The Best of Leiden: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

1 h 15 min – 2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

The Best of Leiden: A Self-Guided Audio Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll discover how a medieval town transformed into a center of knowledge and culture that shaped global history.

The tour begins at the Hartebrugkerk. You’ll weave through narrow alleys and alongside picturesque canals, exploring the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, where medical science flourished. Along the way, you’ll discover how commerce, religion, and innovation shaped this influential Dutch city.

You’ll climb the ancient Burcht van Leiden, a fortress that’s stood guard over the city for nearly a thousand years. Along quiet canals, you’ll find wall poems painted in dozens of languages and hidden hofjes (courtyard almshouses) that tell stories of charity and community. The tour ends at the ornate Renaissance façade of the Stadhuis.

By the end of this tour, you’ll understand how this seemingly quiet Dutch city played an outsized role in science, art, and global affairs throughout history.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Historical Tours Walking Tours Culture New Product Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 15 min – 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: App for Android and iOS
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones

Itinerary

Hartebrugkerk

Passing by

This self-guided audio tour around Leiden begins at the Hartebrugkerk (Heart Bridge Church), a fitting starting point where a wooden bridge has connected the city since the 1300s.
Rijksmuseum Boerhaave

Passing by

You’ll weave through narrow alleys and alongside picturesque canals, exploring the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave where medical science flourished.
Museum De Lakenhal

Passing by

Visit the former Cloth Hall (Lakenhal) that showcases how textile trade brought wealth to Leiden
Stop 4

Passing by

Marvel at the Morspoort, one of only two surviving 17th-century city gates
Stop 5

Passing by

Walk along the prestigious Rapenburg Canal, often called one of Europe’s most beautiful waterways
Stop 6

Passing by

Experience the vibrant Aalmarkt, once the bustling center of the city’s fish trade
Burcht van Leiden

Passing by

You’ll climb the ancient Burcht van Leiden, a fortress that’s stood guard over the city for nearly a thousand years.
Stop 8

Passing by

Explore Pieterskerk, where the Pilgrim Fathers worshipped before departing on the Mayflower
Stop 9

Passing by

Explore Leiden University, founded in 1575 as a reward for the city’s resistance during the Spanish siege, and where Einstein once taught as a visiting professor
Hortus Botanicus Leiden

Passing by

See the Hortus Botanicus, where tulips were first planted in the Netherlands, sparking the famous tulip mania
National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)

Passing by

National Museum of Antiquities
Stop 12

Passing by

The tour ends at the ornate Renaissance façade of the Stadhuis (City Hall), which has served as Leiden’s administrative heart for generations.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

This self-guided audio tour starts in front of the Hartebrugkerk. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

This self-guided audio tour ends in front of the Leiden City Hall.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]