48 hours in Ut­recht

A day trip is just not long enough! Utrecht is bursting with culture, a rich history and bustling squares that you simply must explore. Discover Utrecht in 48 hours.

Day 1

◊ 11:00 ◊

You arrive at Utrecht Central Station at around 11.00 am. Soak up the morning sun and walk to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city. After a warm welcome, drop off your luggage in your comfy room overlooking the Dom Tower. The hotel is conveniently located for discovering all the city’s must-see sights on foot. Perfect! For a delicious lunch, head from the hotel towards the Dom district (Domkwartier). Explore the historic narrow streets lined with pretty boutiques, vintage shops and concept stores run by Utrecht’s talented creatives. On Oudegracht, grab a seat outside Teds brunch café and enjoy a delicious lunch at this idyllic spot.

Now it’s time to check out more of the city. At 2.00 pm, you set off on a guided walking tour, which starts at University Hall on Dom Square. A real must for anyone who wants to discover Utrecht’s top attractions and really get to know the city in all its glory. During the walk, the enthusiastic guide shows you Utrecht’s true gems, including the Dom Tower, Oudegracht (Old Canal), the wharf cellars and the city’s secret alleyways.

◊ 16:00 ◊

After the inspiring walk, you decide it would be great to admire the city from the water. And there’s no better way to do that than by canoe! A short walk from Dom Square and you find canoe rental Utrecht on Oudegracht, where you hire two canoes and then spend an hour paddling around Utrecht’s canal network at your own pace. A must-do when visiting the city.

◊ 17:30 ◊

Time for drinks! Walk along Oudegracht towards Ledig Erf. This welcoming square has many cosy cafés, including Café De Poort, Ledig Erf and the Louis Hartlooper Arthouse Cinema Complex. Take your pick and enjoy a wide range of outstanding craft beers and a superb selection of snacks.

◊ 19:00 ◊

It’s now early evening. Dinnertime! Leaving the bistro, you stroll across Janskerkhof towards one of the city’s most happening streets. More and more places in Utrecht are offering world-class vegan and vegetarian food. We recommend GYS on Voorstraat where they serve superb organic fare. Its cosy, informal setting is ideal for reminiscing about all the wonderful things you have seen today while enjoying a tasty meal with responsibly sourced ingredients.

For more vegan and vegetarian cafés and restaurants, click here.

The night’s still young! Check out Utrecht’s pubs and bars or TivoliVredenburg’s event calendar for a gig or somewhere to party until the early hours (tip: score tickets in advance).

Day 2

◊ 9.30 ◊

Slept well? Great! Get your day off to a good start with a hearty breakfast in the hotel before heading off to see what else Utrecht has to offer. Make sure you’ve eaten enough because today’s programme is full on.

◊ 11:00 ◊

First thing you do is take a walk to the University Museum Utrecht, which reopened on 6 September. You can learn everything there is to know about science here. It’s the ideal museum for curious people and also provides access to the hidden beauty of the Oude Hortus, Utrecht University’s former botanical gardens.

◊ 14:00 ◊

Did you know that Utrecht has 12 beer breweries, each with its own tasting room? This afternoon, we’ve selected a nice one for you to visit and enjoy the amazing beer! Take a seat in the beer garden at Maximus Brewery in the modern suburb of Leidsche Rijn and savour a genuine beer-tasting experience. You will learn all about how Maximus beer is brewed and get the chance to sample the various types of beer the brewery produces. How about renting a bike to get here and see even more of Utrecht on the way?

◊ 18:00 ◊

Time to chill and let all the day’s activities sink in. Relax at the Kaasbar – Utrecht’s very own cheese Valhalla on the popular Lijnmarkt shopping street. Enjoy a glass of fine wine and choose from any of the 22 different cheeses on offer, all served at the bar on a circulating conveyor belt. Pull up a stool at this friendly restaurant and let your cheese adventure begin. The perfect place to round off your fun weekend away together in Utrecht!

What a stunning setting to round off your fun weekend away together in Utrecht!