Groningen

Youthful Energy, Dutch Tradition Combined

Groningen stands out as a lively city in the northeastern Netherlands known for its historic architecture and youthful energy. The city center features wide streets lined with centuries-old buildings, many of which now house cafes, shops and cultural venues. Students make up a large part of the population, giving Groningen a relaxed yet creative atmosphere. Public transport connects different neighborhoods easily, while bike paths are common throughout. Museums, markets and green spaces provide places to relax or explore local traditions without feeling crowded.

Add to list Map view

City in Netherlands

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 9.0

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	10

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken, especially by students, young people, and those in hospitality. You’ll have no trouble communicating in hotels, restaurants, and shops, though a few Dutch words are always appreciated.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Groningen Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Strong for cycling culture and youthful energy. Ride bikes along canals, explore historic squares, visit museums and enjoy lively cafés and nightlife.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Walkable

Spotless

Museums

Cycling

Architecture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

👩 8

Solo

❤️ 8

Couples

Netherlands – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The Netherlands is highly cashless, with almost all businesses accepting card payments. Contactless payments and mobile apps are widely used, and cash is not always necessary. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory in the Netherlands. In restaurants, a tip of 5-10% is standard. Taxi drivers usually expect a small tip or rounding up, and hotel staff appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in most places in the Netherlands, including parks and on the streets. However, there are some restrictions in specific areas or during festivals.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public spaces, including bars, restaurants, and public transport. Smoking areas are designated in many public places.

King's Day (April)	A national holiday with celebrations, parades, and festivals. Expect large crowds, especially in cities like Amsterdam.
Christmas (December)	Festivities are widespread, but cities can be crowded, and prices for accommodation may rise.
Sinterklaas (December)	Celebrations for the Dutch Christmas tradition, expect family-oriented events and high demand for accommodation.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Ola
Other:	The Netherlands has a well-developed infrastructure and public transport system. Be prepared for high bike usage in cities like Amsterdam, and expect occasional rain throughout the year.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Groningen, Netherlands

❄️

Jan

☁️

Feb

🌥️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

🌥️

Oct

☁️

Nov

☁️

Dec

High season:	May - Aug.
Shoulder season:	April, Sep. - Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Eurosonic Noorderslag music festival, mid January: hotels fill up and prices rise

Wadden Sea ferries and island day trips run most reliably April to September

Don't miss

🌆 Climb the Martinitoren for panoramic views of Groningen
🖼️ Explore the striking contemporary architecture of the Groninger Museum
🚶‍♀️ Stroll along the canals and vibrant market squares
🌳 Relax in Noorderplantsoen Park with a local beer
🚴‍♂️ Cycle through the city’s charming historic streets like a local
🍻 Experience Groningen’s nightlife in buzzing Poelestraat bars

You've been here?

Why travel to Groningen?

Groningen is a delight for anyone who loves a blend of history, creativity and lively atmosphere. The city’s iconic Martini Tower watches over a center packed with cozy cafés, bold modern architecture like the Forum and some of the best street art in the Netherlands. The Groninger Museum is a must for art lovers, while hidden courtyards and bustling markets keep things interesting for wanderers. At night, the student population keeps the city alive, with bars and clubs open until the early hours. It’s a very walkable and cycle-friendly city, but be ready for unpredictable weather and the occasional late-night rowdiness in nightlife districts. Most locals are friendly and speak English well, but always lock your bike and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded spots.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Groninger Museum
2 Museum aan de A
3 Forum Groningen
4 Prinsentuin
5 Hoofdstation

🎡Places for activities

1 University Museum
2 MonkeyTown

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Noorderplantsoen
2 Prinsentuin
3 Reitdiep

🛍️Shopping

1 Vismarkt
2 Grote Markt
3 Markt

🎈Events

Eurosonic Noorderslag Festival
Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival
Groningen Museum Night
King’s Day celebrations
Groningen Flower Market
Liberation Day Festival
Christmas Market
Groninger Studenten Cabaret Festival
Night of Art & Science
Groningen Beer Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent a bike; the compact center is largely car-free.
Climb the Martinitoren for views, then explore Grote Markt and nearby historic streets.
Add the Groninger Museum; it’s known for bold architecture and rotating exhibitions.
Look for hidden hofjes (almshouse courtyards); entrances are easy to miss but wonderfully quiet.

How to travel to Groningen

Groningen is easily reached by direct train from Amsterdam (about 2 hours), with connections across the Netherlands. Groningen Airport Eelde offers limited flights, but most international visitors arrive via Amsterdam Schiphol. The main train station is a short walk or ride from the city center.

Access summary

From Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ): Bus line 9 or shuttle, about 25–40 minutes.
From Amsterdam: Direct or one‑change trains, usually around 2–2.5 hours.
From Bremen (Germany): Intercity buses or regional trains, generally 3–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Groningen

Groningen offers a good mix of stylish boutique hotels, budget hostels and modern apartments, mostly clustered around the center. Book ahead for festivals and weekends. For a quieter stay, look for options near Noorderplantsoen or in the leafy suburbs.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The Social Hub Groningen

8.8

Leonardo Hotel Groningen Stadspark

Mercure Hotel Groningen Martiniplaza

8.1

Hotel Corps de Garde

9.2

Hotel Schimmelpenninck Huys

8.7

Boutique Hotel De Doelen

8.6

Van der Valk Hotel Groningen Westerbroek

8.8

Martini Hotel

7.9

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Groningen

The city center is compact and best explored on foot or by bike – rental bikes are everywhere and cycling is the locals’ favorite way to get around. Buses connect the train station and suburbs, but you’ll rarely need them for sightseeing. Most attractions are within a short ride or walk and car traffic is limited in the center.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+17 %

Daily expenses in Groningen are around 17% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£90	£147	£428
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£44	£52	£150
🍝 Food per day	£33	£81	£235
🚕 Transportation per day	£14	£14	£43

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£36
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£11
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£3.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.40
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£24
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.70

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£12.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£75
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Groningen is very safe, even at night, though it’s wise to avoid the red light district (Haddingestraat and Nieuwstad) late at night and always lock your bike. Watch for pickpockets in busy nightlife areas and on trains.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent and easily accessible, with pharmacies and clinics throughout the city. No special health risks; tap water is safe. Bring any prescription meds, as some may not be available locally.

Accessibility

Most attractions, shops and public transport are accessible, though some older buildings and cobblestone streets may be tricky for those with limited mobility. The city is flat and easy to navigate by wheelchair or mobility scooter.

Tap water

Tap water is clean, safe and widely available. Bring a refillable bottle — public fountains are rare, but restaurants and cafés will provide water on request.