2025 Utrecht Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

Amsterdam must-see guide! ! -Transportation card options: It is recommended to purchase the GVB transportation card (1-day to 7-day tickets are available), which is valid for all trams, buses and subways in the city. If you will be taking the train to the suburbs (such as Zaandam or Utrecht), you can consider the Dutch National Railways train ticket or the Amsterdam Travel Ticket (including airport transfer + city transportation). Or you can just use Apple Pay! 📍Attractions: 1. Utrecht Old Town It is quieter than Amsterdam, suitable for walking and photographing the night view of the canal. It only takes about 25 minutes by train, and the night view is beautiful! 2. Zaanse Schans Traditional Dutch windmills, green wooden houses, small bridges and flowing water. Experience the traditional Dutch culture, such as wooden shoe making and cheese factories. The photos are beautiful and the transportation is very convenient. 3. Basilica of St. Nicholas The spectacular Gothic church building is opposite the Central Station. It has a beautiful night view and is one of the landmarks of the city. It is very photogenic to take pictures with the reflection of the canal at night. 4. Amsterdam Centraal Station The building itself is beautiful and close to major attractions. You must go there to take photos 5. National Museum (Rijksmuseum) "The Night Watch" and other famous paintings ⚠️It is recommended to book tickets online at least 1 to 2 weeks in advance 6. Van Gogh Museum The largest collection of Van Gogh's works ⚠️ It is recommended to book tickets online at least 1 to 2 weeks in advance 7. Canal Cruise in Amsterdam One of the most representative ways to experience it, you can enjoy the whole city from the water 8. Red Light Windows One of the most representative red-light districts in the world, it is legal and regulated. You can learn about the Netherlands' respect and protection for sex workers. It is a Dutch characteristic and is worth a visit! ⚠️No taking photos. You must not take photos of people working.

Located in Utrecht, Netherlands, the Museum Speelklok is a unique music museum that is often overlooked by visitors. Most tourists tend to explore Utrecht's canals, the Miffy Museum, churches, and castles, easily missing out on this special museum. The museum houses a variety of self-playing musical instruments, showcasing everything from early small music boxes to large-scale musical machines. Stepping into the grand music hall is truly awe-inspiring. Sitting in the hall, listening to the music played automatically by giant machines, and imagining people dancing to the tunes is a mesmerizing experience. The gift shop offers a range of exquisite music boxes and sound books. The café inside the museum features an automatic piano, allowing visitors to enjoy soothing music while sipping their coffee. Tips: Be sure to join the free guided tour offered by the museum. The guides provide detailed introductions and demonstrations of the various unique musical machines.

#myhiddengems I learnt the importance of the NS app, when I boarded a train headed towards vleuten, but the train didn't stop at Vleuten. So yes keep that in mind, not all trains do. Mine was a day try trip from Utrecht. A quick train ride to Vleuten and then a bus ride to the nearest stop of the castle. Walked 15 more minutes and there was the castle. One could also do this from from Amsterdam but may be the train ride would be 50-60 minutes. Any who, if the idea of the largest castle in the country and with a Disney like architecture appeals to you. You cannot miss the De Haar castle. It has a massive park surrounding it. You might want to not rush or have too many plans for the same day. I mean I took my time and easily spent close to 4 hours here. But even otherwise I would say 2 plus hours easily for the castle and garden alone. It's got several rooms and there will be information to take in. I paid two entry fees. One for the garden and one for castle. But I do remember it being under 30 euros altogether. This is a must add on your itinerary. #myhiddengems #summer #europe #netherlands #castle #garden #dehaar #summerdestinations #solotrip #disney #100waysoftravel

#100WaysOfTravel #couple Getting There - pretty easy and convenient. took a train to Vleuten and then a bus 127 to the castle. Coming back will be similar We went there on a Monday, hence there wasn’t much crowd and we can take loads of picture! The place was huge! The audio castle tour itself might take a couple of hours to indulge in the history of the place. Thereafter, we went to find the deer park which had an awesome view! Highly recommended place if you are in the castles and stuff!

