Are you thinking about visiting Utrecht and wondering if it’s worthwhile? Our top five reasons for choosing Utrecht over Amsterdam are listed in this article.
1. Tourists Are Fewer in Utrecht
Over the past ten years, Amsterdam has experienced an extraordinary increase in tourists, and this trend isn’t about to stop. That entails packed streets and tourist destinations, exorbitantly priced lodging, and irate residents. Utrecht does not (yet) have these issues because it is a relatively unknown travel destination for visitors from abroad.
If you find yourself in a too crowded or touristic area in Utrecht, simply walk five or ten minutes farther down the main street or off onto a side street to enjoy some peace and quiet. Even though there are a lot of tourists in Utrecht, many of them are actually Dutch, so you’ll still be surrounded by natives and exposed to Dutch culture.
2. Utrecht is Beautiful
The city’s principal canal, Oudegracht, meanders through it, its banks decorated with charmingly traditional Dutch architecture. Over the sea, trees arch themselves. The city’s most recognizable structure, the beautiful gothic Dom Tower, towers above it. With an abundance of green space on either side, yet another canal encircles the city’s core.
We’d suggest visiting Lange Rozendaal, a little, charming street right off Oudegracht, and the small garden in Pandhof Sinte Marie (St. Mary’s Courtyard) in Utrecht if you’re looking for some particularly lovely locales. You should also visit Molen Rijn en Zon, a windmill that is simply sitting in the middle of a normally bustling roadway.
3. You can interact closely with the canals
The canals of Utrecht are particularly special. In Utrecht, you can walk or sit down at canal level as opposed to only wandering over the canals.
Numerous people can be seen along the Oudegracht having picnics or sipping cocktails at a café that is situated right next to the sea. These areas can be crowded and boisterous near the city’s core, but if you walk a little further, you’ll almost certainly discover a quiet area to yourself.
Of course, if you really want to see the city from the water, you can also rent a boat or go on a canal excursion.
4. There are numerous culinary alternatives in Utrecht
Since Utrecht is a university town, there are numerous “affordable” cuisine options there. In this case, cheap does not imply poor quality; rather, there are eateries that provide meals at affordable costs.
There is more to Utrecht’s culinary scene than just this. There are many various cuisines, including French, Ethiopian, Indonesian, and Indian, as well as pancake places.
5. Cool street art is present
Keep an eye out for some cool street art in Utrecht while you explore the city. Street art may be found everywhere, from massive murals to tiny pieces on unexpected corners. Murals created by street artists like JanIsDeMan and De Verfdokter incorporate neighborhood feedback.
6. Compact and simple to navigate
Utrecht, one of the largest cities in the Netherlands and a significant transit hub, has all the stores and dining options one could ever want. But the atmosphere is more rural.
Since Utrecht is so small, almost everything you wish to visit is accessible on foot. The city’s main attractions and sites are somewhat centered. You’ll probably feel like you know Utrecht well after just a few days there.
7. Outside the vicinity of the canal, there is more to see
The central Utrecht canal area is where most visitors stay. Even while Utrecht’s canal district is incredibly lovely, it’s not the only region worth investigating.
If you go outside further, you’ll discover more popular spots with the locals, like Wilhelminapark and Lepelenburg, two lovely parks. Amelisweerd is a forest-like park on the outskirts of the city with routes ideal for longer hikes.
8. Regional and global accessibility
Due to its central location, Utrecht makes it simple to visit other cities across the Netherlands if you’re taking a longer vacation.
It is reasonably close to the well-known Zuid-Holland destinations of Rotterdam, Hague, and other places (South Holland). However, Utrecht puts you in a better position to visit some truly gorgeous locations in the North and East.
A fantastic starting place for exploring other European nations is Utrecht. In particular, trains traveling to and from Germany frequently stop here for transfers.
9. Every year, festivals take place in Utrecht
Every day of the year, festivals are held in Utrecht. Some events, like the St. Maartens procession, are seasonal and primarily attended by locals. Others, like the Central Park Festival or the well-known Festival Oude Muziek, are more well-known and focus on music. Check to see whether a festival is taking place when you are in town.
