During our Holland tour, we also stopped in the pretty cool city of Utrecht. We felt like we were in the middle of a much more relaxed version of Amsterdam. Busy canals, cool cafés, trendy shops, pretty sights, and a cozy atmosphere describe Utrecht pretty well.
While Amsterdam is completely overcrowded and sometimes a bit stressful, you can relax and still experience a lot in Utrecht. In today’s post, we’ll show you our favorite Utrecht highlights and sights. Have fun browsing and trying them out!
- Utrecht in the Netherlands
- Utrecht Highlights & Sights
- 1. The picturesque canals
- 2. The Cathedral and Dom Tower
- 3. The flower market in Janskerkhof
- 4. The beautiful old town
- 5. Utrecht Highlights – Lombok
- 6. Break in the botanical garden
- 7. In the evening: Trajectum Lumen
- 8. Kasteel de Haar castle complex
- 9. Utrecht Highlights – Zuylen Castle
- 10. The city’s museums
- Arrival and mobility
- Cool accommodations in Utrecht
- More impressions of Utrecht
Utrecht in the Netherlands
Utrecht is a very manageable and relaxed city with around 359,000 inhabitants (for comparison: Amsterdam has just under 820,000 people). Located almost in the center of the country, it awaits you with a beautiful medieval old town, many pretty buildings, cool shops and cafés, picturesque canals, and other great highlights. Utrecht is also said to be the “roaring and beating heart of Holland.”
We recommend at least 2 full days for Utrecht, but 3 or 4 days are better. There’s a lot to see, but don’t stress yourself out. You can explore one of the oldest cities in the country on foot, by kayak, by bike, or by boat. Get a city map from the tourist information office and embark on an exciting and varied tour of exploration. In the following article, we’ll reveal some of our top highlights in Utrecht.
Utrecht Highlights & Sights
In the following map, we’ve listed all Utrecht highlights and sights for you. There are, of course, many more, but we haven’t seen everything. If you have another top highlight for this map, please write it in the comments and we’ll include it. However, this overview is perfectly sufficient for a first impression.
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1. The Picturesque Canals
Utrecht’s canals are considered an absolute highlight of the city and are an integral part of the cityscape. We often sat by the water, watched the hustle and bustle, and photographed many of the historic facades. The most famous canal is probably the “Oudegracht,” which is around 2 kilometers long. Here you’ll find numerous cozy restaurants and cafés in the old shipyard cellars. Many of them also have comfortable terraces right on the water.
You can explore the canals (Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht) not only on foot, but also from the water. Informative boat tours and cruises are offered (click here for the brochure), but you can also rent a canoe or pedal boat. Get a canoe with a route map and explore the canals on your own. At the canoe rental at Oudegracht 275, you can get a canoe for just €6 per hour. Stromma Pedal Boat Utrecht offers pedal boats for €25 (seats 4 people).
- Utrecht: City Canal Cruise*
- City Tour & Balkan Restaurant Lunch OR Dinner*
2. The Cathedral & Dom Tower
When you’re in Utrecht, you shouldn’t miss the beautiful Cathedral and the Dom Tower (Domtoren). The tower is the symbol of the city of Utrecht and is also the tallest tower in the Netherlands at 112 meters.
Once you’ve climbed the 465 steps, a fantastic view of the city awaits you. What’s also fascinating is that the bell chamber contains 14 bells, weighing between 880 and 18,000 pounds. Crazy, right?
Prices for the climb:
- On foot via the stairs: €10 (children’s discount)
- By elevator: €17.50 (children’s discount)
- Bookable here: www.domtoren.nl
Be sure to also take a detour to the beautiful courtyard. Here you’ll find the cathedral’s cloister garden, which boasts many ornamental plants and herbs. According to online reviews, this garden is one of the most beautiful enclosed gardens in the Netherlands.
We also found it very beautiful, albeit touristy. You can explore the cathedral on a guided tour and see the various rooms and floors (tours of the church and the underground DOMunder start at €9).
3. The Flower Market in Janskerkhof
Flowers and Holland – they belong together. There’s a market somewhere in Utrecht every day, but the “Bloemenmarkt” is particularly beautiful. It takes place every Saturday on the Janskerkhof between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. This market is a true paradise for plant lovers; more than 700 different plants await you here. Flower markets also take place on the Oudegracht and in Bakkerbrug at this time. Just go with the flow and marvel at the hustle and bustle at the markets.
4. The beautiful old town
What we particularly liked about Utrecht are the many cool and quaint shops. Whether antiques, junk, books, clothes, or knick-knacks – Utrecht offers the full spectrum. The two canals, Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht, flow through the old town and are very popular with locals and tourists.
On sunny days, life mainly revolves around the water. Stroll along the canals and, as always, just go with the flow. You’re guaranteed to discover lots of cool spots. Between Hamburgerstraat and Vrouwjuttenstraat you’ll find lots of cool antiques and second-hand shops.
