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Utrecht Day Ticket

€  6,20

Public Transport Utrecht. Using this card it is easy to travel in the city and direct area.

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Public Transport Utrecht

With this ticket you are able to travel unlimited with all busses and trams within Utrecht. Very convenient if you are visiting Utrecht for one day. Of course this ticket is really handy when you forgot your ov chipcard or prefer a day ticket.

What is it?

An Utrecht Day Ticket is a travel card that allows you to travel with all the trams and busses within Utrecht for a really good price. Ideal when you wish to visit multiple places in one day. The ticket is also really convenient when traveling with a large group of tourists for example.

What does it cost?

The price for an Utrecht Day Ticket is only € 6,20. Children under the age of 4 are allowed to travel for free with the public transport.

How to use?

The day ticket is really easy in use, just like when using the public transport with an ov chipcard the only thing you need to do is checking in and out at the appropriate points. The only difference is that at the end of the day the travel product can be discarded.

Why Public Transport Holland?

When  being in The Netherlands you will immediately notice that the main way of traveling in the bigger cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague is by using public transport and the easiest way to use this is with a Public Transport Chip Card (or OV-chip card). This is a plastic card on which you put credit to pay for the bus, metro or train, no more hassle with all the different paper tickets anymore! In our web shop it’s very easy to buy an OV-chip card for everyone, in this way you can prepare for your transport during your holiday or business trip in Holland when you haven’t even left home yet!

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Utrecht Region Pass

The Utrecht Region Pass is the hospitality card of the Utrecht region that allows visitors to travel easily by public transport to, from and within the Utrecht region. It promotes environmentally friendly travel and allows visitors to explore the many sights this region has to offer.

How does it work?

The card can be booked online. Upon registering, the card is linked to your credit card.  You will receive a specification of the trips made and the destinations visited with the associated costs.

The card can be picked up from a selected location in Utrecht. After receiving the card, you can immediately travel by public transport. For more information, please see the Utrecht Region Pass website .

Zoeksuggesties

• Tourirst information
• Central Museum
• Where to stay
• Utrecht Lumen
• Sightseeing

Prac­ti­cal in­for­ma­ti­on

Utrecht is a city packed with beautiful locations and fun activities. To help make your day out in Utrecht a success and to ensure that you find your way around with ease, here is all the necessary practical information about the city.

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Utrecht Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 9, 2023

I first ended up in Utrecht because a friend lived here. To be honest, the city wasn’t on my travel list (it often gets overshadowed by Amsterdam and Rotterdam ). But I was blown away by how cool and interesting the city was.

Utrecht is like a mini-Amsterdam. It’s similar in design and vibe but lacks the overbearing crowds. The old city is centered around a historic church and there are tons of fantastic places to eat and drink owing to the student population.

I think Utrecht is an underrated place to visit, especially since it’s so close to Amsterdam. It makes an easy day trip for anyone looking to escape the overbearing hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.

This Utrecht travel guide can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this underrated gem!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Utrecht

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Utrecht

1. See the Domkerk

Utrecht is centered around St. Martin’s Cathedral, also known as the Domkerk. This Gothic cathedral dates back to the 14th century but there have been religious buildings on the site since the 1st century. Construction of the building lasted 266 years but was never completed due to a lack of funds. The nave of the church was destroyed in a storm in 1674 but the choir and the tower (Domtoren) are still standing and the space between the two has become the modern-day plaza. The cathedral has a beautiful exterior, though the interior isn’t super impressive. On Saturdays, you can attend Zaterdagmiddagmuziek , a free concert held at 3:30pm. Admission is free.

2. Visit the Domtoren

Separate from the Domkerk thanks to the 1674 storm, the Dom tower can be seen from anywhere in the city. It contains 64 bells including 14 swinging bells. You can hear them from wherever you are in the city center. You have to take a guided tour to climb it. It costs 12.50 EUR (there is a lift but it’s closed until 2024 as part of the restoration works) and takes an hour.

3. Hang out on the Old Canal

The main area of town is centered near the Oudegracht, or “Old Canal.” Connecting the Kromme Rijn and the Vecht rivers, it’s the main canal in town. Along its edge are all kinds of shops and restaurants. In the 12th century, Utrecht’s citizens dug tunnels from the dock to their canal houses, which resulted in its layered double dock design. There are 16 pretty bridges that cross over the river that are illuminated at night.

4. Visit the Railway Museum

The railway museum is located inside one of the city’s old railway stations. The museum is super informative and interactive and has a wide range of old trains, model trains, hand cars, draisines (maintenance vehicles), and art on display. You can ride a mine lift, see the first Dutch steam locomotive, and watch actors play scenes about the Orient Express in a large auditorium. Tickets are 17.50 EUR.

5. Explore Castle de Haar

This is actually the Netherlands’ biggest and most luxurious castle, showcasing the wealth of history and art that once belonged to the wealthy Van Zuylen family. It’s a medieval fortress complete with towers, moats, ramparts, and drawbridges. On the grounds are beautiful parks and gardens to explore as well as a small chapel. Admission is 18 EUR.

Other Things to See and Do in Utrecht

1. take a free walking tour.

The first thing I do when I get to a new destination is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to learn about a new city on a budget. You get an introduction to the history and culture while also meeting a local expert guide who can answer any and all of your questions. Free Walking Tours Utrecht offers regular free tours that can introduce you to the city and show you the main sites. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Find De Letters van Utrecht

De Letters van Utrecht is one of the most unique art projects in the world. It’s a “poem for the future” that grows every year along the stones of a canal path. It’s written one character at a time, one letter per week, and it’s meant to go on for centuries. The lines are being written by different poets from the Guild of Poets, and each Saturday a stonemason pulls out the next stone from the canal path for the poet to etch a letter. The poem is in Dutch, but you can find the English translation online.

3. See the Centraal Museum

This is the city’s main museum. It was established in 1838 and features a sizeable collection of artwork from well-known artists like Gerard Van Honthorst, Abraham Bloemaert, and Hendrick ter Brugghen. It’s also home to the largest collection of Rietveld pieces in the world (a famous Dutch furniture designer and architect). Admission is 13.50 EUR.

4. Spend an afternoon at the Museum Speelklok

This museum is home to all kinds of self-playing instruments. It’s super quirky and neat (it’s great for kids). Music boxes and clocks and other self-playing instruments originated in the 17th century and this museum showcases their development and evolution. Make sure you see Violina, an impressive self-playing violin orchestra. Admission is 14 EUR.

5. Peruse the street markets

Utrecht’s bustling street markets are really fun to explore on foot. On Saturdays, there’s a colorful Flower Market at Janskerkhof selling everything from roses to sunflowers. On Breedmarkt, there’s an affordable fabric market (the largest and oldest in the country). If you’d rather sample lots of food or shop for fun souvenirs, check out the market on Vredenburg every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s a great place to wander, people watch, and snack as you explore.

6. Travel underground at DOMunder

You can go underneath the Dom Tower at DOMunder to retrace the city’s history all the way back to 2,000 years ago when the Roman army first built a garrison here. The exhibition is super interactive and requires you to use a flashlight to navigate around. There are three tours but the one in English costs 12.50 EUR and takes 75 minutes.

7. See what’s on at TivoliVredenburg

This huge contemporary music complex has six individual concert halls designed to feature genres from pop to jazz music and everything in between. You can find just about any type of show here, whether it’s a children’s concert, a heavy metal show, or a techno rave. The best way to find out what’s on is to visit the official website where they have a schedule. There’s something every night of the week. Tickets range from 7.50-40 EUR but they also have some free events.

8. Hang out in Park Lepelenburg

Park Lepelenburg is a relaxing park not far from Utrecht’s city center. It dates to the 19th century (before which it was part of a fortification) and forms a part of the sprawling canal-side Zocherpark (a larger park). Locals come here to lounge around in the summer and have picnics and barbecues. There are lots of events here throughout the year too, including theater and live music. Bring a book and spend some time relaxing like a local.

9. See Rietveld-Schröderhuis

This small house is a UNESCO-recognized monument. It was built in 1924 by the famous Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld. It’s hard to describe how futuristic this place is, but the walls literally move. Rietveld built the house based on the principles of De Stijl , a unique art movement that began in 1917. It’s one of the only true De Stijl buildings in the world. There are a lot of reds, blues, and yellows throughout (primary colors are a key element of the style). You have to book in advance if you want to visit, and admission is 19 EUR.

10. Visit the Botanic Gardens

The Utrecht University Botanic Gardens, located in Fort Hoofddijk, is a 22-acre garden home to a diverse collection of plants from all over the world. There’s a tropical greenhouse, a birders den, beehives, a rock garden, and endless stretches of green space to explore. Admission is 8.50 EUR. The gardens are closed from December to March.

  For more information on other cities in The Netherlands, check out these guides:

• Amsterdam Travel Guide
• The Hague Travel Guide
• Rotterdam Travel Guide

Utrecht Travel Costs

Hostel prices – There are only a few hostels in Utrecht. A hostel dorm bed typically costs between 20-35 EUR per night for a room with 6-8 beds. Private rooms start at around 95 EUR per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard but only a couple of hostels have self-catering facilities.

For those traveling with a tent, a basic plot without electricity can be found outside the city for as little as 10 EUR per night for one person.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels cost 75-100 EUR per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, and AC.

Airbnb is also an option around the city, with entire homes/apartments starting at 80 EUR per night (closer to 115 EUR if you want to stay near the city center). Private rooms start at 50 EUR per night. Expect prices to double when not booked in advance.

Food – Dutch cuisine typically involves lots of vegetables, bread, and cheeses (gouda originated here). Meat, while historically not as prominent, is a staple of dinner meals. Breakfast and lunch usually involve open-faced sandwiches, often with cheeses and cold cuts. Dinners are very much a “meat and potatoes” meal, with meat stews and smoked sausage being two popular choices. For those with a sweet tooth, the stroopwafel (a waffle cookie with a syrup filling) is the go-to choice, though apple tarts/pies are also local favorites.

Cheap meals at fast food joints like McDonald’s cost around 9.50 EUR for a combo meal. For a casual meal of traditional Dutch cuisine, expect to pay 15-25 EUR for a main dish with a drink. For a multi-course meal with an appetizer, main, dessert, and a drink, expect to pay at least 35-40 EUR.

Chinese food costs between 10-15 EUR while a pizza costs around 10-12 EUR. Beer is around 5 EUR while a latte/cappuccino is 3.50 EUR. Bottled water is around 2 EUR.

If you cook your own meals, expect to pay 40-60 EUR per week for groceries. This gets you basic staples like pasta, rice, vegetables, and some meat or fish.

Backpacking Utrecht Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Utrecht, expect to spend about 60 EUR per day. This budget covers staying in a hostel dorm, taking public transit, cooking all of your meals, limiting your drinking, and doing free activities like walking tours and lounging in the parks. If you plan on drinking, add at least 5-10 EUR per day to your budget.

A mid-range budget of about 145 EUR covers staying in a private Airbnb, eating out at some cheap local restaurants, enjoying a few drinks, taking the occasional taxi to get around, and doing more paid activities like visiting museums or the castle.

