Utrecht is a Dutch city known for its medieval centre, historic canals and vibrant cultural scene. With its compact layout and central location, it’s an ideal place to explore Utrecht in one day, whether you’re visiting from Amsterdam or travelling elsewhere in the Netherlands. We lived in Utrecht for three years, and in this guide we’re sharing the very best things to see and do in a single day.
Of course, Utrecht has more than enough to fill a longer stay, and narrowing it down to one day isn’t easy. But most travellers only have limited time, so this itinerary highlights the essential sights, local favourites and experiences that give you a real feel for the city. Here is our pick of the best things to do in Utrecht in one day.
Arrive at Utrecht Central Station
Utrecht is very well connected with other European cities by rail. Utrecht Central station is, in fact, the busiest train station in the Netherlands. A direct train from Amsterdam to Utrecht takes around 30 minutes. When we lived in Utrecht, we often travelled by train within the Netherlands as well as to Germany, Belgium and even Paris, France.
So, if you’re coming to Utrecht by train, you’re going to start your day at ‘Utrecht Central’ station and the Stationsplein. There are few cafes and takeaways at the station and around it if you want to start your day with a coffee and/or a breakfast.
Tip: Plan your journey on the official NS web-site – https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information
Before heading off from the station, check out the world’s biggest bike parking facility – it’s located right next to the train station at the Stationsplein. The bicycle parking at Stationsplein is like a mini underground city, with three levels and 12,500 parking spaces!
Walk Through Hoog Catharijne Shopping Mall
It’s a short walk from Utrecht Central train station to the old town. One way to get there is through the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall.
Head out of the train station towards the Stationsplein, cross the square and enter the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall. Even if you don’t have time for shopping, there is a food court inside the center with cafes and fast food – another option for breakfast. On the ground level, through the glass floor, you can see water flowing through an underground canal.
Right outside the shopping mall, on the Vredenburgkade, there is a small green area above the canal with cafes and theTivoliVredenburg concert hall.
Explore the Old Streets of Utrecht
Utrech has a well-preserved (and in places restored) old city center. You may have heard that Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the country (after Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague), but there were times when Utrecht was the most important city in the Netherlands.
In medieval times, Utrecht was well known as a religious center of the Netherlands. You will find many historical buildings and structures throughout the city.
Start exploring Utrecht at the Vredenburgplein (Vredenburg square). Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday there is a market on the square – Vredenburg Market. You will find stalls with cheese, bakery, fish, waffles and other produce.
There are a few pedestrian streets leadign from Vredenburgplein. Check out the shops and boutiques on Lange Elisabethstraat, Steenweg and the surrounding narrow streets. Take a picture at Huis Zoudenbalch with its cute red window shutters. Look at the old building (a former church) that now houses Museum Speelklok. Have a beer at Olivier cafe at the end of Achter Clarenburg street – now a beer hall, but settled in a former church with preserved high ceilings and a large pipe organ.
Walk to Mariaplaats and the old water pump – Mariapomp. There are many cafes and takeaways in the area, and a nice view towards the Domtoren. A little further on is the small garden Pandhof Sinte Marie, which belonged to the medieval St. Mary’s Church.
Stroll Along Utrecht’s Oudegracht Canal
Oudegracht is literally the ‘old canal’ that flows through the center of Utrecht. It’s a popular dining area with lots of cafes and restaurants by the water.
If you’ve been to Amsterdam and seen its canals, you’ll notice that Oudegracht is different, with its high banks and underground tunnels along the water. To reduce the risk of flooding, the canal was built with high banks so that the road and houses sit high above the water. But what you won’t see unless you go down to the canal level are the many wharfs and tunnels leading from the water to underground cellars of the old houses. These days, many of those cellars in the central part of Oudegracht have been converted into restaurants.
Oudegracht is the most centrally located canal in Utrecht, but of course it’s not the only one. There are many streets in Utrecht with canals, green banks and parks by the water.
So, enjoy a stroll along one of the canals, have a beer by the water, or maybe even rent a boat to see Utrecht from the water.
Have Lunch at Neude
Another nice place with lots of dining options is Neude. Neude is a busy square in the center, surrounded by some lovely old buildings. In the warmer months, there are plenty of people sitting outsides in the cafes. In the colder months, there is sometimes a fire for roasting marshmallows for kids and a food truck selling popular Dutch desserts such as oliebollen. (Read about oliebollen and other Dutch food at 20 Must-Try Foods in the Netherlands.)