Cool shops in Utrecht
- live today
- Spellenwinkel Subcultures
- Cheese & More by Henri Willig Vismarkt
- Stripwinkel Blunder
- Vollers 362
- Blackbird
- Overview of all the cool shops and cafés here
- Shopping route here as PDF
5. Utrecht Highlights – Lombok
We stayed in a cool Airbnb (sadly, it no longer exists) in the multicultural district of Lombok. It’s located not far from the city center and offers plenty of cool cafés, international restaurants, and food stalls. Today, it’s mostly home to young students who like to hang out around Kanaalstraat.
We found the atmosphere in Lombok really cool and especially liked the many fresh fruit and vegetable stalls. We can also recommend the Café Koffie & Ik. Here you can find delicious coffee and cake, healthy snacks, and stable internet.
6. Take a Break in the Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden in Utrecht is located in the east of the city, right in front of the university. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle, enjoy a picnic in this beautiful, lush garden with hundreds of flowers and plants from all over the world.
There are also cool festivals here throughout the year, such as the music festival “deBeschaving” and the China Light Festival. The garden shop with the garden café Botanica is really nice. Admission: €7.50 for adults, children up to 12 years free (March to December 1st daily from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM).
7. In the Evening: Trajectum Lumen
Have you ever heard of “Trajectum Lumen”? It’s a discovery tour in the dark, past stunning light art works by various renowned artists. In the evening, various objects, buildings, canals, bridges, and streets are illuminated in a special way.
Stroll through the historic center and experience Utrecht in a completely different way. The lights go out again at midnight. The route takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours. You can get a free route map from the Tourist Office (VVV) on the Domplein or here.
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8. Kasteel de Haar Castle Complex
Just a half-hour drive from Utrecht lies the largest castle in the Netherlands. Kasteel de Haar was built between 1892 and 1912 and belonged to a very wealthy aristocratic family at the time. If you have enough time, you should take a look inside the castle and see how the nobility once lived here.
Stroll through the beautiful gardens with wide avenues, babbling ponds, idyllic bridges, a deer park, and a labyrinth. Admission costs €17, with a discount for children. The park and castle are open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except on public holidays).
9. Utrecht Highlights – Zuylen Castle
One of the special Utrecht highlights is Zuylen Castle, located 7 km north of the old town. This building was built in 1520 and enjoys a very idyllic location. The castle is surrounded by water and can only be reached via a small bridge. Inside, you’ll find a large collection of porcelain, paintings, furniture, and carpets belonging to the van Tuyll van Serooskerken family, who lived here for more than 300 years. Admission is €13, with a discount for children. The castle is open Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
10. City Museums
Utrecht is home to a number of cool and interesting museums. For example, the Museum Speelklok (Museum of Music) has an extensive collection of music boxes and automatic musical instruments. If you’re interested in contemporary art and influential Dutch artists, you should also visit the Central Museum in Utrecht. Betje Boerhave’s Grocer’s Shop (Kronier) is also very charming. This quaint corner shop is located in the city center and shows you how people used to shop in the 19th century. The Railway Museum and the Nijntje Museum are popular with children.
Arrival & Mobility
By train: Utrecht is located in the center of the country and is well connected to the public transport network. From Amsterdam, it is just 30 minutes to Utrecht, and 45 minutes from Rotterdam and The Hague. There are also daily trains to Brussels, Cologne (2.5 hours), and Paris. As you can see, Utrecht is easily accessible by train.
By car: If you are coming from the Ruhr area, it is easy. By car, for example, it takes just 2 hours and 40 minutes from Cologne, and only 2 hours from Essen. Even from Hamburg, it takes less than 5 hours to get to Utrecht. It’s best to park your car in one of the P+R spaces (from €5 per day).
On-site: You can stroll through the city center and explore Utrecht on foot. You can also easily reach all directions by S-Bahn and city bus. Exploring by bike is also recommended. For example, you can rent a bike from William Street Bike BV for €7 per day.
Cool Accommodations in Utrecht
This hotel is located in the heart of the Lombok district and offers stylish rooms, a lovely terrace, bar, and restaurant. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, a comfortable bed, and a seating area.
4 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor* from 289 reviews
The Hunfeld Hotel is located in the center of Utrecht, making it ideal for your city trip. Simple yet stylish rooms and a terrace await you. Guests particularly praise the location and the delicious breakfast.
4.5 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor* from 298 reviews
The Eye Hotel, which is also located right in the city center, is also really cool. The rooms are air-conditioned and have a private bathroom, TV, toiletries, and a desk. The hotel even offers bicycle rentals.
4.5 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor* from 850 reviews
The Star Lodge Hotel is located next to the Voorveldse Polder city park and features a garden, terrace, bar, restaurant, and children’s playground. The rooms are simply but very modernly furnished.
4 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor* from 487 reviews
The Mother Goose Hotel is located right in the center of Utrecht, just 90 meters from the Vecht canal. The rooms are very individually designed and furnished with great details and designer furniture. Previous guests particularly praise the service and location.
4.5 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor* from 758 reviews
The Bunk Hotel Utrecht is located in the northern city center, housed in an old church. A cool bar, a shared lounge, and individual rooms await you here. Previous guests particularly appreciate the super friendly staff, the location, and the architecture.
4.5 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor* from 2588 reviews
More impressions from Utrecht
