The Best Cycling Routes in Utrecht
Like most other cities in the Netherlands, Utrecht is fully adapted for bicycles and features hundreds of well-kept bike paths that make travelling on two-wheels an absolute breeze. Among the countless tracks within and beyond the city there are several scenic cycling routes in Utrecht that deserve special consideration. Here’s Culture Trip’s favourites.
De Haar Castle
Riding to de Haar Castle takes roughly one hour from Utrecht’s historic city centre and covers around 15 kilometres. It is possible to add other destinations to this route as several other scenic destinations lie between Utrecht and the castle such as Julianapark and Wijkpark Maarssenbroek. De Haar Castle is among the most specular estates in the Netherlands and features elaborate landscaped gardens that are open to the public throughout the year.
📍De Haar Castle, Kasteellaan 1, Utrecht +31 30 677 8515
Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug
The province of Utrecht’s only national park centres around an ancient glacial ridge that formed during the penultimate ice age. This awesome natural wonder lies around 25 kilometres from Utrecht’s centre and cycling between these two destinations takes just over an hour. The park contains hundreds of cycle paths which trail through its heathlands, dunes and forests.
Oudegracht and Stadsbuitengracht
Utrecht’s ancient Oudegracht canal flows through the city centre and passes by many incredible historical landmarks such as Stadshuisbrug and the Dom Tower. Both mouths of this picturesque waterway feed into Stadsbuitengracht which forms a moat around Utrecht’s eastern old town walls. This defensive line was mainly built in the 12th century and has since become one of the greenest parts of Utrecht due to the large number of parks that have developed on its banks.
Máximapark
This awesome urban park is roughly the size of Utrecht’s city centre and features many fascinating attractions including artwork, historic buildings and even a craft brewery. The entire park is covered in bike paths meaning that cyclists can explore its ground at their leisure.
Amelisweerd
This large country estate is located on Utrecht’s south-eastern borders and contains many green areas and well-kept cycle paths. There are two historic country houses in Amelisweerd which are known as Oud-Amelisweerd and Nieuw-Amelisweerd; as well as three separate forests, and a star-shaped fort from the late 19th century that is completely surrounded by a moat. In short, there’s plenty to discover.
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