If you're on social media (or possibly even on Facebook) you've probably seen pictures of the Dutch town of Giethoorn. Touted as idyllic and serene, with no roads and almost no people (perhaps just a few cows on a boat), this town certainly seems like the perfect place for a peaceful getaway. Bride together Let's explore this Dutch hidden paradise together.
General Information About Giethoorn
Giethoorn is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is about an hour and a half drive from Amsterdam and is known for being very beautiful as it contains few roads and most of the village can only be reached by foot or boat. The many canals and bridges (more than 180 bridges) add to the picturesque charm of the village. Most houses and cottages have thatched roofs, so you feel like you've stepped back in time as you walk along the canal-side trail, admiring the beautiful homes, and perhaps stop for lunch at one of the canal-side cafes or restaurants. A fun fact locals are proud of is that Giethoorn beat nearly 182 contenders worldwide to become a destination for Monopoly's 80th anniversary international edition (in 2015).
Travel to Giethoorn
Now that you have the general information about Giethoorn, let's explain how you can visit this famous destination. Before going to Giethoorn, our advice to you is to create a suitable rotation. Therefore, it will help you From the Zaren Travel website You can easily create a travel plan.
A Town Without a Road Giethoorn
The answer to the question of whether there is a road in Giethoorn is both yes and no. In general, no; In the village of Giethoorn there are roads and even parking lots, but in the middle there is a large section accessible only by footpath or canal. If you look at photos of Giethoorn, you'll see that it is located along a main promenade by the canal with many cafes, shops and restaurants, as well as places to hire excursion boats to explore the canals. Some residents of Giethoorn can certainly only reach their homes via the canal. But there are roads too, so you can drive and even park for free and then walk along the canals to see all the famous and most beautiful spots without renting a boat.
An Untouched Town Giethoorn
You may have heard Giethoorn called “Venice of the Netherlands” or “Little Venice” and if by Venice you mean “beautiful canals” then yes, Giethoorn is just like Venice. Giethoorn has become quite a popular destination lately, so when you visit, you might be rudely surprised to find it teeming with tour groups and other visitors, swarming the roads in droves or blocking the canals with their rented excursion boats. The paths next to the canals are quite small and so many visitors come to take pictures.
However, if you visit this beautiful town during the summer break of August, the busiest time of the year, you will not find any trace of calm. Overall, Giethoorn is much quieter and more peaceful during the off-season, especially when you stay overnight so you can enjoy the city in the early morning or after all the tourist groups have gone.
Is Giethoorn a Nice Place?
The most correct answer to this question would undoubtedly be yes. Even if there are many tourists (depending on when you go), this does not change the fact that the town is actually very beautiful; If it wasn't, it wouldn't be so popular. Many of the bridges have flower boxes, the houses are all immaculately maintained with beautifully painted shutters and gorgeous gardens. It is also very nice to sit by the canals and watch the passing of boats, ducks and swans; whether you sit on the ground or a bench for a picnic, or in one of the canal-side restaurants.
How to Get to Giethoorn
There are three main ways to reach Giethoorn. If you have your own car or a rental car, it will take about an hour and a half to get from Amsterdam to Giethoorn. There is a free parking spot on Bartus Warnersweg and we managed to find a spot here. The best part about going by your own car is that you can easily veer off to other hard-to-reach places by public transport, such as De Orchideeën Hoeve, a wonderful indoor, tropical garden.
If you don't have your own car, the easiest way to visit Giethoorn is via a tour. Do some research on GetYourGuide and you can find two very highly rated two-day trips from Amsterdam to Giethoorn that differ slightly depending on what you want. The first of these will take you to Giethoorn, which will include a one-hour boat cruise on Giethoorn, some free time to wander around on your own, and also a stop to take pictures at the quaint Afsluitdijk on the way. This latter is basically the same but costs around twenty euros more and doesn't seem to go via Afsluitdijk, but has received more reviews and has a slightly higher rating (4.4 stars vs 4.7).
The third way to reach Giethoorn is by public transport, which takes the most time. From Amsterdam you can take a train to Steenwijk (possibly changing trains halfway through) and then a bus from Steenwijk to Giethoorn. The whole journey will take approximately 2 hours. It might be good to only do this if you're thinking of staying one night (or longer) in Giethoorn, as that's a lot of time and effort for just a day trip. If you stay overnight or longer, you can enjoy the city without the crowds in the evening and early morning.
Where to Stay in Giethoorn
Giethoorn has several hotels as well as some nice places to stay. Hotel de Harmonie is a four-star hotel a little away from the city center (but still within walking distance). Rooms include breakfast, and the hotel also rents bikes and boats directly. If you're traveling on a budget, The Black Sheep Hostel is probably the cheapest option, but it's a really nice looking hostel and breakfast is included. If you want more accommodation options in Giethoorn, there are bed and breakfast hotels as well as other three-star hotels.
What to do in Giethoorn
You have arranged your transportation and accommodation, but if you are wondering what to do in Giethoorn, here are the things to do in this beautiful town;
You can take a boat tour: there are larger boats that take you around the canals of Giethoorn so you can see the beauty from the water, learn about the city from your guide and not have to worry about bumping into other boats because you don't know what you're doing. These indoor boat tours are also accessible for people with wheelchairs or small children in a stroller. Rent a cruiser, punt or sloop: if you're confident in your ability to navigate the waterways in Giethoorn, then go! You can hire small whisper boats from many places along the canals, but they tend to be busy during the summer months, so we recommend booking online before heading to Giethoorn.
You can dine: There are several small cafes and restaurants lined up along the canals, be sure to stop by for a meal or just an ice cream. There is also a Dutch cheese shop if you like cheese. To save money, you can also bring picnic supplies from the supermarket and immerse yourself in the water.
You can visit a museum: Giethoorn is home to several small museums, such as the Olde Maas Uus Museum, which teaches you the history of Giethoorn and often has actors wearing traditional clothing to do it.
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