Having visited Utrecht in The Netherlands before we thought we had seen all that this charming, yet quirky university city has to offer. How wrong were we? Even though this trip was shorter than our last, we actually seemed to do and see more. Therefore, we have put together this 24-hour city guide for Utrecht which you may find useful. With a medieval centre, perfect for exploring on foot sitting hand in hand with a cafe culture to rival any major city, as soon as we stepped back into the city we instantly remembered why we had fallen in love with Utrecht in the first place.
Located in central Netherlands Utrecht is a mere 25 minutes by train, which run every 30 minutes or so, from Amsterdam Schiphol airport. Therefore, making it a great city to visit as either as the sole destination of your trip or one stop on part of a longer trip, especially as The Netherlands has been named as one of the top countries to visit by Lonely Planet in their Best in Travel 2020 list.
Where to Stay
Photograph c/o Myrthe Slootjes (as mine simply did not do this beautiful room justice!)
As with every city, Utrecht has a range of accommodations to choose from. From budget-friendly hostels all the way through to luxury hotels. Therefore, depending on how much cash you like to splash, the likelihood is you will find somewhere suitable to base yourself while exploring the city. I had the pleasure of staying at The Hunfeld Hotel which is a centrally located, modern boutique hotel with 30 rooms and 5 apartments on offer. It’s a mere 5-10 minute walk (depending on your pace, of course) from the Utrecht Centraal train station.
This hip hotel is a great place to base yourself as all the major attractions are within easy strolling distance. Hiding behind a simple, yet elegant sign you will find a beautifully sophisticated hotel. With a Peaky Blinders vibe (think muted earthy colours and a 1920’s twist) and everything you need for a fabulous stay including a massive comfortable bed, separate shower and toilet and the all-important coffee making facilities. Our stay was in reality too short, we would have loved to have stayed longer.
It is important to note that the hotel does not have an on-site restaurant. Therefore a sit-down breakfast (or evening meal) is not possible. However, you can buy a breakfast bag for each morning of your stay. It is hung outside your door ready for when you wake up for €7.50. Ours consisted of yoghurt, oats, tangerine, Eat Natural fruit and nut bar and a bottle of apple juice. Great if you fancy breakfast in bed or while you are getting ready, but there are so many cafes and bakeries close by if you want to experience local life at breakfast time instead
Where to Eat
Lunch – Restaurant Piatto
If a scrummy Italian food (both traditional and modern twist dishes) in an Instagrammable setting is your jam then Restaurant Piatto will be right up your alley. Restaurant Piatto is located in the heart of Utrecht. It is close to the station and opposite the Tivoli Vredenburg pop temple making it easy to find. This light and airy restaurant complete with playful swings, large comfortable seating areas and beautiful pieces of artwork adorning the walls is the perfect place for a long lazy lunch (or intimate dinner).
As the kitchens are open to the restaurant it was fun to see our meals being prepared and cooked right in front of us. We happily indulged in a feast of freshly made food. Starting with a wonderfully appealing charcuterie board (bread, cured meats, cheeses, olives etc), then a buffalo mozzarella starter followed by a spaghetti carbonara main. To finish our meal we were presented with a dessert platter of deliciousness including chocolate cake, cheesecake and the staple Italian dessert, Tiramisu.
Dinner – The Rum Club
If a laid back, informal yet thoroughly funky meal is your vibe then The Rum club will float your boat. The Rum Club is located (opposite Hollister) on the Canalside. It is accessible by a wooden flight of stairs from the street above. This place was an unexpected surprise. Pumping out 1990s reggae and garage music, serving a variety of firm favourite and modern twist cocktails in tiki glasses and serving an array of delicious food including numerous poke bowls and vegetarian options, this bar gets a massive thumbs up.
It was also packed to the rafters, on a Thursday night. In our opinion, this is always a great indication of how good somewhere is. Therefore, we would recommend booking in advance to ensure you get a table. As it is a popular hotspot and everyone seemed to be indulging in the amazing fruity concoctions on offer, we were at some points throughout the evening waiting 20 minutes for our drinks. Apart from that, our only tiny gripe is that as we were sat under a speaker the music was a tad too loud. But I think that speaks more about our age than The Rum Club itself though.
