Leiden walking tour with live guide and Rembrandt's studio entry

Walk the city where Rembrandt learned his craft, from the 1611 city gate to the fortification tower overlooking the canals.

A guided walking tour of Leiden with a live guide in English, Spanish or Dutch, including entry to Rembrandt's First Studio. The route covers ten stops across the city center, from the Morspoort gate and windmill de Put to St. Pieters church, the city hall, and the 12th-century Burucht fortification: ending at the shopping street or back at the central station. Bottled water and all fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Leiden city walking tour with landmarks

• Visit Morspoort city gate
• See windmill de Put outside
• View Rembrandt artwork in square
• Stop at Beestenmarkt square
• View Stadsgehoorzaal concert hall outside
• Visit St Pieters church exterior
• See Stadhuis city hall outside
• Visit Hooglandse church exterior
• Climb fortification de Burucht
• Walk through Haarlemerstraat shopping street

The experience

Leiden's canals rival Amsterdam's, and this tour moves through them on foot with a guide who knows the layers of the city. You start at the Morspoort, a wooden gate built in 1611 and rebuilt in stone in 1669 in the Dutch Renaissance style. The windmill de Put comes next (rebuilt in 1987 after centuries of grinding corn), then the route turns toward Rembrandt. Before he moved to Amsterdam, the young artist lived and worked in Leiden, and you visit the small square where a bronze relief captures his self-portrait from 1629, alongside a ceramic portrait nearby.

The walk takes in the Beestenmarkt, once a livestock market and now a square with a fountain; the Stadsgehoorzaal concert hall on Breestraat; and St. Pieters church, the city's principal church since 1121, which you view from outside (entry inside costs 5 euros extra and is optional). The city hall dates from 1596 and sits on the route to the Hooglandse church, a 71-meter Gothic structure with a distinctive silhouette. The tour ends at the Burucht, a circular fortification from the 12th century built as a lookout for approaching enemies. You climb it (not suitable for wheelchairs or prams) to see the whole city and surroundings from the top. On the way back, you pass Haarlemerstraat, the shopping street, where you can stop or continue to the central station.

Entry to Rembrandt's First Studio is included, and you get bottled water throughout. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Dutch depending on which option you book. A live guide means the pace and commentary are live, not recorded, and the route is walkable for all fitness levels, though the Burucht climb is the most demanding part of the day.

What’s included

• Entry to Rembrandt's First Studio.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• all fees and taxes.
• a live guide in your chosen language (English, Spanish, or Dutch).

Options for this experience

3 options

City tour of Leiden with a live guide, in the NetherlandsGuide in English, Spanish or Dutch · No fixed timePickup is included

Discover Leiden with a Dutch-speaking guideNo fixed timePickup is included

Leiden with a Spanish-speaking guideNo fixed timePickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Friday

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 10 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 11 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Holidays in Holland

Is this one for you?Book the English or Spanish guide if you want a live commentary on the Renaissance architecture and Rembrandt's early years. The Dutch guide suits travelers who speak the language and want local context. The tour is walkable for all fitness levels, though the climb to the Burucht fortification is the steepest part. Skip it if stairs or heights are uncomfortable, and you can still see most of the city from ground level before heading back.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What was Rembrandt's First Studio in Leiden, and what can I see there?

Rembrandt's First Studio is the small square in Leiden where the young artist lived and worked before moving to Amsterdam. The site holds a bronze relief of his self-portrait from 1629 (the same image he painted in his studio that year), and a ceramic portrait nearby. Entry is included in your tour.

Can I go inside St. Pieters church and the city hall during the tour?

St. Pieters church is usually open from 11 am to 6 pm, and entry costs 5 euros extra if you choose to go inside. The tour views it from outside and explains its history from the exterior. The city hall (Stadhuis) is viewed from outside only. Visiting inside requires a prior appointment and is not part of the standard tour.

What is the Burucht, and do I have to climb it?

The Burucht is a circular fortification dating from the 12th century, built as a lookout for enemies approaching the city. It sits on a hill above ground level and offers views of all Leiden and the surrounding area from the top. The climb is included in the tour, but it is not suitable for wheelchair users or travelers with prams.

How long does the walking tour take, and where does it end?

The tour runs between 1.2 and 1.5 hours on foot. It ends either at the Burucht (where you descend and head back toward the central station) or at Haarlemerstraat, the shopping street, where you can choose to stay longer or return to the station with the group.

Can I add a beer tasting, high tea, or extend the tour to the beach?

Yes. You can add a 2-hour beer tasting or high tea at a hotel for 59 euros per person, or extend the tour into a 6-hour "City til Beach" excursion to Noordwijk for 79 euros per person. Cycling through the Dutch tulip fields (March–May only) is also available for 50 euros extra. These are optional add-ons at checkout.