The Netherlands is a well-known country among travellers for its art, culture, exciting museums, and iconic locations. Eindhoven, the country’s capital of industrial design, is the fifth largest city with many engaging locations that draw tourists’ attention. And while it may not be the most famous Dutch city, there is no doubt that there are many interesting locations you can squeeze into your Eindhoven itinerary. And you only need one day to see them!
What’s the best time to visit Eindhoven?
The weather of this city is highly affected by the currents of the Atlantic and the North Sea, with freezing winters and warm or pleasant summers. The wind blows very cold from December to March, so if you don’t like the cold, this may not be a great time to visit, but there’s no denying that the Christmas mood is perfect.
It gets warmer in April, and the temperatures keep climbing till July, which is the warmest month. August, on the other hand, is the busiest. Therefore, summer is definitely the best time to visit Eindhoven.
It should also be mentioned that Eindhoven abounds with interesting events. GLOW, for example, is a light festival that takes place in November, Park Hilaria is a 10-day August fair with loads of awesome rides, and there’s almost always an interesting music festival somewhere in the city.
A few facts about Eindhoven
Eindhoven today has just under 240,000 people, and it was first mentioned in 1232 when the small town was granted city rights.
The city is also known as the City of Lights. In 1891, the Philips family started producing light bulbs, and soon the whole city was decorated with lights. The company later grew to world fame and today has more than 80,000 employees. Naturally, the city also has a Philips museum.
In addition, Eindhoven is the greenest city among the major cities in the country. It also has fantastic parks for everyone to chill, relax and do some sports activities.
Interestingly, not having lights and bells on bikes or cycles is illegal, and helmets are optional. Thus, if the traveller desires to make the trip to the city on a bike, it is vital to follow these rules.
One day in Eindhoven Itinerary:
Welcome to Eindhoven, a beautiful modern city in the south of the Netherlands. There certainly is a lot to see, experience and enjoy here, but you can still make it even if you only have just one day. All you need is a reliable itinerary. Here it is – these are the best things to see and do during your one day in Eindhoven.
Start with a cup of DENF coffee
One cannot think of a better way to start the day than this. DENF Coffee is right there in the city centre, so it’s a great place from which to start your tour. This place is one of the best cafes in the city and serves various kinds of coffee – sit down, relax, do some people-watching, and get ready for an exciting day ahead.
Follow that up with a visit to the DAF Museum
After a nice cup of coffee, visit Eindhoven’s DAF Museum, which is approximately five minutes from the cafe. DAF is one of the largest manufacturers in Europe, creating many trucks and cars, and this place has a variety of collections of its products, spanning across decades.
DAF is actually short for Van Doorne’s Aanhangwagen Febriek – the company was founded in 1928 and started by two brothers, Hub and Wim Van Doorne, in a blacksmith’s store. Every showcased item is perfectly maintained, so this is definitely something for car enthusiasts.
Make an obligatory stop at the Philips Museum
Visiting Eindhoven and not visiting the Philips Museum is like going to Amsterdam and not doing a water canal trip. Philips is one of the main reasons for the popularity of Eindhoven because it was here that the Philips family started manufacturing lightbulbs in their early days.
This museum takes visitors through the history of this company which is inextricably linked with the history of the city. By visiting this place, you will get a greater insight into Philips and learn how the company helped Eindhoven become the financial powerhouse it is today.
Step into Van Abbemuseum
Van Abbemuseum is about one kilometre away from the Philips Museum. Hence, hiring a taxi is an ideal option if you want to get quickly and comfortably here and even to other locations in the city. Besides, it’s much faster than public transport.
Now, Van Abbemuseum is a museum of contemporary art, with more than 2500 different pieces, including some works of Pablo Picasso, and art collections of paintings, sketches, sculptures, video works, and many others. Even the building itself (the modern wing) is a piece of art and worth examining thoroughly on its own. The gallery is considered to be one of the most exciting ones in the whole country, so it very much deserves a place on your Eindhoven itinerary.
