Utrecht is often living in the shadow of the dutch capital, but has just as much to offer. Explore Utrecht on a bike to get the real feel of the Dutch way of living.
My cousin, Femke Kuiper, is working and living in Utrecht. I have asked for the hottest places to check out in the city with over 70,000 students.
“The best thing about Utrecht is the always bustling life on the streets. The tourists can go to Amsterdam”, Femke jokingly tells me.
Take a look at the map below for a guide on where you should go. Zoom in and out, and hover over each place to get information and pictures. Be sure to check out the videos for the Dom Tower and Trajectum Lumen pins.
For further information click view larger map in the top right corner.
The highlights:
- Behind Bars: “Go here for the best cocktails in The Netherlands”.
- Go to Vinvin, the only wine cafe in Utrecht.
- At Beers and Barrels you can tap your own beer, at your own table.
- “Biking around Utrecht is a must. There are a lot of beautiful buildings around the town”, Femke says. Check out this useful site about renting a bike in Utrecht.
- Cano or pedalo on the canals, it is a unique way to see the cities buildings. This can also be done at night.
For more tips on Utrecht, check out these two blogs: Liefs uit Utrecht and Explore Utrecht.
How to get to Utrecht
From Schiphol Airtport take the train to Utrecht. This trip takes around 30 minutes and fare is €8.50 for 2nd class. See 9292.nl for information about all public transport in the Netherlands.
Lonely Planet has a neat guide to the best places to stay in Utrecht.
Bonus: Check out this short mockumentary about biking in Utrecht that BLIK filmcommunicatie made earlier this year when Tour de France started in Utrecht.