18 Popular Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Maastricht

September 17, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 2588 Views

Maastricht is the capital of Limburg province in the Netherlands. The city is situated on the southwestern border of the Netherlands with Belgium. It is built on either side of the river Meuse and is flanked by Mount Saint Peter at its southwest end. Some of the best things to do in Maastricht, Netherlands are centered around this mountain. It is a site of great historical and cultural significance. The mountain is home to St. Peters Fort and a network of underground caves and tunnels. These are among the top historical places to visit in Maastricht. The ruined fort has seen many battles, defending the city from invaders.

Maastricht’s origins can be traced back to the middle ages as the capital of the Carolingian Empire. Though there aren’t many traces of this period left in the city. But you can still find remnants of the city’s early history among things to see in Maastricht archeological museums.

The Romans occupied the region around the 12th century. Although a wooden bridge was already built here by the Romans in the 1st century AD. There are several Romans-built Maastricht tourist attractions and several historical buildings in the city exhibit romanesque architecture. There is much history to be explored during Maastricht sightseeing. The city has the second-highest number of national heritage buildings after Amsterdam.

In modern times, the city is well known as the birthplace of the Euro with Maastricht Treaty. It is also a vibrant cultural center for arts. Art museums and galleries are among the top Maastricht tourist spots. These places have an equally boastful collection of historical artworks as they have of contemporary ones.

But it is not galleries and museums, but the city’s market square that provides the best cultural experience during Maastricht travel. The market at this square is different for each day of the week and comes alive with a colorful range of products, produce, and people.

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Table of Contents

Top 18 Tourist Places to Visit in Maastricht in 3 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Market Square

This old town market is considered the historical heart of the city. The market is different each day. On Wednesday, it is a farmers market with 200 stalls. Then Thursday, the market is focused on handicraft items and sustainable products created by locals. For Friday, the market expands to 300 stalls selling a variety of things like cosmetics, food products, fashion, plants, fruits, and more. Finally, on Saturday, it becomes a flea market selling collectible items and antiques as well. It is the place for some of the best things to do in Maastricht, Netherlands. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the market and its surroundings.

2. Book Store Dominicanen (Boekhandel Dominicanen)

This bookstore is housed in a 13th-century church. It is one of the best places to visit in Maastricht to admire the classical gothic architecture. The bookstore houses more than 50 thousand books, but people come here to explore the architecture and the interior decor. The curved arches and stained glass windows are some of the finest features of the building. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour the building.

3. Vrijthof

This is the largest public square in the Limburg province. The square is surrounded by historical buildings. Some of the top things to see in Maastricht around Vrijthof include St. John Church & Tower, St. Servatius Church, Vrijthof Theatre, and so on. The square serves as host to several concerts, events, and shows including the famous Maastricht Carnival. You will need about half an hour to explore this church.

4. Basilica of Saint Servatius (Sint Servaasbasiliek)

Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, this church is a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture in the Netherlands. The church is dedicated to Saint Servatius, an18th century American missionary. It is included among the top Maastricht tourist attractions for its marvelous interior as well. In stark contrast to its romanesque exterior, white painted walls and medieval-style glass windows draw from baroque design elements. You will need at least an hour to explore this church.

5. Saint Jan`s Church (Sint-Janskerk)

Built between the 15th and 16th centuries, this church is included among UNESCO’s list of Dutch monuments. The church is known for its beautiful architecture and its iconic 79-meter tall tower. This church was also the site of important events. It is included among the top Maastricht attractions for its architecture, interior decor elements, and historical significance. There are several legends associated with the construction of the church and events that took place within it. The tower of this church is one of the best vantage points for Maastricht sightseeing. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church.

6. Museum aan het Vrijthof (Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof)

This museum focuses on exhibiting modern artworks. The most famous aspect of this museum is the “500 Years Made in Maastricht: exhibit. It is among the best Maastricht tourist spots to experience the cultural history of the city in one place. The museum also exhibits artifacts from the 17th to 20th centuries including horse pistols, furniture, decor pieces, glassware, porcelain, and more. You will need at least an hour to tour this museum.

7. Museumkelder Derlon

This archeological museum is situated inside Hotel Derlon. The museum showcases findings from an excavation done under the hotel itself. Archeologists discovered an ancient Roman Shrine dating back to the 2nd century. It is one of the most fascinating places to see in Maastricht. You will need at least an hour to tour this museum.

