Sometimes city life can feel a bit too...urban. Especially for someone who grew up surrounded by forests, babbling brooks, chirping birds, etc. Lucky for me, the Leiden Botanical Gardens can meet all these needs - plus provide an incredible botanical education!

The Leiden Botanical Gardens are the oldest in the Netherlands - they date back to 1590. A wander through the gardens is a beautiful and restful experience. Check out the indoor greenhouses for tropical plants and trees, and outdoors a huge variety is also on display. There are lots of nice places to sit and relax and enjoy the view.

The gardens are open from 10am to 6pm until the 31st of October. Admission is € 6, but free with a museum card.