Day trips from Utrecht
18 hidden towns and nature spots within 150 km of Utrecht, picked by Europe Revealed. Sorted from nearest to furthest.
25 km01 · Hidden townNaardenA star-shaped fortress town ringed by double moats.
Trains run to Naarden-Bussum, then a short bus or walk.
30 km02 · Hidden townGoudaA Gothic town hall on a big market square, famous for its cheese.
Trains from Rotterdam and The Hague take about 20 minutes.
40 km03 · Nature spotKinderdijkNineteen historic windmills along the canals of a polder.
Waterbuses run from Rotterdam's Erasmus Bridge in about 30 minutes. Buses run from Rotterdam and Dordrecht.
45 km04 · Hidden townDordrechtThe oldest city in Holland, with harbours and leaning merchant houses.
Trains from Rotterdam take about 15 minutes. Waterbuses also run from Rotterdam.
45 km05 · Nature spotBiesbosch National ParkA maze of creeks and willow forests, home to beavers.
Buses run from Dordrecht. Easiest by car or bike.
45 km06 · Nature spotHoge VeluweHeathland, forest and drifting sand dunes, with free white bikes to ride.
Buses run from Arnhem and Ede-Wageningen stations.
45 km07 · Hidden townEdam & VolendamA sleepy cheese town next to a colourful fishing harbour.
Buses run from Amsterdam Centraal, about 30 minutes.
45 km08 · Popular townZaanse SchansWorking windmills and green wooden houses along the river Zaan.
Trains from Amsterdam take about 20 minutes to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station, then a short walk.
50 km09 · Nature spotLoonse en Drunense DuinenA small desert of drifting sand in the middle of the Netherlands.
Easiest by car or bike from 's-Hertogenbosch or Tilburg.
50 km10 · Nature spotZuid-Kennemerland National ParkDunes, forest and beach just west of Haarlem, with a herd of European bison.
Buses run from Haarlem. It's easy by bike, about 20 minutes from Haarlem.
60 km11 · Hidden townHoornA Golden Age harbour town with a round defence tower on the water.
Trains from Amsterdam take about 35 minutes.
70 km12 · Hidden townEnkhuizenA quiet harbour town at the end of the line, with an open-air museum village.
Trains from Amsterdam take about an hour; Enkhuizen is the end of the line.
75 km13 · Hidden townDeventerA medieval Hanseatic town on the river IJssel, full of bookshops.
Trains run from Amsterdam and Zwolle.
75 km14 · Hidden townKampenA skyline of towers and city gates along the river IJssel.
Trains from Zwolle take about 10 minutes. The old town is walkable.
95 km15 · Popular townGiethoornA car-free village of thatched farmhouses linked by canals and footbridges.
Giethoorn is best reached by car. By public transport, take the train to Steenwijk and a bus from there.
110 km16 · Nature spotTexelThe largest Wadden island, with dunes, wide beaches and seals.
Trains run to Den Helder, then the ferry takes about 20 minutes.
115 km17 · Hidden town · BelgiumLierA canal town with a beguinage and an astronomical clock tower.
Trains run from Antwerp in about 15 minutes.
115 km18 · Hidden townThornThe 'white village', where every house was painted white.
Easiest by car or bike. Buses run from Roermond.Questions
Day trips from Utrecht: good to know
What are the best day trips from Utrecht?
Our favourite hidden places near Utrecht are Naarden (25 km), Gouda (30 km), Kinderdijk (40 km) and Dordrecht (45 km). All 18 are on this page, sorted by distance.
How far are these places from Utrecht?
All of them are within about 150 km of Utrecht in a straight line, close enough for a day trip by car, and many by train or bus too. Check each place for how to get there.