How to Spend a Weekend in Maastricht The Netherlands
What to do in Maastricht for 48 Hours?
Maastricht is a beautiful town all the way down south in the Netherlands. It is a great town to go shopping, eat some delicious food and go on little adventures. Although it is not one of the biggest towns in the Netherlands, there is still so much to do and see. If you are looking at visiting Maastricht, I recommend you spend 1 weekend, or 48 hours in the city before exploring another town.
How to get to Maastricht
There are a few ways you can get to Maastricht depending on where you are coming from. You can reach the city by: car, train, bus and airport.
By car
One of the easiest ways to reach the city is by car. It is a very accessible city from anywhere in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The only downside to coming to Maastricht by car is that there are almost no free parking spots near the city centre. However, you can get your car parked at any of the paid parkings in the city. I recommend parking at Cabergerweg (Frontenparking), as I find that they have the best rates. You can park there for 10 euros a day.
By bus
If you are looking into the cheapest ways to reach the city, you have to take a look at Flixbus. It is a European bus company which has bus routes all over Europe. Some of their buses cost as little as 6euro for a 2 or 3hour bus ride.
By train
There is quite a big train station not that far from the city centre of Maastricht. You can get trains from Amsterdam, Aachen and Belgium. They also have connecting trains from other places in the Netherlands and Germany.
Maastricht Airport
There is also an airport near Maastricht and depending on where you are flying from it might be cheaper to fly to Maastricht than it is to Amsterdam and then catch a bus or train. However this is a small airport and only provides flights to a couple destinations.
By Alexander on Dribble
Where to stay in Maastricht
There are a lot of different options for accommodation in Maastricht. Depending on what type of experience you are looking for, you might want to change your accommodation.
I always recommend staying in an Airbnb or Hotel when visiting a smaller city. There are not a lot of Hostels in Maastricht.
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If you prefer staying in a hotel, a good, basic hotel is Easyhotel, right by the water.
I recommend staying in one of the following neighbourhoods in Maastricht:
What to do in Maastricht
Maastricht, although the capital of the Limburg province, is still a relatively small city. On the weekends it can get very crowded so if you are flexible in timing you might want to look at other days of the week to visit.
Some things you can not miss when visiting Maastricht are:
T Vrijthof
https://www.bezoekmaastricht.nl
The city of Maastricht has two big squares, one of them being ‘t vrijthof. There is always a lot going on around the big square. You can find some food trucks, a lot of restaurants, and at times there is live music. Do note that drinks and food are more expensive on this square than elsewhere in the city. (Check my recommendations on where to eat below).
Bookstore Dominicanenklooster
https://www.bezoekmaastricht.nl
One of the most beautiful bookstores is the one right around the corner from ‘t vrijthof called Dominicanenklooster. It used to be an old church which was transformed into a bookstore. They sell all types of books and gadgets.
Shopping in Maastricht
The shops are open almost every day of the year, even on Sundays. There can be quite a large crowd in the afternoon. So I recommend shopping right when shops open. On weekdays and Saturday that is at 10am, and on Sunday they open at 12pm.
Walk around the Stadspark
Not a lot of people who visit Maastricht are aware of the beautiful park that is located only a few blocks from the main shopping area. It is the perfect place to escape the madness and enjoy a bit of sunshine on a nice summer day.
Sint Servaas Bridge
If you are looking to cross over from the city centre to the Wyck district, you have to cross over the Sint Servaas Bridge! It is one of the oldest bridges in the Netherlands.
Beer Tasting
Wyck District
Once you have crossed the bridge from the centre, you will enter the Wyck district. This area is famous for good coffee, nice views of the city and a relaxing atmosphere. If you are looking to escape the busy city centre, this is the area to do so. It is becoming more known by foreigners, but overall is still a lot less crowded than the main town. There are also a few nice boutiques you can shop at.
River Cruise on the Maas
Maastricht is divided by the river Maas. If you are looking for a nice way to spend your afternoon you can book on to a river cruise on the Maas. Some companies offer meals as well. It is the perfect way to enjoy sunset.
Helpoort
At night you can get lost near the Helpoort district. Tons of little restaurants and bars will make sure you have an evening well spent. It is also the area with the best food in my opinion. Especially for dinner time, there are some streets where you will feel the holiday atmosphere.
Best Places to Eat in Maastricht
One of my favourite things to do in Maastricht is eat! There are so many good restaurants hidden throughout the town. I have listed some of my favourites below.