On a “luxury” budget of about 265 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out whenever you want, drink as much as you’d like, take more taxis, rent a bike or car for exploring outside the city, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you spend more, some days you spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Utrecht Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

While not the most expensive city in the Netherlands, Utrecht isn’t super cheap either. Thankfully, since it’s a university town, there’s a lot of cheap eats, free attractions, and places to drink in the city. Here are some ways to save money in Utrecht:

• Get the Museumkaart (Museum Card) – This card gets you into several museums in Utrecht and beyond for only 64.90 EUR. With the Museum Card, you get access to over 400 throughout the Netherlands. It’s also good for repeat visits as well. If you plan on visiting a lot of museums, this card might save you money.
• Bike – Biking is the cheapest form of transportation around Utrecht. You can rent a bike for just a few euros a day. Utrecht is also very small and easily walkable too if you don’t want to bike.
• Attend a free festival – During the summer, everyone is outside. Check with the local tourism board and with your hostel/hotel staff for a list of free concerts, festivals, shows, and markets. Once the weather gets warm, the social calendar fills up!
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing is a platform that lets travelers stay with locals for free. You get a free place to stay and get to connect with a local who can share their insider tips and advice. Since a lot of travelers use this service, make your requests for hosts early.
• Cook – Dutch food isn’t going to win any culinary so cook your own food to save money. Eating out can really destroy your budget!
• Take a free walking tour – Free walking tours are a great way to meet people and quickly get your bearings in any city. Utrecht Free Tours offers free walking tours several few times a week. You get a great overview of the city and can get insider tips from your guide. Just remember to tip!
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Utrecht

There are not too many hostel options in Utrecht so book your stay early. Here are some suggested places to stay:

• Stayokay Utrecht Centrum
• Hostel Strowis
• BUNK Hostel Utrecht

How to Get Around Utrecht

Public transportation – Utrecht is well connected by train, tram, and bus. Tickets cost 2.90-6.60 EUR depending on how far you’re traveling. You can buy day tickets in the main hall of Utrecht Central Station.

If you’ve already been traveling around the Netherlands and have a reloadable OV-chipkaart, you can use this same card on the Utrecht system as well. It’s used for all modes of transport, you just have to load money onto it. With the card, you pay a starting rate of 0.90 EUR and then 0.14 EUR per kilometer.

Bicycle – If you’re not walking everywhere, a bicycle rental is the way to go. Utrecht’s aim is to be the most bike-friendly city in the world, and it seems to be working. There are many businesses renting bicycles. Bicycle rentals through Black Bikes cost 11 EUR per three hours while Laag Catharijne charges 8.50 EUR per day. Donkey Republic, which is a bike-sharing app with locations all over the city, charges 3.30 EUR per hour or 13 EUR per day. There is also OV-fiets which works through the NS app. You can rent a bike from OV-fiets for just 4.15 EUR for 24 hours.

Taxis – Taking taxis is not advised. They’re very expensive AND the city is small enough you can walk everywhere. Skip them!

Ridesharing – Uber is available here, but it’s also not super cheap. If you can, skip the ridesharing.

Car rental – You don’t need a car to get around the city, however, if you want to explore the region outside Utrecht you can find rentals for as little as 30 EUR per day for a multi-day rental. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is only required if your license does not use the Roman alphabet.

When to Go to the Utrecht

The busiest and most popular time to visit Utrecht is between July and August. The weather hovers around 23°C (74°F) and there are lots of events and activities. While the city is busy, it’s not nearly as crowded as Amsterdam.

Overall, the weather is never very extreme, and visiting during the shoulder season is also ideal. There are fewer people around and prices are a little bit cheaper in both the spring and fall. Just pack a rain coat as showers can occur.

The average daily temperature in the winter is 2°C (35°F). While not my favorite time to visit, Utrecht is still a lovely place to visit in the winter months. Just make sure you dress warmly.

How to Stay Safe in Utrecht

Utrecht is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel. Violent attacks and petty theft are rare.

There are a few common scams to be aware of, such as people trying to sell you expired public transit tickets. Be wary of purchasing a really cheap bike from someone off the street as well — it’s likely been stolen.

You you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Utrecht Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Utrecht Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling the Netherlands and continue planning your trip:

The 8 Best Hotels in Amsterdam

The Best Walking Tours in Amsterdam

Where to Stay in Amsterdam: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 34 Best Things to See and Do in Amsterdam

The 9 Best Hostels in Amsterdam

My Suggested 3-5 Day Itinerary for Visiting Amsterdam

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

This City Has All the Charms of Amsterdam, Without the Crowds

What to eat, see, and do in utrecht, the netherlands’ artsy second city..

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The best time to visit Utrecht is May through September.

Photo by Jussi Puikkonen

Lively university vibes, frisky nightlife, iconic canals . . . Utrecht offers much of what nearby Amsterdam does, without the crowds and fuss. (It also has delights all its own. Devotees of Miffy, the cartoon rabbit immortalized by Dutch artist Dick Bruna, are cheering the recent renovation and expansion of the city’s beloved Miffy Museum .) In addition to the classic sites—the Rietveld Schröder House , the Centraal Museum , the Van Schijndel House —the following belong on the traveler’s itinerary.

What to do in Utrecht

Máximapark has ample outdoor seating, plus a butterfly garden.

Photos by Jussi Puikkonen

Utrecht’s most visible landmark, this 14th-century Gothic bell tower rises 369 elevator-free feet above the city, an athletic attraction as well as a historic one. The heart and bowels of two Holy Roman emperors are allegedly interred here. This is old Utrecht distilled.

De Stijl Bike Tour

In honor of De Stijl’s 100th anniversary in 2017, the Utrecht tourism board, in collaboration with the Centraal Museum, designed a bicycle route to traverse the movement’s pivotal sites in the province: the old mansion where Gerrit Rietveld first designed furniture, Robert van’t Hoff’s modernist Villa Henny, a full-scale replica of Piet Mondrian’s studio, and more. Running 26 miles between Utrecht and Amersfoort, the gentle ride doubles as an idyllic tour of the surrounding region.

As Utrecht’s western edge grew, this urban park came along. Opened in 2013, Máximapark covers 741 gorgeous acres that are crisscrossed with bike paths, canals, gardens, marshes, art installations, and farms, making it a lovely place for a picnic and an all-day visit.

The painting didn’t stop after De Stijl. Contemporary Utrecht is jammed with inventive street art. Take a 1.5- to 2.5-hour walking tour with local operator Greetings from Utrecht to see the literary, the romantic, the notable, and the 3D, or download a map from the company for a self-guided jaunt around town.

Where to stay in Utrecht

The Nox Hotel Utrecht

• Location: Keistraat 8, 3512 HV | Find on Google Maps

A short stroll from Domtoren but tucked away on a quiet side street, this 23-room hotel blends modern with grand: Think hip globe lights in a 17th-century building. Great food awaits in every direction, including at French restaurant Hemel & Aarde downstairs.

Moxy Utrecht

• Location: Helling 1, 3523 CB | Find on Google Maps

Just outside the historic center, the 172-room property features a canalside terrace and, yes, an Instagram-ready model of Gerrit Rietveld’s famous chair. For a bigger helping of De Stijl, the Centraal Museum is a short bicycle ride away.

Where to eat in Utrecht

Ruby Rose is known for its decor, coffee, and wine.

• Location: Heuveloord 25A 3523 CK | Find on Google Maps

On the top two floors of a 1907 brick water tower, fine vistas collide with fine dining. Watertoren ’s offers dishes such as haddock with sea buckthorn berry, and beetroot with furikake and elderflower, which diners can enjoy while gazing at panoramic views from the 10th-floor terrace or while watching the busy chefs from the tables on the ninth floor that encircle the open kitchen, effectively creating a high-end cooking show.

• Location: Korte Jansstraat 23, 3512 GM Find on Google Maps

Originally a flower shop in a grand 1904 art nouveau building, Ruby Rose is a delightfully garish shrine to all things floral. The decor is a vibrant setting for the next-level charcuterie and salads (don’t miss the burrata). The café is on the Korte Jansstraat, near the sea of tulips and roses that is the Saturday Bloemenmarkt.

14 Best Attractions & Things to Do in Utrecht

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 22, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Utrecht, the fourth largest city in the Netherlands and the capital of the province of the same name, lies on the geographical divide between the country's fenlands and sandy heathlands. This position favored the development of the town over the centuries as the heathlands, lying higher, were out of reach of the North Sea's often devastating storm tides.

From very early times, Utrecht was one of the principal political, economic, and cultural centers of the Netherlands. It's also the seat of the provincial administration, and home to a famous university founded in 1636.

Tourism also makes a significant contribution to the economy, and the picturesque Old Town with its numerous historical buildings surrounded and intersected by canals offers many fun things to do for tourists and attracts large numbers of visitors year-round. It's an especially nice city to explore after nightfall, particularly in winter during the city's popular KNUS Winter Market and Festival (held during the lead-up to Christmas) and the city's traditional Christmas Market, held in the Mariaplaats.

Learn more about these and other city attractions with our list of the top things to do in Utrecht.

See also: Where to Stay in Utrecht

1. See St. Martin's Cathedral

2. climb the domtoren: the cathedral tower, 3. wander around cathedral square and domunder, 4. st. catherine's convent museum, 5. take a drive to de haar castle, 6. explore utrecht's "old canal," oudegracht, 7. take a utrecht kayak tour, 8. visit museum speelklok, 9. see utrecht's art & artifacts collections at centraal museum, 10. enjoy a train ride at the railway museum, 11. huis doorn: the kaiser's house, 12. rietveld schröder house, 13. utrecht university botanic gardens, 14. st. peter's church, where to stay in utrecht for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in utrecht, utrecht, netherlands - climate chart.

In the heart of Utrecht lies Cathedral Square, the Domplein, where you'll find St. Martin's Cathedral. Most often referred to by locals as the Dom Church (Domkerk), this fine building is considered to be one of the most important churches in The Netherlands.

While the original structure was built in 1254 on the site of an earlier Romanesque church, today this impressive cathedral consists of the 14th-century choir, the 15th-century transepts, and two chapels. The original much larger structure incorporated the massive nearby Domtoren , the tower that became separated after the destruction of the nave during a tornado in 1674. The ruins were only cleared away in 1826, when the Domplein was laid out, with restoration finally completed in 1988.

Highlights include numerous old tombs and a crypt known to contain the internal organs of Emperors Conrad II and Henry IV, who died in Utrecht. Of particular note is the picturesque 14th-century cloister linking the cathedral with the university. Above its windows are scenes from the life of St. Martin, the patron saint, while in the center of the beautiful Cloister Garden is a fountain with a bronze figure of a monk.

While a visit to the cathedral remains one of the top free things to do in Utrecht, you can splash out a little for a pleasant repast in the on-site tearoom. Visitors are also welcome to attend Sunday services.

Address: Achter de Dom 1, 3512 JN Utrecht

Official site: www.domkerk.nl/

Looming high over the old city of Utrecht is the old cathedral tower, the Dom Tower (or Domtoren). This massive structure was separated from the Cathedral of St. Martin after the devastating storm of 1674. Built between 1320 and 1382, it stands a tad over 112 meters high and houses an impressive carillon of 50 bells, many of them centuries old, including some that date back to the 1600s. And be sure to pay a visit to the structure after nightfall when it's lit up in dramatic fashion.

Still the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, its viewing galleries offer magnificent panoramic vistas of the old city and the Domplein - on a clear day, you can see as far as the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam (remember, it's a flat country!). The 465-step climb is worth it, as you'll also get to see the bells up close. The climb is only available as part of a guided tour, but it's well worth the price.

Two chapels can also be visited within the tower: St. Michael's , the Bishop's domestic chapel, and the Egmond Chapel , home to an exhibition on the history of this spectacular structure and a visitor center (the RonDom). An interesting tidbit: local planners use an old ruling that no new structures can be built that would challenge the supremacy of the Domtoren as the city's tallest structure.

Address: Domplein 21, 3512 JE Utrecht

Official site: www.domtoren.nl/en

Like many historic cities in the Netherlands, Utrecht has numerous old public squares. By far the most important, though, is Cathedral Square (Domplein, or "Dom Square"). Named after the magnificent St. Martin's Cathedral, it's a lovely space to visit, especially for the many attractive old buildings that frame it.

In addition to the cathedral and the mighty Dom Tower (Domtoren), here you'll find the attractive (and colorful) Utrecht University building, as well as the Utrecht Tourist Information Office, a great place to begin your exploration for its helpful staff and useful tourist resources.

