How to travel from Haarlem to Leiden, Netherlands

The distance between Haarlem and Leiden is around 29km (18 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 20min.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Haarlem to Leiden by train, bus, taxi and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out LeidenHaarlem if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Leiden Centraal.

  • Duration20min
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    €12($12)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Leiden Leiden Centraal Westzijde.

  • Duration1h 15m
  • Departsevery 10 mins
  • Typical cost
    €8($8)
Operated by

Arriva NL

3
taxi
+

Taxi

Take a taxi to Leiden.

  • Duration31min
  • Departson demand
  • Typical cost
    €130($130)
Operated by

TCA Taxi

+ 7 others
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Leiden.

  • Duration31min
  • Distance40km (25 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Haarlem and Leiden

There are several options for getting from Haarlem to Leiden by train, bus, taxi and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €8 ($8) and will take around 1h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 20min, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €12 ($12).

The distance between Haarlem and Leiden is around 29km (18 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 28km (17 miles)

It takes around 20min to get from Haarlem and Leiden by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 31min to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Haarlem to Leiden is to take the train which takes around 20min and will set you back approx €12 ($12).

The cheapest way to travel between Haarlem and Leiden, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €8 ($8) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Haarlem and Leiden. It typically takes around 20min and departs every 30 mins.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Haarlem and Leiden with no changeovers required. The train runs every 30 mins and takes 20min.

Dutch Railways run train services between Haarlem and Leiden. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 20min, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Haarlem and Leiden. It typically takes around 1h 15m and departs every 30 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Haarlem and Leiden with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 30 mins and takes 1h 15m.

Arriva NL run regular bus services between Haarlem and Leiden. Buses run every 30 mins and take around 1h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Haarlem to Leiden. We recommend that you take the train to Leiden Centraal. instead which will take 20min.

The closest major airport to Leiden is Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) (RTM) which is approximately 23km (14 miles) from Leiden. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) (AMS) and Eindhoven Airport (EIN) (EIN) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Haarlem and Leiden. The distance is around 40km (25 miles) by road and it will take around 31min in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Haarlem to Leiden is to take the train which takes, on average, 20min and will usually cost around €12 ($12).

How do I get from Haarlem to Leiden

Compare travel optionsbetween Haarlem and Leiden

Transport options from Haarlem to Leiden
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
20min
€12($12)
every 30 mins29km (18 miles)
Bus
1h 15m
€8($8)
every 10 mins33km (21 miles)
Taxi
31min
€130($130)
on demand40km (25 miles)
Drive
31min
€7($7)
on demand40km (25 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Haarlem and Leiden

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Leiden

The following major airports near Leiden offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Netherlands and internationally.

RTM
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
23km (14 miles) from Leiden
AMS
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
International Airport
Distance
26km (16 miles) from Leiden
EIN
Eindhoven Airport (EIN)
International Airport
Distance
99km (62 miles) from Leiden