The 49 best places to go out in Utrecht (2024)

I had an great experience visiting Castle De Haar! 🏰✨ Despite the slightly higher costs, the grandeur and beauty of the castle and its surroundings made it well worth it.The sheer size of the castle was huge. Its magnificent architecture and meticulous attention to detail transported me to a bygone era. Exploring the lavishly decorated rooms and expansive gardens was like stepping into a fairytale. The picturesque surroundings added to the enchantment, creating a truly magical atmosphere. 🌳🌷🌞While the ticket prices may be on the higher side, the exceptional quality and maintenance of the castle make it clear why. The staff's commitment to preserving the historical significance and beauty of Castle De Haar is evident in every corner. 📚🗺️Well worth a visit if you are in Utrech or close by. It's a perfect destination for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and anyone seeking a unique and unforgettable adventure. If you're willing to indulge in a slightly higher-cost experience, I highly recommend exploring the grandeur and charm of Castle De Haar. You won't be disappointed! ✨🏰💫

A true awesome Castle in The Netherlands. Do visit the Garden and the Castle. But most important, it is good to read the history and heritage before you enter the Castle. This gives you a good image of the Castle and the building next to the Castle. This building is still in ownership of the family and they do visit it very often.The garden is beautiful and completed with several small items from the past. Enjoy this view and the environment via the two restaurants and cafe!Enjoy and I will for sure be back to enjoy this place.

The biggest castle in the Netherlands with astonishing gardens! Even though I visited here on a rainy summer day, it was a peaceful walk through the gardens. I was not super impressed by the interior, the kitchen looks dazzling though! The history of the castle is also interesting to read/watch.I find it also pretty easy to reach by public transportation, there is a bus stop right in front of the castle. It is free to visit with the Museumkaart!

This was absolutely magical, I loved every minute of visiting. It would be a 10/10 no matter what - the castle and the interiors are simply breathtaking - but I just wanted to drop by and say CONGRATULATIONS to all the staff, everyone was incredibly warm, welcoming, and excited to share little curiosities and insights about the castle's history. A truly special experience, can't recommend it enough!

Beautiful grounds and castle. Well worth a visit! You can use your museum card to enter. The inside of the castle is beautiful and well maintained. Very informative with lots of hosts in the rooms to tell you more about about it.

We had an amazing time today at the Castle De Haar. We walked 45 minutes from Vleuten train station, which was also beautiful. I consider the admission prices too high, but we went in anyway. The employees were really welcoming and helpful, there was a lot of information about the castle and its former residents. Part of the garden was under construction unfortunately, but the other parts were very pretty, the flowers are still blooming. Overall we recommend it, we spent there 3 hours in total.

Incredible castle near Utrecht and Gouda, we went by public transport and it was easy, only few minutes walking from the bus stop. The visit was around one or two hours. Every room has a guide person and also a text in different languages to explain about the room. The visit is worth, i was impressed with the history and how the castle is well maintained.

It was really an unexpected great visit. Just for case I drove there and I strongly recommend to go there. Beautiful castle from outside (I haven’t been inside). Entrance to the park is pretty cheap (7€) considering that is huge and you can spend a whole day also enjoying a picnic or relax in the green. Place is somehow magic!

Amazing castle and park which makes you feel like you are inside a fairy tale. There are a lot of things to do around and the history of the castle is pretty interesting. The garden is pretty huge and there is even a maze and a deer park you can visit. I believe this is one of the top visits in the Netherlands.

The largest castle in the Netherlands. Great architecture, amazing interiors, you would think there would be more to explore inside but it is still impressive. In every room there is information in many languages to read for this is a big plus. Outside is different very beautiful, wonderful gardens and lots of pleacefor walks in the park with photo spots. Parking is also very large and convenient at a cost of 6 euros. The castle can be visited on a museum card. There is also a restaurant on the castle grounds.

A unique visit that must be done by all history and castle lovers! Picturesque landscape that travels visitors to the 1700s! Very well maintained. Both surrounding areas and inside rooms are magnificent.Parking cost is costly for no reason as it offers neither security nor shadow.

A beautiful castle with big lush beautiful gardens and ponds. The moment you enter insider it makes you go to the same era. Beautiful bed rooms, hall ways, galleries, the living area and powder rooms still feel alive. The main hall, roof and walls and magnificent. If you have museum card this is covered. You can enter easily. It is in calm and conent place. The cafe is large but full. The gardens and good to go for a picnic. Highly recommended for visit. The walk space and gardens are large to wear comfortable shoes. Enjoyed the overall experience.

