How to Spend One Day in Utrecht: A Day Trip from Amsterdam

After exploring cultural and culinary masterpieces of Amsterdam, I jumped on a train to finish my adventures in the Netherlands with a day in Utrecht.

Last updated: June 29, 2025

How to Spend one Day in Utrecht, day trips from Amsterdam - Roads and Destinations
One day in Utrecht itinerary

Day Trip to Utrecht from Amsterdam

Known as Amsterdam’s little sister, Utrecht is one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. Quieter than the capital city, Utrecht, however, doesn’t lack the sophisticated atmosphere of Amsterdam. Moreover, as a religious center of the country, it features exquisite medieval churches and cathedrals galore. I decided to see all these cultural and historic abundance and spend one day in Utrecht before heading further west to Ireland.

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A COMPLETE ONE DAY IN UTRECHT GUIDE AND ITINERARY

Getting to Utrecht

Located about 53 kilometers away from Amsterdam, Utrecht is a quick getaway from the bustle and bustle of the capital city. It takes approximately one hour to reach the city by car. For a hefty 100+ euros, Uber will take you to Utrecht in about the same amount of time.

My favorite mode of transportation is train. It takes less than 30 minutes to get to Utrecht from Amsterdam Centraal. Moreover, with a round-trip ticket of roughly 20-30 euros, it’s a deal you can’t miss.

THINGS TO DO IN UTRECHT IN ONE DAY

1. Stroll the Streets along the Canals of Utrecht

Utrecht is beautiful, compact, and walkable. It takes a few hours to explore the city center on foot, a place where one street meets another, offering more Dutch signature architecture and charming canals to feast your eyes on.

When wandering the streets of the city, make sure to walk along the Oudegracht. Also known as the “old canal”, it’s one of the most beautiful and busiest places in Utrecht. The canal runs through the heart of the city. Along its banks congregate a number of cozy cafes and small shops.

The Nieuwegracht is another canal you should include in your one-day Utrecht itinerary. Similar to the Oudegracht, this small canal runs through the city center before it merges with a moat that encircles Binnenstad, the Old Town of Utrecht.

How to Spend one Day in Utrecht | Roads and Destinations
Take a walk along canals | Best things to do in Utrecht in one day

2. Climb the Dom Tower of Utrecht

The Dom Tower can be either relaxing or one of the challenging experiences during your day trip to Utrecht. On one hand, the Dom Tower, the symbol of the city, impresses with its Gothic-style architecture.

On the other hand, the structure is known as the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. Climbing 465 steps of the tower is challenging and not an activity for the faint-hearted. But the reward is worth every effort. From the height of 112 meters, the Dom Tower displays a large section of Utrecht and its surroundings.

Dom Tower of Utrecht | Roads and Destinations
The Dom Tower | One day in Utrecht

3. Explore the Tombs of St. Martin’s Cathedral

Once the largest church in the Netherlands, the St. Martin’s Cathedral is one of the most popular landmarks in the city. Interestingly enough, originally the Dom Tower was part of the St. Martin’s Cathedral. But the building’s nave was never completed. Eventually it collapsed, permanently separating the Dom Tower from its mother-structure, the St. Martin’s Cathedral.

Designed in classic Gothic architectural style, the cathedral is one of the most opulent structures in the city. It’s also home to several medieval tombs, including the lavishly decorated tomb of Henry IV and the Emperor Conrad II.

How to Spend one Day in Utrecht | Roads and Destinations
St. Martin’s Cathedral

4. Visit Museum Speelklok

Museum Speelklok is regarded as the happiest museum in the Netherlands. The place displays automatically playing musical instruments. Its collection includes different kinds of music boxes, playing bells, turning organs, and even orchestrions.

How to Spend one Day in Utrecht | Roads and Destinations
Museum Speelklok | One day in Utrecht

5. Stop at Neude Square

Located in the heart of the city, the Neude Square is one of the popular places. The area’s cozy cafes, bars, and restaurants attract visitors and locals alike. Whether you stumble upon the Neude Square early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you can always count on it to replenish your energy with delectable dishes with local flavor.

The Netherlands  | Roads and Destinations
Neude Square

6. Admire the Interior of St. Willibrord’s Church

The little sister of Amsterdam takes its title of the religious center of the Netherlands seriously. Thus, spending a day in Utrecht often involves visiting some of its most beautiful churches. After the St. Martin’s Cathedral, the St. Willibrord’s Church is another religious institution that longs for your attention. But unlike the cathedral, it astonishes with colorful stained-glass windows, pleasing wood carvings, and painted walls and ceilings.

7. Tour De Ster

If you visit the city on a Saturday, make sure to dive into the history of the Netherlands at De Ster. Located a stone’s throw away from Utrecht Centraal, this 18th-century wind-driven sawmill takes you back in time. It opens you its secrets and shows its work process. The tours are free for all visitors.

De Ster | Roads and Destinations
De Ster

8. Spend a Day at De Haar Castle, Utrecht

The city is known for its many medieval castles. Sadly converted into offices and retail stores, some are castles in name only today. Yet one castle is still as opulent and majestic as it was centuries ago. The largest medieval castle in the Netherlands, De Haar Castle ranks among the top twenty most visited museums in the country. Both the structure and the adjacent 135-acre gardens take you back in time when the Van Zuylen family owned the property.

De Haar Castle | Roads and Destinations
De Haar Castle | One day in Utrecht itinerary

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