7 Must Visit Tourist Places and Things to Do in Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in The Netherlands and it is the capital of its eponymous province. The city has been the religious center of The Netherlands since the 8th century. So you can expect several churches, cathedrals and monasteries among best places to visit in Utrecht. The city has a rich political and cultural history as well. There are numerous castles, palaces and estate houses among Utrecht tourist attractions. The city held great importance until the Dutch Golden Age. You will also see a variety of museums dedicated to history, art and music during Utrecht sightseeing.
The city was built around the Dom Tower which is an extension of the St. Martin’s Cathedral. Some of the best things to do in Utrecht are around this landmark. The area is a car-free zones and you can get walking and bicycle tours of the old part of the city. It will help you cover majority of the historical Utrecht attractions. The castles and palaces are situated on the outskirts of the city. Castle de Haar is the most well known and most visited among places to see in Utrecht. We have also listed other historical buildings in the sections below. Besides walking and bicycles, boat cruises in the canal also one of the popular choice to explore Utrecht sights.
You will get to enjoy various interesting landscapes around the city. Some of the fun activities in Utrecht include hiking, boating and kayaking. Several lakes, forests and marshlands are a short drive away. You can easily get buses and cabs to take you to these nature escapes when you visit Utrecht.
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Table of Contents
The Best 7 Tourist Places to Visit in Utrecht in 1 Day (Trip Itinerary)
1. Castle De Haar (Kasteel de Haar)
This is the largest castle in the Netherlands and is built in Neo-Gothic style. This castle has a museum which focuses on the history of its former residents and their lifestyle. It is one of the best places to visit in Utrecht, The Netherlands and will require about 2 hours to explore.
I suggest you should book your entrance and park ticket of Castle de Haar in advance.
2. Museum Speelklok
This museum is dedicated to musical instruments. Some of the instruments exhibited in this museum date back to the 1500s. You will also come across some unusual instruments and other interesting things to see in Utrecht, The Netherlands. It will take you about an hour or so to explore this museum.
I suggest you can book your ticket to visit Museum Speelklok in advance.
3. Dom Tower of Utrecht (Domtoren)
This 14th century bell tower is the tallest one of its kind in The Netherlands. It is built in Gothic design and is equipped with 14 bells. It is also popular among Utrecht tourist attractions for the high vantage point to enjoy a sight of the city skyline. You will need an hour for this tower when you visit Utrecht.
4. St Martin’s Cathedral (Domkerk)
This cathedral is adjacent to the Dom Tower, though it pre-dates the tower by an entire century. This church is the only remaining pre-reformation church in The Netherlands. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Utrecht sightseeing for this church.
5. St. Peter’s Church (Pieterskerk)
This church was built in the 11th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the country. It is built in Romanesque style and is also known for its large gothic style stained glass windows. It is one of the most important historical Utrecht attractions and requires about 30 minutes of time to explore.
6. The Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum)
This museum focuses on the history and evolution of Dutch Railway network. The museum is housed in a former railway station and also has a 4D simulated experience. It is one of the most fun things to do in Utrecht, The Netherlands. You would need 2 hours to tour this museum.
You should book your ticket of The Railway Museum before visit it.
7. Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory (Museum Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh)
This museum is dedicated to the science of astronomy. The museum is also a functional observatory and also has many interactive exhibits. It is one of the best places to go in Utrecht for families traveling with children. You would need about 2 hours to explore the museum and experience the observatory.
If you are looking for more places to see in Utrecht, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of attractions and fun activities in Utrecht for you to enjoy.