8. Basilica of Our Lady (Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw)

This 11th-century Roman Catholic Church is known for its collection of religious artifacts and relics. It is also among Maastricht’s top attractions for its romanesque architecture with elaborate arches. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this church.

Day 2

1. Bisschopsmolen

This is the oldest working watermill in the Netherlands. Trying out treats at the cafe-bakery attached to the mill is one of the most fun things to do in Maastricht, Netherlands. This food joint is known for its pies, cakes, croissants, and traditional delicacies. You can easily spend half an hour or so munching treats and exploring the place.

2. Maastricht Natural History Museum (Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht)

This museum focuses on the natural history of the region and other parts of the Netherlands. The collection features fossils and exhibits concerning zoology, geology, botany, and more. You will need about an hour from Maastricht travel to tour this museum.

3. Fort St. Pieter

This 18th-century fort was built to protect the city from French forces. The efficiency of this fort earned this city the nickname “Iron City”. The fort has an intricate defense structure with a network of caves and tunnels. It is one of the finest historical places to visit in Maastricht. A tour of this fort will tell you about its history, architecture, weapons, and battles fought over it. You will need about 2 hours to tour this fort.

4. Maastricht Underground

This network of caves and tunnels sits under Fort St. Pieter and even expands beyond the fort’s boundaries. Some of the caves pre-date the 18th-century fort. The facilities of the tunnels were used to protect important art pieces and artifacts of the Netherlands during the second world war. It is one of the most fascinating historical sites to explore when you visit Maastricht. A guided tour of the tunnels and caves is about 2 hours long.

5. Mount Saint Peter (Sint-Pietersberg)

This mountain is home to St. Peter Fort, an underground cave network, forests, ravines, and quaint villages. Most sites of the mountain are well connected by roads, but you can also explore it on foot. People come here for hiking and camping as well. You will come across some of the most interesting things to see in Maastricht while exploring this mountain. You will need 3 to 4 hours to explore this mountain and its attractions.

Day 3

1. City Park

This public park is a popular place to go for leisure and recreation. It is known for several top things to do in Maastricht. The park has beautiful sculptures, a zoo, green spaces, a river stream, and remnants of the medieval wall. You can easily spend an hour or so enjoying the offerings of this park.

2. Helpoort

This iconic city gate dates back to the 13th century. The central structure of the gate is flanked by 2 round towers. The orange-colored wooden watchhouse easily stands out from the stately stone facade. It is a robust-looking Maastricht tourist attraction. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to admire this ancient structure.

3. Saint Servatius Bridge (Sint Servaasbrug)

This 13th-century stone bridge connects the city over the Meuse river. This bridge was built to replace a Roman wooden bridge that was built in 50 AD. You will only need a few minutes from Maastricht sightseeing to admire this bridge.

4. Centre Ceramique

This museum and cultural center focus on historical artworks, artifacts, and archeological findings. The museum primarily focuses on Maastricht pottery. The cultural center hosts interesting events, workshops, and exhibitions promoting contemporary artists. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

5. Bonnefanten Museum (Bonnefantenmuseum)

This art museum has an interesting collection of both historical and contemporary works of art. This Maastricht attraction features work by well-known artists such as Sol LeWitt, Iannis Kounnelis, and Luciano Fabro. You will also get to see a collection of Italian artworks created between the 13th and 16th centuries. The second floor of the museum is dedicated to contemporary artists of Maastricht. You will need an hour or so to tour this museum.

If you are looking for more Maastricht tourist spots, check out the sections below. We have put together the ultimate list of places to visit and activities to enjoy in and around the city.

Best Things to do in Maastricht, Netherlands

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Maastricht

Book Store Dominicanen
Bonnefanten Museum
Basilica of Saint Servatius
Basilica of Our Lady
Fort St. Pieter
Helpoort
Museum aan het Vrijthof
Saint Jan’s Church
Caves Zonneberg
Caves of St. Peter
Natural History Museum of Maastricht
City Hall
Centre Ceramique
Grotten Noord
Marres Art Museum
Museum of Illusions
Kazematten Waldeck Maastricht Underground
Hoeve Lichtenberg
Sphinx Passage
Kasteel Borgharen
Drukkunst Museum
Eiffelgebouw Maastricht
Monument d’Artagan
Museum Kelder Derlon
De Jezuietenberg
Treasury St. Servaas
Arteaux Art Gallery
Spaans Gouvernment Museum
Galerie MOA
Meerssenhoven Castle
Schuilkelder Museum
Father Vinck Tower
Old City Wall
Chateau Jerusalem
Netherlands American Cemetery
Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament
Eijsden Castle
Castle of Rijckholt
Stitchting De Rotswoning
Museum Het Ursulinen Convent
Oorlogs Museum Eyewitness
Castle Genhoes
Geulle Castle
Castle Stein

