1. What to do
**Domplein and the Dom Tower.** Domplein is the heart of the old city. At 112 metres, the Dom Tower is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands and the landmark of Utrecht. You climb the tower only with a guide, up 465 steps; there is no lift. Next to the tower stands the Dom Church. Between tower and church lies an open square: the nave that once joined them collapsed in a storm in 1674 and was never rebuilt. Under the square lies DOMunder, an underground museum about the Roman and medieval remains of the city. Utrecht goes back to the Romans: the city began as a settlement on the Rhine, and those old layers still lie under the square.
**The Oudegracht and the Nieuwegracht.** The Oudegracht runs through the city centre and is different from the canals of other Dutch cities: along the water there is a lower level with wharves and wharf cellars. Those cellars were once storage for goods from boats; now they hold cafés, restaurants and small shops at water level. A walk along the Oudegracht, or a boat tour on the canal, is the simplest way to see the city. The Nieuwegracht, a narrower canal to the east of it, has the same layout with wharves and old houses. The Oudegracht runs from the Catharijnesingel in the south to the Weerdsluis in the north.
**Museums.** Utrecht has museums for different tastes, all in or near the centre. The Centraal Museum shows art and design and the history of Utrecht. The Rietveld Schröder House, a De Stijl-style house by architect Gerrit Rietveld, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and stands just outside the centre. Museum Speelklok shows self-playing musical instruments, from music boxes to large street organs, with demonstrations. The Railway Museum sits in the old Maliebaan station and covers the history of the train in the Netherlands. The Nijntje Museum is for young children and centres on Nijntje, the rabbit created by Utrecht illustrator Dick Bruna. Museum Catharijneconvent, in a former convent, shows religious art.
**Parks and green space.** Wilhelminapark and Griftpark are the parks in the city itself, good for a walk or a picnic. The Amelisweerd estate, just southeast of the centre, is a wooded estate where you can walk and cycle away from the crowds. In the middle of the busy city lies the Oude Hortus, a small botanical garden of the university.
**Squares and trips out.** The Neude is the central square of the city centre, with terraces and the old post office hall on it. Outside the city, near the village of Haarzuilens, stands Kasteel de Haar: the largest castle in the Netherlands, with a large park around it. From Utrecht Centraal, take the train towards Vleuten and then the bus to Haarzuilens; plan the ride with 9292, because bus lines sometimes change.