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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | citiesNijmegenWaal river, Roman Valkhof, liberation history, German rail links | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Nijmegen
👌 Worth visitingcity ranked #15
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 16, 2026

Nijmegen sits on the Waal in the Gelderland province, close to the German border, and its practical edge is that Düsseldorf and Cologne are easy rail connections, so you can enter or leave the Netherlands without detouring through Amsterdam. The pattern here is simple: a student population keeps prices and energy up, while Roman and wartime history sit under everything. I expected a sleepy border town. Instead, I stumbled on thousands of walkers in matching bibs filling the streets, with locals handing out flowers. It suits culture-minded travelers, not nightlife chasers. It is calmer than Amsterdam and less polished than Utrecht.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 The Netherlands Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #15 city in The NetherlandsWhat makes it a must-see city

Nijmegen works as a stop because it packs Roman-era roots and a lively student center into a compact, flat core you can walk in an hour. Hostel beds are limited, so book ahead, but the cafés around the Grote Markt and the Waalkade are friendly on a tight budget. It also makes a sensible hinge between the Netherlands and Germany, with direct trains toward Arnhem, Den Bosch and Cologne. The Waal riverfront adds a relaxed evening scene in summer. If you want big-ticket sights, it is best as a one or two night pause.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Grote Markt and Sint-Stevenskerk: the old market square with a Gothic church whose tower gives city views. Go in the morning. Square free, tower about €5, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Valkhof Park: a hilltop on the Waal where Charlemagne’s palace once stood, with a surviving Romanesque chapel. Late afternoon is best. Free, 45 minutes.
  3. Museum Het Valkhof: Roman finds and modern art in one building by the park. Entry about €13 to 15, 1.5 to 2 hours.
  4. Waalbrug and Waalkade: the bridge central to the 1944 crossing, with a riverside promenade for sunset walks. Free, 1 hour.
  5. Nationaal Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945: in Groesbeek’s direction but within city reach only by bus, so skip it for a city-only day.
  6. Kronenburgerpark: a green park in old fortifications with a hidden water feature and a calm picnic spot. Free, 30
… read more 👉
  1. Grote Markt and Sint-Stevenskerk: the old market square with a Gothic church whose tower gives city views. Go in the morning. Square free, tower about €5, 1 to 2 hours.
  2. Valkhof Park: a hilltop on the Waal where Charlemagne’s palace once stood, with a surviving Romanesque chapel. Late afternoon is best. Free, 45 minutes.
  3. Museum Het Valkhof: Roman finds and modern art in one building by the park. Entry about €13 to 15, 1.5 to 2 hours.
  4. Waalbrug and Waalkade: the bridge central to the 1944 crossing, with a riverside promenade for sunset walks. Free, 1 hour.
  5. Nationaal Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945: in Groesbeek’s direction but within city reach only by bus, so skip it for a city-only day.
  6. Kronenburgerpark: a green park in old fortifications with a hidden water feature and a calm picnic spot. Free, 30 to 45 minutes.
  7. Stratumse Eind: a short street said to be among the oldest in the Netherlands for pubs. Go after 8 PM. Beers about €4 to 6, 1 to 2 hours.
Day trips from Nijmegen include the Liberation Museum in Groesbeek, Park Berg en Dal and the Afrika Museum, and Arnhem’s Openluchtmuseum. Pair Valkhof Park with Museum Het Valkhof for an easy half day.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do in Nijmegen

e-Scavenger hunt Nijmegen: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Nijmegen: Explore the city at your own pace

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Discover Nijmegen with an Outside Escape city game tour!

Discover Nijmegen with an Outside Escape city game tour!