It's also here you'll find one of the city's newest attractions, a unique new exhibit called DOMUnder . As the name suggests, this fascinating self-guided tour takes you underneath Cathedral Square on an exciting journey that reveals the remains of the city's rich 2,000-plus-year history.

Armed with a flashlight that doubles as a visual-guide (English language available), you find yourselves literally dozens of feet underground and wandering a route that takes in the remains of the original Roman fortress, Trajectum, which started things off.

Your 75-minute adventure also includes a number of old cellars, as well as displays relating to the devastating 17th-century tornado that destroyed parts of the cathedral. English language audio tours are also available. ( Editor's Note : Tickets to this popular attraction sell out quickly, so avoid disappointment and book in advance of your visit to Utrecht.)

Address: Domplein 4, 3512 JC Utrecht

Official site: www.domunder.nl/en

In the former hospice of the Order of St. John, St. Catherine's Convent Museum (Museum Catharijneconvent) deals with the history of Christianity in the Netherlands. Opened in 1978, it's the country's largest collection of medieval art treasures, with sections devoted to church interiors, religious beliefs, and medieval monasteries.

In addition to a large collection of 17th- and 18th-century material, other exhibits include valuable books and manuscripts, and a model of the original St. Martin's Cathedral with explanations of its history. Also on-site is a display of embroidered Flemish church vestments of the late Middle Ages. English language guided tours are available, along with audio guides. There's also an on-site shop and cafe, as well as a reference library.

Address: Lange Nieuwstraat 38, 3512 PH Utrecht

Official site: www.catharijneconvent.nl/visitor-information/

Built by Dutch architect PJH Cuypers, De Haar Castle (Kasteel De Haar) is not only the largest castle in the Netherlands, it's widely considered to be the most attractive thanks to its fairy-tale good looks. It is so large that when it was built in 1822, the whole village of Haarzuilens had to be moved. The castle is just 16 kilometers west of Utrecht, and highlights of a visit are its large collection of antiquities, furniture, paintings, and tapestries, along with its rich décor, including ornate wood carvings and tableware, and a rare Japanese coach designed especially for women.

The grounds, too, are wonderful to explore and comprise some 135 treed acres, along with fountains and a lovely formal garden. Events and festivals are also often held here, including the annual Country & Christmas Fair. An on-site store is available for those seeking souvenirs.

Just a short drive northwest of Utrecht in the quaint village of Oud-Zuilen is the impressive Zuylen Castle (Slot Zuylen). Although its roots date back to the 1200s, the structure you see today dates from 1510, with modifications added in the mid-18th century. Entrance is by guided tour only, but it's well worth it for the chance to explore this well-preserved mansion.

Address: Kasteellaan 1, 3455 RR Haarzuilens

Official site: www.kasteeldehaar.nl/english/

A highlight of a visit to Utrecht is exploring the beautiful Oudegracht (Old canal). This marvel of engineering runs directly through the city center and is the perfect place to visit for a pleasant stroll or, if you've got the time, a sightseeing cruise or kayak adventure.

The canal starts in the southeast section of the city and traces, in part, what was once the original route of a section of the Rhine. The northern section of the Oudegracht includes segments of a canal built around AD 1000 that connected the Rhine to the River Vecht.

Once Utrecht's network of locks was completed in 1275, the shores of the canal began to be settled, with numerous quays, wharves, and warehouses added. Today, many of these old buildings and their cellars have been turned into restaurants, cafés, galleries, and boutique shops.

One of the best ways to see the Oudegracht, along with the city's other charming canals, is from the water. Undoubtedly one of the best such adventures is the popular Utrecht Kayak Tour . This fun experience departs in the afternoon from Domplein, the Old City's central square, and kicks off with an informative overview of the city's rich history from your English speaking guide.

Once aboard your two-person kayak, you'll get unique perspectives of some of the city's most iconic landmarks as you paddle past at a leisurely pace. A highlight of the excursion is paddling along the historic "ring-canal" that circles the city, taking a break at the midway point for refreshments at the Weerdsluis locks.

Next up is touring the length of the Old Canal itself, taking time to hear some of the interesting stories relating to the old wharves and homes you pass along the way. In addition to refreshments and use of the kayak, your tour fee includes a handy waterproof barrel in which to store personal belongings, and a life-vest.

One of the more unusual of Utrecht's most popular tourist attractions is Museum Speelklok - or Musical Clock Museum in English - dedicated to music boxes, barrel organs, and other devices and instruments capable of playing music without human involvement (other than switching them on or cranking their handles). The museum was established in 1956, and its displays - many of them hands-on and interactive - include mechanical musical instruments from the 18th century to the present day, as well as domestic instruments, from tiny music boxes to massive fair organs, most of which can still be played.

Other highlights include examples of musical clocks, pianolas, and a turret clock with a carillon, along with the opportunity to peek behind the scenes at the restoration work performed in the workshops. Free English-language guided tours, including demonstrations, are available.

Another attraction centered on machinery, though of a more scientific nature, is the interesting Sonnenborgh Observatory (Museum Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh). Highlights of a visit of this part museum and part still-functioning observatory include seeing this historic structure in action (guided tours are available).

Address: Steenweg 6, 3511 JP Utrecht

Official site: https://www.museumspeelklok.nl/lang/en/

Spread between the remnants of a former convent and the city's old Artillery Stables, Utrecht's excellent municipal collections - most of them created by locals over the centuries - are well worth a visit.

Established in 1838 and housed in the city's Centraal Museum, the exhibits include the provincial archaeological collections and works by Utrecht-based painters from the 15th century onwards, including the Romanists, a group influenced by the Italian Renaissance and led by Jan van Scorel. Other schools represented are the Mannerists, represented by Abraham Bloemaert, who had an enduring influence on the Utrecht Caravaggisti (stylistic followers of Caravaggio).

The museum also has a collection of costumes from the 18th century to the present day, along with rooms furnished in period style, sculptures, silverware, and a collection of material on the history of the city. A rare 17th-century dollhouse with rooms decorated in chintz from the Dutch East Indies is also worth seeing, as is the famous Utrecht Ship, a 1,000-year-old vessel discovered in 1930. Also of interest is a display of art and artifacts related contemporary artist Dick Bruna, creator of the world-famous Miffy the cartoon bunny.

More of the world's cutest bunny can be enjoyed at the Miffy Museum . This first-rate educational facility is one of the top things to do in Utrecht for families traveling with younger children. Naturally, there's plenty of fun here, from storytelling and dancing to games and plenty of interactive playtime.

Address: Agnietenstraat 1, 3512 XA Utrecht

Official site: http://centraalmuseum.nl/en/

Located in the old Maliebaan train station, Utrecht's Railway Museum (Spoorwegmuseum) is the country's national railway museum and is a must-see for train buffs. Founded in 1927, highlights of this large, well-stocked tourist attraction include a cross section of the country's transit history, particularly its railroads and tram systems, with plenty of models and old vehicles to enjoy along the way.

Exhibits deal with the early years of railways, including its heyday of the 1900s, and an operational workshop. In addition to the museum's impressive collection of locomotives (including nine well-preserved steam engines) and rolling stock, kids will love the model railway and playground.

There's a shop and restaurant on-site. For a special treat, take the authentic shuttle train service running between the city's main train station (Utrecht Centraal) and the museum. Frequent themed events, such as Thomas the Tank Engine days, are also held, and regular guided tours are available.

Another related attraction - it deals with machinery, although this time with a focus on war - is the National Military Museum (Nationaal Militair Museum). Highlights include impressive collections of aircraft and vehicles, along with fascinating exhibits dealing with the various branches of the Dutch armed forces.

Address: Maliebaanstation, 3581 XW Utrecht

Official site: www.spoorwegmuseum.nl/

In the picturesque little town of Doorn is the last home of Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II, Huis Doorn (known in English as Doorn Manor). Forced into exile after defeat in WWI, the Kaiser purchased Huis Doorn in 1920 and lived there until his death in 1941 at age 82 (he's buried in a mausoleum on the grounds). Originally a medieval castle, the house was rebuilt in Classical style in the 18th century, with only minor alterations since.

Set in a large and beautiful park, the house opened to the public as a museum in 1956 and has been preserved exactly as it was in the Kaiser's day, right down to the original furniture and furnishings, the Kaiser's personal possessions (including a collection of snuff-boxes belonging to Frederick the Great), uniforms, photos, and paintings.

The property's attractive Orangery is now a restaurant and serves a memorable, traditional high tea. English-language guided tours are available but need to be booked in advance.

Address: Langbroekerweg 10, 3941 MT Doorn

Official site: www.huisdoorn.nl/en/visitors/opening-times-prices/

Considered so important a piece of architecture that UNESCO has deemed it a World Heritage Site, the stunning Rietveld Schröder House (Rietveld Schröderhuis) is a must-see for design buffs. Designed and constructed in the early 1920s by leading Dutch architect (and Utrecht resident) Gerrit Rietveld for a widower friend and her family, this attractive small home was decades ahead of its time in so many ways.

For example, the lower living area was created with retracting walls, a clever trick created by Rietveld - a leading member of the influential De Stijl design movement - that enabled family members to shut themselves off at night for privacy, yet served as a large communal space by day.

The unique windows were also revolutionary; large and able to be fully opened, they helped blur the distinction between the interior and exterior worlds. The house is now a museum, and admission is only available as part of a guided tour. A small shop selling related books and material is located nearby.

For those wanting to learn more about Rietveld and his impact on design, the Centraal Museum (which operates Rietveld Schröder House) have devised a fun self-guided walking tour that takes in city landmarks related to the designer. This pleasant five-kilometer route begins (and finishes) at the Centraal Museum and takes in Rietveld Schröder House and the architect's original furniture workshop.

Address: Prins Hendriklaan 50, 3583 EP Utrecht

Official site: www.rietveldschroderhuis.nl/en

A fun diversion for those with green thumbs - or those who simply enjoy lovely green spaces and gardens - involves paying a visit to the Utrecht University Botanic Gardens. Centered around the old abandoned Fort Hoofddijk, this delightful 22-acre site, while a relatively new creation (it was laid out in the late 20th century), can trace its roots back to the early days of the university in the 17th century.

All told there are six unique gardens to explore. Favorites include the Birders Den (no surprise, it's popular with bird-watchers), and the Bee Hotel with its diverse array of pollinating insects. The tropical greenhouses are also worth exploring.

The gardens are open spring through December. Try to join one of the regular and informative guided tours to ensure you get the most from your experience (and explore on your own afterwards). The pleasant Garden Café is a welcome treat, and an on-site shop is also available.

If time permits, other fun things to do nearby include paying a visit to the Old Botanical Gardens (Oude Hortus), of interest for its medicinal plants and old ginkgo trees, and the University Museum Utrecht.

Address: Budapestlaan 17, 3584 CD Utrecht

Official site: www.uu.nl/en/utrecht-botanic-gardens

Just a short walk north of St. Martin's Cathedral , in Pieterskerkhof, stands St. Peter's Church (St. Pieterskerk), the first of the town's churches to be built. Consecrated in 1048 and notable for its two Romanesque towers, the church features a crypt with a sarcophagus of the founder, Bishop Bernold.

Other notable features are the capitals of the columns in the nave, the wall paintings in the north aisle, and the 12th-century reliefs created in the Maasland style.

Address: Pieterskerkhof 5, 3512 JR Utrecht

Luxury Hotels :

• For a taste of sophisticated luxury, book a stay at the elegant Grand Hotel Karel V Utrecht . In addition to its excellent restaurant, this historic, grand hotel boasts a chic spa with a sauna and hot tub, a lovely indoor pool, and a fitness center.
• Although a good-deal smaller, the eco-friendly Mary K Hotel offers boutique-style accommodations with canal views, courteous staff, and excellent homemade muesli.
• Another good choice is Hotel Dom , an intimate luxury hotel with large suites, some with terraces featuring city views, set in a lovely old building dating from the 1700s (and close to the cathedral).