An absolute must see when visiting the central part of the Netherlands. It’s close to Amsterdam and Utrecht. Very large castle, so well maintained and preserved. Also very relaxing walks with lots of benches possible trough the parks and gardens around the castle. The inside of the castle is amazing, don’t forget to visit the gift shop there, and the restaurant is also very yummy (near the entry).

Easy to access by bus, the bus stop is outside the train station. The the bus stops outside the castle (both ways). Seen only the garden which is beautiful, I assume in Spring and Summer will be nicer. There are picnic tables as well.

I loved it, I wish I had more time to walk all over those 17 acres.The castle is impressive and even though not all of it is accessible, the main chambers were really nice and they had staff to provide you with more help.I would definitely recommend visiting this castle if you have a chance.Also we grabbed a bite at their restaurant, the food was ok, nothing special.

The castle visit was an absolute delight, especially the stunning outdoor surroundings.The expansive park around the castle was beautifully maintained, with lush green lawns, vibrant flower beds, and peaceful pathways perfect for a leisurely stroll. The garden area was a highlight, with its well-manicured hedges and colorful blooms, making it a lovely spot to relax and take in the serene atmosphere.What made the visit even more special was the charming mini zoo on the castle grounds. It was a pleasant surprise to find such a family-friendly attraction, with a variety of animals that both children and adults enjoyed. The zoo was small but full of character, adding a fun and unexpected element to the visit.The lake adjacent to the castle was another breathtaking feature.Overall, the combination of historical charm and the gorgeous outdoor spaces made this castle visit truly memorable. It’s not just a journey through history but a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature’s beauty.

What a marvellous day out! Fairy tale style castle set in beautiful grounds. Lots of rooms to visit and view. Excellent placard boards in each room (various languages), expanding on the use of the room over time.One word of caution - access to the castle is a NON starter for any one who needs a wheelchair or walker support.

Beautiful castle, the gardens are amazing and so impressive to see and of course take pictures of, you would think you are royalty. The inside of the castle and descriptions of every exhibit is very thorough and nicely explained by the tour guides. A must visit!

Really more of a country retreat for rich barons than a castle proper, but still impressive and the interior has some beautiful stained glass and other items. The Castle outer building is surrounded by a cool green scum moat, and you have to walk through pretty gardens to get to the Castle proper.Once you're in, you have to go down stairs and around a corner to a pinch point where you have to scan your ticket again for entry. They're quite strict about no bags/backpacks and have free lockers - a bit annoying as every other historical place we've been in Europe has allowed purses (they even said if you have a jacket you have to continue to wear it and can't carry it, ridiculous as it's quite warm as you go through the Castle). Displays are well-described, and they've got a good system of cables/signs for one-way progression through the Castle. Good visit, worth 1-1.5 hours of your time.

Most beautiful castle and gardens. Not possible to get there if you have to rely on public transport, so keep in mind that extra cost will be required to rent a car or hire a taxi.Booking in advance is a good idea - you book a time slot and then don't have to wait to go inside. We booked about 2 weeks in advance.You can easily spend a whole day there - both the residence and the gardens are absolutely magnificent!

Beautiful castle, well maintained and full of details. Every room has information in different languages available on a flyer. A lot of employees walking in all rooms to give some extra information and tell some interesting facts.

It was one of the most beautiful castles I have seen. It is very well kept and the guides are friendly, helpful and very informative. The fact that the family comes back yearly to keep up the traditions is great.History is preserved very well. The gardens are well taken care of and it is so peaceful. We had a picnic in the garden.The shop is also well worth a visit as is the restaurant.Well worth a visit.

What a hidden gem! Beautiful gardens, a maze, a castle surrounded by water... all of this on one domain. Do not miss out. The domain is extremely well kept and clean.Coffee is stronf at the entrance, and toilets are free.

Absolutely fantastic place! The exterior is impressive and beautiful with water around the castle and lovely gardens. The interior, however, is pure magic. I got Harry Potter vibes more than once. It's colorful, it's majestic. You can really sense how it felt in the old days when people still lived here. Not to mention the small corner with a place to sit and a big window. Just give me a book and I'll never leave!There is also a shop with souvenirs and places where you can eat and easily accessible toilet. I really cannot recommend this place enough! A must-see!Now, a bit about how to get there. I used public transport. Very easy and very well put. Train to Utrecht, then 2-3 stations to Vleuten, from there a couple steps to a bus stop that rides around every half hour and takes you directly to the castle. Recommended to book tickets online in advance, as there are limits to visitors per time frame. However, I was on a Saturday during vacation period and had no problem booking a ticket.