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Nijmegen: City Walk with Audio Guide in 7 Languages on your Phone

Nijmegen: City Walk with Audio Guide in 7 Languages on your Phone

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Secrets of Nijmegen: Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

Secrets of Nijmegen: Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour

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2 hours self driving Echopper tour in Nijmegen

2 hours self driving Echopper tour in Nijmegen

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Nijmegen Roman Quest: Walk Ancient Noviomagus

Nijmegen Roman Quest: Walk Ancient Noviomagus

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Pub Trail Nijmegen: an adventure full of surprises

Pub Trail Nijmegen: an adventure full of surprises

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Nijmegen Murder Mystery Self Guided Detective Game

Nijmegen Murder Mystery Self Guided Detective Game

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Escape game in the city of Nijmegen, The Alchemist

Escape game in the city of Nijmegen, The Alchemist

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Children's escape game in the city of Nijmegen, Peter Pan

Children's escape game in the city of Nijmegen, Peter Pan

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🏘️ NeighborhoodsWhere things are and how it's laid out

Nijmegen is compact, and its areas sit on a clear gradient from hilltop old town to riverside to student quarter, so one bike ride links them all.
  • City Centre and Waalkade: Cobbled lanes around the Grote Markt and the Waal quay hold cafés, the Saturday market and the Stevenskerk. It is fully walkable, and eating here costs more than in the student streets, so use it for sights and one drink, not every meal.
  • Lindenberg and Hertogstraat: Student-driven, with cheap pizza, kebab, brown cafés and late bars. Walking from the center takes about 10 minutes, and this gives the most nightlife per euro.
  • Waalkade to Waalbrug and Lent: Across the bridge, Lent has a quiet, residential feel, river views of the old town and little to see. Cycle over for the skyline, then return.
  • Heyendaal and Radboud campus:
… read more 👉
Nijmegen is compact, and its areas sit on a clear gradient from hilltop old town to riverside to student quarter, so one bike ride links them all.
  • City Centre and Waalkade: Cobbled lanes around the Grote Markt and the Waal quay hold cafés, the Saturday market and the Stevenskerk. It is fully walkable, and eating here costs more than in the student streets, so use it for sights and one drink, not every meal.
  • Lindenberg and Hertogstraat: Student-driven, with cheap pizza, kebab, brown cafés and late bars. Walking from the center takes about 10 minutes, and this gives the most nightlife per euro.
  • Waalkade to Waalbrug and Lent: Across the bridge, Lent has a quiet, residential feel, river views of the old town and little to see. Cycle over for the skyline, then return.
  • Heyendaal and Radboud campus: Green, calm and spread out. The Hortus botanical garden is nearby. Cycling beats walking, and it suits a half-day rather than a full one.

⌛️ 1 day1-day itinerary for Nijmegen

Nijmegen rewards a slow loop through Roman hills, medieval squares and riverside lanes.
9:00 AM: Grote Markt
Start with coffee, then climb the tower of Sint-Stevenskerk for views over the Waal. Walk five minutes to the park.
11:00 AM: Valkhof Park
Wander the ruins and chapel, then step into Museum Het Valkhof for Roman objects.
1:30 PM: Lunch on Mariënburg
Pick a student café for a cheap sandwich or soup.
3:00 PM: Kronenburgerpark
Skip the busy shops and visit the quiet old fortification park, less visited than the center.
5:00 PM: Waalkade
Walk the riverfront and cross the Waalbrug for the views back toward the skyline.
8:00 PM: Stratumse Eind
Finish with a beer in the old pub street.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