Mid-Range Hotels :

• The modern NH Utrecht offers reasonable rates and a great location near the city's central train station, along with serene décor in its spacious rooms.
• For something a little quirkier, consider the Eye Hotel , so-named for its location in a former eye hospital. It's popular for its rooms with private patios (and it's a short stroll from the city's top tourist attractions.
• Although a little farther outside the center but close to public transport, Hotel Mitland Utrecht offers a number of rooms with balconies featuring canal views (check out the honeymoon suite), and a great breakfast with homemade pancakes.

Budget Hotels :

• For a good quality budget-friendly hotel experience, check out the Holiday Inn Express Utrecht - Papendorp , popular for its light-filled, contemporary design; friendly staff; and the free continental breakfast.
• For those comfortable with hostel-style accommodations (a few private rooms are available), the no-frills Stayokay Utrecht Centrum is worth considering and has an on-site café and buffet breakfasts.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

The Netherlands by Rail : Utrecht is an easy 25-minute journey by train from the popular tourist attractions of Amsterdam , a must-visit destination that's home to the magnificent Rijksmuseum and its many collections of important antiquities and art. The port city of Rotterdam is equally easy to access and is a popular day trip for its fine marine museum, old harbor, and the nearby windmills. Finally, a trip to The Hague , the country's capital, is also worth adding to your Netherlands itinerary (it's 35 minutes by train), thanks to its fine old architecture and palaces.

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Tourism Utrecht

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Local information. scan & read..

Welcome to Tourism Utrecht! Here you can find all the locations of the information signs and public texts that we have published. We have digitalized and translated these signs in order for you to read them! Tourism Utrecht wants you to enjoy Utrecht the best you can and hope for you to love Utrecht even more through its rich history and interesting places.

The stone on a chain

View on the Bemuurde Weerd

The Old Houtensepad – old toll road

Sawmill Kranenburg

Recently added.

Here you will find a number of our most recent additions. Have you seen a sign that has not yet been digitalized and translated? Send a picture and the location to us! You can contact us through [email protected] . We will make sure that it will be online as soon as we can.

A selection of our pages

A number of important places in the city deserve its own information page. Curious to know what information they hold? Click & read!

City Wall of Utrecht

The Layabout (baliekluiver)

former public reading room

Poem Els van Stalborch

Do you have a question for us.

Do not hesitate to contact us!

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By train
• 3.1 By bike
• 3.3 By public transit
• 4.1 Around the Domplein
• 4.2 Oudegracht
• 4.3 Notable buildings
• 4.4 Museums
• 4.5 Districts
• 4.6 Windmills
• 5.2 Theatres
• 5.3 Cinemas
• 5.4 Festivals
• 8.1 Geek gear
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge
• 10.1 Drinks
• 10.2 Along the Oudegracht
• 10.3 Off the beaten path
• 10.4 Nightlife
• 11.1 Budget
• 11.2 Mid-range
• 11.3 Splurge
• 13 Stay safe

Utrecht is a central Dutch city with a long history. With 362,000 inhabitants (2022), it’s the fourth largest city in the Netherlands .

Understand [ edit ]

The history of the city goes back to 47 AD when the Roman emperor Claudius ordered his general Corbulo to build a defensive line along the river Rhine which was the northern most border of the empire. One of the strongholds (or Castella) along the river was built at a crossing in the river and was called Traiectum (which means crossingplace). In the local language this became Trecht, Uut-Trecht (lower-Trecht) and later Utrecht. On the place where once the castellum stood now stands the Domchurch built in the 13th century.

Utrecht is known as a student city with a large population of single young people. This results in a booming nightlife with many places to have a quick meal, some drinks or a dance.

• 52.090967 5.121029 1 VVV Utrecht Informatie Centrum ( Tourist Information Centre ), Domplein 9 , ☏ +31 30-236 00 04 , [email protected] . Daily 10:00-17:00 . ( updated Aug 2019 )

Get in [ edit ]

By train [ edit ].

Coming from Germany with the Deutschland-Ticket , take the RE19 e.g. from Düsseldorf/Duisburg to Arnhem. And then an InterCity (every 15min) for €7-12 to Utrecht . ( updated Feb 2024 )

The train station is at the western edge of the old city. A 5-minute walk through the Hoog Catharijne shopping center (follow signs to “Centrum”) will take you from the station to the city or the bus station.

By bus [ edit ]

The bus station is next to the train station. International buses depart from the western side of the train station ('Jaarbeurszijde'), exit the railway station on the correct side and turn right to find the busstop next to the NH-Hotel. Flixbus has several lines to Utrecht connecting directly with many European Countries. The international buses to Belgium and Germany are often a cost effective alternative to the trains with longer (Germany) or similar (Belgium) travel duration. The regional and city buses depart from separate stations on the east and west side of the train station. The regional buses are much slower than the trains. For information about the city buses, check the U-OV website , this is the company that provides public transport services in and around the city of Utrecht. Buses to the smaller towns around Utrecht are run by BBA [dead link] , Arriva and Connexxion . Time schedules for train and bus can be found here .

By car [ edit ]

If you are coming in by car, park your car in one of the many parking garages around the city (follow the signs) and walk from there. Electronic signs display the number of parking spaces available in any given lot as well as directions to the lot, and if the sign says Vol it means the lot is full. Expect to pay [dead link] around €3 to €5 per hour (as of Aug 2019) at any of the garages in the center. Parking on the curb side is also possible, expect to pay [dead link] €3 to €5 an hour in advance at the meter (as of Aug 2019). Parking fines are around €70 and frequently enforced, so make sure to get back to your car before the ticket expires. It’s best to avoid driving into central Utrecht. Instead, leave your car at the city perimeter and take a bus or tram into the center.

There are 4 Park + Ride (P+R) around the city where you can park your car for the day at a flat rate of €5 (as of Aug 2019), including transit to the city center by bus or tram for up to 5 passengers. Both bus and trams offer comparable frequency of service. Two P+R facilities are adjacent to tram lines:

Get around [ edit ]

Walking or using a bike is the easiest way to travel in the city of Utrecht. To use the public transportation in the Netherlands, it is recommended to buy an OV-chipkaart . You can buy these on the central bus station (lower level of Utrecht Centraal Station), at kiosks inside the central train station or at some book stores and grocery stores. The OV-chipkaart is valid for bus, train and tram and works like a debit card that you must first charge with an amount. Buses do take cash though.

By bike [ edit ]

Using a bike is the easiest way to travel in the city centre if the weather is on your side. There are many bicycle shops near the train station where you can rent bikes. Alternatively, if you have a personal OV-chipkaart you can rent an OV-Fiets for €3.85 per 24 hours at one of the rail stations, you have to subscribe to the service for 1 eurocent a year on the NS website first though. Do make sure that you have good locks on your bike, as bike thefts are unfortunately quite common in the city centre. Also it's a good idea to make use of the free bike parking areas provided by the city council. They are usually guarded and are a safe place to park your bike.

Also recommended is to do a bike tour. There are several bike tour companies offering guided city tours. There are also cycle routes starting in the centre of Utrecht, which you can download for free: Utrecht Forts Cycle Route .

A good alternative is taking the bus, which goes often and will take you nearly everywhere. Utrecht Centraal Station serves as the main bus hub for Utrecht as well as the main train hub for the Netherlands. Most buses run from early morning (around 06:00) until just after midnight. City center rides cost ~€2.50. U-OV operates trams and local buses in and around Utrecht, and has a page in English for visitors.

In addition, there are several so-called nightlines. These cost €5-6 and can’t be paid for using strips or OV-chipkaart.

By public transit [ edit ]

Utrecht has 3 tram routes all running via the central station ( Utrecht Centraal Station a.k.a. Utrecht CS). The station has an underground tram/bus stop named Centrumzijde (meaning downtown side) on the east side of the station. On the station's west side, there is another tram stop named Jaarbeursplein , but visitors are most likely to use Centrumzijde which is nearest to the old city centre. Platforms labelled B at Centrumzijde is for trams. There are 3 tram routes effective July 2, 2022:

• Tram   20   : Nieuwegein-Zuid – Utrecht CS – P+R Science Park
• Tram   21   : IJsselstein-Zuid – Utrecht CS – P+R Science Park
• Tram   22   : Utrecht CS – P+R Science Park

From Utrecht CS, trams run southwest passing P+R Westraven to Nieuwegein Stadscentrum where the tram line splits into two branches to IJsselstein-Zuid and Nieuwegein-Zuid. The southwest section of the line operates every day to a little past midnight.

Trams operate from Utrecht CS southeast to P+R Science Park Monday to Friday until 21:30. At these times riders can travel from either IJsselstein-Zuid or Nieuwegein-Zuid to P+R Science Park without switching vehicles. However, there is no weekend or late evening service to P+R Science Park, at which times all trams terminate at Utrecht CS. Use bus line 28 when trams to P+R Science Park are not running. P+R Science Park is in the Uithof district southeast of the centre of Utrecht.

U-OV operates trams and local buses, and their network can be travelled as cheap as €6.95 using the U-OV dagkaart . For the rest of the province , a separate €11.05 off-peak ticket exists . Both tickets offer unlimited access to U-OV buses and trams. The tickets can be bought online or at U-OV ticket machines or service desks. To use the tickets, you must be in the possession of an OV-chipkaart .

Seeing Utrecht by car is not recommended. The city planners have made it as difficult as possible to navigate the city center, to try and discourage cars there. Driving around can be frustrating as the center is fraught with bus-only lanes, one-way streets, traffic lights and terribly expensive parking spaces. If you want to come by car it is recommended to park at one of the P+R (Park and Ride) places, and take a cheap shuttle bus or tram service into town. There are also several parking garages closer to the center, but they are more expensive.

See [ edit ]

Around the domplein [ edit ].

• DOMunder , Dom Square (Domplein) . guided tours Tu-Su 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 . An interesting museum/guided tour under the Dom Square about the Romans in Utrecht. €11 . ( updated Sep 2015 )
• Pandhof Domkerk ( cloister garden ) ( at the South side of the Dom church ). Just sit down, relax, and listen to a Saturday morning carillon concert. ( updated Jun 2016 )
• 52.090679 5.121297 2 Domtoren ( Dom Tower ). only by guided tours (1 hr) Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su M 12:00-17:00 . 112 m tall, it is the highest church tower in the Netherlands. It is also the highest building in the city by municipal mandate. Climbing up the stairs to see the magnificent view on the top is highly recommended, but beware of the narrow, steep stairs. On clear days you can look as far as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Home to the second largest set of bells in Europe (after Cologne ), and a carillon which is often played by musicians at the weekend. €9; tickets could also be booked online . ( updated Jun 2016 )

Oudegracht [ edit ]

It is a major canal going through the heart of the city, with shops and restaurants on both sides. This canal is unique because of its many picturesque cellars on water level. Centuries ago they were used for storage and commerce. Nowadays, many of them host fine restaurants and pubs. In the summer you can find nice terraces at the water here.

Notable buildings [ edit ]

• 52.09033 5.12424 11 Paushuize ( Pope's house ), Kromme Nieuwegracht 49 , ☏ +31 30 231 03 47 , [email protected] . Born in Utrecht, Adrianus VI, the sole Dutch pope and the last non-Italian pope until John Paul II, had this house constructed in 1517. It is used for congresses, weddings and group dinners.  

Museums [ edit ]

Museumkaart is accepted at the city's museums.

