Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Brits. Filled with beautiful canals, art museums and a very libel view on drugs, millions of UK holidaymakers flock to the Netherlands’ capital each year.
But most travellers have never even heard of its cheaper little cousin in the south. Looking at photos of Utrecht, with its abundance of sit-up-and-beg bicycles, footbridges over cute little canals, and colourful café-lined cobbled streets, you could easily mistake the historic city for Amsterdam, reports MyLondon.
And it also boasts very appealing prices. You can rent a flat in the city for around £100 per night on AirBnB, while the average cost of a beer is around £4, according to Numbeo.
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It’s also convenient to get to from almost anywhere as it's located just half an hour by train from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. There are daily flights from Bristol Airport, with the lowest fare costing £23.
And for travellers who want to cut down on their flying due to the climate emergency, you can also reach the picturesque city by train. The Eurostar will take you from London St Pancras International to Utrecht Centraal via Rotterdam Centraal, with ticket prices starting at an appealing £64.25. The total journey time for the fastest trains is just 4 hrs 41 mins.
The city's canals won four and half stars review on TripAdvisor. One person wrote: "Not many tourists roam the canals of Utrecht in October, making it a great time to visit this relaxed and special city."
Another said: "There are tons of cute stores, restaurants, cafes in Utrecht. It's a very walkable city where it really seems like everyone is happy. Lots of people biking around, families out and about. People were quite friendly and helpful when I had questions in stores and everyone spoke English."
A third said: "If you enjoy old city quarters with historical buildings, then Utrecht is the place to go. It has a special atmosphere, somewhat like Amsterdam, but with the cosiness of being a much smaller city. Worth spending a couple of days and visiting the major sites."
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