May to September is the best window, with long days and cafés spilling onto pavements.
  • Summer (Jun to Aug): 16 to 24°C (61 to 75°F), daylight until about 10 pm, and the highest prices.
  • Four Days Marches (mid-July): Roughly 40,000 walkers fill the city, and beds sell out months ahead.
  • Spring and Autumn: 8 to 16°C (46 to 61°F), quieter, with showers and good cycling.
  • Winter (Dec to Feb): 0 to 6°C (32 to 43°F), gray, with daylight only from about 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, but the cheapest rooms.
Book accommodation early if your dates touch the Marches.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The city center, within 10 minutes of the station, is the best base for budget travelers. It has most of the limited hostel and budget-bed supply, and everything is on foot, with late buses and the train station close. Streets are lively on weekends, so request a quieter room if you sleep lightly. The Lindenberg and Hertogstraat student area is the second choice. Cheaper rooms and shared apartments appear there, and it is well lit, busy and safe at night, though late bar noise can carry on Thursday to Saturday. Bed numbers are small overall, so book weeks ahead in summer and months ahead for the … read more 👉
The city center, within 10 minutes of the station, is the best base for budget travelers. It has most of the limited hostel and budget-bed supply, and everything is on foot, with late buses and the train station close. Streets are lively on weekends, so request a quieter room if you sleep lightly. The Lindenberg and Hertogstraat student area is the second choice. Cheaper rooms and shared apartments appear there, and it is well lit, busy and safe at night, though late bar noise can carry on Thursday to Saturday. Bed numbers are small overall, so book weeks ahead in summer and months ahead for the July Four Days Marches. If everything is full, Arnhem is 15 minutes away by train and often cheaper.
Best hostels in Nijmegen


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

A single city bus ride costs about €3 to 4 when paid by contactless bank card or OV-chipkaart, and cash is not accepted on board. Nijmegen is small and flat, so most backpackers rely on legs and a bike, with buses as backup and the train for leaving town.
  • Walking: Free, and the center plus Hertogstraat can be covered in 20 minutes end to end. It gives the best value for the old town.
  • Rental bike: About €10 to 15 a day from shops or the station, or an OV-fiets at roughly €4 a day if you hold a Dutch account. It beats the bus for reaching the campus, the river and the Waal bridges, and traffic is calm with dedicated lanes.
  • City buses: Frequent, running from about 6 am to midnight, with fewer night services. Tap in and tap out with a card. Good for rainy days or Heyendaal, but pricier than cycling.
… read more 👉
A single city bus ride costs about €3 to 4 when paid by contactless bank card or OV-chipkaart, and cash is not accepted on board. Nijmegen is small and flat, so most backpackers rely on legs and a bike, with buses as backup and the train for leaving town.
  • Walking: Free, and the center plus Hertogstraat can be covered in 20 minutes end to end. It gives the best value for the old town.
  • Rental bike: About €10 to 15 a day from shops or the station, or an OV-fiets at roughly €4 a day if you hold a Dutch account. It beats the bus for reaching the campus, the river and the Waal bridges, and traffic is calm with dedicated lanes.
  • City buses: Frequent, running from about 6 am to midnight, with fewer night services. Tap in and tap out with a card. Good for rainy days or Heyendaal, but pricier than cycling.
  • Trains: Nijmegen Centraal has direct links to Arnhem (about 15 minutes, €4 to 6) and Utrecht (about 55 minutes, €12 to 15). Fastest for leaving town, with off-peak discounts after 9 am.

👛 Costs (as of 16 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Nijmegen costs about €65 to 100 a day for a backpacker, a bit below Amsterdam, since beds are scarce but food is student-priced.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm (high season)€35 to 55Few hostel beds, so prices rise in summer and in July.
Dorm (off-season)€28 to 40Easier to find a bed in winter.
Meals€15 to 28Supermarket lunches and cheap student-street dinners.
Local transport€0 to 6Mostly walking and cycling.
City transport pass€10 to 15Day bike rental is the practical option.
Activities and entry fees€0 to 15Many sights are free; museums cost €8 to 15.
Miscellaneous€8 to 15Beers, snacks and laundry.
Total Daily Budget€65 to 100Lower with self-catering.
Buy groceries at supermarkets and eat the cheap lunch deals to cut your daily spend.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsEasy escapes and nearby places