Things to do in Utrecht
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Utrecht
- Castle de Haar
- Centraal Museum
- Rietveld Schroder House
- Dom Tower
- Spoorweg Museum
- Speelklok Museum
- St. Martin’s Cathedral
- Zuylen Castle
- Nijntje Museum
- DO Munder Archeological Ruins
- National Militair Museum
- Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory
- Het Utrechts Archief
- University Museum Utrecht
- BAK Art Gallery
- Sypesteyn Castle Museum
- Slot Zeist Palace
- Museum I Jsselstein
- Waterlinie Museum Fort
- Rhijnauwen Fort
- Hoge Woerd Museum
- Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd
- Dutch Museum of Working Class Districts
- Castellum Hoge Woerd
- Stedelijk Museum Vianen
- Houten Archeological Museum
- Van Zuilen Museum Foundation
- Galerie SANAA
- Woerden City Museum
- Vecht Museum
- Warsenhoek Museum
- Molen de Ster
- FOTODOK Foundation
- Gunterstein Castle
- Museum ’T Schilderhuis
- Sint Willibrorderk Church
- Streek Museum Vrede Goed
- Statue of Anne Frank
- Nieuw Amelisweerd
- Museum Vreeswijk
- Blauwapel Fort
- Beeldenpark Jits Baker Museum
- Kasteel Rijnhuizen
- Stitching Museum
- Hamtoren Castle
- Maluku Museum
- Jacobi Church
- Het Veerswijks Museum
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Utrecht
- Loosdrechtse Plassen
- Amelisweerd Forest
- Maarsseveense Lake
- Paviljoen Beerschoten
- Bornia Forest
- Haarijnseplas Lake
- Panbos Utrechtslandschap
- Het Verdronken Bos
- Landgoed Haarzuilens
- Natuurpark Bloeyendael
- Kozzakkenput Forest
- Voorveldse Polder Lake
- Tienhovense Plassen
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Utrecht
- Utrecht Botanical Gardens
- Maxima Park
- Kidsz City
- Pandhof van de Dom gardens
- Oude Hortus
- Gift Park
- Juliana Park
- Wilhelmina Park
- Vliegbasis Soesterberg Park
- Holland Casin
- Vlinderhof Park
- Park Lepelenburg
- Oostbroek Estate
- Park Transwijk
- Hoog Beek en Royan Winery
- Zocherpark
- Bezoekerscentrum de Boswerf Park
- Van Boetzelaer Park
- Oosterspoorbaan Park
- Van Schijndel Huis
- Park Oudegein
Shopping in Utrecht
- Janskerkhof Bloemenmarkt
- De Bijenkof Store
- Lapjes Markt
- Hoog Catharijne Shopping Center
- Bloemen Markt
- Breedstraat
- Oude Gracht Markt
- Vredenburg Markt
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Utrecht
- Boating
- Water Sports
- Kayaking
- Hiking
- Canal Boat Cruise
Sightseeing in Utrecht
- Oudegracht Canal
- Amsterdam Rhine Canal
- Paushuiza
- Utrecht Lumen
- Gerbrandy Tower
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Utrecht
- Heaven and Earth
- Podium
- The Streetfood Club
- Maneer Smakers
- Cerveceria Boulevard
- Blauw
- The Vegetarian
- Cest Ca
- Tiger Mama
- India Port
- Koenraad
- Olivier
Where to Stay in Utrecht?
Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious and Mid-range Hotels in Utrecht. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Utrecht.
Luxurious Hotels
- NH Centre Utrecht
- Grand Hotel Karel V
- Court Hotel
- Hotel Mitland
- Leonardo Hotel Utrecht City Center
- Holiday Inn Express Utrecht – Papendorp, an IHG hotel
- Carlton President
- Crowne Plaza Utrecht – Central Station, an IHG hotel
- Park Plaza Utrecht
- Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station
- Inntel Hotels Utrecht Centre
- The Nox
Mid-Range Hotels
- Stayokay Hostel Utrecht Centrum
- Bastion Hotel Utrecht
- Ibis Utrecht
- B&B Central Park
- Hotel Holland Lodge
- Hotel Chao
- City Center Lodge Utrecht
- Strowis Budget Hostel
Custom Tours Package in Utrecht
How to Reach Utrecht?
By Air
The closest airport for Utrecht travel is Schiphol International Airport of Amsterdam. You can get a direct train to reach Utrecht from the airport itself. The journey takes about half an hour. If you want to go by bus, you will first have to get to Amsterdam city and get an intercity bus.
You can also get cabs and rental cars from the airport to make this journey, but this option is quite expensive. Though you do get the freedom to explore Utrecht must see places which fall on the way.
By Road
Utrecht is connected by most cities and towns in The Netherlands by either bus or train. You can also get direct trains to visit Utrecht from cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, Basel, Prague, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Innsbruck and Munich.
The bus network encompasses majority of the cities, towns and villages of Netherlands. You can also get day tour buses for top places to go in Utrecht from many nearby cities. There are also international buses which connect Utrecht to major cities in neighboring countries.
By Water
There are no direct water routes to reach Utrecht.
Image Reference
- Castle De Haar – Markéta Machová / PixaBay
- Museum Speelklok – Kotomi_ / Flickr
- Dom Tower of Utrecht (Domtoren) – Brian Dorff / Flickr
- St Martin’s Cathedral (Domkerk) – ctj71081 / Flickr
- St. Peter’s Church (Pieterskerk) – Jan dijkstra / Wikimedia Commons
- The Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum) – Elsemargriet / PixaBay
- Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory (Museum Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh) – Japiot / Wikimedia Commons
