Maastricht Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Maastricht featuring night scenes, a bridge and a river or creek
Helpoort showing a park as well as a couple
Maastricht which includes a bridge and a river or creek
Maastricht showing modern architecture, a bridge and night scenes
Maastricht

Filled with ancient fortifications, historic merchant houses, acclaimed restaurants, shops and student bars, this Dutch river city cherishes the past and celebrates the present. 

Maastricht is the capital of the southern province of Limburg in the Netherlands. The ancient city gained fame as the place where the treaty for the European Union was signed. André Rieu, the world-famous violinist and conductor, studied and held some of his biggest concerts here. Walk the city’s cobblestone streets past old merchant houses, go shopping in the Stokstraat or, if it rains, explore churches, museums, ancient tunnels and caves.

This is a city where “anything goes” coffee shops and an annual carnival get the same attention as the upscale restaurants and religious processions. Join the soft-spoken locals, many of them fun-loving students, in the bars. They say this is “gezellig,” a typical Dutch word for a cosy get-together.

The Maastricht region, which by Dutch standards is considered hilly, had already been inhabited by hunter-gatherer tribes before the Romans settled in the first century B.C. Maastricht’s medieval defence structures, Spanish-style cathedrals and French-inspired love for fine cuisine show the various influences this city has had.

The city is best explored on foot, by bus or bike. Start out in the city centre, just west of the river. Vrijthof is the main square, home to the great Basilica of St. Servatius with its treasury, courtyard and garden. Head southeast to the 13th-century Helpoort, the oldest gate, which is still standing, in the Netherlands. 

Follow the Grote Straat (Big Street) to its end to find the VVV Maastricht, the tourist centre. Join a tour to explore the Fortifications Trail, a labyrinth of over 20,000 subterranean tunnels at the St. Pietersberg Caves, dug under a fort in the city's south. 

Maastricht is strategically located on the Maas River and is 2.5 hours by car from Amsterdam. You can also take the train and even fly there. Once you’ve seen the city, drive or ride out to see the castles or hike in the hills surrounding the city. Just to the southeast you can stand on the exact point where the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium meet.

Where to stay in Maastricht

Basilica of Our Lady featuring a church or cathedral, heritage elements and a garden

Maastricht-Centre Urban District

3.5/5(2 area reviews)

Art galleries, churches and theatres highlight some of the noteworthy features of Maastricht-Centre Urban District. Make a stop by Market or Basilica of Our Lady while you're exploring the neighbourhood.

Maastricht-Centre Urban District
Basilica of Our Lady showing a square or plaza, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

Binnenstad

4.5/5(26 area reviews)

Unique features of Binnenstad include the theatres and live music. Make a stop by Vrijthof or Museum aan het Vrijthof while you're exploring the area.

Binnenstad
Centre Ceramique showing street scenes and modern architecture

Wyck

4.5/5(18 area reviews)

Unique features of Wyck include the bars and river views. Make a stop by Bonnefanten Museum or Centre Ceramique while you're exploring the area.

Wyck
Helpoort which includes heritage architecture and street scenes

Jeker Quarter

5/5(1 area review)

Unique features of Jeker Quarter include the coffee shops and river views. Make a stop by Natural History Museum or Helpoort while you're exploring the area.

Jeker Quarter
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Randwijck

4/5(2 area reviews)

Visitors to Randwijck enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre is worth a stop.

Randwijck
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Sint Maartenspoort

While Sint Maartenspoort isn't home to many top sights, Market and Basilica of Our Lady are some notable places to visit nearby.

Sint Maartenspoort
Amrâth Grand Hotel de l'Empereur

Amrâth Grand Hotel de l'Empereur

4 out of 5
Stationsstraat 2, Maastricht
The price is Rp1.265.965 per night from 28 Aug to 29 Aug
Rp1.265.965
Rp1.632.829 total
28 Aug - 29 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Maastricht. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Stayed for 2 nights for parkrun. Selected the hotel as we came by train. Added bonus of the swimming pool which we used. Had to keep the window open so it was a bit noisy and you could smell the kebab van opposite but after midnight it was quiet."

Reviewed on 12 Jun 2025

Amrâth Grand Hotel de l'Empereur
Bastion Hotel Maastricht Centrum

Bastion Hotel Maastricht Centrum

4 out of 5
Boschstraat 27, Maastricht
The price is Rp1.123.443 per night from 4 Aug to 5 Aug
Rp1.123.443
Rp1.477.481 total
4 Aug - 5 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Maastricht. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
7.6/10 Good! (997 reviews)
"Great room. Fantastic location not far from center of the city. Helpful and friendly staff."

Reviewed on 3 Jul 2025

Bastion Hotel Maastricht Centrum
The Green Elephant Hostel & Spa

The Green Elephant Hostel & Spa

2 out of 5
11 Sint Maartenslaan, Maastricht, LI
The price is Rp586.604 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
Rp586.604
Rp897.683 total
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hostel in Maastricht. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Vrijthof and Fair Play Casino Maastricht ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (106 reviews)
"The Green Elephant was for me a community setting in which i found it pleasant to reside. A community environment brings strength of heart and joy of mind. The breakfast was outstanding and well worth the price. You would be pressed to find a more helpful staff."

Reviewed on 25 Jul 2025

The Green Elephant Hostel & Spa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Dormio Resort Maastricht

Dormio Resort Maastricht

4 out of 5
Dousbergweg 90, Maastricht
Stay at this 4-star spa aparthotel in Maastricht. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Vrijthof and Maastricht International ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (137 reviews)
"Heerlijk verblijf. Prachtig huis met alles aanwezig wat je kan wensen."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Dormio Resort Maastricht
Urban Residences Maastricht

Urban Residences Maastricht

4 out of 5
Statenstraat 4, Maastricht, Limburg
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Maastricht. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, dry cleaning or laundry services and laundry facilities. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (283 reviews)
"Amazing location. Very comfortable."

Reviewed on 17 Jul 2025

Urban Residences Maastricht
Mansion 6

Mansion 6

3.5 out of 5
Hertogsingel 6, Maastricht
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Maastricht. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Vrijthof and Het Frontenpark ...
The best accomodation in Maastricht
"This is an incredibly nice house close to the city centre and very well connected to the train station by bus. The kind of place where you would like to live at some moment during your live. It's roomy, elegant and the host is as helpful as patient. I had a problem late in the evening and it was ..."

Reviewed on 10 Sep 2017

Mansion 6
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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