Utrecht is a great destination which offers beautiful canals, impressive castles, an intersting cultural life and much more. Take a look at the best things to do in Utrecht!
Are you planning a visit to Utrecht?
Check out the best tours and activities in Utrecht to make the most out of your trip.
Best tours and activities in Utrecht:
1. Highlights and Secrets Walking Tour of Utrecht
2. De Haar Castle Entry Ticket (one of the most beautiful castles in Europe)
3. Speelklok Museum Entry Ticket (a self-playing instruments museum. Great for children)
4. Utrecht Canal Boat Tour
Best hotels in Utrecht:
1. MUZE Hotel Utrecht (High-end boutique hotel)
2. Brass (Mid-range. Right at the center)
3. Stay Ok Utrecht (Budget. Shared dorms at the center)
Since my partner is from Utrecht and his family lives there, I have visited the city at least 12 times and I love it.
It has it all: canals, beautiful architecture, and a lively atmosphere since it’s a student city. And it’s a great place to explore The Netherlands without being overwhelmed by all the tourist crowds in Amsterdam!
I’ll share here you my top 10 picks for things to see and do in Utrecht.
1. Walk along the Oudegracht
The area around the Oudegracht is considered the center of Utrecht. The Oudegracht, which translates to “Old Canal”. It is called as such because it is the oldest and most historic canal in Utrecht.
The canal dates back to the Middle Ages and people originally used it for transportation and trade. They used to be storages bordering the wharfs so goods could be stored immediately after unloading ships. These days, the canal runs through the heart of the city, and along it you will find shops, cozy cafes and restaurants.
At street level you will find all kinds of shops. From big brands, to designer, vintage second hand and souvenir shops. Closeby, there’s also a small arthouse cinema, ‘t Hoogt, if you want to watch one of the latest movies or have a coffee.
Consider booking a walking tour of Utrecht, or a private walking tour to learn more about the center and its secrets.
2. Visit the Dom Tower
The Dom Tower is the most iconic and recognizable landmark in Utrecht, which dates back to the 13th century. It’s not just the tallest building in Utrecht but it’s actually the tallest church tower in the Netherlands.
What makes it unique, though, is that it’s not attached to any church. The back side of the church is some meters away from the tower, since a tornado destroyed its central part some centuries ago.
You can visit the Dom Tower by taking one of their guided tours. The climb to the top of the tower is not for the faint of heart, with 465 steps to the top. But the panoramic view of the city from the top is well worth the effort.
If you walk through Utrecht on a Saturday morning you will hear well-known melodies coming from the Dom Tower. The concerts are played by the 50-bell carillon. At the tour, you will be able to see that beautiful carillon, a set of bells that are played by a keyboard.
3. DomUnder: see 2000 years of history buried below the city
If you like archaeology, don’t miss a visit to the DomUnder! It’s located right beneath the Dom Tower.
The DomUnder is a network of underground tunnels and chambers that have been preserved from the Roman era. Visitors can take a guided tour through the tunnels and learn about the history of Utrecht, from its Roman past to its medieval and modern history.
At the tour, you will receive a smart flashlight. Pointing it towards the walls will activate the sensors and reveal the history of the location.
One of the highlights of the DomUnder is the Roman wall, which is one of the best-preserved sections of Roman wall in the Netherlands. Visitors can also see the remains of medieval houses and buildings, and learn about the daily life of the people who lived in Utrecht during that time.
4. Visit the stunning Haar Castle
Even if you have visited other castles before, you will be stunned by a visit to Haar. The castle itself and the gardens surrounding it are gorgeous.
I absolutely loved my visit and personally I think this is the best thing to do in Utrecht (actually, near Utrecht). Consider including a visit to the castle in your Netherlands itinerary even if you are not planning to visit Utrecht itself!
The castle is located in the village of Haarzuilens, just outside Utrecht, and it is the biggest castle in the Netherlands. It was built in the 14th century, but was rebuilt and expanded in the late 19th century.
Everything inside is in perfect conditions and richly decorated with tapestries, paintings, and antiques. It really gives you a good idea of the luxurious lifestyle that the Dutch nobility lived in the 19th century. Generally, a visit lasts around two hours.
The castle’s gardens are also a must-see. They have a variety of walking trails, flowers and a pond, and a nice cafe. You can buy a ticket to just enter the gardens, but I would advise not to miss the castle itself.
To get to the castle, take a Sprinter train that stops in Vleuten. The bus station is beside the train stop. From there, take bus 127 to “Brink Haarzuilens”, and walk 15 minutes to the castle. On weekends during the summer months, take bus 111 to “Kasteel de Haar, Haarzuilens”. From there, walk 2 minutes to the castle.
You can buy your tickets for the castle in advance here.
5. Admire the Rietveld Schröder House
The Rietveld Schröder House is an architectural masterpiece located in Utrecht. Designed by the renowned Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld .
