IS GRONINGEN WORTH VISITING? THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS.
In the summer of 2024, we walked the length of the Netherlands – starting in Groningen. A Dutch city that I know well having studied there many years ago. And ending our journey in Maastricht, to the south of the country.
In this blog post, you’ll find a short guide to visiting Groningen. This is based on my recent trip to the city, as well as previous experience of living there.
Is Groningen worth visiting?
Groningen located in the north east of the The Netherlands is perhaps not initially thought of as a destination when visiting this country but we think this Dutch city is worth a visit for several reasons. In this article I am going to explain why I think my university town of Groningen is well worth visiting.
Do they speak English in Groningen?
Yes very well, you will have no issues communicating with locals in English. However if you also know a few Dutch words this will also go a long way, they’ll love you for it!
What is Groningen famous for?
Groningen city is best known for being a thriving university town with tonnes of bars and restaurants thronging with students all nights of the week. It is also known at the happiest city in The Netherlands and the third happiest city in Europe. Having studied in the city for university I can attest I was very happy here. The city also has a fantastic cycle network making it easy to get across in under 30 minutes. In addition the cost of living in Groningen is known as being very reasonable compared to other parts of The Netherlands attracting more arty and bohemian types.
What are the best things to do in Groningen?
1/ Grote Markt (main town square)
The Grote Markt is the main town square and really quite a large pedestrianized space. Do we think it is the most picturesque town square in Holland? Almost certainly not, however the square comes alive at night with a fantastic party atmosphere. Perhaps one of the most notable drinking establishments can be found here De Drie Gezusters. This drinking hole is a city institution and is welcoming summer and winter. While in the Grote Markt you may want to consider climbing the Martini Tower that will give you epic views of the city.
2/Explore the Groningen canals – (with unlimited drinks)
Groningen like most Dutch cities has some epic canals and waterways. As we mentioned Groningen is a party town, and this tour is one not to miss if you are in town. 1.5 hours cruising up and down Groningen’s canals, drink with new and old friends. Check availability here as tickets do sell out.
3/ Ride around the streets by bicycle
One of Groningen’s claims to fame is that is has the most number of bicycles per head of population in the whole of The Netherlands. The bicycles actually outnumber the people in the city. This becomes immediately clear when you step out of the station into a sea of bicycles. If you are interested in exploring the city this way then we can definitely recommend a bike tour. This tour gets you on to a bike quickly and shown around the cities main sites.
4/ Head to the Seal Sanctuary at Pieterburen
Visit the seal sanctuary and find out about the conservation work going on here. Pieterburen is located 30 minutes by train north of Groningen. Pieterburen is also the start of the Pieterpad one of The Netherlands most famous through hikes so if you see lots of hikers here that is what they are doing.
5/ Groningen Musuem
The highly thought of Groningen museum is well worth a visit that shows the highlights of Groningens history art and culture. The architecture of the museum itself is worth a look with is jaunty angles and bright colours. More info on opening hours can be found on the museums website here.
Is Groningen cheaper than Amsterdam?
Amsterdam living costs are a staggering 39% more than Groningen. However this figure is mainly skewed by expensive housing costs in the capital. A 500ml of beer for example is around 6 euros in Amsterdam while in Groningen it costs 20% less at 5 euros.
Is Groningen still expensive?
Groningen is a relatively cheap part of The Netherlands, however it is still an expensive place to travel in compared with other parts of western Europe. We found that city budget hotels were a minimum 100 euros a night and meal out for two wouldn’t cost less than 50 euros. One aspect that we found to be cheap was public transport, buses and trains even going longer distances didn’t cost the earth.
Where should I stay in Groningen when visiting?
When we visited Groningen I was actually surprised how expensive the hotels were compared to other parts of Europe. Here is a guide to the best hotels we found in each range.
BUDGET | City Hotel Groningen | Off season this hotel can found for 80 euros a night and around 100 euros off season. A comfortable nights sleep without the thrills.
MID RANGE | Hotel de Doelen | A Groningen institution with amazing staff, atmosphere and charm. This hotel will give you the authentic Groningen experience. Prices per night are around 120 euros.
LUX | Hotel Miss Blanche | A superb modern boutique hotel right in the heart of Groningen centre. The rooms have a working space and generous beds for guests. Prices around 150 euros per night.
Does Groningen have an airport?
No Groningen does not have a dedicated airport. The quickest way to get to Groningen is to catch a plane to Amsterdam or Eindhoven airport, and then a train onwards. We took a train direct from Amsterdam airport which took just over two hours to cover the 187km between them.
Are there any famous hiking routes through The Netherlands?
One of the most famous hikes passed through Groningen. The Pieterpad starts 100km north of Groningen passing through the city finishing up in the city of Maastricht. We walked this hike over the summer and wrote a review on it here.
Written by John
Blogger. Hiker. Explorer. Chess Fan.
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One response to “Is Groningen worth visiting? Things to do for 1 to 2 days”
[…] route is book-ended by two wonderful examples of Dutch cities – Groningen and Maastricht. John and I studied in these university cities, many moons ago, and it was an […]