Castle De Haar is one of the most beautiful castles I've visited so far in The Netherlands.The architecture is amazing and the surrounding park and lake are breathtaking.The only thing more glamorous is the interior of the Castle, with rich furniture and paintings, with high detailed tapestry and detailed sculptures and knight armors.Everything inside denotes a good taste and a precise attention to details.If you're going to visit Utrecht, this Castle is a must see.There is a big parking close to the castle and you can pay for it when you're buying the visiting tickets.I recommended.

Very nice place for a walk, the castle is magnificent and the garden is very peaceful.I don't see why there are such strict limits for inside visits. When we visited we had to wait several hours to be admitted in a slot with available places, at the same time it was not that crowded outside.Depending where you travel from - the public transport to the castle might be a bit of a challenge.

Absolutely stunning architecture! The guides in the castle were also really helpful, with their explanations of the features in the castle.The surrounding park was great to walk with, though it seemed like it wasn’t maintained too well. Deer park was a pleasant surprise too!

Beautiful castle with countless history to see. Recommend you to buy ticket and see the castle. The bus transit may not be the easiest but indeed a good one day outing!

A beautiful place with a huge garden to visit. The castle is also worth seeing. Its construction and conversation are remarkable. There are explanations in several languages about the different rooms. It's less busy in the morning, so you can appreciate the castle better. I highly recommend it.

Stunning grounds and structure! Biked to the location from Utrecht and wow. Such a lovely region and site. The castle itself looks impeccably maintained (didn’t have tickets to enter as it was at the end of the day) and the gardens are pristine. Must see if you are in the area.

Absolutely loved it here even though it took me 3 hours to reach it. I only had time to do the castle tour and it was much too rainy and wet for me to explore outside but I’ll have to come back during the warmer weather to do that one day when things are in full bloom. I like that there were free lockers so you didn’t have to lug your bags/coats/umbrellas around too. It’s a self guided tour so you can do it at your own pace and there are big boards in each room that tells you about each room in several different languages along with most rooms having attendants to tell you more information should you so choose. Some of the staircases are quite narrow so you have to be very careful going up and down some of those but I enjoyed learning about the castle and the people who lived there and how they lived. I spent a good 1.5 hours there and only explored the castle. I’m sure you could easily spend 2.5 hours if you took in the grounds/gardens as well.

Location : need by car . 30mind away from AmsterdamDate : weekdaySuper nice place to visit and walking around . You can take kids they to learn the culture and the thing behind story . Super interesting .After visit the castle you can walk in the park . Have a maze park it's fun .Also have deer park ,the kids will love it ,you can feed them and take photo. They are so beautiful.They also have picnic place if good weather you can go picnic .Ps: better buy ticket on line and choose the visiting time .

Castle De Haar is one of a very known castle in Utrecht. It has a beautiful estate around. You can get to capture some beautiful weddings in the park if your lucky. It’s recommended to book your tickets online.

One of the most beautiful castles i have ever seen. This is a must see when in the Netherlands. You must book in advance cause there are limited no of peoples inside the castles. In the park you can walk and admire the castle from outside.

Amazing castle. It's maintained to very high standards. Well worth the visit, including the paid access to the castle. They let you in for specific time slots so that it's not too crowded. Staff is very helpful. Very well done.

We visited a lot of beautiful places in Europe, but this one was an unexpected gem. It's a bit of a trek to get there, we went from Utrect on a say trip from Amsterdam. Requires navigating a few infrequent mini-buses, and around a 15-20 minute walk but it's well worth it (The walk itself is through a beautiful, quiet part of the country too).The grounds and garden are absolutely beautiful, and the inside is filled with ornate tapestries and antiques from all different ages. Although the castle itself is more modern than many, the architecture is stunning and the surrounding moat/lake is serene. The staff inside are helpful and knowledgeable without being intrusive. It's a nice balance of getting to know about the occupants and items history but being able to explore at your own pace.I'm not sure if we were just lucky it was an odd time and the weather had just stopped raining, or if it's just too out of the way of many tourists, but we found it a literal breath of fresh air after the crowded, cramped streets of Amsterdam. We were often the only people in sight on the grounds and got plenty of time to view and photograph the inside of the castle.I think this is a true hidden gem and a great antidote to the bustling city as a trip out!

When one thinks of the word "castle", this is exactly what pops up in your mind. A superb construction which brings homage to the architectural geniouses of the past. If you plan on visiting it be sure to book your tickets in advance.

