2-Day Utrecht Itinerary (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kasteellaan 1, 3455 RR Utrecht, Netherlands•https://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/•+31 30 677 8515•Tips and more reviews for Castle De Haar

Can be busy at times, but for going once in a while it's quite nice. Lots of modern shops and playgrounds to choose from.

Where I come from we have several Mall's or shopping centers, when I come here I have the freedom to choose to step in any store and I love it! Parking free cost for the first 2 hrs, good enough for a quick shop. Clean and shiny, like it should be 👌

Some interesting shops but it is not a mall. It is a row of stores with parking on top. In worse weather you are effectively outside. Definitely will try not to return.

Horrible mall. Gigantic parking lot with narrow parking spots. No signs of any kind to show where the pedestrians should go so you can end up walking across the entire kilometer long parking area, only one lift, one wc downstairs. 2 food places but one of them is closed and the other one is a small cafe. Escalators not working. No public transport and the car entry intersection has no traffic lights. Possibly the worst combination of features

Shopping mall with its own roof parking where you can park free for two hours after which it’s like an euro per hour.There are different stores here from furniture to toys to sport goods. There are some free toilets available.There is one store that has coffee and lunch. Furthermore there should be two restaurants for dinner which we didn’t use.

Has great places but the parking was confusing and in fact, the entire place was confusing. The architecture made it not so walkable at all, the layout is not intuitive, it's a prime example of "just because you can doesn't mean you should" type of design

We went to the store Amac. We bought a MacBook and we we head back home. The parking place is super handy if you have to buy several things at the same building. Make sure you time yourself to 2 hours coz after that, you will have to pay.

The Wall is a big shopping centre. You can find several big stores such as Decatlon, Amac, Mediamarkt, Daka, Mantel, ToyChamp. It is next to the highway and easily accessible. There is a spacious parking and it is free for 2 hours. There are also some activities for the kids (I liked the indoor climbing). You also have some places to grab food.

It's kinda an open shopping mall, not so cozy on winter but the stores are really good and also huge. A good place to buy some stuffs, not a place to sit on a comfortable couch and chill a bit.

Couple of large chain shops like Mediamarkt, Decathlon etc. Have to walk outside from one shop to the other even difficult to change levels. Parking was good though and free for the first 2 hours.

Its a nice place. Usually i only see the place on the highway when travelling to Utrecht never visited it but it was a really big shopping mall with media market decathlon and a food court.

It looks huge from outside but has only a few shops. Barely can be considered a shopping mall!

Perfect place for family outing. Shopping,indoor activities for kids & adults and good food too.

Great familly moll. Has a hugw kids play section, where kids at any age can enjoy, and have Decathlon and Mediamarkt as places you can do shopping. There were other shops as well, but these two were great for me.

Hertogswetering 183, 3543 AS Utrecht, Netherlands•https://www.thewall.nl/•Tips and more reviews for The Wall

A wonderful place to spend a day with family. There are plenty of space of play ground, a little zoo with wild animals and birds. Lovely place.

Very Beautiful park. A small pond with water fountain. You can see lovely deers. Some birds as well. There are benches to sit and relax. There are toilets too. Overall good experience.

What a great park! I honestly couldn’t believe all the fancy chickens and roosters! No litter through the park (mostly), really easy to get to by public transit.

Such a wonderful park in Utrecht with dierenpark and chickens, ducks all around

Great place to spend time with children, family, alone or with friends. The park has a mini zoo where you can feed the animals, a large playground for children, a barbecue area, a restaurant and plenty of jogging paths and benches. The park is on the main road but fenced. Fantastic place to relax.

Great park! Big and with animals. Shen the sun comes out it is an ideal place to go picnic.

One of the largest parks in Utrecht, located 30 min walk from the center, where you can find: A playground for children; A large grassy esplanade for barbecues, especially in summer, where many people gather; An enclosure with animals where you will see from alpacas, deer or sheep to a wide variety of birds as well as beautiful trails. Ideal for taking a walk and clearing up.

Nice, clean, with a children's area for birthday parties. Only thing is the ground was very wet and there was a Christian rap band there and I don't think many people were too excited. Nothing against the park. Lovely for a picnic

Very nice for a walk.

