Maastricht is famous for its lovely shopping streets, cultural history and charming atmosphere. The Dutch also love it because it's surrounded by hills that are reminiscent of southern France!
Maastricht is situated in a region that was once home to Germanic tribes. Because of its southerly location and its proximity to Germany and Belgium, this part of the Netherlands changed hands several times over the centuries. Signs of its interesting history are still visible today.
Although the hills around Maastricht are alluring, there's more than enough to do inside the city walls. For example, cross the 14th-century Sint Servaasbrug over the river Maas into the city and visit the Sint-Servaasbasiliek where you can admire the treasury and the crypt for a fee. The church is on the famous Vrijthof, where you will also find a lot of listed buildings. In terms of culture, the Bonnefantenmuseum with exhibitions on modern and old art is well worth visiting. To the south of Maastricht lies the town of Sint-Pietersberg where you can enjoy a great view of the city and visit limestone quarries.
Maastricht has a compact city centre making it easy to explore on foot. If you would like to travel outside the city you can catch a bus at the train station or your hotel. If you’re travelling by car, park outside the old city centre in one of the parking garages or on the street for a fee. You can hire a bicycle for day trips around the city, for example, to the caves.
There are no direct flights from England to Maastricht. Depending on where you’re travelling from, you can fly to Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, Eindhoven or Rotterdam and catch a train. If you’re already in the Netherlands, intercity trains run frequently from most of the big cities. The centre of Maastricht is a short walk from the train station. If you're travelling by car, you can easily take a day trip to Germany or Belgium.
Enjoy the hills, the caves, the shopping and the cultural heritage of Maastricht.
