EXPERIENCE UTRECHT

DUTCH UPPER CLASS SUBURBIA

Utrecht, located in the heart of the Netherlands, is one of the country's oldest cities, with a rich history that dates back to Roman times. Known for its charming medieval old town, intricate canal system, and vibrant cultural scene, Utrecht is a fascinating blend of historic and modern life.

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FUN OUTDOOR THINGS TO DO IN UTRECHT

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.

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.

Visit the Vredenburg food market

The Vredenburg Market in Utrecht is a vibrant and popular market open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Located at Vredenburg square, it offers a wide variety of stalls including fresh produce, meats, fish, dairy, cheeses, baked goods, flowers, plants, clothing, accessories, household goods, specialty foods, ready-to-eat meals, and miscellaneous items like books and crafts. The market is easily accessible and provides a lively atmosphere for both shopping and experiencing local culture.

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.

Stroll through the city parks

Utrecht has multiple city parks that make for a beautiful walk, or picnic spot when the sun is out. The park Oog in Al also features a little animal farm where you can observe deer and some other farm animals. The Julianapark is also a beautiful old park with a lake and deer. The Wilhelminapark has a lake and interesting structures, like a lookout point, and a pulley bridge to explore.

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.

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.

Go to one of the many festivals

Utrecht hosts a vibrant array of festivals celebrating food, music, and culture. Fun food festivals include the TREK Food Truck Festival, offering gourmet street food and live entertainment, and Lepeltje Lepeltje, combining culinary delights with music and arts. Pride in Utrecht features colorful boat parades promoting LGBTQ+ rights and music in the inner city. There are nationwide festivities during Kings Night, Kings Day, and Liberation Day. TivoliVredenburg hosts diverse music festivals, and there are also great summer festivals focused on either food, wine/beer/gin, music, or arts & culture. Check the agenda below.

FUN INDOOR THINGS TO DO IN UTRECHT

Relax at the inner city spa Wine & Wellness

If you are expecting a luxury oasis, think again - but this small inner city spa has cheap entry (on Social Deal or on special offers only €10 per person) and serves food & drinks. Wearing clothes is always optional, so everyone can choose what they feel comfortable with. The spa has a small heated pool, a steam room, an outside and an inside sauna, and ice buckets & showers. There are some nice chairs & beds to lounge around on and have a chat. There is currently a special that allows students in for free between 22.00 and 1.00am on weekdays.

Watch a movie in 4DX at Pathé Leidsche Rijn

The seats in a 4DX theater are designed to move in sync with the on-screen action. They can tilt, rock, and vibrate to match the movements happening in the movie, making it a more immersive experience. Water sprays and mists can be used to simulate rain or splashes. A 4DX ticket will set you back around €20. You may also need 3D glasses, which you can order in the checkout menu for €2.

Play your heart out at the Ping Pong Club

From Wednesday to Sunday you can play some ping pong, between 12:00 en 23:00 for €13,50 per hour, per table. The ping pong club also hosts an 'around the table' tournament, where you can either come alone or with a team, earning points for as long as you can keep playing whilst moving around the table. Book a table or the tournament on the website beforehand. They also have prizes for best outfits and best replacements of a paddle. There is a restaurant & bar there for food and drinks.

Release your inner child at the Play-in

The Play-in is an indoor entertainment and activity center located in Utrecht, offering a wide range of fun and adventurous activities for people of all ages. There is a large area filled with interconnected trampolines, including dodgeball courts, basketball hoops, foam and jousting pits. There is speed climbing, a long drop, and a bar and arcade. Barcade. Look at the various options on the website.

Race your friends in an (electric) go-kart

There are multiple locations for go-karting in Utrecht. At the Kartfabrique, there are regular 200cc karts with speeds up to 53km/h and a flat track with many turns. This huge venue also features lasergaming and prison island. 3 heats of go-karting will set you back €50,50 here. There is also Teamsport E-karting in the Wall shopping centre, for which there are often deals of 2 heats for €27,50. They have a great multi-level track with electric karts, which are nice, responsive and less noisy, and reach speeds of 45 km/h. Just do not eat the overpriced, terrible food here.

Learn to hit a golf ball at Chi Chi

No matter how terrible your golf skills, this fully automated inner city driving range allows you to hit a constant stream of balls. There is also a bar, nice seating, and interactive tracking tech that shows the trajectory of your shots. With a group of min. 2 people, you can rent a bay upstairs for €27,50 per hour. If you're alone and want to practice with your own clubs, an hour will set you back €12,50.

Watch a live performance at the city theater

Stadsschouwburg Utrecht offers a wide range of performances including theater, dance, opera, music, and children's shows. Ticket prices vary, with theater and musicals ranging from €20 to €60, dance performances (like Introdans) from €25 to €50, opera from €30 to €75, and music concerts from €20 to €50. Children's shows are typically €10 to €25. Discounts are available for students, seniors, and groups

Learn about space at the Sonnenborgh Observatory

You can walk through the old observatory and check out the space science on display alongside old instruments, as well as a massive telescope and a library full of space related literature. A fun afternoon out in a beautiful building. Regular tickets cost €10 and students pay €8. You can only pay by card on arrival.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Check out our video inside Play-in & City Skydive!

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