🌎In the far northwest of Europe, there is a country gently embraced by windmills and tulips - the Netherlands. This is not only a paradise for bicycles, but also a dreamland for self-driving enthusiasts. Imagine driving your car along a tranquil river, flanked by endless natural fields and spectacular coastline. Every step you take is echoed by history, and every moment you are immersed in the fragrance of art. Today, let me take you on this self-driving tour of the Netherlands to experience the unique charm! ⭐️Route recommendations Dutch City Memory Tour: A beautiful self-driving journey through history and nature, starting from Amsterdam and passing through The Hague and Rotterdam, allowing you to appreciate the diverse customs of the Netherlands. 🚩Rotterdam → Utrecht → Groningen → Zwolle → Arnhem → Rotterdam 🌼Daily schedule DAY1: Arcade Market – Breedop Zoo – Plaswijk Park DAY2: De Haar Castle - Utrecht Old Canal - Central Museum DAY3: National Railway Museum-Schroeder House-Spilkerk Museum-Cathedral (Domkerk) DAY4: Groningen Museum—Clock Tower—Fish Square—Martini Tower DAY5: Zwolle Dinosaur Park – Museum of Visual Arts – Spiegel Theater DAY6: John Frost Bridge-Arnhem Open Air Museum-Sepend Villa-Three Gatekeepers (Park de Gulden Bodem) DAY7: Hoogmard Farmhouse - Berta Farm - Return to Amsterdam 🌸The self-driving mileage is about 550 kilometers. The recommended travel time is 7 days for tourists who like cultural scenery. 💖Overview of attractions ✔️Arcade Market, the world’s first building that combines residential buildings and markets, is known as “the most beautiful market in the world.” Or the most creative and fashionable market, with a large mural called "Harvest Corner" printed on its inner arch, which is the largest piece of art in the Netherlands. Here, you can find all kinds of delicious food and fresh food, from dinner to desserts; whether it is bread, cheese, ice cream, roasted seeds and nuts, flowers, and handicrafts, everything is available. ✔️Utrecht Old Canal, the canal runs through the center of the city and has a long history. Bars, cafes and restaurants line both sides of the canal. If you take a walk here, you can appreciate the passage of time and tranquility in this city; you can also go boating on the lake and enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides. ✔️The Groningen Museum, established in 1894 on three small islands in front of the train station, is a museum floating on the water. It is a very modern and innovative art space in the Netherlands. The museum has many exhibits of modern art. The collection includes numerous archaeological finds, portraits of outstanding figures in Groningen Province, local applied arts and handicrafts, etc. Each of them is a fine product that is dizzying. ✔️The Arnhem Open Air Museum, located in Arnhem, the Netherlands, was officially opened to the public on July 13, 1918. The museum has 80 historical buildings, farmhouses and mills, where you can learn about the historical changes of the Netherlands for more than 250 years. The museum also has a variety of staff including farmers, craftsmen, fishermen, etc. They will carefully explain the development history of the Netherlands and experience the daily life of the Dutch people hundreds of years ago. ☀️A self-driving trip to the Netherlands is not only a visual feast, but also a baptism of the soul. In this land of windmills and tulips, you will be filled with memories and touches. Whether you are a seeker of history and culture or a lover of natural scenery, the Netherlands can bring you unexpected surprises. Come on a quick trip and let the beauty and charm of the Netherlands become the most beautiful scenery in your life! #trip # Self-driving # Car rental # Self-driving tour

