A budget-friendly city trip
I'm going to Leeuwarden and I'm bringing.... a small wallet! Don't have a big budget but want to get away for a weekend? No worries. We have listed the best sights, shops and restaurants for you, without costing you anything! How about reading further?
12:00 pm
From the station, it only takes a few minutes to walk to Wilhelminaplein, where you will stumble upon the Frjday market. This is the place to get a tasty, nutritious and local lunch! As you stroll past the numerous stalls selling nuts, fish, vegetables, dairy, textiles and more, you'll pass de Reizende Kookvrouw (the Travelling Cooking Woman). Here you can enjoy a tasty cup of soup, a panini or a vegetarian burger for just a few euros!
1:30 pm
Now that the stomachs have been filled, it's time to explore the city. This can be done in different (fun) ways and in various price ranges.
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A Guide to Leeuwarden
A Guide to Leeuwarden
Take a Tour!The A Guide to Leeuwarden guides know all the anecdotes about Leeuwarden. Ever heard of the Leeuwarden Bieroproer? And do you know where exotic dancer and double agent Mata Hari went to primary school? A Guide to Leeuwarden works with a 'pay what you wish' system, where after the city tour you can pay what you thought the tour was worth!
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Miniature People Leeuwarden
Miniature People Leeuwarden
Swing by our Visitor CenterBe shown around by the smallest people in town! At the Leeuwarder Visitor Center, you can buy the Miniature People map with the route for as little as €2. Miniscule scenes are hidden in almost 70 places in the city. On your own, walk through old narrow passages, over mounds and past beautiful monumental canal houses.
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Stadswandeling "Het mooiste van Leeuwarden"
Stadswandeling "Het mooiste van Leeuwarden"
Tickets + infoCurious about Leeuwarden's most beautiful spots? Then book the city walk of the same name at Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden for €5 per person. In an hour and a half, an experienced city guide will take you along the highlights of Leeuwarden. After this walk, you will know the city like the back of your hand!
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Stichting Praamvaren
Stichting Praamvaren
Tickets + infoPrefer being lazy? Then hop on a boat and explore the historic centre from the old canals. At Stichting Praamvaren, you can sail for an hour for only €5 per person.
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City Train Leeuwarden
City Train Leeuwarden
Tickets + departure timesSo you don’t really have sea legs? Then you can easily board the City Train. The train costs €7.50 per person (if you buy the tickets at the Visitor Center!) and takes you past all the sights of Leeuwarden. An audio tour informs you about all the ins and outs of this historic city, also available in English!
16:00u
It's high time to grab a drink! You'll walk past the Stadhouderlijk Hof - one of Leeuwarden's city palaces - and reach the Eewal via the Gouveneursplein. There youll find Café de Strohoed: a cosy pub where many a Leeuwarder spends his evenings. Besides coffee, tea and a world of soft drinks, you'll also find a glass of Grolsch beer here for just €2! Where else in Leeuwarden can we find that? Well, here you can.
6:00 pm
For dinner, we have two options for you. At Gastrobar Dax you'll find a rotating daily snack, meat, fish or vegetable options for €10. Or something more elaborate to eat? Then sit down at Unia12, where you can enjoy a 3-course menu starting at €20 and a 4-course menu starting at €24. Both restaurants work with local and seasonal ingredients and are world-famous in Leeuwarden.
Experience the greatest nights - In Leeuwarden
8:30 pm
The Neushoorn Café, part of Poppodium Neushoorn, has something fun to do every weekend. Where the big venues can easily cost you a couple of tenners for live acts, you can enjoy an evening of live music in the café for €5! Is dancing not your thing? No problem. Take part in drag bingo, a pub quiz or play disco shuffleboard: the Neushoorn Café has it all.
10:00 pm
Tired but satisfied, you can hit the hay at Alibi Hostel, a hotel located in Leeuwarden's old prison. At Alibi Hostel, you can get a single room for just €51 and a double room for just €66 per night. So if you're out and about together, you only pay a little over €30 a night!
10:00 am
Fully rested, you start your day in Blokhuispoort, Leeuwarden's old prison. After all, it's not just Alibi Hostel that is located here! In the old solitary cells, you will find small shops run by independent entrepreneurs. For a few euros you can buy an original gift, a nice postcard or a handmade souvenir.
Then it's time for breakfast! At the HEMA on Nieuwestad, you can have breakfast starting at €3 per person. Enjoy a freshly baked croissant and a delicious cup of coffee. Now you're ready to hit the road again!
11:00 am
Now that you've got to know the city a bit, you can venture out on your own. Leeuwarden is full of fun shops, pretty streets and secret courtyards.
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Second-hand Gems
Second-hand Gems
Visit RegverdigShopping first? At Regverdig, you'll find the cutest pre-loved items at tiny prices. Brands such as Nike, Zara, and Mango can be found here, but also real vintage from the 70s and 80s hang in the racks! Curious about the other second-hand shops? Then check out this blog on vintage shopping!
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Beklim de Oldehove
Beklim de Oldehove
the only way is up!You've probably already walked past it: Leeuwarden's leaning tower. At 39 metres, the Oldehove may not be the tallest tower, but you have a great view of the city once you reach the top. The Oldehove is open from April to October from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For only €3.50 per person (children, students and groups get a discount!), you can climb to the top, learn all about the history of this tower and maybe even ring the bell yourself.
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De Doarpstún
De Doarpstún
Visit the DoarpstúnIn about 20-30 minutes, you can walk from the city centre to the picturesque village of Snakkerburen. Walk past the little old houses, gardens and photogenic streets along the Dokkumer Ee canal. Imagine yourself in the Frisian countryside, and that feeling is completed with a visit to the Doarpstûn: the village garden. The village garden is a bit hidden, but when you see the old-fashioned wooden cart standing by the road, you know you’re there. In the small shop located in the garden, you will find seasonal vegetables and fruit as well as homemade jams and other local produce.
1:00 pm
On Kleine Kerkstraat - alongside all the picturesque shops selling local produce - you'll find Zuivelhoeve, where you can buy a tasty sandwich for €5. Don’t feel like having a sandwich? Then they also have delicious full-fat farm yoghurt to-go.
2:00 pm
Weather permitting, take a stroll through one of Leeuwarden's beautiful city parks. At the edge of the old city canal, you'll find the Prinsentuin. Besides being a great place to picnic and paddle, there are free open-air concerts you can attend on several Sundays! Check the Prinsentuin Concerts page for current dates. Thirsty? Then fill your water bottle at one of the free water taps around town.
4:00 pm
After two fine days, it's time to make your way back towards the station, but you won't do that without having walked past the LOVE fountain. Designed by top Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the two seven-metre-high white heads are the Leeuwarder edition of the 11fountains. Around them is a 2-metre-high fog cloud, referring to the morning mist that hangs over the Frisian meadows early in the morning.
Would you like to know more about Leeuwarden?
Looking for a place where you will be personally informed about the top spots, hidden gems and best activities in Leeuwarden? Then visit the Leeuwarden Visitor Center. You will find us at the foot of the Oldehove, Heer Ivostraatje 1. A central location and just a stone's throw away from all the beauty that Leeuwarden has to offer.