Districts [ edit ]

• 52.091644 5.103633 18 Kanaalstraat ( Lombok district ). There is an attractive area of shops and eateries along Kanaalstraat in the Lombeck district between Damstraat and Lombokstraat. At the west end of Kanaalstraat is a quaint old-fashioned drawbridge. At the east end is a mosque with two minarets. ( updated Dec 2019 )
• 52.096 5.0685 20 Perron 9 Berlijnplein ( Platform 9 Berlin Square ), Berlijnplein 520 ( a short walk south-east of Leidsche Rijn Centrum ). This heritage monument is a preserved portion of an old platform canopy salvaged from the renovations at Utrecht Centraal Station. It was built in 1893. ( updated May 2021 )

Windmills [ edit ]

• 52.0897 5.1006 21 Houtzaagmolen De Ster ( Wind mill & saw mill ), Molenpark 8 , ☏ +31 30 294 2553 . Sa 13:00 to 16:00 . This windmill and sawmill installation was built in 1721 along the waterway called Leidsche Vaart, and was renovated in 1998. Free tours on Saturday afternoons .  

Do [ edit ]

• Have a drink at one of the terraces at the lower docks of Oudegracht
• Climb the Dom tower , a full 112 metres high. You can climb to near the top.
• Take a tour with a boat through the canals
• Take a bicycle tour through the old city centre
• Find out the stories behind the buildings in a free tour .
• Rent a canal bike and pedal your own way around the canals .
• Try a locally brewed beer at Stadskasteel Oudaen , which is a 13th-century city castle turned restaurant.
• Football: FC Utrecht play soccer in Eredivisie, the Dutch top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Galgenwaard (capacity 23,750), 2 km southeast of city centre.
• 52.09361 5.12624 2 Skate parade , Lucasbolwerk ( start and finish is at Lucasbolwerk; the sheer number of people on skates is impossible to miss ). 20:00-22:00 . Participate in the skate parade: every Friday night in summer (roughly May - December), over 100 skaters ride about 20 km in and around Utrecht, making it a great way to see more of the city. Skates can be rented for €10; other than that, the event is free of charge. Departure is at 20:00 exactly, so make sure to arrive well in advance, especially if you need to rent skates. ( updated Jun 2022 )
• 52.086443 5.121908 3 Rent a canoe , Oudegracht aan de Werf 275 ( descend the stairs towards the wharf next to the canal ), ☏ +31 6 156 028 23 , [email protected] . n-F 13:00-19:00, Sa Su 10:00-19:00 . On a sunny day, renting a canoe to paddle along the canals through the city centre is a great and affordable way to see the city from a different perspective. €7 per hour . ( updated Sep 2022 )
• 52.08218 5.15583 4 Rent a canoe at Rijnstroom , Weg naar Rhijnauwen 2 . Rent a canoe or kayak. Either take a tour through the city, make sure to visit the Minstroom and Oudegracht. Or take a tour outside the city on the Kromme Rijn towards Bunnik, and dock at Theehuis Rhijnauwen to eat pancakes. ( updated Jul 2023 )

Parks [ edit ]

The 52.087128 5.140228 5 Wilhelminapark , 52.089386 5.128437 6 Park Lepelenburg and the 52.106294 5.08755 7 Julianapark are nice places to chill out in summer.

Theatres [ edit ]

Cinemas [ edit ].

Watch a movie at one of many cinemas. With the exception of some animated movies (and even those are usually available in the original language as well), all movies are subtitled and not dubbed, so you should be able to enjoy all the standard Hollywood fare in the original English. As any large city, Utrecht has its share of cinemas showing Hollywood movies:

More interesting are the three independent cinemas, these specialize in art house movies and also are ideal places to get a drink or have dinner:

• 52.0931 5.1198 13 Filmtheater 't Hoogt , ☏ +31 30 231 2216 , fax : +31 30-2312940 , [email protected] . Location at Hoogt 4 is closed, check website for locations.  
• 52.08178 5.124185 14 Louis Hartlooper Complex , Tolsteegbrug 1 ( all the way down the Oudegracht ), ☏ +31 30 232 0450 , fax : +31 30 232 04 51 , [email protected] . Film and culture centre, housed in a former police station.  
• 52.088168 5.119158 15 Springhaver , Springweg 50 ( between the Central Station and the Oudegracht ), ☏ +31 30 231 3789 , fax : +31 30 231 0968 , [email protected] .  

Festivals [ edit ]

• Visit the Gaudeamus Muziekweek .This is the internationally celebrated annual festival for young composers and new music. Apart from the annual festival they also organize a monthly series of new, contemporary music.
• The yearly Utrecht Festival of Old Music, called Festival Oude Muziek , late August to early September, brings to Utrecht some of the best artists in the world of authentic performance, but reserves some space for future talent as well. Concerts of all sizes are scattered over some of the city's most beautiful churches, with major performances held at Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn and the old Dom Church and a nice central lounge. There are over 60 free 'fringe' concerts and a set student price of €7.
• Visit the Parade , a yearly open air summer festival with theatre, comedy, dance, music and other attractions. De Parade is a traveling festival that visits Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and the Hague every summer.

Learn [ edit ]

Work [ edit ].

A ton of service positions exist in the ancient city centre. However, they usually have low wages and require fluent Dutch.

Buy [ edit ]

Most shops are in the city centre, concentrated around the Oudegracht, Vredeburg and Neude. There is also a large shopping centre extending east from the city centre in the direction of the Wilhelminapark. For general shop info and their opening hours you can visit openingstijden.nl [1] as it shows an overview of the most popular shops.

• Hoog Catharijne . A large indoor shopping area next to Utrecht Centraal Station, the main railway station of Utrecht. ( updated Jul 2018 )
• Books . Broese is a large bookstore at Stadhuisbrug 5. They have a fair selection of English books. Bijleveld at the Janskerkhof is an old bookstore with beautiful wooden show windows.
• Music . Plato at Voorstraat 35 has a fair selection at reasonable prices. Boudisque at the Drieharingenstraat (near Vredenburg) is the largest record store in Utrecht. Jazz, Classical music, Pop music and DVDs all have their own store. Near the Vredenburg the Revenge has a fair selection of vinyl, focusing on electronic music.
• Markets . On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays there is a large open air market on the Vredenburg square. On Saturdays you can find a plant market on the Janskerkhof and a flower market on the Oudegracht. The Breedstraat houses a large fabric market (lapjesmarkt) on Saturday mornings (09:00-13:00).
• At Stationsplein 7 there is a give-away shop , open Tu 14:00-18:00 and Sa 14:00-17:00.
• [formerly dead link] El Beso . At Nobelstraat there is an excellent wine, life and style shop, called El Beso (Spanish for Kiss). On Saturdays you can just walk in and try a wine, no buying obligations. International crowd.  
• Cannabis . Sarasani, opened in 1968, was the oldest coffee shop in the Netherlands. Located at Oudegracht 327 a/d werf, which means it was on the canal level, and sat under the main street. Sarisani closed down in 2007. On Wednesdays and Saturdays Joepi [dead link] makes a round through the center of Utrecht to deliver food and beverages with a little ‘extra’, mainly psychedelics, cannabis and energetic herbs.

Geek gear [ edit ]

There are half a dozen stores at the part of the Oudegracht (Old Canal) south of De Dom that sell board games, card games, wargames, roleplaying games, fantasy and science-fiction books and/or comics (e.g. Piet Snot, Elf Fantasy, the Joker and Neverneverland). Keep your eyes peeled; some of these stores are easy to miss.

• Blunder has a large collection of “mainstream comics” on street level and an even bigger collection of the newest American comics and Manga/Anime in the basement. The address is Oudegracht 203.
• Piet Snot [dead link] is a normal comic shop. They also have a big collection of second hand comics. Vismarkt 3 (It’s a small part of the Oudegracht that for some dark reason has been given a different name...)
• Strip & Lectuurshop . Lots of comics at Oudegracht 194
• The Joker. Games, games and more games. From your normal family games to the German type games and the American wargames and everything in between. They also have lots of collectible card games and scenario-books for RPGs. In the basement it’s possible to play the games. It is at Oudegracht 230a.
• Neverneverland, like The Joker, has a large selection of boardgames and RPGs at Oudegracht 202.
• Subcultures is well... about subcultures, next to being a regular game shop. Specialized in miniature wargames, RPGs and designer toys. The address is Oude Gracht 183.

Eat [ edit ]

Many restaurants can be found in the city center. Especially near the canals there is a huge choice of places to eat, each with their own style of kitchen, like Italian, Thai, and American. Ask the locals for which places are recommended as not every restaurant offers the same quality.

Budget [ edit ]

• 52.092732 5.119214 1 Bigoli , Schoutenstraat 12 . Serves delicious Italian sandwiches for about €7. Be prepared to wait in line at lunch time though. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.090547 5.120707 2 Dimitri Petit ( Sirtaki II ), Servetstraat 4 . Take-away related to Greek restaurant "Sirtaki" opposite it. About €7.50 for a well-stuffed pita . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.095465 5.136857 3 Food and the City , Biltstraat 467 , ☏ +31 30 2683924 , [email protected] . Hip Mediterranean take-away. Around €6 for a well-filled vegetarian pita, around €11 for a hearty strudel (Nov 2021) . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.092442 5.119937 5 El Greco , Ganzenmarkt 28 . This Greek snack bar serves some of the best pita gyros sandwiches in Utrecht. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.090936 5.119685 6 Op Saj , Steenweg 1 . Very good wraps for vegetarians and vegans. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.09505 5.127174 7 Chidóz , Biltstraat 7 . Mexican. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.094899 5.126961 8 Sonmat , Biltstraat 5 . Korean. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.094989 5.121895 9 ACU , Voorstraat 71 . In this squatters cafe cheap but delicious vegan food is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Around €10 for a main course . ( updated Jul 2018 )
• There are several Flemish snack bars outside of Hoog Catharijne that sell wonderful thick fries with mayonnaise. Try it; it’s not as bad as John Travolta’s character seems to think in Pulp Fiction .
• To try something Dutch visit one of the snackbars and order a Kroket .
• For a more multi-ethnic view of Utrecht, walk away from the old city from the bus station/central station, walk under the train tracks, and follow the bus route (straight ahead) about 200 m. Try some affordable rotisserie style chicken on the left side of the Kanaalstraat, get a Moroccan style bagel across the street at one of the many middle eastern bakeries, and stock up on way-affordable (the cheapest in Utrecht) fruit and veggies at one of the many produce markets.

