One of The Netherlands’ oldest cities, historic Utrecht is located in the heart of the country. Often overlooked by visitors, the city is more than worth a visit. It has a beautiful medieval centre set out around canals unique to The Netherlands, is an excellent shopping hub and has more than enough versified museums to keep visitors entertained.
Once the most interesting cities in The Netherlands, Utrecht is an interesting, medieval place.
Utrecht is a compact city so wherever visitors decide to stay, they will find themselves just a short walk from the city’s most attractive attractions. Utrecht is also well connected to the lush Dutch countryside. Booking an apartment in the car-free medieval centre is always a good choice, especially in the suburb of IJsselstein where there is also scenic countryside in the surrounding area. Those travelling with families should consider accommodation in De Vechtstreek, an area north-west of Utrecht and close to the Loosdrechtse Plassen lakes. Lombok is a nice multicultural neighbourhood where busy streets can be found alongside quiet ones. Another choice is Leidsche Rijn, which consists of the two small villages of Vleuten and Meern. Not as developed as the other parts of the city, it is considered a medium sized town.
For a small city, there are plenty of things to do in Utrecht. Visitors can start by stopping by the Dom Tower of Utrecht, the tallest church tower in The Netherlands. Pieterskerk is another lovely church to check out and is one of the city’s oldest churches. Museums are plentiful in Utrecht and there is problem more to see than there is enough time to do so. Visitors should make sure to take in the Railway Museum, Centraal Museum, Museum Speelklok and Museum Catharijneconvent. The Kasteel de Haar is a wonderful historic site with buildings dating from 1892, which are all built upon the original castle. Children will certainly enjoy a day out at Ouwehands Zoo where they can see many animals, a bear forest and seal shows.
Utrecht has a range of places to eat and drink; from restaurants to cafes to snack bars on the street. Lunch can be enjoyed in one of the many sandwich bars or pubs which line the city streets. Restaurants are the perfect place for dinner and many different cuisines are on offer. One of the most popular places to eat in the city is Restaurant Podium, where an array of creative dishes are available. Indonesian food is very well-liked in Utrecht and a good place to sample the cuisine is at Blauw. Utrecht has a varied and lively nightlife with something to offer everyone. Those looking to combine dining with a few beers should go to Mick O'Connells Irish Pub. Tivoli is the place to go for concerts and dance parties.
Visitors flying to The Netherlands will land at Schiphol Airport. However, it is easy to get to Utrecht from there as there is a direct train line which takes only 30 minutes. Once in the city, the best way to explore it is by foot as almost all points of interest are within walking distance of each other. Those who do want to travel via public transport can do so by bus and tram. These lines connect to Utrecht Centraal Station, through the city and to neighbouring suburbs. A popular way of travelling with the locals is by bike. There are many rental stores scattered around the city and journals can be planned using a route planner. Free bike parking areas provided by the city council can be made use of.
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