Looking for the best place to stay in Utrecht?
Follow the guide, we have listed and detailed for you the best areas to stay in Utrecht as well as our favourite hotels and flats in this city that we love.
⏰ Don’t have time to read everything?
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations listed by price category:
🚨 Note: Don’t delay booking as these are some of the most popular hotels in Utrecht.
(€) B&B Muntzicht. Warm and inexpensive bed and breakfast in Utrecht less than 2 km from the city centre. Bicycles available free of charge. The rooms are superb and the breakfast excellent! Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Accommodation Petit Beijers. Superb hotel full of charm located less than 100 m from the centre and close to the main points of interest. The rooms are very bright and comfortable. The restaurant is excellent! Book here.
(€€€) Grand Hotel Karel V. Cosy 5-star hotel in the heart of Utrecht. Surrounded by peaceful green gardens and welcoming terraces and large rooms, this hotel is perfect for families. Book here.
(€€ )Hotel Beijers. Great 4* hotel located in the travellers’ favourite area , very close to the centre in a quiet street. You will enjoy a timeless stay in a refined decor of rare elegance. Book here.
Table des matières
Best place to stay in Utrecht
Dom District
The Domkwartier, also known as the Dom District, is located in the heart of the city centre. This legendary district stretches around the magnificentUtrecht St Martin’s Cathedral (or Domkerk), the Pieterskerk church and ends at the Mariaplaats square.
Dom District is by far the best area to stay in Utrecht, as it is considered to be very authentic and is also the heart of the Old Town. You’ll also find plenty of shops and terraces in the Domkwartier.
At night, the district’s impressive historic monuments are illuminated, making this place truly spectacular. There are also plenty of things to do in the area, and we’ve listed five of them below for you to try out.
Top 5 things to do and see in Dom District
- Stroll through the narrow streets and bustling lanes to see the ancient architecture but also the local culture, food and drink.
- Visit the famous St Martin’s Cathedral and climb to the top of the mythical and majestic DOM Tower.
- Go down under St. Martin’s Cathedral to the DOMunder to browse through almost 2,000 years of Utrecht history!
- Relax with your partner or family in the magnificent botanical gardens of Fort Hoofddijk and the Von Gimborn arboretum, founded in 1636.
- Take in a performance at the modern Tivoli Vrendenburg complex, which regularly features concerts of jazz, pop and classical music.
Here are our favourite hotels in the best area to stay in Utrecht
(€) B&B Muntzicht. Warm and inexpensive bed and breakfast in Utrecht , less than 2 km from the city centre. Bicycles available free of charge. The rooms are superb and the breakfast excellent! Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Accommodation Petit Beijers. Superb hotel full of charm located less than 100 m from the centre and close to the main points of interest. The rooms are very bright and comfortable. The restaurant is excellent! Book here.
(€€ ) Hotel Beijers. Great 4* hotel located in the travellers’ favourite district , very close to the centre in a quiet street. You will enjoy a timeless stay in a refined decor of rare elegance. Book here.
Where to stay as a couple: Museum District
Situated between the Dom District and the beautiful Nicolaïkerk church to the south of the city centre, and consisting mainly of Lange Nieuwstraat at its heart, this district practically encapsulates the history and culture of Utrecht.
In fact, this area includes hidden and picturesque courtyards, numerous old medieval buildings, small parks and alleys with century-old trees, as well as museums housed in the heart of old monasteries and universities.
If you’re a gourmet, you won’t be disappointed, as the Museum District boasts many typical cafés and cosy restaurants. There’s nothing better than a delicious local speciality after a long day’s sightseeing!
Top 5 things to do in the Museum District
- Visit the medieval houses, the hidden courtyards and of course the magnificent museums(Central Museum, Miffy Museum, etc.) with a wide variety of exhibitions and extraordinary collections.
- Take a romantic or family stroll through the canals and century-old trees.
- Enjoy the cafés and sumptuous terraces on the waterfront in the lively Ledig Erf street.
- Discover the Louis Hartlooper complex, a small art-house cinema.
