Tours & Activities in Utrecht

Discover Utrecht! Go local with Bart!

Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. A smaller and easygoing version of Amsterdam it’s called sometimes. But it’s so much more than that! Utrecht is a vibrant university city, filled with quaint shops, old brown bars, hidden oasis and oh yeah plenty of canals and gabled houses.

During this tour I will show you around town. Being a historian in an old town like Utrecht is a bit like being Charlie in the Chocolate factory. So there will be many old stories. Other things will be talked about as well. How come we don’t get into accidents with all those bicycles? How does Utrecht try to create a modern living climate?  And questions? I love questions! Ask me anything! (Well almost anything).

The tour will include some unmissable highlights. The cathedral. The Canals. But it will also take you to some hidden gems, so quiet and peaceful, you will forget you’re in the fourth largest city of the Netherlands. It’s impossible to get to know all of Utrecht in one walk, but at the end of my tour you will have a pretty good idea what Utrecht is all about.

We start and end at the Cathedral Square (Domplein), next to the statue of Jan van Nassau. 
Come with me. Get to know one of the loveliest towns in the Netherlands. Make the most of your time in good old Utrecht! 

(The minimum number of participants in principle is 5. If the minimum number of participants has not been reached two hours before the start, the tour is automatically cancelled. 

Explore the city of Utrecht on this fun walking tour!
Hi, my name is Lucas and i'll be your guide in Utrecht!
I am a local from Utrecht and have been doing these tours for many years
Are you ready to meet a fun group of people, explore Utrecht, and try out traditional Dutch cookies?
We'll start at Dom Square and I'll take you walking around Utrecht for about 1.5 to 2 hours.
You will make some new friends, listen to fascinating stories, view beautiful hidden places, and try some cheese at the local market.

What will we see?

• Dom Tower (and why there is a part missing)
• Canals and its upper and lower street levels
• The square where there used to be a castle of peace (Vredenburg)
• A statue that represents a man, with a very special occupation. Who? You'll get to take a guess during the tour!
• 3 hidden gardens
• A bar inside a church (great to go and have a drink or bite to eat after the tour)
• Dutch parking garage for bicycles.
• A house with a door that seems to be an illusion and has a story about pretzels.
• A look inside the centrally located library of Utrecht and the square it is located at.
• Pointers for nice restaurants and bars along the way.

Dutch weather:
Ah yes our weather... It can be unpredictable sometimes, sunshine first and then rain a few hours later.
But don't worry, because during the tour there will be enough spots to keep us dry. If rain is expected then bring an umbrella or raincoat.

Starting point
The tour starts and ends at the Dom Square.

"Utrecht, the city where the centuries converge, from Roman roots to medieval splendor, and from the Peace of Utrecht to a modern, vibrant metropolis."

This special tour naturally departs from the iconic Dom Tower, the highest church tower in the Netherlands, built in the 14th century. Near the Dom Tower there are various sights such as the Cathedral Church and the Pandhof of the Cathedral, but also the DOMunder, archaeological excavations dating back to Roman times. We then continue our walking route to the Abraham Dolehof, a hidden courtyard that was once part of the Saint Ursula Monastery and to the Paushuize, the home of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI. We then walk to Vredenburg, a historic castle that played an important role during the Eighty Years' War. On the way to Vredenburg we stop at the Utrecht University Academy Building, Buurkerk and Huis Zoudenbalch. Finally we return towards the Dom Tower via Neude, a square with historic buildings and a lively atmosphere and the Janskerk, a Romanesque church from the 11th century, one of the oldest churches in Utrecht.

Utrecht is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. Since the time of the Romans , this beautiful city has written important chapters in history, becoming over time an attractive and modern reference city today both in the Netherlands and in Europe. It is, without a doubt, a jewel that I would like to share with everyone.

In my tour of the historic center of the city , I will not only show you some of the most iconic monuments and places in the city and I will tell its history, but I will also share local culture, various anecdotes, the daily life of its inhabitants and I will give you tips and suggestions for your free time and make the most of your stay in the city. Of course, I will attend and I will gladly answer all your questions 😉

Some of the places we will visit during the tour:

• Domplein (Cathedral Square)
• Dom (St. Martin's Cathedral)
• Domhof (Cloister of St. Martin's Cathedral)
• House of Anna Maria van Schurman
• Paushuize (House of Pope Adrian VI)
• Neude (busy square)
• Oudegracht (fairway)
• Winkel van Sinkel & Ganzenmarkt Tunnel
• Stadhuis (Utrecht Town Hall)
• Vredenburgplein (Old Vredenburg Castle Square)
• Nijntje (famous children's animated character)
• Schuilkerk (Olivier Cafe)

To consider:

- We start the tour next to the statue of Count Jan van Nassau in Domplein, the cathedral square in Utrecht.

- You will recognize me by my umbrella and by my smile. 🙂

- The maximum courtesy waiting time is 5 minutes out of respect for participants who arrive on time.

Looking forward to sharing this destination with everyone.

Thank you very much in advance for your punctuality!

Any questions or concerns about the tour or other possibilities, do not hesitate to ask.

All the best!

Eduardo

Did you know that when you walk through Utrecht you are walking through a medieval city? Better yet, the city sits on an ancient Roman fort, the Trajectum!
Hi, I'm Katy and I invite you to discover the history of Utrecht. We will walk through the old layout of the city and I will tell you stories from different eras.
You will soon see that Utrecht has many layers of history to discover.
The tour consists of six stops , around 1:20 hr.
You will learn various stories through our walk along the Oudegracht, the artery of the city that was for years the most important in Utrecht.
On our tour we will also visit the heart of the city and see the most iconic building in Utrecht, the Domtoren, as well as its surroundings.

After this visit I assure you that you will see the city with different eyes 🙂