I went to Utrecht in the Netherlands, the birthplace of Miffy 🇳🇱 This cute traffic light is apparently the only Miffy traffic light in the world. Apart from the traffic lights, there are hidden Miffys in various places in Utrecht, and the locals told me that there are other places too, so it was a very relaxing time✨If you have a chance to visit the Netherlands, please try looking for hidden Miffys in Utrecht😍 By the way, Miffy is the English name, and her real name in Dutch is Nijntje, which means something like a bunny🐰 ————————————————📍Spot information🗺Location: The Miffy traffic light can be seen at the crosswalk in front of the long-established department store de Bijenkorf Utrecht in the Netherlands⏰Opening hours: None💡Recommendation: Personally, I really liked the atmosphere at night💰Admission fee: None🌈Other: The crosswalk was rainbow-colored and cute, so if you want to enjoy it, it might be a good idea to visit while it's light out #Netherlands #Utrecht #European travel #Overseas travel #Photogenic spot #Miffy #Recommended hidden spot for travel lovers #0yentravel

#Halloween2023 The city of Utrecht in the Netherlands has beautiful scenery There are many ancient buildings where you can see traces of history and culture. De Inktpot is a very special building in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It is the headquarters of the Netherlands Railway Company (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) and the largest red brick building in the Netherlands. De Inktpot was built between 1918 and 1921 and is known for its enormous size and unique design. The building is very famous locally and is considered one of Utrecht's landmarks. Utrecht's Moreelsepark is a beautiful city park located near the city center of Utrecht. This park is known for its peaceful setting, tree-lined walkways, and gardens. It is an ideal place for tourists and locals to relax, take a walk and have fun. Oud-Katholieke Gertrudiskathedraal is a historic Catholic church in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Built in the 19th century, this church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Utrecht. It has a unique architectural style that combines Gothic and Romanesque features, showcasing a rich history and religious culture.

#Halloween2023 The stations in each city of the Netherlands are very unique. A building with a great sense of design 🏗 Often attracts tourists from all over the world to take photos and check in📸 🚊Utrecht Centraal Station It is the main railway station in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands It is also one of the largest stations in the Netherlands. The architectural design of this station is full of modern style It has large glass curtain walls and curved shapes. Make it a striking landmark The station has complete facilities including shops and restaurants🍴 Office space and bike parking 🅿️ It is also an important transportation hub 🇳🇱Convenient for passengers to travel to various parts of the Netherlands and international train transfer stations The station's modern design and convenient transport links Making it an important landmark and tourist hotspot in Utrecht📍 Utrecht Station 🚉 Stationshal 12, 3511 CE Utrecht, Netherlands #weekendtrip #hollandtravel #dutchtourism #netherlands #utrecht #trainstation

De Haar Castle is a famous attraction in the Netherlands. The spire-style building, medieval design, palace-style gardens and moats outside the castle are very poetic. The interior is built with marble and has living and dining areas. The furniture and decoration are unique and feel luxurious. There is also a souvenir shop on the basement floor where you can buy different accessories. 😊#NetherlandsTravel

#utrecht #netherlands #amsterdam 📍Location: As a small town/city close to Amsterdam, you may take a train from central Amsterdam to Utrecht, costing you just around 3 euro(single trip) and half an hour. Trains are scheduled around every 15 minutes. 🏙️ About the city: the city is quite small though, it might only take you a day/or less than a day to all the tourist places. Right at the Utrecht central station, there is a big shopping mall, where you can buy food and walking around. The statues and Utrecht university are also around the centrum station, and you might just get there on foot. 🕙time: one of the weird thing is that I arrived the city on Monday around 10, I walk around until midday, and surprisingly, there is only a few people on the street, so are those opening stores. So quite and not as crowded as I have thought.

A very simple and pleasant 😇little city! This city offers a legendary environment where you can eat delicious 🤤 meals around the canal, spend a pleasant time and take a walk! Hotels are more affordable than other Dutch 🇳🇱cities! #utrecht #domtower #inner city canal #fallingforfall #fallinglove

We were not very sure if it was going to be worth to stop as we show different cities but we gave it a chance. It is definetely a must. It is a bit small, so you can spend like a day, exploring Utrecht but it has its highlights. Its canals are beautiful. If you go in spring you can enjoy a drink by the canal. Do NOT forget mosquito spray, as you will be their favourite meal. In winter it is very humid so I recommend you to visit it in Spring or Summer. Summer won’t be all the students so you can enjoy a relax time and if you are lucky a live band outside.

