Attractions

Unique to Utrecht is its tree-shaded wharf, 5m (16 ft.) below street level, along Oudegracht, a canal that winds through the Old Town. Restaurants, stores, and sidewalk cafes have replaced the hustle and bustle of the wharfside commercial activity of former times, when Utrecht was a major port along an arm of the Rhine -- the adjacent sunken Nieuwegracht canal follows a former course of the river -- and these quays were used for offloading into the vaulted storage cellars. Much of the Old Town has been transformed into a pedestrians-only zone, with many secondhand bookstores and antiques dealers.

Boat Tours

One-hour cruises on Utrecht's canals are available year-round from Rederij Lovers (tel. 030/231-6468; www.water-taxi.nl), with boats departing from Nieuwekade at Oudenoord, and Rederij Schuttevaer (tel. 030/272-0111; www.schuttevaer.com), with boats departing from Oudegracht at the corner of Lange Viestraat. Tours are daily every hour on the hour from 11am to 5pm, and are 7€ ($11) for adults, 5.50€ ($8.80) for seniors and children ages 4 to 12, and free for children 3 and under. From mid-May to September, there are cruises on the Vecht River to the pretty village of Loenen aan de Vecht, with a stop to visit the Terra Nova estate. Another cruise goes along the Kromme Rijn to the Rhijnauwen estate.