Climb the Domtoren
Domtoren (Cathedral Tower) is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands (the second tallest is Nieuwe Kerk in Delft and the third is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren in Amersfoort). It can be seen from many parts of the old city and is the most iconic feature of Utrecht.
Domtoren was built in the 14th century and was originally part of Domkerk (see below), serving as a belfry and also as a watchtower. Today it is a 112.5-metre-high freestanding tower, separated from the cathedral by Domplein square.
To climb the Domtoren and enjoy the views over the city, you need to buy a ticket for a guided tour. For tickets and more information, visit Domtoren website.
Visit Domkerk and Domplein
Domkerk (also known as St Martin’s Cathedral) is a Gothic cathedral that was once the largest church in the Netherland. St Martin’s Cathedral is the country’s only pre-Reformation cathedral, and its history goes back as far as the 7th century. Of course, the church has been destroyed and rebuilt many times since then. At one point it was connected to the Domtoren by a nave, but the nave was destroyed in a storm in the 17th century. In its place is now a square – Domplein – between Domkerk and Domtoren.
Entrance to Domkerk is free, and there is a small cafe and a souvenir shop inside the cathedral.
Another historical landmark on Domplein is Utrecht University Hall (Academiegebouw Universiteit Utrecht). It was built in the 15th century and is famous for being the place where the Union of Utrecht was signed in 1579, an agreement that laid the foundation for the Dutch Republic. Across from the University Hall stands a statue of Jan van Nassau, the main author of the Union of Utrecht.
At the foot of Domtoren is Flora’s Hof (Flora’s Garden) – a small hidden gem. You can enjoy peace and quiet right in the middle of Utrecht’s busy tourist center. One entrance to the garden is behind a bookshop on Servestraat, and another entrance is from Domplein.
Wander Through Pandhof van de Dom Garden
When visiting St Martin’s Cathedral, don’t miss its beautiful courtyard. The Pandhof garden is located between Domkerk and University Hall and dates back to the 14th century. It has a medieval-style arcade surrounding the garden and a fountain in the middle. There is free access to the garden through an old gate from Domplein.
When we lived in Utrecht and friends or family came to visit, we often took them on a sightseeing walk through the city center. Domplein – with its Domtoren, Domkerk, Pandhof and University Hall – was always a highlight for our guests, everyone loved it. I’ve been there so many times myself and never tired of the views or the experience.
Snack on Dutch Fries or Frikandelen
Once you’re ready for a snack after walking around the city, try one of the popular Dutch street foods such as friet (‘fries’), frikandel (‘sausage’) or kroket. You can read more about Dutch food in my post 20 Must-Try Foods in the Netherlands.
You’ll find several stalls and kiosks selling fries and other hot snacks around the city center. Manneken Pis at Bakkerstraat, Steenweg or Stationsplein, and Frietwinkel on Vinkenburgstraat are just a few options.
Visit Molen de Ster Windmill
Molen de Ster is a working windmill not far from the Utrecht Central station. It’s open to the public every Saturday afternoon. They have volunteers that will guide you through the windmill, tell its history and explain how it works.
Another windmill you can see in Utrecht’s city center is Molen Rijn en Zon. It’s no longer functioning, but it’s still a lovely sight to pass by and perfect for a quick photo.
Visit a Museum in Utrecht
Depending on how much time you have in the city, you may want to visit one of the museums in Utrecht. The city has a great selection, and I’ve listed some of our favourites below. You can choose which one(s) to visit based on your interests and the time you have available.
You can also read about several Utrecht museums in our post Favourite places to visit in Utrecht with kids.
The Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum) is located at the former railway station – Maliebaan station in Utrecht. They have real coaches, locomotives and trains on display. As well as a tech lab where kids can learn and get hands-on experience with how trains work. there are also model trains, an outdoor playground with a mini railway and train ride, and much more.
If you are travelling with small children, consider visiting the Miffy Museum. This museum in the center of Utrecht is designed for very young kids (I’d say under 5 years old) and is dedicated to the popular Dutch book and cartoon character – the little rabbit Miffy (or Nijntje). The museum feels more like a set of indoor playgrounds, where children can play and have fun in a fully hands-on environment.