Nijmegen’s rail and bike network makes day trips easy and cheap, with every option below doable in a day.Arnhem and Hoge Veluwe: Trains take 15 minutes to Arnhem for around €4 to 6, then a bus or bike to the national park, where free white bikes are provided. Entry is about €12 to 14. Go April to October, and avoid rain, as the park is exposed. Many first-timers underestimate its size.
👉 Explore Hoge Veluwe National ParkKleve, Germany: A bus or short train ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes and costs €5 to 8 each way. The small town has a hilltop castle and cheaper German snacks. Carry your passport or ID, as occasional checks occur.
Den Bosch: The train takes about 30 minutes, with a fare of €8 to 10. Come for the cathedral, boat tours along the Binnendieze canals, and the famous Bossche bol … read more 👉
Nijmegen’s rail and bike network makes day trips easy and cheap, with every option below doable in a day.Arnhem and Hoge Veluwe: Trains take 15 minutes to Arnhem for around €4 to 6, then a bus or bike to the national park, where free white bikes are provided. Entry is about €12 to 14. Go April to October, and avoid rain, as the park is exposed. Many first-timers underestimate its size.
👉 Explore Hoge Veluwe National ParkKleve, Germany: A bus or short train ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes and costs €5 to 8 each way. The small town has a hilltop castle and cheaper German snacks. Carry your passport or ID, as occasional checks occur.
Den Bosch: The train takes about 30 minutes, with a fare of €8 to 10. Come for the cathedral, boat tours along the Binnendieze canals, and the famous Bossche bol pastry. Boat tours cost about €12 and run April to October.
Groesbeek and Airborne Museum: Cycle 12 km through the wooded hills, or take a bus for about €3. The war museums and the Canadian cemetery are the draw. Avoid weekends in September if you want quiet.

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

Start with a stroopwafel warm from a market stall, then try patatje oorlog, fries with mayonnaise, peanut sauce and onions, which smells irresistibly of frying oil at midnight. Bitterballen, crisp on the outside and molten inside, are the usual companion to a beer in a brown café. Dip them in mustard and never bite one in half too quickly.

Students keep Hertogstraat and the Lindenberg lively with cheap pizza, Turkish snacks and €2 to 4 pints of Gulpener or Brand in a grand café. The Saturday market on the Grote Markt sells cheese, herring and fresh bread for cheap picnics along the Waal.

Dutch dining is early, with dinner at 6 to 7 pm. Splitting the bill is normal, and tips of 5 to 10 percent are modest. Tap water is excellent, so refill bottles for free.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Nijmegen is very safe, and the main risk is bike theft. Lock your bike through the frame to a fixed post, always, even for five minutes. Rental bikes come with two locks for a reason. Pickpocketing is rare, but crowded markets and the July Four Days Marches deserve a closed bag. Walking alone at night is fine in the center and student streets. Cyclists have priority, so check the red bike lanes before stepping out. Drunk groups around Hertogstraat can be noisy late on weekends, but are rarely a problem. Avoid leaving valuables on hostel or train seats.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Two days is enough for most backpackers. That covers Valkhof Park, Museum Het Valkhof, the Grote Markt and an evening on Stratumse Eind, with room for a half day trip to Groesbeek. Add a third day if you want to explore the Liberation Museum and the Berg en Dal hills.
Yes, Nijmegen is considered very safe for solo backpackers. Violent crime is rare, and the busiest areas, like Stratumse Eind late on weekends, mostly see rowdy students rather than danger. Bike theft is the main risk, so lock your wheel and frame, and keep valuables close on the train to Arnhem or Cologne.
Nijmegen is known as the oldest city in the Netherlands, with Roman origins and a Valkhof palace linked to Charlemagne. It is also famous for the Four Days Marches in July, which draw tens of thousands of walkers, and for the 1944 Waal crossing in World War II. Radboud University gives it a lively student feel.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch cities near Nijmegen

Explore more nearby:

  • ’s-Hertogenbosch—Binnendieze boats, Bosch art, Brabant ramparts, cathedral square| 41 km away
  • Apeldoorn—Het Loo palace, Veluwe forest, Apenheul, cheap bike hire| 42 km away
  • Amersfoort—Koppelpoort, Mondrian roots, wall houses, medieval core| 47 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Nijmegen suits history lovers, slow walkers and anyone moving between the Netherlands and Germany who wants a break. If you crave canals, grand museums or wild nightlife, the city may feel small. Give it a night, wander the old hills, and let the wartime stories sink in.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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