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CTY Books

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for CTY Books

Signature Suite (Virginia Woolf) | In-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk
Signature Duplex (Thorbecke) | Private kitchen | Fridge, stovetop, espresso maker, coffee/tea maker
Signature Duplex (Burcht) | Living area | 40-inch Smart TV with digital channels
Signature Room (Roald Dahl) | In-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk
Lobby

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Room service
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
Nieuwe Rijn 2, Leiden, 2312GP
  • Place, Waag
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Hortus Botanicus
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Leiden University
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Amsterdam (AMS-Schiphol)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Signature Suite (Virginia Woolf)

Signature Suite (Virginia Woolf) | In-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk

Signature Suite (Virginia Woolf)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 31 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Signature Suite (Hemingway)

Signature Suite (Hemingway) | Private kitchen | Fridge, stovetop, espresso maker, coffee/tea maker

Signature Suite (Hemingway)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 42 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Signature Room (Roald Dahl)

Signature Room (Roald Dahl) | In-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk

Signature Room (Roald Dahl)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 33 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Signature Suite (Agatha Christie)

Signature Suite (Agatha Christie) | In-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk

Signature Suite (Agatha Christie)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 43 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Signature Duplex (Thorbecke)

Signature Duplex (Thorbecke) | Private kitchen | Fridge, stovetop, espresso maker, coffee/tea maker

Signature Duplex (Thorbecke)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • 41 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Canal view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Signature Duplex (Burcht)

Signature Duplex (Burcht) | In-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk

Signature Duplex (Burcht)

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(7 reviews)
  • 40 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Signature Loft

Signature Loft | Living area | 40-inch Smart TV with digital channels

Signature Loft

  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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About this property

CTY Books

Hotel in Leiden
Along with a library, this smoke-free hotel has express check-in and express check-out. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, tour/ticket assistance, wedding services and a TV in a common area are on-site.
CTY Books offers 6 air-conditioned accommodations with espresso makers and a safe. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. 40-inch Smart televisions come with digital channels. Accommodation at this 3-star hotel has kitchens with fridges, stovetops, kitchenware and utensils and coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms include a shower and hairdryers.

This Leiden hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones; local and long-distance calls are complimentary (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and an iron/ironing board can be requested.

During your stay at CTY Books, you're just a quick walk from Waag. Enjoy features like free WiFi in public areas and a library.
  • Free WiFi
  • Services include tour or ticket assistance, luggage storage and wedding services
  • Steps from Waag and Burcht
As a guest of CTY Books, you'll find a library, a terrace, and tour/ticket assistance. WiFi is free in public spaces. CTY Books also features express check-in, room service (during limited hours), and express check-out.

This 3-star Leiden hotel is smoke free.

Room service (during limited hours) is available.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Offsite parking available from 7:00 AM to midnight (EUR 21 per night)

Things to do

  • Library
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room kitchen
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Living room
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Virtual front desk
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Outdoors

  • Outdoor entertainment area
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • Communal living room
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 40-inch smart TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Espresso maker
  • Hob
  • Kitchen
  • Limited room service
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Free long-distance calls
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • Living room
  • Mobile key entry
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Window screens

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out
Late check-out fee: EUR 50
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and smart lock details; access will be through a private entrance
A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests
Guests who require assistance after check-in may contact the property via the mobile phone provided in their room.

Access methods

Private entrance, smart lock

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 3.50 per person, per night

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Nearby parking fee: EUR 21 per night (1969 ft away; open 7:00 AM to midnight)
  • Late check-out fee: EUR 50

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit/debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
This property does not have a front desk. Guests will receive an email 24 hours before arrival with check-in information and smart lock details. Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance. A virtual front desk provides assistance to guests.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

National rating

This property does not have a Netherlands Tourist Board rating. For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our ratings system.

Property is also known as

CTY Books Hotel
CTY Books Leiden
CTY Books Hotel Leiden

CTY Books Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 54 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Joshua

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service

Great place to stay to explore Leiden!

Great place to stay to explore Leiden! We stayed for a couple of nights and were in the Netherlands for a wedding and visit friends, which meant we were usually out late. This meant we weren't too disturbed by the bars under the hotel as they close relatively early (around 12pm-1am on Fridays and Saturdays). Earplugs are provided which work really well. The location is the main selling point for this hotel if you don't mind a bit of noise at night, very central and gives you an amazing feel for the city as well as good food, bars and sights at walking distance The space itself is lovely! It has character and a nice finish. Although some of the reviews say they have trouble with the digital keys, it worked flawlessly for us. The only negative to our stay was the responsiveness of the host. The response via Whatsapp was very delayed or didn't happen at all, and I tried calling about luggage storage (which was available) but did not get a response. Overall would recommend and will stay again if visiting Leiden.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice place in a fantastic area