Museum Speelklok in the Utrecht city center has a large collection of self-playing musical instruments. It features centuries-old musical boxes and musical clocks, self-playing orchestras and street organs. You can take a guided tour or wander through the museum on your own.
The National Military Museum is located approximately 30-minute drive from Utrecht. It has tanks, planes, armour and weaponry on display. As well as an interactive area where adults and children alike can try a flight simulator, ride a horse (simulator) and explore other interactive exhibits.
Tip: If you’re planning to visit several museums or castles in the Netherlands, it may be worth buying a Dutch Museum Card. It gives you free entry to hundreds of museums across the country and is valid for a full year. You can buy the Museum Card online or simply purchase one at participating museums.
Explore Castles Near Utrecht
Castle De Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands and a really cool place to visit. It’s located just outside Utrecht and is easily reachable by bus, car or a bike. Explore the interior of the castle – its many rooms, furniture and other details. And admire the beautiful gardens, the rose garden, the rows of flowers in front of the castle, the romantic bridge, the moats and lakes, and the huge park.
Another castle you can visit in Utrecht is Zuylen Castle. It’s located north of the city along the River Vecht. You can explore the castle and its gardens at your own pace, or make use of the free audio tour (included with your entrance ticket) using your own phone and headset.
Other Things to See in Utrecht
There are so many more things to see and do in Utrecht. Wander the streets of Lombok, visit Voorveldse Polder park in summer, Wilhelmina Park in autumn, cycle along the Kanaalweg or check out one of the events at Jaarbeurs. I could list every park we enjoyed, every old-town street we walked and admired, and all the canals with peaceful green spaces perfect for a picnic, a stroll or just a quiet moment in the city. You simply won’t have enough time to see it all in a single day. So I’ve tried (even though it was very hard! 🙂 ) to pick only the best things to do in Utrecht in one day.
We had a wonderful time living in Utrecht and were happy to call this Dutch city our home for three years. I hope you enjoy visiting it just as much!
If you are travelling with children, make sure to check our post on Favourite Places to Visit in Utrecht with Kids!
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Utrecht comes across as a place, I’d thoroughly enjoy.
I’d be down to go to the Miffy Museum! What a lovely place to spend some time exploring — it looks and sounds like there is a lot to see/do. Thanks for sharing!
Molly | transatlanticnotes.com
This looks so beautiful and interesting. I am off to Amsterdam, in summer so maybe will get a day trip to Utrecht.
Wow this sounds like a really cool place!
Utrecht sounds like a lovely city its somewhere I want to go as I have a few friends working over there. Thanks for showing us some great things to do there
Looks like such a lovely place to explore! I never knew anything about Utrecht before reading this. The windmills look amazing, and the canals seem like a serene version of Amsterdam’s. Definitely a city break to consider for the future!
Sounds like a fun place to visit. Some of the descriptions kind of reminded me of Oxford. I suppose it’s the fact they’re both university towns. Definitely a place I’ll remember for when I visit!
I once had the opportunity to visit Utrecht but I wasn’t able to make it happen. I regret it deeply… it looks so beautiful. This post inspired me to consider making a much overdue visit. Great post!
Great photos! It looks like a fun city!
Interesting post, Elena. I hadn’t associated anything at all with the Netherland’s fourth largest city until I read your post. Seems like a lovely place, especially old town. Domtoren looks very impressive, really unusual architecture.
Molen Rijn en Zon and Molen de Ster would be good enough reasons for me to visit, even if there were nothing else to see in town.
The Oudegracht sounds amazing! I’d probably spend a lot of my time there, but you really showcased some spectacular attractions in Utrecht. And it’s so close to Amsterdam that it would be an easy trip to make for a day or two,
I would love to visit The Netherlands one day & it’s great to know there are so many things to do in Utrecht! I would love to visit Domkerk & Castle De Haar! My daughter would also love to visit the Miffy Museum!
Karalee
Tales of Belle | https://talesofbelle.com/
What a beautiful one-day itinerary of a town that you love so much. It must have been hard to choose since you know the place so well. That makes this one very valuable guide. Thank you!
I’m glad you find this guide-from-almost-a-local useful! 🙂