1. Go kayaking through the city canals

Kayaking through the scenic canals of Utrecht provides a unique view of the city. Rowing underneath the old city arches is not only a calming outdoor activity, it can be a lot of fun! Best to do this during summer time, a trip around the city takes about an hour to 1.5hr, depending on your rowing speed. The kayak rental is open from the 1st of March, and costs 8€ per person per hour.

2. Stroll through the historic city & climb the DOM tower

The inner city of Utrecht is as beautiful as it is cozy. The ancient city still has remaining structures from the Middle Ages, and its location on the banks of the river Rhine allowed Utrecht to become an important trade center in the Northern Netherlands. The Dom Tower in the center is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, but has been under construction for some time. You can still climb 465 steps to the top, and get a tour for €13,50 for adults and €8,50 for students.

3. Release your inner child at the Play-in

If you are looking for a unique indoor activity, the Play-In is a fun time for those that like to jump trampolines, do some speed climbing, do the death drop, and smash their friends at jousting. You can also opt for some minigolf or VR games. The Play-In also features a bar and an arcade.

4. Visit Castle de Haar

This castle is stunning, and boasts some beautiful gardens alongside it. During the winter period, there is a lightshow that illuminates the entire castle and surrounding structures. The light show tells a moving story of their own creation, a different fairytale-esque story every year. It costs €7 to visit the park garden, and €19 to visit the park gardens and the castle. To visit the light show, check the website from November for tickets.

5. Lounge around on the city beaches

Utrecht has multiple city beaches. The one shown on the left is Haarrijnseplas, a larger beach which is perfect for lounging and tanning in summer. This beach is easily reachable by bus or bicycle, and free to enter. Take a floatie and chill in the lake, or bring a speaker, blanket and some snacks to chill in the grass or sand. There is also a restaurant there in case you forgot your snacks.

6. Visit the Botanical Garden

The Botanical Gardens in Utrecht are located alongside the University campus. The gardens were founded in 1639, and feature a variety of different gardens - including a rock garden, bee houses, and tropical greenhouses with butterflies. It is a wonderfully quiet place to sit and relax, take a walk, and admire the different plant species. The botanical garden reopens from the 1st of March, and costs €10 for an adult, €4,50 for foreign students and it is free for UU students.

7. Play some laser tag

All you need for a good game of laser tag is a group of friends and a competitive spirit! There are several locations in which you can go lasergaming in Utrecht. The closest to the city center is lasergamesutrecht, where students pay €16,50 for 2 rounds and a beer on wednesdays and thursdays after 18.00pm. For non-students, 2 rounds of games will set you back €20.

8. Take flight at City Skydive

Apparently indoor skydiving is a thing, and its a thing you can do in Utrecht! Get ready for an adrenaline booster of an afternoon with this unique indoor activity. Let the enormous wind turbine blast you up into the sky, guided by a pro with epic flying skills. 3 flights of a minute each start at €79,50 per person. Definitely recommended, but it would have been even better to do a sportflyer course - to properly learn how to control your movement in the wind tunnel. The course is €275 per person.

9. Throw some heavy balls in a game of jeu-de-boules

Believe it or not, there are two locations in the city of Utrecht where you can throw some heavy balls. A fun game to play with a big group! You can also get some drinks and snacks while you're playing. At jeudeboulesbar, reserving a track for an hour will set you back €18,50. Alongside the canal in the inner city, at boulesbitesbar, an hour will cost you €24.

10. Test your grip strength and go bouldering

The city of Utrecht also boasts multiple bouldering halls. You can rent special shoes for additional grip during your climb. If you are a novice climber, the first 15 minutes of climbing are likely the best shot you're gonna have, because after that your hands barely have grip strength left. Try this at either boulderhal STERK, boulderhal Energiehaven or boulderhal Zuidhaven!

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