What to See and Do
Climb the Bell Tower
If you are feeling fit (and of course are able to) then climbing the Dom Tower is something you must do. It is the oldest and the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, standing at 112.5 metres (368 feet) high. Climbing the 465 (currently 495 because of restoration works) steps can be tough going. Especially in some parts when the stairwell becomes narrow and the stairs steep. You can only climb the Dom Tower as part of a guided tour as we did. Our guide paused a couple of times to allow us to catch our breath and learn more about the tower and its history.
Once at the top the effort put into climbing the tower was instantly worthwhile. This is because of the spectacular views over the city, even on a cloudy day when we visited. Apparently, on a clear day, you can see for miles, all the way to Amsterdam in fact. Walking up (with a couple of stops mentioned previously), having 10 minutes or so at the top to take photos and admire the views and waking back down took approximately 1 hour in total. Ticket prices are as follows: adults €10.00, students €7.50, children 4-12 €5.00 and 0-3 free. Booking in advance, as always, is advisable. Restoration work is currently being carried out, hence the scaffolding encasing the tower.
Take a Canal Cruise
A great way of exploring Utrecht is to take a canal cruise along the beautiful waterways in the city and a must when complying any city guide to Utrecht. From this viewpoint, you will get to see the canalside bars and restaurants. You also get the opportunity to admire the beautiful dutch architecture as you pass by hotels, offices and multi-million-pound waterfront houses. As many of the boats that navigate the waters have (retractable) roofs and heating, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, this is an all-year-round activity.
You can choose to sit back, relax and allow your guide (which is often the driver) to explain what you are passing and why it is important to the city, or grab your camera, head to the back of the boat and snap away to your heart’s content. Tickets can be bought in person from the ticket booths dotted along the canal (at street level). They are around the €10 per adult mark and cruises last approximately 1 hour. If you are feeling a tad more adventurous, you could hire your own boat and head out on the canals at your leisure.
Visit a Museum
The city is home to a number of great galleries and museums so they should be included in any city guide to Utrecht. Therefore, if you can fit at least one into your itinerary, then you should. Deciding which one you want to visit can be a tough decision. However, depending on your interests and who you are visiting Utrecht with may dictate which one you should visit. Here are three very different options which may pique your interest:
Centraal Museum. The Centraal Museum is home to a wide range of pieces, many of which have been produced locally over the years including a substantial collection from the Golden Age by Utrecht artists. Adult ticket – €15.
Flickr Image c/o Romeinse Limes
DOMunder. If you fancy learning more about the last 2000 years of Utrecht’s history then a visit to DOMunder is a must. Explore the route under Dom Square to discover all sorts of archaeological finds. Adult ticket – €12.50
Miffy Museum. For families with travelling with young children, it’s got to be the Miffy Museum. Inspired by Dick Bruna’s picture books, the museum is made up of miniature worlds for the young (and young at heart) to explore. Adults ticket – €6.50, child 7 to 17 – €6.50, child 2 to 6 – €10.00, under 2 – free.
Tunnel
A tunnel? Yes, a tunnel. The Ganzenmarkt Tunnel which joins Ganzenmarkt the Oudegracht Wharves is a tunnel like no other. The tunnel’s original use was for horses to pull carts of goods from the boats which had brought them into the city via the waterways up into the city centre where it was then unloaded. Erik Groen turned the uninspiring underpass into a funky walkway which is lit by a constantly changing light installation. It is, of course, possible to visit and walk through the tunnel in daylight. However, to get the full effect a visit after dark is advised.
This city guide to Utrecht is just a snapshot of what you can see and do. There is, of course, a raft of other things. These include visiting St Martin’s cathedral, exploring the botanic gardens, hiring a bike and blending in with the locals and even hitting the shops whether it be for a dutch treat from HEMA (local department store), a tacky souvenir to remind you of your time in Utrecht or even a bunch of beautiful tulips from the flower market. If you are want to explore all the hidden gems of the city in a short period of time, check out this fun Utrecht city exploration game!
- We visited Utrecht as part of a Press Trip organised by Visit Holland. Writing a city guide to Utrecht was not required. But we love the city so much we wanted to share our experience. Opinions as ALWAYS – our own! We hope this city guide to Utrecht helps when planning your trip.
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