GUIDEBOOK : Tiptoeing to the Tulips

Getting there: Keukenhof Garden is about a five-minute drive from Lisse, which is between Haarlem and Leiden. Rent a car and drive through flamboyantly colored flower fields en route. Road signs point to inexpensive and ample parking.

Travelers on tight schedules can book morning or afternoon guided tours to Keukenhof that leave from the Amsterdam central bus station. A scenic 3 1/2-hour tour costs about $30 for adults, $15 for children.

Most tourists travel to Keukenhof by train via Leiden or Haarlem, both less than 30 minutes from Amsterdam. From either Leiden or Haarlem it’s a short bus ride to Lisse’s Hyacinthenstraat. From Lisse, a shuttle bus connects for a five-minute trip to the park through exquisite woods, with classic Dutch homes and canals peeking through foliage.

Admission: Hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is about $9 for adults, half that for children 4-12. Discounted combination rail, bus and admission tickets are available at railway stations in major Dutch cities. From Amsterdam, round-trip transportation, which requires both train and bus travel, about $16 for adults, including entry. Visitors in wheelchairs are admitted free with prior arrangements; discounts for travelers 65 and over.

To order bulbs: Growers accept cash or checks. One amaryllis bulb is about $7; 30 hyacinths cost under $20. Tulips with 50 bulbs start at about $22. Prices include shipping and customs charges. Mature bulbs are sent at proper planting time.