How to spend a perfect day in Utrecht

"Pack your bags, we're moving to Utrecht," I told nearly everyone after returning from the city. Nobody's going anywhere, unfortunately, but in my daydreams, I'm living in a cute little apartment overlooking the canal, cycling the clean and compact streets and browsing cool independent boutiques. On weekends, I'm taking the 25-minute train to Amsterdam and returning just in time to grab a drink at one of the bars tucked into the canal-side wharves. 

Let me share my perfect day in Utrecht with you, whether you're visiting on a quick day trip from Amsterdam or planning a longer stay.

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How to get to Utrecht from the airport

Utrecht is located in the center of the Netherlands and is home to the country's largest train station, Utrecht Centraal, so it's well connected. Direct trains from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport take around 30 minutes (€11 one way), while trains from Amsterdam Centraal take about 25 minutes (€9) and run every 15 minutes or so. If you're e Netherlands, Utrecht is just over an hour from Den Haag (€15), 1hr 25mins from Rotterdam (€13), 1hr 15mins from Delft (€15) and an hour from Eindhoven (€17).

Where should I stay?

Bunk is a capsule-room hostel with well-stocked boutique-style rooms and pods. It's located in a former church near Utrecht Centraal, and a one-person pod costs about €42 midweek. A cozier option is the four-star City Center Lodge where rooms range from about €168 per night for two people.

Morning

9am: Start your day at Jacques by the Oudegracht (Old Canal). Grab a creamy flat white or iced matcha and their incredible salted dark chocolate cookie. There's a bench outside with a view of the Domotoren bell tower, the city's towering landmark, and it's nice to sit here with your treats and watch the city wake up. If you're feeling energetic, you could climb Domotoren's 465 steps (€13.50 guided tour) for the best views of the city.

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10am: Join a walking tour of the Old Town. Tours are typically 90 minutes and begin in the cloistered courtyard of St Martin’s Cathedral (it used to be the Netherlands' largest church) before winding along the canals. You'll come across former cellars in grand homes, now repurposed into quirky cafes, bars, start-ups and even guesthouses. Down by the water, below street level, it's so calm it's hard to imagine you're in a big city and you'll often encounter groups of students chatting over coffee and locals reading books by the water.

Afternoon

Midday: For lunch, try Moksi, a tiny, family-run Surinamese bakery serving curries with rice or roti, or stuffed into broodjes (bread rolls). It's small with just four tables, so if the lunchtime rush squeezes you out, aim for Gys for organic plant-based dishes or Anne&Max for breakfast and brunch classics.

1pm: Utrecht is the birthplace of Miffy (or Nijntje as she's known in Dutch), the beloved bunny character created by Dick Bruna. If you're traveling with kids (or just love cute things) you should definitely visit the Miffy Museum in the city center – a playful, interactive space designed for children, though adults will appreciate the insight into the local illustrator's legacy.

For a broader cultural experience, try the Centraal Museum across the street. Its collection spans from contemporary Dutch art and architecture to fashion designs by Viktor & Rolf and medieval artifact

Or, if you like moseying around other people's homes, head 20 minutes out of the city (on the no. 8 tram) to UNESCO-listed Rietveld-Schröderhuis. Designed by Gerrit Rietveld and owner Truus Schröder in 1924, it's one of the only built examples of the De Stijl architecture movement. It looks worlds apart from the somber redbrick buildings surrounding it, all primary colors and dissolved boundaries. Book a ticket in advance.

4pm: Utrecht takes pride in its local businesses, and you’ll see reminders of this commitment throughout the city, with signs encouraging you to “buy local, shop local.” If you're anything like me (a shameless spendthrift), you won't need to be told twice. Among the best places to shop are the concept store Daen's, the sleek Zolomanola for minimalist fashion and Franky Brown Vintage.

But the real treasure is Drogisterij Woortman, the oldest pharmacy in Utrecht—an unexpected find from my Lonely Planet guidebook. The layout feels nicely old-fashioned, with wooden shelves and glass display cases stocked with homemade balms, essential oils, hair combs and teas, all meticulously organized.

Evening

6pm: People in Utrecht love their bars and bistros with outdoor seating so they can sit and people-watch over a beer. There are so many places to do this, like Orloff aan de kade, Cafe Elize and the Rum Club on the canal, but one of my favorites is the outdoor terrace at the Springhaver Theater, an art deco-style two-screen cinema and cafe with tables that spill out on to the sidewalk under a canopy of hanging lights and bright green awnings. All ages seem to gather here, so it's a pleasant spot to chill with a drink. 

7pm: For dinner, booh ahead for Madeleine, a French-style bistro and wine bar, for their slow-cooked beef cheeks and Basque black pudding or Don Konousuke for proper Japanese food and great sakes and whiskies. 

No reservation? Try De Zwarte Vosch, a former canal house on the Oudergach serving Spanish pintxos like grilled octopus and jamon croquettes, Anan for Vietnamese street food with big, punchy flavors. 

9pm: You could dance the rest of the night away at Stathe, a live music venue and bar or go for something more low-key at ACU, a counterculture and inclusive venue with weekly games nights and a decent selection of drinks and snacks. End your night as locals do with gelato from Roberto Gelato, best enjoyed during a final stroll along the illuminated canals.