The Netherlands’ fourth city has emerged as a must-visit destination and a perfect place for a night out.
In recent years, the Dutch capital has started to say ‘nee dank je’ to British (and, in fairness, all other) holidaymakers.
Tired of having its mazy streets clogged up by non-clog-wearing visitors, Amsterdam’s authorities began cracking down on badly behaved tourists.
The Dutch capital, which is only home to about 800,000 people but draws up to 20 million tourists a year, has banned booze-fuelled tours, outlawed cannabis in the Red Light District, and launched a digital “stay away” campaign targeting young British men.
For those who’ve heard the message loud and clear, but are still hankering after a stroopwafel and a portion of Dutch nightlife, then Utrecht is the place. Situated slap-bang in the middle of the country, the city of 400,000 has been named one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel destinations for 2026.
It is easy to see why Utrecht made it onto the list for 2025, given its location and the intriguing layout of its waterways.
“Easily accessible from Amsterdam by train, Utrecht is a brilliant destination for a weekend break. You’ve got a compact medieval centre, gabled houses that belong in a Vermeer painting and a bounty of bookshops, restaurants and museums to dig into,” Lonely Planet writes.
“One of the loveliest things about Utrecht is its canals. Canals are ubiquitous in the Netherlands, but Utrecht’s are unique because they’re designed on two levels, creating an almost underground world beneath the busy streets above. While bikes rattle over the cobblestones on street level, follow the stone steps down to the peaceful water-level walkways lined with trees and 13th-century vaulted cellars.”
There is certainly a lot of historical intrigue in Utrecht, where the iconic Domtoren, a 14th-century bell tower, stands opposite the Gothic Cathedral of St. Martin on central Domplein square.
There’s also a lot of space dedicated to its most famous child, Miffy. The cartoon rabbit’s creator, Dick Bruna, was born and died in the city, which is now home to the Miffy Museum, Miffy Square, and a special Miffy walk that lets pedestrians learn all about the world-famous character.
As sweet and family-friendly as that side of the city is, those seeking an alternative to Amsterdam are likely looking for something a little louder and rowdier. Happily, nightlife in Utrecht is in good supply, and it’s as industrial and European-sounding as you’d hope.
The area around Nijverheidsweg, to the west of Juliana Park and behind the Zuilen train station, is the new place to party in Utrecht.
Several entrepreneurs have opened nightlife venues in the area, also known as Werkspoorkwartier, named after a train equipment factory that once stood there.
“The entrepreneurs took advantage of the industrial vibe of the buildings. For example, Club WAS allows you to dance the night away in the former washing rooms of the Werkspoor Cathedral. You can still see the old bathroom tiles and faucets,” writes DUB magazine.
“Creative hub De Nijverheid has more of a festival feel with an art studio, creative spaces, a café, and a mini museum, so there’s always something new to explore and admire. The brand-new nightclub Kabul à GoGo also knows how to use the character of a raw, former warehouse to its advantage: the space is huge, with incredibly high ceilings and oriental rugs on the walls.”
Student Lennart, 22, told the publication why he loves the area. “When I feel like a spontaneous night out or singing along to some music, the city centre is more accessible, it’s close by. You just show your ID and you’re in. But the Werkspoor area is much more fun than the pubs in the centre. It feels like going to a festival.”
Like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Utrecht is easy to visit from the UK.
Utrecht is around 30 minutes from Schiphol Airport, with a connection roughly every 15 minutes. Utrecht Central Station is the largest and busiest in the Netherlands, with easy connections to the rest of the Netherlands and Europe.
According to Rough Guides, the best way to explore Utrecht is by hiring a bike, with boating the historic canals a close second. You can combine the two with a pedalo and tour the waterways that circle the centre.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2026 – Complete list
- Barbados
- Botswana
- British Columbia, Canada
- Cádiz, Spain
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Finland
- Ikara-Flinders Ranges & Outback, South Australia
- Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- Jeju-do, South Korea
- Liberdade, São Paulo, Brazil
- Maine, USA
- Mexico City, Mexico
- North Island, New Zealand/Aotearoa
- Peru
- Phuket, Thailand
- Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala
- Quy Nhon, Vietnam
- Réunion
- Sardinia, Italy
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Solomon Islands
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, USA
- Tipperary, Ireland
- Tunisia
- Utrecht, Netherlands