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 52.09054 5.117159 10 Cafe 't College , Mariastraat ( Close to the dom ), ☏ +31 30 2319136 . M 10:00-19:00, Tu-Th 10:00-01:00, F Sa 11:00-14:00, Su 12:00-19:00 . Cozy jazz-blues restaurant with good simple food: steaks, salads, sate. The kitchen closes at 21:00, but you can get bitterballen, spring rolls, etc. after that. main: €14 . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.092868 5.11673 11 Stadskasteel Oudaen , Oudegracht 99 . A 13th-century city castle turned restaurant. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.091481 5.117562 12 Broadway , Oudegracht aan de werf 139 , ☏ +31 30 2312643 . An excellent spare ribs restaurant. Mains €20-30 . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.091957 5.119057 13 Humphreys , Stadhuisbrug 3 , [email protected] . Under the city hall, on the Oudegracht. The restaurant is marked by a sign and menu. The entrance is tiny and under the stairs, but the restaurant is huge with multiple halls each in their own retro style. Modern Dutch cuisine with a fixed price for a three-course meal. €37.50 for three-course meal (fixed) . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.095267 5.129084 14 Indonesia Asli , Biltstraat 56-58 . M-Sa 12:00-20:00 . Authentic (i.e., spicy) Indonesian restaurant and take-away. €12-16 . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.075136 5.121418 15 LE:EN , Heuveloord 140 . Best described as Asian tapas, LE:EN (pronounced "lain") is a bit of a walk from the center, and it's not the cheapest in town, but a lot of locals think it's worth it anyway! ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.093041 5.124651 16 Meneer Smakers , Nobelstraat 143 . This small burger joint is by far the best in town, serving ten different burgers and delicious home-made fries. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.095236 5.123225 17 De Ontdekking , Voorstraat 110 ( opposite the "City" cinema ), ☏ +31 30 751 47 19 , [email protected] . M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa Su 09:00-18:00 . Many vegetarian and vegan options, dishes and decor inspired by the travel agency that used to be in this building (i.e. by countries all over the world). About €8 for breakfast, €9 for a warm lunch. Salad €8.50, soup €6.50, sandwich about €7 (Nov 2018) . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.09294 5.11712 18 De Oude Muntkelder , Oude Gracht a/d Werf 112 , ☏ +31 30 231-6773 . Daily 12:00-21:00 . Traditional Dutch pancake restaurant. They have a lovely setting beside the small canal. They have a wide varieties of pancakes, even quirky ones like the Norwegian pancake. On Mondays and Tuesdays all-you-can-eat pancakes for students for a lower price. (valid student card required). €12-17 . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.100294 5.11242 19 Restaurant Blij , Brugstraat 2 , ☏ +31 30 271 30 80 , [email protected] . Tu-Su from 17:00 onwards . Blij's signature concept is that you can order two half dishes per course, i.e. you can try six different dishes in a three-course meal. (Only for groups of seven persons or fewer.) €28.50 for a three-course menu . ( updated Aug 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 52.075497 5.120786 20 WT Urban Kitchen ( Watertoren Utrecht ), Heuveloord 25A , ☏ +31 30 303 1216 , [email protected] . M-F 17:30-0:00, Sa Su 12:00-0:00 . At the top of a water tower, this restaurants serves delicious food with an amazing view. €39 for a 4-course menu, €44 for a 5-course menu, €49 for a 6-course menu (prices as of July 2018) . ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.088001 5.118674 21 Karel 5 , Geertebolwerk 1 , ☏ +31 30 233 7555 , [email protected] . M-Sa 18:00-22:00 . Restaurant of hotel Karel V. €72 for a 5-course meal (July 2018) . ( updated Aug 2023 )

Drink [ edit ]

As the population of Utrecht contains a lot of students, naturally there are a lot of places where you can spend the day or night having some drinks and a dance. Most are in the city center. Main hubs for drinks are Neude, Janskerkhof, Mariaplaats and Ledig Erf.

Drinks [ edit ]

• The terraces at Neude, Janskerkhof or Ledig Erf
• The lower docks near the canal Oudegracht
• The cafe's at the street Lucasbolwerk
• Stairway to Heaven [dead link] is a large rockcafe at Mariaplaats 11-12.
• Olivier at the Achter Clarenburg. A Belgian cafe with some thirty beers. Located in an old church.
• Theatercafé De Bastaard , Jansveld 17. Students, artists, the occasional local celebrity. There is a pool table in the back.
• Jan Primus, Jan van Scorelstraat 27 - 31. It’s a little out of the centre of the city near the Wilhelmina Park. No music, no slot machine, no nothing. Just 160 beers. 10 draught and 150 bottled.
• 52.092105 5.120279 1 Café De Zaak , Korte Minrebroederstraat 9, Utrecht , ☏ +31 30 231 53 10 , [email protected] . Lovely terrace, and you're allowed to bring your own food. ( updated Jan 2019 )

Along the Oudegracht [ edit ]

The Oudegracht is home to a lot of bars, both in- and outdoors, and both at street and at water level. From north to south:

• Stadskasteel Oudaen , Oudegracht 99 , ☏ +31 30 231 1864 . A 13th-century city castle turned restaurant. They have their own theatre and more importantly their own brewery, where they brew the local beers Ouwe Daen, Jonge Daen en Linteloo Gold. Highly recommended.  
• De Witte Ballons , Lijnmarkt 12 ( On the west side of Oudegracht, halfway the city center. From the Domplein, walk under the Domtoren, straight ahead, over the Oudegracht, first left, on your left after 20 metres ), ☏ +31 30-2311056 . A small and cosy café.  
• Café België , Oudegracht 196 , ☏ +31 30 231 2666 . It has good music and a selection of 198 different beers of which 20 are draught. Also serve nice food for a reasonable price. Try the Celis White if you like white beer and try the Trock Banaan if you want to try a beer that tastes just like the banana sweets you probably ate when you were a kid (most likely you are going to get a question from the bartender like “Are you sure you want to have this?”).  
• Ledig Erf , Tolsteegbrug 3 ( located at the very south tip of the Oudegracht ), ☏ +31 30 231 7577 . At the south end of the Oudegracht has a large outdoor seating area which is packed whenever the sun is shining.  

Off the beaten path [ edit ]

52.094964 5.078841 2 Strand Oog in Al ( Soia ), Kanaalweg 199 . Bring your own and have a picnic lounging on the grass next to the canal at the Oog in Al beach, or order something at the Soia restaurant. Free public restrooms are available, so the perfect place to spend the afternoon with a couple of friends when the weather's good. ( updated May 2021 )

Nightlife [ edit ]

• The clubs near the square Janskerkhof provide a great dancing opportunity for young people ('t Pakhuis, Jansbar, Hofman).
• The clubs at the street Oudkerkhof provide a great dancing opportunity for everyone (Dikke Dries).
• The Nobelstraat is full of pubs which turn into dancing venues at night (de Vrienden, Otje, Kneus, Jaloezie).
• Other cafes, recommended for students, are Beurs (at Neude), Zussen and Hemmingway (near Janskerkhof).
• The main venue for pop concerts and for dancing are TivoliVredenburg , De Helling , Ekko , Kargadoor, De Vloer and DBs (close to the train station Zuilen).
• Techno fans can visit BASIS .
• ACU , Voorstraat 71 , ☏ +31 30-2314590 , [email protected] . This is a smaller, more intimate venue and political-cultural centre. They host a large variety of things, such as a small cinema (smoking allowed), art exhibitions, cafe literature, concerts, disco, gay events, and they serve vegan food every Tuesday to Saturday.  
• 't Oude Pothuys , Oudegracht 279 ( On the west side of Oudegracht, a bit south of the city center ), ☏ +31 30-2318970 . A cafe in a basement, with live music almost every night.  

Sleep [ edit ]

Utrecht, like any big town, has its fair share of business hotels of the big chains.

• Hostel Strowis , Boothstraat 8 , ☏ +31 30 2380280 , [email protected] . Hostel run by a group of clever ex-squatters who bought their building to start this initiative. The best and most homely hostel in Utrecht. A choice of 4-, 6-, 8-,or 16-bed dorms, free internet and a relaxing shaded garden area. Free cold showers. From €20 for a 16-bed dorm .  
• Hostel B&B Utrecht , Lucas Bolwerk 4 , ☏ +31 650434884 , [email protected] . Check-out: 12:00 . Bizarre hostel. Main room dominated by television and individuals sitting at computers. Free internet (when it works), free food (you cook on your own!), sometimes free beer. Showers take half an hour to warm up in the morning. 10-min walk from the Central Station. from €25 .  
• Stayokay Bunnik . Admittedly in a very nice area, this hostel is overpriced, but not so much as other hostels in the Utrecht area. 10 km from Utrecht in Rhijnauwen. Somewhat accessible by bus. From €20 for a 10-bed dorm . ( updated Aug 2017 )
• BUNK Utrecht , Catharijnekade 9 ( within an old church in the city centre ). From €24 for a sleeping pod . ( updated Sep 2019 )

The city's campsite (De Berekuil, on the east side of the city) has been a huge mess for a couple years now, and it is uncertain what will happen to it in the future. There are few other campsites, though some farmers also have small scale camping on their land. For instance Camping de Boomgaard , 8 km from Utrecht city.

• Bed & Breakfast de Buitenhof , Enghlaan 4 , ☏ +31 30 6774526 , [email protected] . €80-95 .  
• NH Utrecht , Jaarbeursplein, 24 , ☏ +31 30 2977977 . Nestled away in a quiet area, close to center and the Jaarbeurs Convention Center. Meeting rooms available. From €99 .  
• Hotel Oorsprongpark , F.C. Dondersstraat 12 , ☏ +31 30 271 63 03 , fax : +31 30 271 46 19 . single room: €100, double €115 .  
• Park Plaza Utrecht , Westplein 50 , ☏ +31 30 29 25 200 , fax : +31 30 29 25 199 , [email protected] . Great location (city centre), modern style with nice meeting rooms overlooking Utrecht.  
• Grand Hotel Karel V , Geertebolwerk 1 , ☏ +31 30 233 75 55 , fax : +31 30 233 75 00 , [email protected] .  

Connect [ edit ]

As of July 2022, Utrecht has 5G from all Dutch carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Utrecht as a student city is quite safe, although there are some neighbourhoods in the outskirts that you probably don't want to visit. As always, don’t flash your wallet at markets and have a natural caution for pickpockets in the city centre. Unfortunately, bike thefts are a common nuisance, so if you travel by bike, make sure you have good locks and park your bike at a bike parking spots. Parking your bike in the city centre is easy as Utrecht has it own bike parking route. Parking lots for bikes are located under the Vredenburg (entrance between Zara and The Sting), the Neude (Neudeflat), Zadelstraat, under the City Hall, under the stairs at the Stationsplein West or the Jaarbeursplein.

You are unlikely to have any business in the lower-income and immigrant neighbourhoods such as Kanaleneiland and Overvecht south-west and north of the city center. While serious crime rarely takes place, they are best avoided unless you want to tempt fate. If for some reason you do end up in these neighbourhoods it is strongly advised to keep your mobile phone and camera concealed. The youth in this area is known to act aggressively if they suspect they are being filmed or photographed.

Go next [ edit ]

• 52.031426 5.338733 5 Huis Doorn ( town of Doorn; take train to Driebergen-Zeist , then bus 50 to Centre Doorn and bus 56 to Huis Doorn ). W-F 13:00-17:00, Sa Su 12:00-17:00 . The last residence of Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor who was deposed following World War I and waited in his exile for a restoration of monarchy that never came. Museum €12; Pavilion €6; Museum & Pavilion €15 . ( updated Jun 2016 )
• 52.121395 4.986205 6 Kasteel de Haar ( Castle De Haar ) ( at Haarzuilens village, take the train to Vleuten , then bus 111 to Kasteel de Haar ). 10:00-17:00 (last admittance 16:00); Guided bedroom tours start . Castle €14.00; + bedroom tour €17.50; park only €4 . ( updated Jun 2016 )
• IJsselstein has a small attractive old town centre located near Binnenstad station along tram line 21 from Utrecht Centraal Station.
• Amersfoort has a medieval centre, and is a fifteen-minute train ride from Utrecht.
• 's-Hertogenbosch (commonly known as Den Bosch) has a preserved medieval centre, and is a half-hour train ride from Utrecht.
• Vechtstreek — a region along the river Vecht famous for its magnificent 17th and 18th-century estates
• Soest (Netherlands) — home to the biggest dune area in Utrecht
• Soesterberg — home to the Dutch national air force museum
• Wijk bij Duurstede — a typically old Dutch town on the Rhine river; dikes galore!
• Rhenen — played a key-role in the World War II Grebbelinie defense. Beautiful forests and a great zoo
• Rhijnauwen — take a walk in the forests between the Uithof and Bunnik

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11 Best Things To Do in Utrecht

Utrecht is an incredibly beautiful university city in the Netherlands. Some say it is a better version of its neighbor Amsterdam , with peaceful canals with quays to relax at and stunning architecture. Get to know why one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands is so popular, however not popular with tourists but with locals! You can easily do most things to do in Utrecht within a day because the city is very walkable. 

Things To Do in Utrecht

Plan to spend at least one full day in the city, but to really experience Utrecht at its best, two nights would be ideal!

1. Wander the Beautiful Streets of Utrecht

Utrecht has arguably one of the most beautiful city centers in the Netherlands . It’s got countless picturesque corners with cobblestone streets that make you want to grab your camera.

