Very often choosing your accommodation in a city you are about to visit takes a lot of time and effort and cannot be overlooked, because it can be of great importance to your experience during your visit.
Here is my attempt to lend all of you a helping hand in choosing this in a city I have some experience with.
I have been travelling to Utrecht in The Netherlands for quite a few years now and I have stayed in several very nice hotels during my visits to this beautiful city in The Netherlands.
Utrecht is the fourth-largest city in The Netherlands, with population of approximately 360,000 and it is situated in the very centre of mainland Netherlands. It has the largest railway station in the country, which makes it very easily accessible from all the international airports – Amsterdam Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Eindhoven Airport.
Utrecht has a lot to offer to tourists. It is not Amsterdam but at least for me that is definitely an advantage. It is quieter, less crowded, but still has all you can expect from a city in The Netherlands. Canals, canal houses, boat tours, museums and other cultural points of interest – Utrecht has all of this and more. And there are a few things Utrecht is unique with. The most prominent landmark of the city, easily visible from any point, is the Dom Tower – the church tower of the Saint Martin’s cathedral, now known as the Dom church. It is the tallest belfry in The Netherlands with its 112 meters. Another landmark is the Old Canal (Oudegracht). What makes it unique is that it is lined with wharfs – the basements of the canal houses run below the street and have access to the water, thus making the street on two levels along the canal. There are many cosy restaurants and cafes nowadays in those basements and during the warmer months you can enjoy a meal or a drink on the tables situated on the wharfs next to the water.
Utrecht is also home to several museums, like the museum of Dutch children’s favourite book character, the little rabbit Miffy or the Railway Museum. Utrecht’s cultural life is so rich it falls second in the country only to Amsterdam. A lot of music festivals and other events – different exhibitions and conferences – take place in Utrecht every year.
I have always tried to find a hotel that is conveniently located both in the centre of the city and not very far from the largest exhibition centre in the city, Jaarbeurs. It is also essential that the hotel is located near the Central railway station, which is not so difficult also, as the station is situated mere steps form the old city centre and an easy 20-minute walk from Jaarbeurs.
Mind you, this is not a budget list of hotels as this has never been my focal point when choosing a hotel in this particular location.
I have stayed in several hotels in Utrecht and I am not going to rank them, because all of them were very nice and I have no complaints and only positive experiences from all of them. Here is a list of the hotels in Utrecht I have stayed in.
Park Plaza Utrecht is a 4-star hotel located next to the Central Station. I have stayed there in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The hotel is very comfortable. Rooms are provided with everything you might need during your stay and they are very spacy. And the staff is really the best, no exaggeration – they are very friendly and helpful. It takes approximately 20 minutes to walk to the city centre and the same time in the opposite direction to reach Jaarbeurs. Since my last stay there in 2018 the hotel has gone through a major renovation of its ground floor and reception area which I am guessing made it even more comfortable. What I myself found as best feature in this wonderful in any way hotel were the coffee machines with coffee capsules in the rooms. I like to have my coffee first thing in the morning, before breakfast, before anything else.
In 2019 I stayed in a wonderful hotel located a bit further away from the city centre and Jaarbeurs (the only such occasion during my visits in Utrecht), but there is no point in writing about it here, as it permanently closed since.
In 2020, few weeks before the world went into lockdown, I had the chance to visit Utrecht for the last time before the years of suspended music events and little to no travel. This year I stayed in a more budget accommodation – Stayokay Utrecht Centrum – a wonderful hostel in the very heart of the old city centre, 5-10 minute walk from the Central Station and approximately 30-minute walk from Jaarbeurs. The hostel offers both shared and private rooms. I stayed in a private room with its own private bathroom facilities, where also towels and shampoo/soap are provided. Every room is designed in a unique way, inspired by the city of Utrecht and its canals and Dom Tower. For families with children there is a private suite dedicated to children’s favourite rabbit Miffy. Rooms are smaller but comfortable, and immaculately clean, as is the case in every hotel I have stayed in Utrecht. The hostel offers a wonderful breakfast in a cosy café – The 5th, located on the second floor of the hostel building – a social meeting point for young people in this University City.
My latest visit so far was in March 2023. I stayed in a new hotel (during my last visit in 2020 it was not ready to welcome guests yet). Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station has a unique location. It is situated in the Hoog Catharijne Mall, which in turn is located next to the Central Station. Below the mall runs a water canal and you can see the boats through the glass floors on the ground floor. The mall is an easy 20-minute walk from Jaarbeurs. Being located in a trade centre makes the hotel very comfortable – food stores, restaurants and cafes are all within easy reach. Rooms are big and cosy, with everything provided. Breakfast is included in the price and it is varied and sumptuous.
This is my experience with hotels in Utrecht that I wanted to share with you. I hope I was helpful.
Whatever your reason, go to Utrecht. It is a wonderful city and has a lot to offer for every taste.
