How to get there
Leiden Centraal train station is about a 20-minute train trip from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, or about 30 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal station. From the Leiden station, it's a five-minute walk up Stationsweg (Station Way) to the tourism office, known as the VVV (pronounced vey-vey-vey).
Leiden VVV
Stationsweg 2D
Daily except September-March, when it's closed on Sunday.
011-31-71-516-1211
www.vvvleiden.nl
Pick up free maps and walking tours. .
What to do
Leiden American Pilgrim Museum
Beschuitsteeg 9
011-31-71-512-2413
www.pilgrimhall.org/LeidenMuseum.htm
Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Fascinating Pilgrim exhibit and artifacts in a 14th-century building
The Pilgrim Archives
Vliet 43
011-31-71-512-0191
www.pilgrimarchives.nl
This room in the city archives building is open Tuesday-Saturday noon-4 p.m. for genealogy research.
Pieterskerk (Peter's Church)
Pieterskerkhof 1a
011-31-71-512-4319
www.pieterskerk.nl
Daily 1:30-4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day nondenominational service starts at 11 a.m. Several Pilgrims are buried at this 14th-century Gothic church, also notable for its two historic organs.
Where to stay
Golden Tulip Leiden Centre
Schipholweg 3
011-31-71-408-3500
www.goldentulip.com/goldentulipleiden
Four-star hotel near the railway station and city center. Doubles from $125.
Hotel Mayflower
Beestenmarkt 3
011-31-71-514-2641
www.hotelmayflower.nl
On a main plaza across from the Rembrandt visitors center, which is scheduled to open Dec. 15. Doubles from $100.
Where to eat
Restaurant Mejuffrouw Janssen
Gangetje 6
011-31-71-513-9023
Intimate restaurant in town center specializes in outstanding Dutch-French cooking. Three-course menus are a bargain at $20.
Annie's Verjaardag
Hoogstraat 1
011-31-71-512-5737
www.anniesverjaardag.nl
The patio of this restaurant at the convergence of the Old Rhine and New Rhine is always busy on warm days. Nibble on cafe food or try the fixed-price, three-course menu for $23.
