The best things to do in Nijmegen are the Sunset March across De Oversteek at dusk, the Valkhof with its 11th-century chapel, the renovated Valkhof Museum, the Stevenskerk tower and a beer at De Hemel. Two days covers the centre, the Waalkade and the Freedom Museum at Groesbeek. Come in May, June or September, and book months ahead for the Vierdaagse week in July.
Nijmegen claims to be the oldest city in the Netherlands and marked 2,000 years in 2005. It sits on a hill above the Waal, near the German border and far from the Randstad. The ten entries below run from the Valkhof down to the river, across its bridges and out into the polder.
Every evening at sunset a veteran leads a silent walk over the bridge named for the 1944 Waal crossing, while 48 pairs of lamps light up at marching pace, one for each soldier who died. Anyone may join, and it costs nothing.
The hill where Charlemagne and then Barbarossa kept a palace, now a park with the Sint-Nicolaaskapel of around 1030 and the choir ruin of a 12th-century church. The belvedere at its edge has the widest view of the river.
Ben van Berkel’s 1999 building, renovated and reopened in 2026, holds the Roman finds that make the case for the city’s age, from helmets to glass, beside old masters and modern art. Give the archaeology floor most of your time.
The city’s great church was built between the 13th and 15th centuries and rebuilt after the 1944 bombing. Its tower is 183 steps, climbed with a guide, and the top shows the whole bend of the Waal.
The Renaissance weigh house of 1612, where merchants once had their goods weighed for tax, is now a café with a terrace on the main square. Order a drink and look up at the gables that survived the war.
The city brewery works in the cellars of the Commanderie van Sint-Jan, a 12th-century complex that began as a pilgrims’ hospital. It brews beer and turns some of it into vinegar and mustard. Taste upstairs, then tour the cellars.
The national bicycle museum shows more than 250 machines, from walking bikes and velocipedes to royal bicycles and Wim van Est’s Tour de France bike. In the country of bikes, this is the collection to see.
Flat river land east of the city, part of the Gelderse Poort, with dikes, flood meadows and brick villages. A loop of around 40 km reaches Millingen and comes back over the wooded hills of Berg en Dal.
The museum at Groesbeek, on the edge of the 1944 landing zones, tells the war, the occupation and Operation Market Garden from the region’s view. Pair it with the Canadian War Cemetery a short ride away.
Billed locally as the oldest shopping street in the Netherlands, it runs downhill from the centre with independent shops in houses from the 15th to 17th centuries. Finish in the Kronenburgerpark at its foot.
Emile van der Staak cooks a botanical menu, mostly plants, with two Michelin stars and a green star.
A 12th-century pilgrims’ hospital by the river, now the De Hemel brewery.
The north bank, reached on foot over the bridges, and the island in front of it.
Parades and café bands in the days before Lent. In 2027 it falls on 7 to 9 February.
The national holiday on 27 April: orange, street markets and stages in the centre.
The national celebration on 5 May, the day after the war dead are remembered.
A world and jazz festival over Pentecost weekend, held in city-centre venues.
A week of free stages on the Waalkade, the Valkhof and the squares, Saturday to Friday.
The Vierdaagse: tens of thousands walk 30 to 50 km a day, Tuesday to Friday, third week of July.
Listed buildings open their doors free for one weekend, nationwide.
A 15 km road race over the seven hills to Groesbeek. The 2026 edition runs on 15 November.
NS intercity trains run to Arnhem, ’s-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht, and on to Amsterdam in about an hour and a half. Tap in with a contactless bank card.
Schiphol is about an hour and a half by train, usually with a change. Weeze (NRN), just over the German border, is reached by bus from Centraal.
City and regional buses from Centraal, including Groesbeek, Heilig Landstichting and Kleve in Germany. Check in and out on board.
Cycle paths cross both Waal bridges, and the fast RijnWaalpad route runs to Arnhem. Rent at the station.
Fried balls of beef ragout, served with mustard alongside a beer.
Mashed potato and kale, topped with rookworst and gravy.
Battered chunks of white fish from the market stall, with garlic sauce.
Tiny buckwheat pancakes under butter and powdered sugar.
Deep Dutch apple pie with cinnamon, served with whipped cream.
Two thin waffles with caramel syrup. Rest one on a hot coffee.
The province’s smoked sausage, best in pea soup or with stamppot.
Pea soup thick enough to stand a spoon in. A winter dish.
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