Nijmegen is a fusion of the past and present and its highly eclectic character is enough to please even the most discerning tourist. The oldest city in Netherlands, Nijmegen can charm travelers with its lush parks, scenic villages, museums, cultural centers and old shopping streets. The Nijmegen 7 day itinerary gives visitors a well-planned travel schedule for a fun-filled vacation.

Day 1: Blast from the Past

Get a dose of what Nijmegen used to be. Begin your trip by heading to museums all over Nijmegen starting with the Valkhof Museum. Valkhof Museum was designed by an architect named Ben van Berkel. This museum houses a huge collection of art and artifacts dating back to the Roman era. On the other hand, the National Liberation Museum showcases documents and artifacts from the town’s history.

Day 2: Drink and be Merry

Visit Commanderie Van St. Jan’s brewery and distillery, which attracts hordes for visitors for their variety of beer, coffee liqueur, beer mustard and beer vinegar. The guided day tours take you through the entire brewery and even include liquor tasting sessions. There is an in-house bar and café that serves fresh and delicious concoctions.

Day 3: A Little Bit of Drama and Music. 

If you want to see international films, theatrical plays, musicals or even debates, you can visit the Lux. The center has different shows daily that visitors can pick from. For opera, concerts and plays, you can go to the De Vereeniging concert hall. A taste of Dutch art and music will greet visitors here. In the night, head to the hottest club in town. The Matrixx features the best DJs in the city for visitors to dance the night away. This club has sleek interiors, startling lighting effects and amazing music that are all guaranteed to grab an onlooker’s attention.

Day 4: Biblical Journey

Take the Grosbeeksweg that runs along the southeastern route from Keizer and continue along the woods to reach the interesting Biblical Open Air Museum at Profetenlann 2.  The stunning attraction, run by the Holy Land Foundation, showcases reproductions of the Holy Places mentioned in the New Testament. A guided tour takes visitors through nomad encampments, Palestinian villages and several Persian, Jewish and Roman houses belonging to different areas. There is a large exhibition room exhibiting 2,000 years of history.

Day 5: Shopping, Shopping and More shopping

Take the day off for a well-deserved shopping spree at the famous Marikenstraat Street. The shopping haven has a wide array of swanky boutiques housing both local and international brands and inexpensive street-side fashion wear is also available for patrons who swear by trendy flea market merchandise.

Day 6: A Breathtaking View

Constructed in 1254, Saint Steven’s Church and Tower has always been a popular tourist hot spot. Climb up the tower and you will see a breathtaking view of the entire metropolis.  Next take a stroll down Waalkade and relax with a splendid view of the river. Watch the sunset from any of the many restaurants and cafés along the boulevard. 

Day 7: Historical Exploration

Make a trip to the Belvedere, a 17th century watch-tower, located near the north end side of Hunnerpark. Cross the colossal bridge--Waalbrug-from Hunnerpark and move toward the Lent Suburb for a stunning view of the city or take the expressway to head to Arnhem.

Nijmegen is a great combination of a heritage city and one that throbs with an equally exciting nightlife and line-up of cultural activities.

Contributor : Sameera Kumar