ExLibris Boutique Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
ExLibris is a modern city-centre boutique that pairs a stylish, calm feel with one of Leiden's higher review scores at 8.9.
ExLibris is a modern city-centre boutique that pairs a stylish, calm feel with one of Leiden's higher review scores at 8.9.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms at ExLibris are modern and calm, done in muted tones with quality furniture and soft beds. Bathrooms have been redone recently, and each room is sized comfortably for two. What reviewers keep coming back to is the quiet and the cleanliness — this is a place built for a proper rest after a full day on your feet, not a room you just pass through.
Food and amenities
Breakfast is included in the rate and served Dutch-continental, with a varied and fresh spread rather than a token one. This is a small boutique, so you trade the gym-pool-bar sprawl of a big chain for a more personal feel and a high standard on the basics — the front desk, the Wi-Fi and the breakfast all land well in reviews.
Location and getting there
The hotel sits right in the old town centre, which is the whole point. Leiden University, the Hortus Botanicus botanical garden and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden are all a few minutes away on foot. Leiden Centraal station is a 10-to-12-minute walk, and from there it is roughly 15 minutes by train to Schiphol airport — easy enough that you can save the transfer for your last morning.
Things to know before booking
Parking is limited, so if you are driving, confirm a spot with the hotel before you arrive rather than rely on tight, paid street parking in the centre. As a small boutique it has fewer on-site facilities than a large chain. And with rates starting around $177 a night it lands in the mid-to-high band for Leiden, so travellers watching the budget should look at the ibis or the Tulip Inn instead.
Our take
ExLibris is an easy yes for couples, culture travellers and conference-goers who want to walk out the door and be in the old town. You are paying for location, a calm modern room and a strong review score at 8.9/10 — not for a big-hotel facility list. If that is the trade you want, it is one of the better picks in Leiden.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Sits right in the old town centre, so Leiden University, the Hortus Botanicus and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden are all a few minutes away on foot.
- Scores 8.9/10 on Booking.com, with guests consistently praising the service and how clean the place is kept.
- Breakfast is included in the rate and served Dutch-continental, with a varied spread rather than a token one.
- Rooms are quiet and calm in muted modern tones, which reviewers single out as a real plus after a full day of walking the city.
- Bathrooms have been recently redone, and the rooms are comfortably sized for two.
- Parking is limited, so anyone arriving by car should sort it out before turning up rather than assume a spot.
- It is a small boutique, so the range of on-site facilities is thinner than at a large chain hotel.
- At a starting rate around $177 a night it sits in the mid-to-high band for Leiden, so tight budgets will do better elsewhere.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Leiden
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Insider Tips
- Confirm parking with the hotel before you arrive — spaces are limited, and central Leiden street parking is tight and paid.
- Walk five minutes to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden and the Hortus Botanicus garden; both are close enough to do before breakfast wears off.
- Take the train from Leiden Centraal to Schiphol — it is roughly 15 minutes, so you can leave the airport transfer to the last morning.