Dordrecht honestly feels like a movie set! The charming historic city has beautiful canals, stunning architecture, and overall a whimsical vibe. Dordrecht is less visited and less known, making it a hidden gem when touring through the Netherlands on the Ultimate Road Trip. So read on, and discover how to spend a day or two in Dordrecht.
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ARRIVE IN DORDRECHT
After exploring Gouda, make your way to Drodrecht. Arrive mid-afternoon and check into the famous hotel Villa Augustus. Once a former water tower, the hotel features decorative gardens with views overlooking the river. The art-deco hotel also has a delicious farm-to-table restaurant on site. If you really want to splurge, stay in the lantern room! The room is located on top of the hotel with 360 views of the entire city. The sunset views are spectacular!
Check-in and have high tea at the restaurant on site. Make reservations in advance.
If Villa Augustus is booked, there are plenty of other places to stay, check out even more hotels using my pre-filtered list!
WHAT TO DO IN DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS
Dordrecht is a great place to rent bikes, the city is much calmer and easy to navigate than Amsterdam. Villa Augustus also offers bike rentals, so you can ride your bike or walk to explore downtown Dordrecht. From Villa Augustus, it is about a 15-minute walk to the downtown area.
Use My Google Maps to see the pins and places to visit.
Groothoofdspoort
Start your day with a visit to the Groothoofdspoort, a monumental city gate that offers a great view of the river Merwede and the surrounding area.
Stroll or Ride Bikes Through Dordrecht
Walk through the historic city center, where you’ll find beautiful buildings, picturesque canals, and quaint streets. I labeled a few of my favorite bridge viewpoints, and the oldest courtyard in Dordrecht on My Google Maps. You can spend hours wandering around the area and soaking in the quaint atmosphere.
Canal Tour
Take a boat tour through the canals of Dordrecht, which will give you a unique perspective of the city from the water. Dordrecht has been said to be the Venice of the Netherlands, however, Giethoorn in my opinion is the true Venice.
Grote Kerk
The Grote Kerk is a stunning church that dates back to the 14th century. It is known for its impressive Gothic architecture and is a must-visit for history buffs.
Dordrechts Museum
Explore Dordrechts Museum, which has an impressive collection of Dutch art from the 16th century to the present day. The museum also offers temporary exhibitions and interactive displays.
Huis van Gijn
Visit the Huis van Gijn, a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion that belonged to banker Simon van Gijn. The museum offers a glimpse into a wealthy Dutch family’s life from that time.
Try Traditional Dutch Drink
Finish your day with a drink at one of the many bars in the city center. You can try a Dutch beer at The Time or a glass of jenever, a traditional Dutch gin at Rutte Distillery.
I hope this blog post helps you plan a trip to Dordrecht Netherlands and inspires you to add this hidden gem to your travels.
If you need any help planning or have any questions, please comment below or message me on my contact page! I would love to hear about how your trip went as well. Did you stay in the Lantern Room in Villa Augustus?
Following my Ultimate Netherlands Road Trip? Check out the next stop: Thorn!