Amazing room although could use a freshen up paint wise . Housekeeping was hit and miss but didn’t really bother us . If you stay in the Virginia Wolfe suite be prepared for some notice and NO privacy from the street of your shutters are open., also everytime someone opens and shuts the main door you Weill hear and feel it in this suite . All that being said it was a great place to stay and a great location, easy to get to public transport and restaurants and bars. Leiden itself is beautiful rain hail or shine .
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Katherine

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort

Older couples beware

Maybe I should have read more reviews.....I knew there was not an elevator, but I did not realize how steep the spiral staircase was to room 6, but then there was also another spiral staircase (made of wood and metal) to get to the bedroom. In addition to that the bedroom has beams to knock your head into. .... overall at 55/59 years young we did not feel comfortable. Also, room was super hot when we arrived. There were no directions to the thermostat and shades were open...after a meltdown we figured out the thermostat... directions would have helped. On a positive note, we did enjoy a stovetop, sink, fridge, and microwave. Overall, if lots of spiral steps are not your thing, CTY books might not be a good choice. If you like lots of character and being near restaurants/shopping, you might like it.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Suh Young, Falls Church

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is a beautiful small hotel right across from the City Hall. I loved the author themed-room, spacious, beautifully decorated, comfy (+AC). The location was perfect, lively Wed market, AH supermarket nearby, and a gelato place next door. The killer is stairs. They were steep, narrow, winding, and you have to haul your luggage up. Also, it is a staff-less hotel meaning no one to welcome you, all the housekeeping requests via Whatsapp and things get done silently without any acknowledgement. Also, Leiden is a university town and you'll need a pair of ear plugs Fri-Sun. One more thing, don't forget to charge your phone because you can not even enter the hotel lobby. Still, I would stay again if I revisit Leiden.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Helene

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great for some, perhaps not all

Know that this is a staff-less boutique hotel. Very centrally located which means convenient/sometimes noisy. The staircase (no lift) is very steep - perhaps not okay for some. The VWoolf room is right above the main door; when guests come in and out, the building shakes. Lovely room, bathroom, necessary A/C (!)
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaron

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property in a wonderful location. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again, but there are a lot of steep stairs up to the room and in the room itself. This might be trouble from people with mobility issues.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This is one of our favourite accommodations ever! Wonderful location and beautiful room and view facing the canal (room 3). It could get loud at times but closing the windows and shutters helped a lot. We had no issues sleeping. The bed is super comfy! It’s perfectly equipped and a good size. We didn’t want to leave
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Allison

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
CTY Books is in the perfect spot in Leiden, with a market just outside twice a week. Lots of amazing pubs/restaurants around too! The room was lovely (we had the loft) with a perfect view of the canal!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Morgan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location in the very centre of Leiden. Three floor steep climb to a duplex with the bedroom up one more floor, the bathroom on the other floor. You want to be in good shape and not need to rush to use the loo during the night. The view from the top floor bedroom is worth the effort.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

David

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Why ask for my opinion of the staff when it is a staffless establishment?
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful hotel, very comfy bed. Just be warned, the stairs are very steep and there is no lift.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

James, Monticello

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is located in central Leiden. It is beautifully situated. The room and general hotel are unique in a good way. The difficulty is the spiral staircase (particularly if you've travelled internationally with a suitcase). The automated doors were new to us, but we adjusted accordingly. Unlike some staffed hotels, it's not possible to check-in early, so it's good to be aware of that when planning. Overall, though, the proprieter was responsive and friendly. I would stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

C

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
There was considerable noise from the street, but ear plugs are provided and they did the trick. The location, room, and the city of Leiden are all wonderful.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra M

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Will stay there again for my next meeting

Had very pleasant stay at CTY. The windows are thin but they supply earplugs in the “reception”. I’m quite noise sensitive so probably wouldn’t stay in this room around the weekend, but that’s just me. It took me a while to figure out how the sitcom worked, so it was very cold the first morning. This also turned out to be because one window wasn’t closed properly (which also helped a bit with the noise, but not much). There was room service, which I didn’t expect to a two night stay. And the best iron i have ever experienced in a hotel! Made it really easy to iron my shirts. Location is central and lovely atmosphere. Will stay for next meeting as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sophie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location and spacious place.

Lovely place, fab location, really spacious and we were so happy with our choice. We were in the Virginia Woolf room on the 1st floor and I’d highly recommend as the view is great and only up one flight of the steep stairs! It is noisy due to its super location in the thick of things, but we didn’t mind that. The electronic access etc worked fine for us all the time and we liked having the little kitchen.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Peter

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hazel

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Character Property in great location with lots of dining options on the doorstep. Manager was on hand most mornings and able to assist where needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

alan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Fine
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

jason

Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lise

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Philip

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was nice with a living area/kitchen on one level and a bed up in the loft area. Only downside was the steep narrow staircases to get to our room which some people, especially with large suitcases, might struggle with. Otherwise a pleasant stay.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024