What to see in Utrecht. On this tour of the Netherlands we arrived at a city with the typical charm of this country. Picturesque canals greet us and welcome us to Utrecht.
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What to see in Utrecht?
Utrecht is known for its rich history, beautiful canals and vibrant cultural life. From its impressive cathedral to its cozy cafes, there is plenty to see and do. And today, our travel companions are going to find out!
Being a university city, you will find a lot of movement in its streets, which gives it a very nice atmosphere. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the country.
When you are there, you will often think of the similarity with Amsterdam. They have charm in common, although this is perhaps not taken into account by us tourists when planning an itinerary.
We will start with a free tour of Utrecht as we have said other times, we believe that it is the best way to have that first contact with the city, and what better than with the help of a guide in our language.
THE CATHEDRAL OF UTRECHT
We will start at the Dom Tower and St. Martin’s Cathedral
You can’t miss St. Martin’s Cathedral, the tallest in the Netherlands. Its tower, which rises to 112 metres, offers a spectacular view of the city and was built in the 14th century and is the symbol of the city. You can go up and enjoy the views, the price is €13.50. As you can see in our case we found the tower under renovation, but the visit to the interior of the cathedral was worth it.
It was the largest church in the Netherlands until 1674, being dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. In 1674 the central nave collapsed after a strong storm, and was never rebuilt.
If we look at the ground of the square surrounding it, we will see the marks on the ground of how far the church reached, with only a part of it now standing. The Dom Tower served as a model for the construction of many churches, as it was the tallest tower in the country. You can find the cloisters on the south side of the cathedral.
Are you going to visit Amsterdam? Don’t miss our post, the complete itinerary through Amsterdam in three days.
DOMunder
We find here the entrance to the DOMunder experience, but what is it?
It is the entrance to the underground space where you can see 2,000 years of Dutch history and is located in the middle of Dom Square. You can follow a tour under the centuries-old square with a special flashlight to discover all kinds of archaeological finds. The entrance fee is €14
We missed it, as we often tell you, beyond having everything planned, there are places that we leave to solve at the moment, and sometimes we don’t have enough time, we are left with regret for not having been able to live the experience and therefore not being able to leave you an opinion about it. As we always say, we do not talk about what we have not experienced first hand.
We continue the walk, the canals of Utrecht are unique, with their piers and terraces. You can rent a bike or boat to explore, or just do it on foot
Oudegracht
The Oudegracht or old canal runs through the center of Utrecht and stroll along it is a must in the city. On the banks of the canal there are a number of low docks that formerly served as warehouses and currently have been converted into local, usually bars. A boat ride on the canals of Utrecht is a great idea to enjoy the city.
It is not the only canal in the city, although it is the most touristic, all of them have a particular beauty. The lively movement encourages you to enjoy this city, which has a lot of charm.
During the day of exploring, relaxing in one of Utrecht’s many cafés is a nice option. You will find several with a lot of charm
Winkel Van Sinkel
The old Winkel Van Sinkel store or shopping center is an example of this. An old shop converted into a bar.
Winkel van Sinkel was the first large warehouse for
the Netherlands built between 1837 and 1839. The company Winkel van Sinkel started as a fabric shop in Amsterdam later becoming a department store, but it was the branch in Utrecht with its wide range of products that really established it as a concept in Dutch popular culture, “Winkel van Sinkel” having become a general term for stores where all kinds of different products are sold.
The Sinkel company ceased to exist in 1912, today, the building houses a
large cafeteria< (restaurant), bar, wine bar and event space.
And also an old church, Olivier bar.
The Maria Minor church was built as a secret church for Catholics, who were no longer allowed to hold religious services since the Reformation. We had seen this when visiting a hidden church in Amsterdam on our previous visit.
For this reason, the façade is that of a house and only when you enter do you realise that it is the interior of a church. It dates back to 1640. Since being sold in 2007, it has been converted into the Olivier café. It is really very picturesque.
You can’t miss a route through villages, mills and tulips in the Netherlands.
The bars under the bridges of the canals that we just mentioned are also a walk in themselves.
Utrecht Library
We find the library of Utrecht, a building that is worth taking a look at, first it was the Post Office and today the library.
Hoog Catharijne Shopping Centre
On the walk a modern construction catches our attention, it is the Hoog Catharijne shopping center, which attracts millions of visitors a year, being the busiest shopping center in the country.
Nearby we find a concert and performance hall, Tivoli.
On the route we will also find a curious traffic light
TheMiffy traffic light
The Miffy traffic light, which has become a symbol of the city. This adorable traffic light, which shows Miffy crossing the street, is a popular spot for photos.
Central Museum
If you like art, the Central Museum of Utrecht is a must-see. Here you’ll find an impressive collection of Dutch art, from the Middle Ages to the present day. The ticket price is €16.50.
Miffy Museum
Remember Miffy’s traffic light? Here we find the museum of Miffy. For lovers of children’s literature, the Miffy Museum is a charming place. Dedicated to the famous bunny created by Dick Bruna, this museum offers an interactive experience for children and adults. You can explore the colorful exhibits and learn about the history of Miffy. The entrance fee starts at € 8.
Railway Museum
Another fascinating place not to be missed is the Railway Museum in Utrecht. This museum is a haven for train and transport history enthusiasts. Here you can explore an impressive collection of historic locomotives, carriages and interactive exhibits that take you through the evolution of the railway in the Netherlands. As you can see we arrived late and couldn’t get in but it’s something we were looking forward to doing. The entrance fee is €19.50
On the way back we pass by the Santa Catalina Convent. The day was ending but we would leave for the next day a visit that we liked very much
Haar Castle
A few kilometers away, more precisely 18, we find a visit that we recommend doing, the Haar Castle. The largest and most luxurious in the Netherlands.
The current buildings are all built from 1892 on the original castle of the fourteenth century.
The park is a beauty to discover, it has more than 55 hectares. Winding avenues and paths run through the park and gardens in different ways making it very photogenic.
The entrance fee to visit the Castle and the park is €19, and if you want to see only the park €7. Full entrance to Haar Castle
You can reach it by public transport from both Utrecht and Amsterdam Central Station. You can also visit Haar Castle on a day trip from Amsterdam.
By car, parking costs €7.50.
Practical Information
As always, we were accompanied by Holafly’s eSIMs with which we had an unlimited data connection throughout our tour of the Netherlands.
We travel with Iati travel insurance. 5% discount on your insurance.
We went by rental car at Discovercars.
They can be reached by train from Amsterdam in just about 25 minutes.
But let’s talk about the hotel, which was very picturesque. An old house remodeled for this purpose and with a perfect location to tour the city. Hotel Beijers.
The first one in the main house, my parents’, very spacious.
And the second one is in the basement, very spacious and different. At the time of booking, each room is shown and explained clearly where it is, since they are all different.
It is not a conventional hotel, which should always be taken into account due to the reception hours. They have breakfast that you can add there at the time of check-in.
Utrecht is a city full of charm and surprises. From its rich history to its modern attractions, there is something for everyone. We hope this video has inspired you to visit Utrecht. Shall we continue our journey?
Map and video
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