- Visit Twijnstraat, which is packed with more than ten specialist culinary shops, restaurants and cafés.
Here are our favourite hotels in the area to stay at as a couple in Utrecht
(€) B&B Muntzicht. Warm and inexpensive bed and breakfast in Utrecht , less than 2 km from the city centre. Bicycles available free of charge. The rooms are superb and the breakfast excellent! Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Accommodation Petit Beijers. Superb hotel full of charm located less than 100 m from the centre and close to the main points of interest. The rooms are very bright and comfortable. The restaurant is excellent! Book here.
(€€ ) Hotel Beijers. Great 4* hotel located in the travellers’ favourite district , very close to the centre in a quiet street. You will enjoy a timeless stay in a refined decor of rare elegance. Book here.
Where to stay with your family: De Nobelstraat
Also known as the University District, these neighbourhoods are just perfect for staying in Utrecht. Around the Nobelstraat district, you’ll find many typical cafés, bars and restaurants.
The streets of Voorstraat, Nobelstraat and Janskerkhof are the most beautiful and liveliest of these districts! They are also the best places to come into direct contact with the locals. There’s a whole host of things to do here… We’ll tell you more in the guide that follows!
Top 5 things to do in these districts
- Enjoy the local festivities with the many bars and restaurants in the area.
- Visit the Friars Minor monastery at Janskerkhof
- Spend some time relaxing at the Pandhof and the monument to the ophthalmologist Franciscus Cornelis Donders
- Don’t miss the flower and plant market in Janskerkhof every Saturday
- Discover the impressive building of the former Butchers’ Guild on the Voorstraat.
Here are our favourite hotels in the district to stay in Utrecht with children
(€) B&B Muntzicht. Warm and inexpensive bed and breakfast in Utrecht , less than 2 km from the city centre. Bicycles available free of charge. The rooms are superb and the breakfast excellent! Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Accommodation Petit Beijers. Superb hotel full of charm located less than 100 m from the centre and close to the main points of interest. The rooms are very bright and comfortable. The restaurant is excellent! Book here.
(€€ ) Hotel Beijers. Great 4* hotel located in the travellers’ favourite district , very close to the centre in a quiet street. You will enjoy a timeless stay in a refined decor of rare elegance. Book here.
The shopping district: Stadhuis District
Let’s move on to the smallest but no less charming district of the sumptuous medieval city. Still known as the Stadhuiskwartier (Town Hall District), this cosy corner of Utrecht is full of pubs, Michelin-starred restaurants and sunny terraces.
But what makes the Stadhuis District so special is undoubtedly its many boutiques and brand-name shops. In fact, you’ll have guessed it… this is the best place to stay in Utrecht for shopping!
As well as a shopping trip, let’s discover some other great attractions in the Town Hall district..
Top 5 things to do and see in the Stadhuis District
- Take a walk around Daen’s. Utrecht’s former fire station is now an incredible complex housing a wine bar, a hotel and, above all, a host of boutiques where you can pick up some wonderful Scandinavian clothes.
- Take your little ones to Utrecht’s famous children’s bookshop, which has been delighting parents and children alike since 1981!
- Discover one of Utrecht’s most beautiful libraries, the famous Post Utrecht.
- Finally, discover the hidden treasure of Utrecht’s charming little district: the sumptuous St Willibrord’s Church.
Here are our favourite hotels in the best district for shooping in Utrecht
(€) B&B Muntzicht. Warm and inexpensive bed and breakfast in Utrecht , less than 2 km from the city centre. Bikes available free of charge. The rooms are superb and the breakfast excellent! Book here.
(€€) ❤️ Accommodation Petit Beijers. Superb hotel full of charm located less than 100 m from the centre and close to the main points of interest. The rooms are very bright and comfortable. The restaurant is excellent! Book here.
(€€ ) Hotel Beijers. Great 4* hotel located in the travellers’ favourite district , very close to the centre in a quiet street. You will enjoy a timeless stay in a refined decor of rare elegance. Make your reservation here.
Which is the best area to stay for the first time in Utrecht?