If you follow the canal and street ‘Oudegracht’ all the way from top to bottom, you’ll already find so many stunning places. Even better, you can walk around the entire old city center in under an hour, making it an incredible thing to do in Utrecht.

Here are all your hotel options in Utrecht.

2. The Street Food Club

The best-decorated restaurant in the entire city of Utrecht is without a doubt ‘The Street Food Club’. Set foot in the crazy colorful but perfectly decorated pink room or tropical green room with a stunning stained-glass ceiling!

The street food style dishes are delicious, and they have vegetarian and vegan options available! 

Although it has quite a lot of seats, due to its popularity, it is recommended to book in advance.

3. Relax at Oude Gracht

The 2-kilometer-long ‘Oude Gracht’ (Old Canal) of Utrecht, with a lower-level quay and warehouses, is unique in the Netherlands. Many of these warehouses have been transformed into restaurants and bars with a terrace along the waterside. Either grab a terrace seat or simply sit down at the water where there are no restaurants. (Plenty of spots available!)

Hire a canoe or electric boat to discover the serene canal waters just as if you are in Venice, Italy. Bring some drinks and snacks for your trip, but never leave trash behind! All companies offer a map and route instructions for even better explorations! 

Expect to pay around €30 per hour for an electric boat in Utrecht.

4. Shopping and Vintage Shopping

Utrecht’s old city center is the place to go shopping. Throughout the entire center are small boutiques and great vintage stores. And don’t skip the Hoog Catharijne Mall, one of the biggest indoor shopping centers in the Netherlands.

Our favorite stores in Utrecht are: 

• Rood en Bloem (beautiful plant shop)
• Hip voor de Heb (cute fashion store)
• Episode (vintage clothing & accessories)
• Minre (trendy boutique shop)
• Vintage Island (vintage clothing & accessories)

5. Visit Utrecht’s Dom Tower

The Dom is a 14th-century Gothic church with the tallest church tower (112 meters) in the Netherlands. Challenge yourself and walk the 465 steps towards the top of the Dom tower, where you’re rewarded with a panoramic view of Utrecht. 

Tours of the tower are in Dutch and English, and admission is €9 for adults and €5 for kids aged 4-12.

Please note: The tower is currently undergoing restoration work. However, it is still open for tours.

Pandhof Garden

Additionally, visit the Pandhof at the Dom Church. The old monastery garden is a beautiful courtyard, and the architecture is like no other! Pandhof Garden is included when buying a ticket to the Dom Church. 

6. Best Places to Eat in Utrecht

When visiting Utrecht, you won’t be disappointed when it comes down to the food. The city is, just like Rotterdam , filled with fantastic food hot spots and trendy cafes with something for everyone. Three days will not be enough to try them all, really! These are some of our favorite spots:

• O’Panuozzo Neapolitan Pizzeria
• Karibu Cafe
• The Street Food Club

7. Miffy (Nijntje)

Dick Bruna is a famous children’s book author born in Utrecht. His books of the white rabbit named Miffy (Nijntje in Dutch) are known all over the world. For that reason, you can find Miffy throughout the entire city with a statue at Miffy Square , a Miffy Museum, and possibly the coolest feature: a Miffy traffic light .

8. Cruise the Canals

The incredibly scenic canals of Utrecht are the city’s absolute highlight. The Dutch architecture with houses along the canals gives you this iconic experience of the Netherlands.

Different from Amsterdam, the bridges over the canals in Utrecht are much higher, allowing larger boats to cruise through the city center. Additionally, the canals have quays and old quay warehouses. Cellars that nowadays host great restaurants.

Book online: Kayaking tour in the canals

9. Castle de Haar, Utrecht

Fairytales come to life at Castle de Haar, located just outside of Utrecht. De Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands, featuring beautiful gardens and a truly stunning castle that you can explore on the inside, too! An admission ticket is needed in order to visit the castle, which you can buy on location or online in advance.

Getting there: The castle is a 20 to 30-minute drive from Utrecht by car and a little less than an hour by public transport from Utrecht Central Station. It is, however, definitely worth the journey! 

10. Day Trip to Amsterdam

Utrecht is a fantastic alternative to Amsterdam. Plus, from Utrecht, you can easily visit Amsterdam on a day trip because the journey is only 30 minutes by train! Another advantage is that hotels in Utrecht are slightly more affordable. Rent a bike for the day in Amsterdam and explore the city at its best.

Read: Complete Amsterdam Guide – Best Things to do

11. Oude Hortus

Oude Hortus is the former botanical garden of Utrecht. Inside the garden, you will find a wide variety of medicinal herbs, centuries-old trees, and greenhouses full of exotic plants and flowers. Oude Hortus in Utrecht is part of the University Museum and has a wonderful garden cafe on site. 

Entrance tickets to the University Museum + Oude Hortus are 8 EUR.

Where to Stay in Utrecht? 

Utrecht has a good selection of accommodations throughout the entire city. It is recommended to stay near to the old city center where most of the things to do in Utrecht are located.

Hotels in Utrecht 😴

How to Get to Utrecht

Visiting Utrecht from Amsterdam couldn’t be easier. The train from Amsterdam Central Station or Schiphol International Airport only takes about 30 minutes and it runs throughout the entire day.

We recommend to rent a car in Netherlands through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

Getting Around

Utrecht has a small city center and is very easy to get around on foot. This is also the only way recommended since there is no tram or metro available in the old city center. 

Costs of traveling in Utrecht

Utrecht is slightly cheaper compared to Amsterdam when it comes down to accommodation and restaurants.

Costs of Traveling in Utrecht

Travel on a budget in Utrecht, from $440 − $880 USD weekly per person, mid-range $840 − $1950 USD, and high-end from $1870 − $2900 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $50 − $250 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $30 − $90 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $10 − $30 USD Book public transport
• Car Rental: $35 − $80 USD Book a rental car
• Food: $10 − $45 USD
• Activities: $10 − $30 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

Best Time to Visit

April to September is the best time to visit Utrecht weather-wise. Spring in the Netherlands is usually the ideal timing with rays of spring sunshine, fewer tourists, and temperatures between 10 – 20 degrees.

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OV Travel Ticket and Return Ticket

Travel with a ticket (return) in your area with Syntus Utrecht and U-OV.

• 60, 90, 120 or 150 minutes of travel within your zones.
• Transfers allowed.
• For sale in the bus or service shop.
• Where to buy?

The OV Travel Ticket (OV Reiskaart) and the Return Ticket (Retourkaart) are paper tickets. They are valid for a journey within a certain number of contiguous zones and within a certain period of time. Transfers are allowed within those time and zones. The price of the OV travel card and Return card is based on the number of zones you travel. Do you want to know how many zones you travel through? Then plan your trip here and make sure you tick the box with 'zones' at the top right. The OV travel card and Retourkaart can be purchased from the bus driver and you can only pay with PIN or credit card. Children up to 3 years old travel for free. With the Returnticket you travel cheaply from Monday to Friday after 18:00. This card is available all day at the weekend. You buy this extra cheap return ticket from the driver.  Please note: buying a separate ticket is often more expensive than checking in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone.

Please note: buying a separate ticket is often more expensive than checking in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone. The price of the OV travel card and Return card is based on the number of zones you travel. Do you want to know how many zones you travel through? Then plan your trip here and make sure you tick the box with 'zones' at the top right. The OV travel card and Retourkaart can be purchased from the bus driver and you can only pay with PIN or credit card.  OV Travel Ticket

Return Ticket The Return Card is valid from Monday to Friday after 6:00 PM. This discount card is available all day at weekends. 

• This ticket is valid on all regular Syntus Utrecht buses.
• This ticket is not valid in the local bus (buurtbus), night bus and SyntusFlex.
• This ticket is accepted, but not sold on local bus line 524.
• The pinned ticket can also be transferred to all buses and trams of U-OV, within the stated number of zones and times stated on the ticket.
• When a Saturday or Sunday timetable is operated on a weekday (for example on Easter Monday), a Return ticket cannot be purchased.

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Paying for public transport in the Netherlands

Most destinations in the Netherlands can be reached by public transport, For your convenience, use Ovpay or an OV-chipkaart to check in and out. It’s quick and easy to use, so let’s get started.

• Easy to purchase at service points in larger stations, NS vending machines or various newsagents.
• Use your debit card, credit card, smartphone or wearable to check in and out.
• Use for travel by bus, train, metro, OV-fiets and ferry.

OVpay: use your smartphone, debit card, or wearable to pay for public transport

For visitors to the Netherlands, OVpay is the best way to check in and out when travelling by public transport. You only need your debit or credit card to easily travel throughout the country by train, tram, bus or metro. Please note that when travelling by train, this is only valid for second class, and that any existing season tickets cannot be used.

OVpay provides a direct connection between your ride and your payment account. It works just like cashless payments in the supermarket, with the important difference being that you also have to check out to calculate the proper fare. With the OVpay app you can monitor whether you have checked in during the trip and you can look at your travel history.

If you're on holiday, this is the cheapest and most practical solution because you do not need a separate card and are not tied to an unnecessary the cost of an OV-chipkaart.

Remove the card you want to pay with from your wallet so that you are sure that you are checking in and out with the correct card. If you want to pay with a debit card, this is currently only possible with a Dutch card, so international visitors are advised to use a credit card.

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The OV-chipkaart

To use public transport in the Netherlands you need an OV-chipkaart: a small card that looks like a credit card that can be used to travel by bus, train, metro, OV-fiets (public transport bike) and even ferry. The chipkaart is therefore an efficient solution to traveling with numerous paper tickets – a traveler only needs one card to get around instead of dozens of tickets from various different transport companies.

The card can be fully personalized, but it’s not a requirement. Since there is no separate OV-chipkaart for tourists, a visitor to our country may use a disposable chip card or an 'anonymous OV-chipkaart'.

Single-use chip card

The single-use chip card can be used for a short period of time with a limited period of validity for travel by bus, tram or metro in a city and is mainly intended for single journeys. For example, you buy a separate single-use chip card for the train that is only valid for one specific journey.

If you then go elsewhere, you will need a new single-use chip card. Which isn't very practical and certainly not sustainable. A train journey in the Netherlands with a single-use chip card is also always one euro more expensive than when you use an anonymous OV-chipkaart.

Anonymous OV-chipkaart

An anonymous OV-chipkaart costs a few euros and will not initially have any credit loaded on it. You have to top-up the card at a service counter or a vending machine at one of the many stations. The payment options differ per machine, but you can usually pay with your debit card, credit card or telephone. Some machines still support cash, but not many. Once loaded, you can use the OV-chipkaart immediately.

Important tip: if you want to travel by train, there must be at least €20 on the chipkaart.

Check in and check out: how the chip card works

So how exactly does checking in work? When boarding the bus, tram, metro or train , hold the OV-chipkaart (or your debit card, smartphone, or wearable if using OVPay) in front of the screen of a post or gate. It will indicate with a green light and a beep that the anonymous OV-chipkaart has been read. You check out in the same way when exiting. On the display you can immediately see how much credit the trip has cost and how much you have left.

At smaller stations, the gate is on the platform and larger stations often have separate gates (which open when you check in). Important: you cannot check in once you are on the train. So don't forget!

An anonymous OV-chipkaart is valid for a maximum of five years. The end date is usually printed on the outside of the card. The credit remains valid, so if you want to use your OV-chipkaart again at a later stage, you can. You can also request a refund for the remaining balance.

Finally: you cannot block an anonymous chipkaart in the event of loss or theft. Therefore, never put too much money on it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

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Museumkaart in Utrecht

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Museums & attractions with a Museumkaart discount in Utrecht

The Museumkaart (Dutch Museum Card) offers the cardholder unlimited (often) free access to many museums in the Netherlands. Before April 2003, the card was called Museumjaarkaart. The card is valid for 1 year after purchase, as its old name implies. The Dutch Museum Card (Museumjaarkaart) can be used by residents of the Netherlands as well as residents of other countries.

