Visitor centre or telescope tour?
The visitor centre presents Plants & Planets, an exhibition connecting science, art and nature with questions about the origins of life. A walk-in tour takes you to a historic telescope in a dome beside the main building.
Private tours offer a different route, including the main building and rooftop telescopes. Choose the type of visit you want and check the university's current programme and booking information.
Plan your visit
A walk-in tour takes about an hour. Follow the meeting-point instructions in your booking; the university explains where visitors arriving from the Hortus should report. Check access requirements before booking a dome visit.
Location, opening hours & tickets
Address
Oude Sterrewacht LeidenSterrenwachtlaan 11
2311 GW Leiden
16-minute walk from Leiden Centraal, next to the Hortus botanicus
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11:00–16:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00–16:00 |
| Friday | 11:00–16:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00–16:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00–16:00 |
Admission
Museumkaart not accepted
Opening hours and prices are indicative — check the official website before your visit, especially around public holidays.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the observatory part of the Hortus botanicus?
- The Old Observatory stands on the same university grounds, right beside the Hortus botanicus on Rapenburg. Many visitors do both in one afternoon; check whether a combined ticket is available when you go.
- Can you actually look through a telescope?
- Check the programme for the tour or observing evening you book. Visiting a historic telescope does not guarantee an observing session.
- What are the opening hours of Oude Sterrewacht Leiden?
- Oude Sterrewacht Leiden is open on Wed–Sun 11:00–16:00. Closed on Mon, Tue. Check the official website around public holidays.
- How do I get to Oude Sterrewacht Leiden?
- Oude Sterrewacht Leiden is a 16-minute walk from Leiden Centraal, next to the Hortus botanicus.
Continue exploring Leiden
- Historic LeidenExplore historic Leiden through Rembrandt's early years, the Pilgrim Fathers, Pieterskerk, university sites and the city's 1574 story.
- Young Rembrandt StudioThe Young Rembrandt Studio tells the story of Rembrandt's apprentice years in his home town. Address, map, opening hours and tips.
- Wall poemsLeiden's muurgedichten project painted more than a hundred poems on city walls in dozens of languages. A self-guided route through the best of them.
- The Leiden Weaver's HouseMuseum Het Leidse Wevershuis shows how a weaver's family lived and worked. Address, map, opening hours and visitor tips.