It's a really wonderful castle in really good condition. Almost every room has Dutch, German, English, and French information about the room. The volunteers are very friendly. Expect to spend about 2 hours in there if you want to see everything in detail.The park is also nice, not many flowers in mid-April. If you want, there is also puzzle solving for the park and the castle.

This is one of my very favorite castles in all of Europe! The castle and moat itself is stunning, but then you add in the gardens and park grounds. It's just spectacular! What a wonderful way to spend a day, even though we had to dodge the rain during our visit!!

It is said the biggest castle in the Netherlands and I believe so.The castle is big and the parks around it are large with small cathedral, ponds, flower bed, deer ground and many photo spots signs.Better you book in advance for entering the castle as they are only limited time slots for guided tour. And I couldn't get in when buying tickets on the entrance ticket machine.But we truly enjoyed our time exploring this huge complex and took hundreds photos☺️.Needs more than 2 hours to fully exploit the castle complex.

A small group of us stopped by on the way back from Amsterdam. The place is beautiful, and the employees throughout the castle were very knowledgeable. We ate at the little restaurant which just recently opened. The food was pretty good, and our server was very polite.

Kasteel de Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands. It's fairy-tale-like and in excellent condition both inside and out.I liked the opportunity to see not only the grand halls but also the kitchen, bathrooms, and toilets. The castle is surrounded by an extensive park. The French part is magnificent, it's just that you wish the flowers were already planted in their designated spots. The most interesting part of the English section is the deer.

We visited on a Friday outside school vacation, there was no wait and the place was not crowded at all, it was perfect to enjoy the park and a quiet visit of the castle. It is an interesting visit, the volunteers (guides) clearly enjoy sharing their knowledge and passion, we had a great time.It is a bit pricey for what you get though, and you do not get to see much of the castle (still under renovation), and none of the outbuidlings. I would also recommend going a bit later in the season to be able to enjoy the gardens and park more.

This castle tour was amazing! It's full of history and definitely worth the price. You can also enjoy a stroll around the castle, and they have a lovely Christmas market there during the holidays. It's one of Utrecht's best architectural gems.

Large and well maintained castle, although it is far more modern than appearances suggest. 12km relaxed ride from the city centre, and worth spending the better part of the day in! The cafe is quite limited so I recommend grabbing a bite at the restaurant instead (you have to exit the ticketed area for the restaurant, but the staff will be happy to let you back in) Tickets essential as people were being turned away as the castle tickets were sold out by the time we entered. The grounds are quite cheap to enter and won't sell out, but I recommend the castle. There is no mobile network inside the castle so the app isn't very useful, but there are multilingual guide sheets in each room and plenty of staff willing to answer questions. Highly recommended!

I heard that this is the biggest castle in the Netherlands. It was a hot place for the French celebs in the early 20th century. Unlike other castles, you would see the relatively modern collections here. But it is still nice and I highly recommend you to visit here.

Magnificent Castle De Haar. It is called the most beautiful castle in the Netherlands for a reason. Such a huge beautiful territory with beautiful gardens and historical castle. You can spend the whole day in this spot. Free entry with museum card. Definitely recommended to visit especially when in Utrecht area. Sometimes they have events happening like festivals. Very beautiful inside. Friendly guides and good souvenir shop with variety of products.

Nice place to visit. It's easy to reach from the city centre (buses 28 and 111), and the self-tour inside the castle is well sinalised and oriented by friendly employees. The castle was built in the 1300s, but was actively inherited and used all these centuries, so there are a lot of history and details inside. Very well kept. The gardens/park are very beautiful and I believe that in summer it's even nicer, as picnic is allowed. Good to go with all the family.

Extremely well maintained, and the park is great for a walk. The trip there via cycling is also very scenic. Did not go in the museum, but the outside was aesthetic.

Its just amazing. In between the forests , you need an entire day if you are planning to come. The castle is well maintained and there are many guided tours available to know about the history. Once done there is a cafe to enjoy hot coffee. Parkings are near by to the castle.

Absolutely beautiful. Get there early. Take train from Amsterdam to Utrecht Central. Reserve Uber for pickup at both locations, return trip. 2 hrs should be enough. Then stroll in Utrecht. Enjoy!

If you're in Utrecht, sure. Going from Amsterdam just for the castle, think about it as it's not a direct way. We enjoyed the gardens and the café outside more than the castle itself. I wont call it one of the best but it's alright for a one time visit. They could do better with the souvenir shop as well.

Wow. This was magical. i have never seen a moated castle before and this place was stunning. beautifully preserved and you can walk around the inside and see all the old furniture and stuff. 10/10 would recommend to everyone. they have a good restaurant with good food and snacks