🏰 Being the largest castle in the Netherlands, Castle de Haar is definitely a place that you can't miss if you are nearby 😍 #bucketlistreboot 🏞️ With a 14-hectare park surrounding the castle, the place is just a gem to explore, especially when it is sunny 🌞. Everyone can take instagram-mable pictures here, and again, the nature is just so beautiful! 😋 💒 The castle is a summer house for rich people, which is then acquired by the royal Dutch family. Inside of it is so grand, and full of luxurious bedrooms that any girls like me would love to live in 🍇🍇🍇🥲 And so much more is here for you to explore... quick! Book your ticket and come 😍 🚌 From Utrecht Centraal station, take a sprinter to Vleuten station, then ride on bus 127, which takes you straight to the gate of the Castle! 🕣 Mind you, the bus 127 is an hourly service, so be on time... 😏😏 * Check app "9292" for transport information in the Netherlands. #境外遊 #awesomepic #urbanexplorer #summervacation #mytripvlog #tripblazers #passionpassport #nationalpark #celebratewithtrip

Utrecht is really pretty and offers a good combination of new and old, very much like a modernised town! You will find that you are spoilt for choices in the shopping district and when it comes to food, there are even more choices from Korean to Vietnamese and even Italian cuisine. The streets in town are very picturesque and I really like looking at the canals and architecture as I roam the streets. As it is fast approaching December, you will find that the Christmas decors are out and they will light up at night✨ which makes for a really pretty sight! There are also many who likes to dine by the canals and enjoy the nice weather and chill vibes:)

Visited 30ml Coffee & Food in Utrecht and had their bacon pancakes, vegetarian burrito, and 2 drinks. The food was really good and the cafe was quite peaceful and vibey despite being a Saturday afternoon. Definitely recommend if you are in the area! #fallingforfall #foodie #tripblazers

Utrecht is a vibrant city with many young people who love to go for shopping in their huge centra shopping mall. It has one of the biggest bike parking in the Netherlands. You can find many brands in the city center with. alot of options to eat. #tripblazers #staycation #mytripvlog #本地遊 #utrecht #netherlands

For me that the best Waffles shop in Netherland. Highly recommended Address - Kalverstraat 190, 1012 XH Amsterdam, Netherland

Getting There - intercity train from inside Shipol airport in Amsterdam directly to Utrecht Centraal Station takes 30 minutes and costs Euro 10.70 at the ticket machine. Attractions - 1. the canal area and the mostly car free old town streets with many restaurants, bars and shops 2. Janskerkhof flowermarket 3. Wilhelminapark 4. Botanical garden 5. Utrecht Centraal Station with its adjacent mall Hotels - we stayed at Holiday Inn Pappendorp which is served by bus 295 from Utrecht Cetraal and runs south to Rotterdam. We stayed at this hotel because it is at. good price, modern and includes breakfast Food & Restaurants - we had an Asian noodle dish at Eazie in train station. Hood price for value ShoppingHoog Catherine Mall next to the Centraal Station

Everyone knows that sashimi is sashimi...then what is Umami? It turns out it means umami 😄 The word umami was first coined by Kikunae Ikeda, a professor of chemistry at Tokyo Imperial University in 1908. Kikunae Ikeda is the co-inventor of monosodium glutamate, also known as Ajinomoto. This Japanese all-you-can-eat restaurant called Umami is located at Oudegracht 74, 3511 AT Utrecht, the Netherlands. The decoration is very impressive at first sight, the food is delicious and fresh, and the service is warm and attentive. The cheap price of 29 Euros is a must-try reason when you go to Utrecht, the Netherlands! 🍙🍣🍝🦐

Utrecht, also known as Utrecht, is a city that can be reached in 30 minutes by train from Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and is a place with a strong medieval atmosphere. It has a cute feel, but it is also full of charm thanks to the canals that flow through the center of the city. It is said to be even more beautiful in the fall, so if you are planning a trip to the Netherlands, I recommend visiting Utrecht as well! #Netherlands travel #Suburban travel #Utrecht #utrecht #Europe travel #Netherlands suburban city #europe #netherlands #safe travel

I wonder what your first impression of the Netherlands is. ❤️ Besides tulips, windmills, red light districts, and mushrooms, is there Miffy? 🐰 Remember to come to Utrecht, the hometown of Dick Bruna, Miffy's father🐰. Even the streets🚥 are filled with Miffy!

