Starting point, southern part of the centre
We like to walk into the center from the south; station Vaartsche Rijn is a nice starting point. There is a parking garage underneath the station and you can also travel by train from Houten Castellum station. It is most economical and practical to buy your treinticket in advance online.
When you walk south from Vaartsche Rijn station, you will enter a renovated former industrial area with terraces and restaurants. We think Taplokaal Gist is very cozy, they have constantly changing beers on tap and you can enjoy delicious food there. We love the atmosphere and kitchen of Restaurant Leen, it has Asian Fusion dishes on the menu (also vegetarian) and is located in an old garage (some more up-price).
If you walk north, you walk via the Oosterkade or the Westerkade towards Ledig Erf where you enter the old part of Utrecht via the bridge over the canal. Here you will immediately find a number of terraces where Utrecht residents like to meet. On the right you will see the Louis Hartlooper Complex: a popular film house and restaurant is located here in the old police station. Nice to walk in and experience the atmosphere (just walk through, there are different rooms), also useful for a visit to the toilet.
Via the Twijnstraat, with nice shops and horeca, you walk towards the Oude Gracht. If you follow the Oude Gracht, you will arrive in the center of Utrecht with shops and terraces. Along the way you will pass Canoe rental kanoverhuur Utrecht, very nice to explore the canals of Utrecht from the canoe for an hour.
We really like the area around the Twijnstraat and here are some tips for wandering around:
- Turn right into Doelenstraat, turn left at the end. You will now arrive at the Nicolaaskerkhof, where you will find the Miffy museum (Nijntje museum) and the Central museum (Centraal museum). The garden of the Central Museum is freely accessible.
- If you walk from the Twijnstraat into the Wijde watersteeg, you will arrive at a unique part of Utrecht. You’ll reach the canal at the bottom, where you can turn right along Twijnstraat aan de werf. To the next bridge, where you take the stairs up.
- If you now cross the bridge to the left and walk straight ahead, you will arrive at the Zeven steegjes, an area with former workers’ houses. Then walk back to the Oude Gracht via the Kleine Geertekerkhof and Geertestraat.
Here are some tips for the center of Utrecht
- You can climb the Dom Tower (Domtoren), we think the climb itself is quite an adventure!
- Via the Dom Garden (Domtuin) you enter a street ‘Behind the Dom’, turn right here and you will arrive at the beginning of the Nieuwe Gracht and the Pausdam.
- If you are looking for some peace and quiet in the hustle and bustle, restaurant Rechtbank (located in the old court) has a large terrace when the weather is nice.
- Take a look at the former post office of Utrecht Post Utrecht, converted into a multifunctional space.
- From the Neude, it is nice to walk right into the Lange Janstraat to the Janskerkhof, an attractive square where there is a plant market every Saturday.
- The Drieharingenstraat has many restaurants and connects the Oude Gracht with the Vredenburg market square, where there is a market every Wednesday and Saturday.
- Here is a link to 10 Vegetarian restaurants in Utrecht