Nijmegen is both the oldest city in the Netherlands and the largest city in the Gelderland province – about a 15 minute train ride south of Arnhem. The city was founded by the Romans over 2,000 years ago! So don’t be surprised as you walk around and find Roman ruins, military settlement sites, and fortresses around the city. Present day Nijmegen is a university city, home to both Radboud University and HAN University of Applied Sciences. With the young student population comes a vibrant food and nightlife scene. It’s an easy day trip from many major Dutch cities by train: slightly over an hour from Amsterdam, an hour and a half from Rotterdam, and 40 minutes from Utrecht. If you’re planning to visit, this is how I’d personally spend a day in Nijmegen!
Getting There/Around
It’s fairly easy to get to Nijmegen from other major Dutch cities via Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) intercity trains. They arrive at Nijmegen Centraal and from there it’s a pretty easy 5-10 minute walk to the city center. Centraal is also the main hub for bus service around the city, which is operated by RRReis. Nijmegen also has 4 other smaller stations: Lent, Dukenburg, Heyendaal, and Goffert. To pay you can buy an OV-pas online or at Primera stores, but its much easier to just tap in/out with your phone or debit card.
Stationsplein 15, 6512 AB – NS Website.
One Day Nijmegen Itinerary
Breakfast at Down Town
Nestled just behind the main square, this all-day brunch cafe feels like a mix between a rustic farmhouse and a diner. On the menu you’ll find a mix of classic brunch dishes like bacon benny and French toast, as well as a Nordic breakfast and the Croivocado – an avocado and egg croissant. One tip: take Google Map’s “popular times” graph with a grain of salt. (Tbh I’ve found this is true for most places in the Netherlands in general.) We almost avoided going one Saturday morning because it said, “as busy as it gets”. But when we arrived there were still a few empty tables both inside and out.
Kannenmarkt 16, 6511 KC – Website.
Do a Little Shopping
Nijmegen is home to the oldest shopping street in the country! You’ll find a pretty good mix of independent shops and popular large retailers. Some highlighted stores:
- PME Legend – Dutch men’s clothing brand known for their cargo shorts and everyday wear.
- Make My Day – three clothing/accessory stores with different focuses: women, men, & atelier.
- Day Warehouse – Scandinavian home decor, gifts, and clothing.
- Onze Bierwinkel – bottle shop with a huge variety of beer, cider, and meads.
- Fier Conceptstore – home decor, clothing, gifts, and lifestyle items.
Late Lunch & Wine Tasting at Olivier
All that walking in the morning calls for some wine and a borrelplank! Named after the owner’s beloved family dog, Olivier wijnbar has over 30 wines to choose from by the glass, or you could opt for one of their 50 full bottle varieties to share. Not quite hungry enough for a full snack board? They have plenty of other small bites on the menu including gyoza, oysters, and cheeses.
Hertogstraat 86, 6511 SE – Website.
Explore the Parks
Nijmegen is so well known for its nature and green spaces that the city actually won the European Green Capital award in 2018! Some highlighted spaces to go for some fresh air, and maybe a little bit of a history lesson too, include:
- Kronenburgerpark – a public urban park on the west side of the city center situated on the site of the former city fortifications. Here you’ll find the Kruittoren, a medieval gunpowder tower.
- Valkhof Park – located on the east side of the city center, it’s full of historic ruins and a chapel.
- Hunnerpark – small park located right next to Valkhof, where festivals/events are often held.
- Rivierpark Nijmegen Waal – this island park along the river Waal is where you can find the Face of Nijmegen sculpture.
- Stadswaard – a nature preserve northeast of the city with cattle, wild horses, and other wildlife.
Dinner at Lima
By this point you’re probably hungry again, which means it’s time for dinner! I’d recommend heading to Lima, a restaurant serving Latin American-inspired food in a space full of neon lights, greenery, and 1920’s accents. Don’t plan to order separate entrees, as Lima is all about shared dining – aka ordering a bunch of different plates for the table. Either grab a table or reserve the Lima Experience, a 3 or 4 course dinner (with optional drink pairing) where you’ll be sat at the bar and can watch the chefs work. The only caveat is that if you have consistency/texture issues like I do, I’d suggest avoiding the duck. Besides that everything else was great!
Mariënburg 68, 6511 PS – Website.
Cocktails and Music at PAAK Vinyl Bar
In my opinion, the perfect way to wrap up the day is with cocktails and a DJ with a massive selection of vinyl records. My fellow millennials (and up): don’t be scared off by the DJ. I can confirm the noise level here is much more manageable than at a club! Now I normally avoid drinks with egg whites, but I was intrigued by the Le Petit Dejeuner (brown butter & Nutella fat washed whiskey, orange, egg white, cacao bitters). It tasted like an orange creamsicle! Highly recommend. If you want a seat on a weekend night, make sure to get there well before 10:30pm when things really fill up.
Bloemerstraat 23, 6511 EB – Website.
Additional Itinerary Ideas
If you need some more ideas of ways to fill up your day, these are a few things I’m planning to check out the next time I visit Nijmegen!
Velorama National Bike Museum – Waalkade 107, 6511 XR.
I was surprised to learn this is the only bicycle museum in the Netherlands!
muZIEum – Ziekerstraat 6B, 6511 LH.
At this interactive museum, you’re lead on an hour long tour in the dark by a visually impaired/blind guide to experience what it’d be like to be blind or visually impaired yourself.
St. Stephen’s Church – Sint Stevenskerkhof 62, 6511 VZ.
Climb the tower of the largest and oldest church in all of Nijmegen from April through September for sweeping views of the city.
What else would you do if you had one day to spend in Nijmegen, Netherlands?
Let me know in the comments!
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