Best of Utrecht

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Utrecht
One of the nation’s most important cities during the Dutch Golden Age, Utrecht is packed with medieval architecture and meandering canals that date as far back as the 14th century. Apart from its storied past, Utrecht is also a vibrant university town, with a wealth of outdoor cafés and bars overlooking the town’s squares and canals. There’s always something going on with live concerts, independent cinema and arts festivals happening throughout the year.

One of the ways to get your bearings in Utrecht is to climb the steps to the top of the 369-foot (112-m) Domtoren. From this medieval landmark, you’ll see across the city - and all the way to Amsterdam on clear days. Afterwards, you can head earthward on a visit to Dom Under, a subterranean excursion set beneath Dom Square. With flashlight in hand, you’ll see 2,000-year-old archeological remains and learn about key moments in the city’s history from its founding by the Romans to the devastating tornado of 1674. One of the most memorable ways to see the city is by canoe, and you can enjoy unusual perspectives on a peaceful paddling tour along Utrecht’s canals.
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Bicycles beside the canals of Amsterdam
Map of Cycling Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days
Cycling Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days

Enjoy a Dutch-style vacation by exploring western Holland on two wheels! On this dynamic weeklong cycling trip, you'll pedal through forests, flower fields, and sand dunes, stopping to see picturesque windmills and historic monuments along the way. You'll ride into the wilderness of protected national parks, sample cheeses in Gouda, and stop for sightseeing in charming cities and villages including Delft and Leiden.

Viewing Vermeer's paintings in Amsterdam
Art Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days

Johannes Vermeer, Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Piet Mondriaan: the Netherlands has been home to many world-class artists. On this weeklong tour, you'll learn more about the Dutch Masters, viewing their greatest works in person and visiting the places where they lived and worked. Along the way, you'll also enjoy a private boat tour along the canals of Amsterdam, explore the cobblestoned streets of Leiden, and ride an e-bike through a national park. While taking in such beautiful sights and landscapes, you'll understand the inspiration behind some of the great Dutch artists' finest paintings.

Canal in Utrecht
Discover Amsterdam, Utrecht, Deventer & Hoge Veluwe National Park - 7 Days

Explore the best of central Holland on this weeklong itinerary featuring a mix of classic sights and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Visit the vibrant capital of Amsterdam and its top museums before day-tripping to the countryside to see iconic Dutch highlights, including windmills and a cheese market. Adventure waits in Utrecht, where you will have the chance to canoe around the city's canals. Then continue on to the forested heart of the country and Hoge Veluwe National Park, which you'll explore on an e-bike. View Van Gogh originals at the excellent Kröller-Müller Museum before finishing up the trip in the charming city of Deventer, known for its countless bookshops, picturesque squares, and laid-back atmosphere.

Other popular travel destinations in The Netherlands
Amsterdam · Rotterdam · Leiden · Haarlem · The Hague · Dordrecht · Delft · Texel · Hoorn · Bergen · Gouda · Nijmegen · Terschelling