It’s clear that Utrecht is a charming city with a number of districts in the city centre that are great places to drop off your bags. So, for a first visit to Utrecht, your heart will surely swing between several of its best neighbourhoods.
To be honest, your choice will depend on the length of your stay and whether or not you want to visit the city from top to bottom. The perfect district for a first stay in Utrecht is definitely DOM District !
It’s the best place to set up home to get to know beautiful Utrecht for the first time, with its two proud landmarks: the DOM Tower and St Martin’s Cathedral.
From here, you can also easily reach the famous canals that are so much a part of the city’s charm. So, whatever the length of your first stay (a day or a week), by staying at the DOM District, you’ll be able to see all the must-see places in Utrecht!
Where to stay in Utrecht to visit?
What makes Utrecht so special, and so charming, is that you can do and see everything by staying in the city centre.
If you come to the magnificent medieval city of the Netherlands to visit, you’ll be spoilt for choice between the many districts that make up the city centre.
But we really recommend staying in the DOM District and Museum District when visiting Utrecht. These two districts are the perfect places to see everything in Utrecht. With museums, monasteries, religious monuments, parks and restaurants, you’ll have plenty to see!
Where to stay in Utrecht for couples and lovers
The area along the canals in Utrecht is by far the most romantic part of the medieval city. So, for a romantic road trip in Utrecht, we urge you to look for accommodation near Oudegracht (the old canal) or Nieuwgracht (the new canal).
The district that gives you quick access to Utrecht’s charming canals is Museum District. Which makes the Museum District the best place to stay in Utrecht for lovers!
The area to stay in Utrecht as a family with children
When you’re planning a family holiday, one of the problems that will certainly be on your mind is where to stay. In this case, the ideal place to stay would be somewhere quiet and safe, but also within easy reach of the city’s best attractions.
We’ve come up with the perfect neighbourhood in Utrecht for a family holiday with children: Wijk C ! Peaceful and charming, Wijk C is located to the north-west of Utrecht city centre.
Close to the historic monuments of the city centre and surrounded by canals, Wijk C is the perfect choice for a family holiday in Utrecht.
What’s more, you’ll have no trouble getting to the museums in the Museum District, including Speelklkok and the train museum. Two places that are sure to have your little ones jumping for joy!
Utrecht’s tourist district
We have to admit that almost every district in the city centre is a tourist area. Dom District is home to the city’s most famous monuments. Museum District is the hub of art and culture. Nobelstraat is the perfect backdrop for delving into all the secrets of Utrecht’s nightlife.
So, as a tourist, we really recommend that you live in one of these districts depending on your interests.
Neighbourhoods to avoid in Utrecht
Utrecht is a beautiful university town in the Netherlands, renowned for its charm and safety. It’s clear, then, that almost all the city centre districts are good places to put your suitcases.
There are virtually no areas to avoid in Utrecht. However, if possible, we suggest you stay away from Oost. It’s not a dangerous area in itself, but it’s still too popular.
For an unforgettable holiday in Utrecht, we really do recommend the city centre areas.
Best places to go out in Utrecht
A lively and festive city, Utrecht is also one of the top destinations for partying in the Netherlands.
And the best places to go out and discover the nightlife in Utrecht are : Nobelstraat, Voorstraat and Janskerkhof!
These streets in the university district are, in fact, the best areas to have fun until the wee hours of the night in Utrecht!
Where to stay near Utrecht?
If you’d rather avoid the city centre, there are a number of interesting places to stay near Utrecht.
First and foremost, we suggest the Malie District, with its magnificent Naachtgaalstraat and Burgemeester Reigerstraat. This star district has the advantage of being very close to the city centre and its legendary monuments.
A little further afield, we also suggest Woudenberg, a peaceful community just 25 minutes’ drive from Utrecht. It’s the perfect place to get away from the urban rush and enjoy nature at the same time!
So now you know where to stay in Utrecht… All that’s left is to take off for the sumptuous medieval city!
And let us know in the comments if you have any other hotels to recommend. In the meantime, enjoy your trip!