Museumkaart is valid in 10 museums and attractions in Utrecht . These museums and attractions are displayed below. You can also view a list of museums in the Netherlands where Museumkaart is valid .

Other Discount Passes

These other discounts and discount passes are valid in Utrecht.

Rembrandtkaart

View 6 museums →

View 5 museums →

All discount cards in Utrecht

Museumkaart – Dutch Museum Card Guide (2024)

Netherlands museum pass.

The Museumkaart (Netherlands Museum Pass) is an annual membership card which gives unlimited free entry into around 500 museums in the Netherlands – including 40 museums in Amsterdam.

Whilst the card offers excellent value, unfortunately we cannot fully recommend this card to many international visitors due to the relatively difficult process of buying one.

To buy the full card directly online you need to navigate a Dutch website, pay with Dutch internet banking (no debit/credit card payments allowed) and also have it delivered to a Dutch address!

It is possible to buy a temporary Museumkaart over-the-counter at selected museums. However the temporary card is only valid for 31 days and 5 museum visits .

Dutch and EU/UK residents can officially register a temporary card online (passport-style photo required and small fee paid) to upgrade to the full annual card.

The card will then be mailed out to your specified home address. This could be an option to those visitors who subsequently make more trips to the Netherlands.

The Museumkaart has always been aimed at the local Dutch market and never really been promoted for use by foreign tourists.

Visitors are generally offered the I amsterdam City Card which is valid 1-5 days and includes museum admission, public transport and some other bonuses and discounts. You can buy the I amsterdam City Card online here

Alternatively, Go City offers a 2, 3 or 5 day Go City: Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass which offers free entry to 25 attractions in Amsterdam – see our Go City Amsterdam review here .

You can book a Go City Amsterdam Pass here .

The Museumkaart card program (also known as the Museumjaarkaart or MJK ) has been running since 1981 and has around 1.5 million card holders. In 2022 there were 7.1 million visits made with the Museumkaart – this was up from the 3.9 million visits in 2021 due to the lockdown measures.

Museumkaart (Netherlands Museum Pass) FAQ

How much does the museumkaart cost.

Here are the Museumkaart costs for the following card options:

Adult Museumkaart: €75

Youth (13-18) Museumkaart: €39

Kids (0-12) Museumkaart: €39

How and where do I buy a temporary Museumkaart?

If buying a temporary card (tijdelijk kaart) over-the-counter the museum will activate your card there and then. This will count as one visit so the card will only be valid for 4 further visits over the next 31 days .

You can fill in the details required on the temporary card itself – the holder’s name (naam) , date of birth (geboortedatum) plus the card’s purchase date (aankoopdatum) . Don’t fill in the temporary card if buying it as a present for someone else – but again do note that they will have only 4 visits left.

The following 25 museums in Amsterdam offer the card for sale over-the-counter:

Allard Pierson Museum Amsterdam Pipe Museum Anne Frank House Diamond Museum Embassy Of The Free Mind EYE Filmmuseum FOAM Photography Museum H’ART Museum Huis Marseille Jewish Museum Museum of the Canals (Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam) Museum Het Schip Museum van de Geest – Outsider Art National Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum) NEMO Science Museum Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder Museum (Our Lord in the Attic) Oude Kerk (Old Church) Rembrandt House Museum Rijksmuseum Stedelijk Museum Van Gogh Museum Van Loon Museum Verzets Resistance Museum Wereldmuseum Amsterdam

All the above museums allow free entry with the Museumkaart. Note, it is not possible to buy the card anywhere else in Amsterdam.

If you are buying a temporary card only it would cost you an average of about €15 per museum visit . Considering admission in the major museums now costs upwards of €20, the temporary card could still save you a little bit of money. Just remember to buy the card in a museum you actually want to visit.

How can I upgrade a temporary Museumkaart to the full card?

Registering a temporary Museumkaart is possible on this page here (in English) with any EU or UK address. You need to upload a passport-style profile photo and give a bank account (IBAN/BIC) number to pay a one-off €3.25 admin fee. The full annual card will then be sent out by standard mail to your address.

If you live outside the EU or UK you will not be able to upgrade the card and have it sent out.

How can I buy a full annual Museumkaart online?

As we mentioned, purchasing a full card online is difficult if you are a non-resident.

The museumkaart.nl website which offers the cards is in Dutch only – although the museum.nl information portal is now also available in English and German. Online purchase and delivery is only made available to residents of the Netherlands who can pay by Dutch internet banking (iDeal).

You cannot pay by credit card or any other payment platforms; you cannot get the full card delivered to outside the Netherlands unless you are upgrading a temporary card as above.

The only way around for non-residents is to have a friend or relative in the Netherlands purchase directly and receive the card on their behalf.

How does the Museumkaart work when visiting a museum?

When visiting a museum you simply present your card at the admission counter and they will scan it. Some museums will give you a printed ticket, others will just let you in.

Many museums now require that you make an online reservation for a specific date and timeslot. There should be an option for Museumkaart holders to select during the booking process. Bring your booking confirmation and Museumkaart with you to the museum.

Do I have to pay any extra fees when using a Museumkaart?

With the majority of participating museums, you normally do not have to pay anything. You simply get standard admission for free.

There are some exceptions. The Anne Frank House charges a €1 booking fee for all tickets including Museumkaart holders. You will have to pay this during online booking when choosing a visit date and time.

The following museums in Amsterdam occasionally charge a small supplement for Museumkaart holders to enter special exhibitions – De Hollandsche Manege, Nieuwe Kerk, H’ART Museum, Rembrandt House and Stedelijk . This will generally be €2 to €5 although the Rijksmuseum Vermeer 2023 exhibition required a €10 supplement.

Can I use someone else’s Museumkaart?

No, the Museumkaart is strictly personal and not transferable. Security was tightened some years back with the introduction of the holder’s photo onto the card. Before then it was common that people ‘borrowed’ cards to use.

Which other museums in Amsterdam offer free entry with the Museumkaart?

Amsterdam Museum aan de Amstel ARTIS Groote Museum ARTIS Micropia De Appel De Hollandsche Manege Fashion For Good Museum Luther Museum Museum Tot Zover (Dutch Funeral Museum) National Holocaust Museum NEMO Science Museum De Studio Portuguese Synagoge Royal Palace Amsterdam Stadsarchief Amsterdam (City Archives) Van Eesteren Museum Willet-Holthuysen House

In which Amsterdam museums is the Museumkaart NOT valid?

AMAZE, Body Worlds, Cat Cabinet, Electric Ladyland, Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, MOCO Museum, Nxt Museum, Our House, STRAAT Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Torture Museum, Upside Down Museum, Vrolik Museum and Youseum.

It is not valid at attractions such as A’DAM Lookout, Amsterdam Dungeon, Art of Play Wondr, Artis Zoo, Fabrique des Lumieres, Heineken Brewery, Madame Tussauds and This Is Holland.

The Houseboat Museum offers a €1 discount to Museumkaart holders.

How can I monitor my museum visits?

Museumkaart holders can register with the ‘Mijn Museumkaart’ portal where you can see your membership and museum visit details.

Can I visit a museum more than once?

Yes, the full card gives unlimited entry to all participating museums. The temporary card only allows 5 visits.

Which major museums of note in the Netherlands offer free entry to Museumkaart holders?

Paleis Het Loo (Apeldoorn) Aviodrome (Lelystad) Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (Open Air Museum, Arnhem) Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’ (Oosterbeek) MOTI, Museum of the Image (Breda) Mauritshuis (Den Haag) – includes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring Panorama Mesdag (Den Haag) Zuiderzeemuseum (Enkhuizen) Groninger Museum (Groningen) Frans Halsmuseum (Haarlem) Teylers Museum (Haarlem) Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Leiden) Bonnefantenmuseum (Maastricht) Zeeuws Museum (Middelburg) Kröller-Müller Museum (Hoge Veluwe National Park, Otterlo) Maritiem Museum (Maritime Museum, Rotterdam) Feyenoord Museum (Rotterdam) De Pont (Tilburg) Rijksmuseum Muiderslot (Muiden) Pampus Fort Island (Muiden) Kasteel de Haar (De Haar Castle, Haarzuilens) Centraal Museum (Utrecht) Museum Park Archeon (Alphen aan den Rijn) Zaans Museum (Zaanse Schans) Museumstoomtram (Hoorn-Medemblik) Spoorwegmuseum (Dutch Railway Museum, Utrecht)

You get access to around 500 museums in total in the Netherlands – each major town and city should have a museum where the card is valid.

Is it worth buying a children’s Museumkaart?

Many museums already allow free entry for children although the age range for free entry varies considerably. See our guide Museums in Amsterdam with Free Entry for Children

For example, NEMO Science Museum, the National Maritime Museum and Wereldmuseum Amsterdam only allow free entry to those aged 0-3. So it may be worth buying the card if you plan to visit those.

Will the price of the Museumkaart go up in the future?

The last price rise was in late 2023 when the new adult card went from €64.90 to €75; the children/youth cards increased from €32.45 to €39. These were the first prices rise since 2018.

What are the prices for Museumkaart renewal?

At the end of the membership year Museumkaart sends a renewal payment request. Renewal fees are slightly lower at €69 for adults and €36 for children/youths.

Once the payment is made a new card is sent out to your address.

If you decide not to renew your card automatically expires.

Museumkaart – our take

We absolutely recommend the Museumkaart to any Dutch residents and expats. It can offer fantastic value over the whole year. The card is great for the ability to just pop into a museum for 30 minutes and visit a new exhibition – and you won’t feel the pressure to see everything.

It can also be very useful to frequent visitors to the Netherlands or those coming for an extended visit – as long as they are able to get their hands on a full card.

Those on a short visit may be able to get some limited value out of the temporary card. Otherwise consider buying the I amsterdam City Card or the Go City Pass.

Amsterdam City Passes

Last update 9 January 2024 . This article was originally published in 2008 and has been regularly updated.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission

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Transportation.

The Netherlands has a very good public transportation network, which makes it easy to get around. You can easily plan your trip with the online door-to-door journey planner  or download the free 9292 app.

Public transport pass

In all Dutch public transport (bus, train, tramway and metro) you use a transport pass as means of payment. This pass is called the OV Chip card ( OV-Chipkaart in Dutch). The OV-chipkaart can be loaded with credit in euros with which you can travel anywhere within The Netherlands. You can click here for more information about the OV-chipkaart.

You can also buy a single use/disposable OV-chipkaart at train stations.

How to get to Utrecht from Schiphol Airport

There is a direct train to Utrecht from Schiphol every 30 minutes and the journey takes about half an hour. The train station is part of Schiphol Plaza, just follow directions for ‘trains’. The airport and train stations are often very busy, so beware of pickpockets.

Prepaid or disposable OV-chipcards are available from the yellow machines near the platforms at Schiphol Plaza or ask for help at the ticket offices. For travel advice and time tables you can also check: www.ns.nl or download the free NS Reisplanner Xtra app.

Travel within Utrecht

Public transport : To pay for buses, train, trams and metro in the Netherlands you need an OV-Chipcard. For travel advice visit the website  9292.nl .  

Taxi : There is a taxi platform on at Utrecht Central Station, just follow the signs. Within the city there are several taxi platforms, for instance at Vredenburg and Janskerkhof.  

Bike : Upon arrival in the Netherlands you will notice that almost everybody rides a bicycle. Special bicycle paths and traffic lights make it a safe and convenient mode of transportation. You can buy a second hand bike in several shops around town. Be sure to also invest in a good lock or two. 

Maps of Utrecht University can be found on www.uu.nl/maps .

Utrecht University Heidelberglaan 8 3584 CS Utrecht The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0)30 253 35 50