Visiting Peace Palace

About Peace Palace

Funded by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1913, the Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. A visitor centre at the gate explains its history, and guided tours of the building are offered on selected days when the courts are not sitting.

Tip: Check guided-tour availability in advance; otherwise the visitor centre and the view through the gates make a short stop.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 1 hour.
• Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
• Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
• Where: Zeeheldenkwartier, a 19th-century residential quarter of cafés and shops west of the centre.

Best time to visit Peace Palace

To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:

• October: 15°C (59°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
• April: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds.
• May: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds.

When to visit The Hague has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Our 3-day The Hague itinerary visits Peace Palace on day 3, together with Panorama Mesdag and Escher in Het Paleis.

• No. 4 of the 17 sights in our The Hague things-to-do list.
• Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
• Listed in free things to do in The Hague.
• One of the picks in historic sites in The Hague.

Near Peace Palace

Also in Zeeheldenkwartier, so you can walk between them:

• Panorama Mesdag — 1 hour, mid-priced

If you like Peace Palace

• Hofvijver and Binnenhof — Centrum and the Hofvijver, 30 minutes
• Noordeinde Palace and gardens — Hofkwartier and Noordeinde, 30 minutes
• Lange Voorhout — Hofkwartier and Noordeinde, 30 minutes

Staying near Peace Palace

Stay in Zeeheldenkwartier ($$) to walk here: a 19th-century residential quarter of cafés and shops west of the centre. All areas to stay in The Hague.

Questions travellers ask