This modern 42,000m2, multi-level shopping mall, conveniently located just outside Utrecht Centraal (the Netherlands’ busiest train station), includes a recently completed extension (‘The Passage’). Among its 160 tenants are H&M, Zara, AFound, Primark, Open32, Sissy Boy, Nike, JD Sports, Timberland, Perry Sport, Siebel Juweliers, Pandora, Media Markt, Five Guys, Dunkin’ Donuts and the only Samsung Experience Store and TGI Fridays restaurant in Holland. The mall is suitable for people of all ages! ☺️ #summervacation#urbanexplorer

Utrecht a city in the central Neatherlands that has been a religious center for many hundreds of years. It is famous for the Cathedral of St. Martin and the Domtoren Bell tower which can be seen from most parts of the city. It is such a great place to explore while walking. #merrychristmas

Utrecht is a beautiful city in the Neatherlands. Most people have not heard of it but it is the 4th largest city in the Neatherlands and has been a religious center for hundreds of years. It is also very picturesque. Photo ops galore. #merrychristmas

Utrecht is a small yet very beautiful city in the Netherlands. It is reachable by train and other type of transportation for only 30 minutes from Amsterdam. Utrecht has many canals, and it is famous also for the restaurants along the canals which can be a little bit pricey. Overall, it is a very relaxing city for you to hang around, as this city also has a university, so most people here are students #HalloTrip

#earthdayjourney Less than half an hour from Amsterdam, Utrecht is the Netherlands' best-kept secret—where medieval charm meets modern sustainability. With its iconic Dom Tower, hidden courtyards, and canals that run below street level, Utrecht has all the magic of a fairytale city—minus the tourist crowds. But what really makes Utrecht shine? It’s one of Europe’s greenest urban spaces. From its massive bike parking garage (the world’s largest!) to car-free city zones and green rooftops, Utrecht is leading the way in sustainable living. I explored the city by bike, gliding along tree-lined canals, stopping for oat lattes in zero-waste cafés, and watching students picnic in the sun-soaked parks. Even the public transport runs on wind power! Utrecht proves that sustainability doesn’t mean sacrifice—it means rethinking what a city can be: livable, local, and low-impact. #travel #vacation #amsterdam #sustainabilitytravel #Utrecht

Nestled in the Dutch countryside, Castle de Haar offers a captivating journey into history, architecture, and nature. For those who seek an unforgettable experience, the scenic walk leading to this stunning castle is a highlight of sustainable travel. Beginning in the lush, green landscape, the path weaves through expansive fields, past charming farmhouses, and alongside tranquil waterways, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural surroundings. The walk, which can take around 30 minutes, is not only a peaceful escape from the city but also an eco-friendly alternative to using transportation. The route invites reflection, with its views of sprawling gardens and distant forested areas, making the journey itself as memorable as the castle itself. Castle de Haar is a true testament to sustainable tourism, blending history with nature while minimizing its environmental footprint. The commitment to preserving the surrounding land, alongside sustainable tourism initiatives, ensures that future generations can enjoy this magical place. Whether you're captivated by the architecture or the tranquil scenery, this walk to Castle de Haar is an experience that embodies the essence of sustainable travel. #earthdayjourney #SustainableTravel #EcoFriendlyAdventures #CastleDeHaar #ScenicWalks #GreenTravel #DutchCountryside #TravelWithPurpose #SustainableTourism #ExploreResponsibly #NatureAndHistory #WalkToTheCastle #EcoTourism

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