Utrecht was the second stop on our Netherlands trip and we were so excited to find out what it had to offer. There were so many Things to See in Utrecht that we squeezed into a two-day venture that now we are here ready to share them with you!
Walk along the canals in the heart of the city.
I think walking along the canals in Utrecht was one of our favourite things about Utrecht. Wandering around the city, following the canal, it’s simple, it’s free and it’s absolutely beautiful. The canals are slightly smaller than Amsterdam but are constantly voted as the most beautiful canals in Europe.
Another thing that sets Utrecht’s canals apart from others is that it’s the only inner-city canal in the world to have wharves. The wards used to be predominantly for trade but now are lined with cafes, restaurants and boutique shops.
You can sit at water level with the canal and it is just unbelievably relaxing. Utrecht is not commercialized like Amsterdam. It’s more relaxed and it seems like there are way more locals around. It feels like a true Dutch city.
There are terraces everywhere, with people sitting and relaxing and just enjoying their lives. If you’re looking for a rest after Amsterdam, definitely book a couple of days in Utrecht. Make sure you add walking along the canals in the heart of the city to your list of things to see in Utrecht.
Explore the Cathedral of St. Martin or Dom Church
(in Dutch, Domkerk).
This building is commonly referred to as one of the most important churches in The Netherlands which definitely makes the list of things to see in Utrecht. Its roots date back to 630 when the first chapel was founded. The church has inevitably been destroyed and rebuilt many times since then and its current Gothic structure was part of the renovation in 1254.
Domkerk became a Protestant Church in 1580. The cathedral floors have many engraved stones to honor those who were important to the church and have passed. There were emperors and bishops, whose bowels and hearts were interred beneath them.
We walked around a second time, just to read the dates on the stones (some as early as the 9th Century!). It takes about an hour to wander through and truly get a good understanding of its history.
The Cathedral is free to enter, but they do ask for donations.
Take a day trip to Castle de Haar.
This is a definite must if you have the time. It is the biggest castle in The Netherlands and it dates back to 1391! It’s basically a party castle, but I’ll let you discover more about it when you go! Make sure you read the information cards provided and talk to the volunteer staff there! They are so knowledgeable.
It took some convincing to get Trevor onboard to make the journey, but we got there! (And he’s glad we did!). We didn’t have a car so we took the train from Utrecht Station to Vleuten station (only 10 minutes), then the 111 Kassel de Haar bus, which also took just around 10 minutes (it’s really more of a short bus than a city bus). It takes you on a tour through the rural streets of Vleuten and out into the country.
The trip took about an hour total, from door to door. It drops you off just outside the gates of the Castle property, at the Haarzuilens, Eikslaan/Kasteel stop, which is the back Castle entrance. Parking is on the other side. It’s then a 15-minute walk into the property to get to the extraordinary castle. It was a beautiful half day spent touring the castle and the gardens.
Definitely put it on your list of things to see in Utrecht, if you have the time. If you don’t, make the time!
Take a trip to Keukenhof Gardens.
If you’re travelling through The Netherlands between March 23rd to May 14th, this should be on your list. Tickets are €19 per person. You do have to book your entry time because it gets insanely busy, but you can stay as long as you want.
I would say block off at least 3-4 hours minimum to walk around the gardens. Keukenhof is mostly known for its tulips but has a wide variety of other flowers.
The Gardens are comprised of 79 acres, planted with over 7 million flower bulbs each year. They first opened their gates in 1950, and in 2019 averaged 26,000 visitors a day! The garden is in the Municipality of Lisse. There is a Keukenhof Express from Amsterdam, but we travelled from Utrecht (we took the train from Utrecht to Leiden and caught a bus right from Leiden Station directly to the Gardens).
Climb up The Dom Tower.
Sadly, this is something that we weren’t able to do. We love, well I love a good bell tower, but it was under construction when we were there. These things happen and are essential to keeping history alive, but it’s always so disappointing when you’re excited to see something and you can’t.
The Dom Tower began construction in 1321 and was completed in 1382. It is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands! It is unique due to the nave being unfinished it actually collapsed during a storm/tornado in 1674, making it a freestanding tower.
So please, climb up the Dom Tower and tell us about it, so we can live vicariously through you!
Random tips about Utrecht.
- Don’t be confused by the modern train station and MASSIVE shopping center upon arriving in Utrecht. Walk 6 minutes into town and it feels like you’re transporting back in time.
- A couple of days is more than enough to see the city. You definitely don’t need a week to see everything.
- If you plan a trip to Keukenhof and go for the parade, prepare for the crowd. It was shoulder-to-shoulder people for most of the gardens. We also got to the parade an hour before it started and still didn’t get front row. Go early!
- Utrecht has a Bloemenmarkt. We planned to go, but they are only open on Saturdays. For your information, they’re open 8 am-5 pm (on Saturdays!).
- Another place we would suggest you make a stop at is the; Huis Zoudenbalch. This is a row of 15th-century houses in the Donkerstraat, just off the Steenweg. Huis Zoudencalch was built in 1467 and has functioned as many things; a conventicle, an orphanage and a technical school!
Now that you’ve read some of our suggestions on things to see in Utrecht, you better figure out where you want to eat!
Click here to read our suggestions on places that you should eat and drink in Utrecht!