Truus Schroder, asked Rietveld to build this home in 1924. She wanted a space that made her feel free. Rietveld even was skeptical of some of her requests. She wanted something far from traditional and he certainly delivered. People generally find the modernity of its design to be stunning, which includes foldable walls and groundbreaking furniture.
You can take a guided tour of the house and see the original furniture and learn about the innovative use of space, its design and its significance for the history of architecture. After your visit, you can enjoy a cafe in the garden.
Make sure to book your visit at their offical website well in advance.
6. Explore the street art
Renting a bike and visiting the city’s huge murals can be a fun activity for an afternoon while you explore the city. These are some of my favorites:
The Bookshelf: The artist, Jan is de Man, asked the neighbors about their favorite book, which resulted in a painting with 49 book covers in seven different languages. You can see the mural on the corner of Amsterdamsestraatweg and Mimosastraat.
Welcome to the Straatweg: Also by artist Jan is de Man. This 3D artwork features at least 24 facades of buildings of the street were it is painted. You can find it at the beginning of Amsterdamsestraatweg.
7. Listen to self playing instruments at the Speelklok Museum
This is a fun and cultural activity for people of all ages. During a visit to the museum, music coming from self playing instruments will surround you.
The history of these instruments started back in 16th century with the use of church carillons (an instrument that uses a keyboard to play bells).
Over the centuries, the general desire of people to be surrounded by music, led to the invention of musical clocks, musical boxes, orchestrions (self-playing orchestras) and the traditional Dutch street organs. All of them, self playing instruments.
At the museum, you can see live demonstrations of the instruments in action and hear the beautiful music they produce. Some of them are richly decorated and covered in gold, which were generally owned by monarchs as a symbol of their power.
The museum is recommended for people of all ages, and especially for children it might be one of the best things to do in Utrecht.
You can buy your entry tickets for the Speelklok Museum here.
8. Visit the Miffy Museum
If you have read Miffiy’s books, this is the place for you. Miffy, also known as Nijntje in Dutch, is a popular children’s book series from the 1960s. It was written and illustrated by Dutch artist Dick Bruna.
The series features the adventures of a small white rabbit named Miffy, and it has been translated into more than 50 languages. Miffy is very popular in Japan and sometimes people think she’s Japanese, but she is actually from Utrecht.
The museum features a variety of interactive exhibits and activities that bring the stories and characters of Miffy to life. There’s a permanent collection of original illustrations, sketches, and other materials from the Miffy series. The museum also offers a variety of activities for children, including a drawing studio where they can create their own Miffy illustrations.
From November to January, if you pass by after 5pm, you can watch a short animated projection of Miffy on the façade of the museum.
Since it usually sells out, you must buy your entry ticket in advance.
9. Visit the Museum Catharijneconvent
If you have an interest in how religion has influenced the Dutch culture over the centuries, then this museum is a must for you.
Wander around the halls of this former medieval convent and admire its impressive collection of religious artifacts, art, statues, books, and relics. Don’t miss the Treasury, one of the most fascinating parts of the museum, featuring interesting artifacts and some jewelled bibles.
They also have a collection of paintings by artists of the Golden Age, including one piece by Rembrandt.
You will learn a lot throughout its three floors. They offer free audio guides in English.
10. Take a Boat Tour
Exploring the Oudegracht by boat can be a different way to visit Utrecht. This was the way people traveled around the city in the old days.
From the boat, you will be able to admire the oldest part of the city, dating back to Roman times, and pass the highest church tower in the Netherlands, the Dom Tower. You will pass by centuries-old buildings, canal houses and wharf cellars. After some time, you will arrive at the city’s outer moat, a former defensive structure.
Where to stay in Utrecht?
As you can see, there are many interesting activities to do in Utrecht, so my suggestion would be to stay there for at least a couple of days.
High-end:
MUZE Hotel Utrecht: Very beautiful hotel with only 6 rooms, each one decorated individually and uniquely, and a garden. A few minutes walk away from the city center.
Grand Hotel Karel V: Located in an old mansion and decorated with the style and luxury of one as well. They have a fine dining restaurant and bar. A 10-minute walk from the city station.
Mid-range:
Brass: Beautiful and spacious rooms with very comfortable beds. Right at the center.
Moxy Utrecht: Modern hotel with minimalistic rooms, a fitness center, bar and lounge. A 20-minute walk to the city center
Budget:
Stayok Hostel Utrecht Centrum: Bunk beds in shared dorms right in the center of Utrecht.
Bunk Hotel Utrecht: This old church transformed into a hotel offers beds in pods/capsules in a shared dorm, besides private rooms. A Five-minute walk away from the train station.
As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do in Utrecht. If you are looking for a weekend trip from Amsterdam, Utrecht is a great choice. Staying for at least a couple of days will allow you to visit the city center but also the castle.
In case you don’t have so much time and are planning a to visit the city in day trip from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, don’t worry, since walking around the old canal, the Dom tower and taking a boat ride can all be done in a day.
If you are looking into visiting other cities in the Netherlands near Amsterdam, don’t miss my guide for the best things to do in Haarlem.
