First settled under the Romans around the turn of the millennium, Utrecht was, for a long time, the Netherlands's cultural and religious capital. Given its ideal placement in the center of the country, the city is a good staging ground for all kinds of festivals and events and remains at the heart of Dutch life even though it is no longer the country's capital. Remnants of the city's religious past live on in the beautiful medieval churches and the stunning Domkerk. Not being the modern-day capital, however, means that Utrecht is small, easily accessible, and pedestrian friendly. Its rows of old-fashioned houses, church spires, and long walkways lining canals set below street level make it quite the belle ville. But we wouldn't have you thinking it's all sweetness and quiet here: with one of the Netherlands's largest universities and a student population pushing 60,000, Utrecht's got great nightlife and a buzzing, youthful feel. This makes it the ideal stop for those who want to experience the Netherlands at its most picturesque without totally leaving the urban jungle behind.
Arriving at Utrecht Centraal, you'll enter the city through the gargantuan Hoog Catharijne shopping center. Unless you're tempted to do some shopping, follow the signs toward Vredenburg and eventually ...more
Utrecht is a pretty swanky town, and this is immediately apparent when you're trying to find a hotel in the center that's under €200 a night. Fortunately, Strowis (below) has great dorms and private ...more
Utrecht's medieval history and importance for Dutch Christianity have left it with a whole lot of churches, and you could spend an extremely pleasant day wandering from one to another. Though their interiors ...more
Utrecht is home to a few coffeeshops, though not as many as one might expect in a place this packed with students. Coffeeshop Anderson, (Vismarkt 23☎ 023 286 65), Coffeeshop Anderson ...more
Eating in Utrecht is a delight for the stomach but certainly not for the bank account. Museumkwartier tempts with one elegant bistro after another. None are exorbitantly expensive (€25-30 for a meal ...more
For a picturesque medieval town, Utrecht sure does have some bumping nightlife, thanks in large part to the thousands of students that call it home. Thursday is a big night for clubbing, as many establishments ...more
Thanks to its central location, Utrecht is a popular site for festivals celebrating everything from children's theater to electronic music. Besides the more established fairs below, new ones are always ...more
Tourist Offices: VVV provides free city maps as well as information about cultural events, museums, and sights and can recommend or make hotel reservations. This is also the starting point for the Domtoren ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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