Valkenburg
A small town with a ruined castle on the hill and caves underground. Ideal for half a day.
Route by public transport ↗
Marl, the Maas and museums on the border.
5 museumsMaastricht feels different from the rest of the Netherlands. You walk on Roman ground, past medieval walls and through streets where French and German are as common as Dutch. And beneath the city lies a second world of tunnels cut into the marl.
For museum lovers, Maastricht packs a lot into a small space. The Bonnefanten pairs medieval sculpture with contemporary art, and the treasury of the Basilica of Saint Servatius shows how important this city once was to pilgrims. Every spring the international art world gathers here for TEFAF. Almost everything is within walking distance: from the Vrijthof you reach the river or the Jeker quarter in ten minutes. Start with a museum, have a slice of vlaai for lunch and let the afternoon find its own pace.
One day, four moments. How to get the most out of your visit.
Six places to complete your museum day.
Aldo Rossi's museum, with its distinctive dome on the Maas. Inside, medieval wooden sculpture, Flemish masters and contemporary art share the building.
One of the oldest churches in the country, built over the grave of Saint Servatius. The treasury holds reliquaries of gold and enamel.
A bookshop inside a thirteenth-century Gothic church. Remember to look up at the painted vaults.
A guide leads you through miles of passages that people sawed out of the marl over centuries. The walls are covered in drawings and signatures left by earlier visitors.
See the fossils found in the marl of the Sint-Pietersberg, including the famous mosasaur. A good stop with children.
Pass through the oldest city gate in the Netherlands, then follow the little river Jeker past old water mills and city walls.
Buy your tickets online and plan the rest of your day around them.
All museums in Maastricht. Click a museum for the route.
Maastricht sits in a border region full of hills, caves and old cities. These three trips are easy by public transport.
A small town with a ruined castle on the hill and caves underground. Ideal for half a day.
Route by public transport ↗A large Belgian city with museums, a lively market and Calatrava's striking station.
Route by public transport ↗The German imperial city with Charlemagne's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Route by public transport ↗Travel times are indicative. Live times on 9292.nl ↗.
Maastricht has hotels for every budget, from former monasteries to simple rooms in the old town. From the station you are quickly in Valkenburg, the rolling Heuvelland or across the border in Belgium. Head out by day and come back to the city for dinner. Three countries, one address.
Restaurants, shops and hotels near the museums, picked for museum visitors.