanal apple pie
Pub Crawl
Classic Leiden Dinner
Perfect for: couples and small groups who want to eat and drink their way through a city
Duration: approximately 4 to 5 hours
Up to 6 people · Larger groups on request

Cultural Tour

€179
/per person
4-5 hrs · Private · 2 people minimum

Discover the stories, art and hidden corners that shaped Leiden. Visit Hortus Botanicus, oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands, and The Lakenhal museum, stopping at a traditional Dutch windmill and visiting Leiden's prominent churches.

Along the way, your guide points out the wall poems scattered through the city's streets, each one telling its own story. The tour ends with dinner at the historical Prentenkabinet.

Includes:
Museum De Lakenhal
Hortus Botanicus
Traditional Dutch Windmill
St Peter's Church and Hooglandse Church
Leiden wall poems
Exclusive dinner
Perfect for: couples, families, and history lovers curious about Leiden's past
Duration: approximately 4 to 5 hours
Up to 6 people · Larger groups on request

Active Leiden Experience

€199
/per person
4-5 hrs · Private · 2 people minimum

Get moving on our Active Leiden Experience, combining Dutch-style cycling with a mix of hands-on activities. Paddleboard through Leiden's canals, take on indoor climbing, and step into a Virtual Reality experience.

The tour also includes a healthy snack and a visit to De Burcht, a medieval fortress in the heart of the city, for a break from the activity and a view over the rooftops.

Includes:
Paddleboarding on the canals
Virtual Reality
Bicycle provided
Healthy snack
Wall climbing
Visit to De Burcht (city fortification)
Perfect for: couples, small groups, active visitors who want more than a walk
Duration: Approximately 4 to 5 hours
Up to 6 people · Larger groups on request

Prefer the water?

€99.5
/per person (starting price)
90 min to 4 hrs · Private · Boat Tours · 2 people minimum

Looking for a different way to see Leiden? Our sister experience, Discover Canal Cruises, runs private boat tours through Leiden's historic canals, cosy cruises, big group tours, and seasonal specials.

Travel through Leiden in style on a private boat with your own personal English-speaking guide and captain.

We offer tours ranging from intimate 2-6 person private tours to big group arrangements with snacks and drinks available on board, and seasonal specials.

Sit back and relax as you enjoy the most beautiful places of Leiden from this unique water perspective.

Check out our specialized Canal Cruise arrangements through the button below


"Highly recommend this company for a Leiden canal tour!..."
‍
‍-Google guest review
FAQ

Answers to our most common questions

Where do the tours start?

What do I get to see during the tours?

How long do the tours last?

In which language are the tours given?

What should I bring/wear?

Can I cancel or reschedule my booking?

Are there any tours available during the evening?

What happens if the weather is bad?

What is the best way to explore Leiden while visiting as a tourist?

How far in advance do I have to be at the location?

How many people can join a tour?

Are the tours available all year round?

Can we request a custom route or tour?

What are the best activities in Leiden?

Where can I buy tickets?

Is the tour accessible for guests with limited mobility?

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Is the tour guided?

contact

Get in touch with us :)

Do you want to receive further information about the tours we provide or do you want to receive a tailor-made quote? Send us a message below and we'll get back to you!
‍

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Lights along canal in LeidenLights along canal in Leiden