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Maastricht

Mount Saint Peter
D’n Observant Chalet
Randwijk Nature Trail
Duivelsgrot
Jeker River
Gueule River
Oeheovallei
Bemelerberg
Eijsder Beemden
De Dellen
Bunderdos
Brakke Berg
De Waardhoff

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Maastricht

Stadspark
Fronten Park
Bureau Europa
Jekertal Vineyard
Speeltuin Fort Willem
Waldeck Park
Greindpark
Escape Hunt Maastricht
Hoge Fronten Park
Fair Play Casino
Geusselt Park
Bear Pit Zoo
Louwberg Vineyard
Proosdij Park
Curfsgroeve Park
Groeve Blom Park
Rotsvallei Margraten

Shopping in Maastricht

Market Square
Stokstraat Street
Mosae Forum
Entre Deux
Quarter Wyck
Jerkerkwartier Street
Bredestraat Street

Beaches in Maastricht

Pietersplas Marina
Spasstal Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Maastricht

Hiking
Camping
Nature Trails
Walking Tours
Bicycle Tours
Fishing
River Cruise

Sightseeing in Maastricht

Vrijthof Square
Sint Servaasburg
Onze Lieve Vrouweplein Square
Stokstraat
Hoge Brug Bridge
Dinghuis
Wilhelminaburg Bridge
Pont John F. Kennedy
Hoofdwacht
Vrijheid Park
Juliana Canal

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Maastricht

Bosch Brewery
Le Bon Vivant
Eetcafe de Preuverji
Tout a Fait
Sour Meat
Bouchon d’en Face
Make and Take
Living Room
Pizzeria Piano B
Vers
Minckelers

Where to Stay in Maastricht?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Maastricht. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Maastricht.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Maastricht

How to Reach Maastricht?

By Air

The city is connected to a few cities in Europe by a small airport. You can get direct flights to visit Maastricht from Alicante, Bari, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Brussels, Charleroi, and Liege. You can get cabs and buses to get to the city from the airport.

Other close airports to pick for Maastricht travel are Brussels, Dusseldorf, and Cologne.

By Road

You can get direct trains to reach Maastricht from Sittard, Heerlen, Roermond, Eindhoven, Den Bosch, Utrecht, and Amsterdam. You can also get a direct train from Liege in Belgium.

The bus network is far more widespread. Maastricht is connected with several cities in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany by direct buses.

If you are planning to reach Maastricht by road, head for routes A2 and A79.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to visit Maastricht.

Image Reference

Market Square – Marco Wintjens / PixaBay
Book Store Dominicanen (Boekhandel Dominicanen) – Jorge Franganillo / Flickr
Vrijthof – Jorge Franganillo / Flickr
Basilica of Saint Servatius (Sint Servaasbasiliek) – Shirley de Jong / Flickr
Saint Jan`s Church (Sint-Janskerk) – Shirley de Jong / Flickr
Museum aan het Vrijthof (Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof) – Pierre Swillens / Flickr
Museumkelder Derlon – Kleon3 / Wikimedia Commons
Basilica of Our Lady (Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw) – Ben Bender / Wikimedia Commons
Bisschopsmolen – Berthold Werner / Wikimedia Commons
Maastricht Natural History Museum (Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht) – pneumaticpost / Flickr
Fort St. Pieter – Joe Thomissen / Flickr
Maastricht Underground – Kevin Gessner / Flickr
Mount Saint Peter (Sint-Pietersberg) – John Brown / Flickr
City Park (Stadspark) – L.1951a / Wikimedia Commons
Helpoort – dronepicr / Flickr
Saint Servatius Bridge (Sint Servaasbrug) – Dennis Jarvis / Flickr
Centre Ceramique – edamman / PixaBay
Bonnefanten museum (Bonnefantenmuseum) – Jim Forest / Flickr