What can I say about Maastricht? That is one of my favorite cities from Europe? sure it is! And let me tell you a little but about it.
Maastricht is a city at the border of the Netherlands with Belgium. Apparently it is the oldest city from the Netherlands and in my opinion - the most beautiful. The city has a lot of influences from Belgium, Luxembourg, French and German.
1. How to arrive to Maastricht:
a. Plane
b. Train
c. Car & Bus – no info
a. Plane
Unfortunately, the flight connection Amsterdam-Maastricht is no longer valid but we have other options: there are some Ryanair flights from Italy and Spain and a Germanwings flight from Berlin to Maastricht.
Other valid airports that are close are: Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Brussels and Brussels Charleroi.
Amsterdam Schiphol airport is approximately 3 hours from Maastricht by train.
Eindhoven airport is about an hour and a half from Maastricht.
Rotterdam is located about 2.5 hours from Maastricht.
From Brussels you can arrive within 1.5 hours by taking the Maastricht Brussels Express.
b. Train
As I mentioned above, you can arrive to Maastricht from many European cities, either by direct line or by changing in different cities.
There are direct trains from Brussels to Maastricht. It takes approximately 1, 5 hour.
The city has 2 train stations: Maastricht, near the center of the city, and Maastricht Randwyck, in south part.
There are also train connections from/to Liege or Brussels, from where you can change to Paris or London.The city has 2 train stations: Maastricht, near the center of the city, and Maastricht Randwyck, in south part.
http://www.b-rail.be/main/index.html
Maastricht is also famous as being the city where the European Union came into life (Maastricht treaty). Besides this it has one of the most prestigious universities from Europe. It is not a big city, but in order to get it`s fully flavor be sure you stay at least 2 days. If you are backpacking there are nice boxes inside the train station, where you can leave you luggage for several hours. There are small boxes or big boxes and it`s worth paying the money if you stay one day and do not want your back to hurt.
The train station is nice, and outside is a big bike garage that looks really funny (update: the bikes are no longer there, they have a special place now).
My suggestion is just walk in Maastricht, do not take the busses as there are nice things to see all around you.
2. Where to stay in Maastricht
Maastricht has plenty of hotels, really beautiful ones ut quite expensive.
I can recommend Hotel Beaumont and Townhouse Design Hotel.
I can recommend Hotel Beaumont and Townhouse Design Hotel.
Both hotels have very good locations in the city, Townhouse being very close to the train station.
You can arrive to Beaumont hotel by simply walking straight ahead from the Maastricht train station for about 5-10 min, and on the right it is. You can find a funny statue with a man just in front of the hotel. From train station you walk on Stationsstraat, pass over 3 intersections and then arrive on Wycker Brugstraat and there is the hotel.
3. Where to eat
If you are in Maastricht, DO NOT MISS Gelateria Luna Rosa : best ice-cream ever!
Maastricht is famous for offering one of the best culinary experience. There are so many good coffee bars and restaurants that it is very difficult for me to choose one. Try one that you find on your taste. One of my favorite is Café Zuid, close to European Journalism Centre and near Centre Ceramique place.
Also in Maastricht you cannot miss Selexyz Dominicanen. It is a bookstore and a coffee bar, all inside of an Old Church! Fabulous!!!
Try one of the many Thai/Indian/Chinese restaurants..they are very good.
Do not forget that in Netherlands it is not common to have dinner at late hours, so if you find restaurants closed at 19:00 PM this is not a surprise. Try to eat dinner around 18:30 -19:00.
Advice: do not miss the Friday market near the City Hall (Stadhuis). Besides shopping (flowers and lots of other stuffs) you can find Fish..Plenty of Fish where to choose from..Either it is fried fish, grilled fish, with mayonnaise, with pickles or any other way..You need to try it once! It is a very Maastricht experience!
4. What to see
With what I start? In my opinion, Maastricht is the kind of the city that you need to visit by foot, being relaxed and being happy. In the summer it`s not too hot so it is a perfect time to see its beauty.
I told you about the fish market. Well this is found next to the City Hall and a nice square, full with bars and restaurants.
The entire area is known also as Vrijthof. Unfortunately, I do not think it is possible to visit the City Hall; at least I could not do this when I visited it. Here, in the City Square you can find a statue of a man with an eternal burning flame. It is Pieter Minckeleerss, a famous Dutch scientist and inventor. He invented gas lighting.
Also, in the same Square, near a McDonald’s you will find the statue of a fat lady. This is Mooswief, or the Vegetable Woman. Farmers from the vicinity would come here to sell their fresh vegetables at Market Square.
Actually, Maastricht is full with statues, so do not be surprise if you will find them everywhere.
Coming from train station towards City hall, you will pass over one bridge that connects the 2 sides of Meuse River. There are several bridges over Meuse but this is one of the central ones: it is called Sint Servaasbrug. Another bridge that is important is Wilhelminabrug.
A must do (in my opinion) in Maastricht is to take a boat cruise on the Meuse river towards the Maastricht Caves.
Once per day there is an English tour which is worth all the money. Especially nice if you have a sunny day. You can find information’s and buy tickets from the selling point found near the bridge. It should be no more than 20 Euros.
The boat will drop you in maximum 30 min to the place from where you need to climb few meters in order to start the tour into the caves. You need to cross a road and climb 5 minutes max to a café bar. From there, the tour guide will pick you and enter the caves. Please remember that no matter how hot is outside, inside the caves it is freezing, so better take a sweater or a jacket with you.
The tour guide is great and presents you the history of the places and lots of interesting stuffs and you can ask him plenty of questions. When the tour is over you can walk around the place but if you do not want to miss the boat it is better not to stay too much time there.
After the cruise you can rest to one of the restaurants near the 2 sides of the river.
Also, this day you can take a walk towards Bonnefanten Museum, a very interesting building and also stroll through Ceramique avenue area.
This is a modern part of Maastricht.
Next day plan a trip inside the city where you need to visit the following things:
The City Fortifications and again Vrijthof where you can see the following sights:
Romanesque church of Saint Servatius.
Sandstone Gothic church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist with distinctive red tower.
Main city theatre (Theater aan het Vrijthof).
Basilica of Our Lady
Stadspark - the main public park on the West bank of the river.
The Museum of Spanish Government
Al these are can be seen by walking, you do not need a car or to take the bus. It will take you a day with the necessary stop at the cafes you will meet on the road.
5. Where to shop?
There are several nice shopping places. I will mention the ones I know and I like:
a. Mosae Forum
b. Entre Deux
c. Long area with lots of shops between Bridge and City hall
Try to visit also the Jeker district which takes to Maastricht`s Latin Quarter.
What else to say about Maastricht? That it has one of the nicest Carnivals ever in Europe. Usually the Carnival is held in February-March.
Cruises and boat trips can take you also to Liege in Belgium.
If you have time you can take a trip to Chateau Neercanne which is close to Maastricht. This chateau is the only terraced castle from Netherland.
In case of owning a car, Maastricht is the ideal place to start discovering South Limburg region. There are plenty of small towns you can visit.
Once in your life, try to visit Maastricht. You will not regret it!
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