Amazing Park with animalsFor children it s perfectVery clean

Beautiful park! There is a little lake which attracts ducks and birds. You can find chickens, roosters and ducks roaming around. There are also deers and other cute little animals in the farmhouse inside the park

Very nice park with room for picnic and a little zoo.

Tranquility, peacefulness and plenty of green grass, trees and shrubs await you at Julianapark. A beautiful lake and some interesting animals add to the atmosphere as well. Get away from the city while still being in the city.

Spent a wonderful day with my family in the park while the kids played in the playground

Amazing place to be with kids and have fun In COVID Time. Enough precautions are available. Nice facilities like small coffee shop, Public toilet and Playing with kids

Very nice chicken and goose, they are really cool and with nice fluff, also the trees are really big and there are nice benches, but the chickens are the main attraction like they are the one you really want to cuddle, don't know if they would appreciate oh yeah and I saw a bambi in the parks and a big birds with nice shinny blue and green feather, they where very long so I did not understand the purpose but it was very elegant very noice 👌

3553 HK Utrecht, Netherlands•

•+31 30 286 0000•Tips and more reviews for Julianapark

Would be nice to have at supernova space at least an auditorium-like room since I'm quite small if I don't get a front seat is almost impossible to follow the slides.Besides that the place is really nice

Went to it for Dutch Comic Con today, and absolutely enjoyed myself. Although it was very busy, of course, it was still amazing.The way it was organized was amazing, and very thought through.I'm definitely buying another ticket for November, my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you!! And the location is amazing.

Fine for fairs and cons. Walking back from the city to parking p4, p2, or p6 is ridiculous after 20h00. At least put some decent directions up if you close the normal walkway.

This place is huge, it's perfect to party. The ASOT family knows how to party!! Thank you Jaarbeurs for letting Armin van Buuren host Asot there! I'm looking forward to next year to celebrate Asot again!!!

Lego expo fun for everyone from young to old . Excellent exhibition of all the different genre's of lego from barbie to star wars . Including an actual lego waterfall. Highly recommended

Very nice exhibition center and tea well organized and very helpful staff

Great venue with a lot of possibilities. Alsothe ability to host multiple events on the same day, because of the huge amount of rooms.

Heroes Dutch Comicon summer edition was awesome as per usual.Directions inside could be a little bit better. (Where to find what) But overall a great place to visit when there is an event that peaks your interest.Restrooms and other accommodations are clean and well maintained.I highly recommended ✌🏿🦊

Very nice conference center and well organized event.

I attended the Fiets en Wandelbeurs - it was very well organized, with wide range of companies and destinations.

It was as expected very busy. We went to the diy convention. A lot of great merch but very hard to actually see everything as it was so busy.

Amazingly large venue for hosting A State of Trance 1000! Lockers were well-placed and convenient. Bathroom locations are plenty. The placements of the stages were well organized too. And the sound + light systems? Oh my gosh! Can’t wait to be back again next year 😊.

Good location for meetings. Easy to reach by public transport. Only... a few of the boys who served drinks at the venue seemed to be unhappy to be there. The rest is fine.

It was a great experience in the motorcycle expo. It wasn’t organized properly though. Checkin and out of the expo was smooth. Limited options of food and mostly junk except the delicious pizza and Dutch deserts.

YMMV... The experience depends a lot on the event that you visited. General facilities (like toilets) aren't bad; generally the venue is maintained pretty well...I went to several events here over the years:- Biology exams from the Utrecht University- Law exams from the Utrecht University- Art / antique exposition and sales- Techno raves- Vaccinations (DifTet etc) for my kids- Vaccinations for Covid- Work related expo's- Hobby related expo's- Book "dump" sales- etcThere are parking facilities adjacent to the venue but I have no idea if they suffice for large crowds or how expensive they are.Very easy to reach by train and a short walk (something like 700 meters).

Insanely huge, well organised, enough amenities.Event visited: ASOT 1000

Jaarbeursplein 6, 3521 AL Utrecht, Netherlands•https://www.jaarbeurs.nl/•+31 30 295 5911•Tips and more reviews for Jaarbeurs