Find a place for lunch
At this point, it will likely be past noon. Thus, it is pretty effortless to guess that you will be quite hungry. Bar and restaurant Vestdijk 47 is very close to Van Abbemuseum, and it is a contemporary, relaxed restaurant that serves excellent food. So, a great choice for lunch.
Giornale is another fantastic choice, especially if you like Italian food, and Doyy and 1910 Restaurant also come very highly recommended. That, of course, is not all when it comes to restaurants in Eindhoven, so a bit of exploring can go a long way. Do invest some time into it if you have it, you won’t regret it.
See St. Catherine’s Church
Next on our itinerary is St. Catherine’s Church, and you don’t have to go far to see it. Its fantastic design includes several symbolic references to the work of Joseph Thijm, a great writer. This neo-Gothic beauty has two impressive exterior towers named David and Mary, but you also don’t want to miss out on marvellous rose windows. At night, the church becomes more splendid to behold as it is decorated with different lights.
Visit the Philips Stadium
It should come as no surprise that Philips has its own stadium in the city, too. Home to the Dutch powerhouse PSV, Philips Stadium can hold up to 36,500 spectators and has plenty of commercial places, so if you’re a football fan, this is something you shouldn’t miss.
Interestingly, the stadium was built way back in 1910, and its purpose was to provide Philips employees with a place for physical activities. Naturally, it has gone through several renovations since then, but its history is inextricably linked with PSV, who moved in just three years after the stadium was built.
Spend your evening in Strijp-S District
What was once a Philips industrial complex is today one of the most beautiful locations in the city. Strijp-S has plenty of great restaurants, shops and events to offer, so it’s a wonderful place for an evening stroll, dinner and maybe some souvenir shopping. Oh, and you will see many interesting art pieces here, too.
Ketelhuis Strijp–S is a nice place to sit down if you’re looking for a bite or even just evening drinks, and the same can be said for Loetje Eindhoven. Once again, you will see plenty of dining options here, so you can be sure you will have a wonderful evening in Eindhoven.
Where to stay in Eindhoven, Netherlands
NH Collection Eindhoven Centre
Vestdijk 5, Eindhoven – Centar, 5611 CA Eindhoven
If you want to really live it up while in town, book a room in NH Collection Eindhoven Centre. This five-star beauty offers extreme comfort in its beautiful rooms which come with free toiletries, among other things. Furthermore, the hotel has a terrace with a spectacular view of the city, and there is also a fitness centre for you to enjoy. Most importantly, though, the hotel is located right in the city centre, close to all the attractions. Perfect!
Hotel Mariënhage
4 Kanaalstraat, Eindhoven – Centar, 5611 CT Eindhoven
Hotel Mariënhage is an incredibly beautiful and unique hotel with so much to offer. What sets it apart from any other hotel in Eindhoven is the fact that it’s a part of a monastery, which gives it a very unique vibe. Furthermore, the attention to detail and the design of the interior will blow you away, and the walks through the hotel’s garden are alway soothing and relaxing. On top of that, it’s close to the city centre, so this really is a complete package.
Queen Hotel
Markt 7, Eindhoven – Centar, 5611 EB Eindhoven
For those of you who really want to feel the pulse of the city you’re visiting, Queen Hotel is the perfect place to stay. This is because this hotel overlooks a busy market and is close to the city centre. The interior is extremely pleasant and cosy, while the well-equipped rooms provide plenty of comfort to every guest. There’s even a heated terrace here where you can enjoy a nice meal. In short, a lovely little hotel.
Design Hotel Glow
Keizersgracht 13 A-B, Eindhoven – Centar, 5611 GC Eindhoven
Another quaint and charming hotel in Eindhoven city centre, Design Hotel Glow boasts excellent interior design and plenty of amenities in every room. Furthermore, the service here is top-notch, and the location is pretty much perfect for visiting most of the sights we mentioned in the itinerary above. They can even deliver breakfast to your room if you so desire! You definitely can’t go wrong with this place.
Day trips from Eindhoven
Now that you have a perfectly planned day in Eindhoven which includes all the exciting locations to enjoy and some great places to eat and relax in, let’s discuss some day trips from this city. If you have the time, it would really be a shame not to visit at least one of these places.
Zaanse Schans
When in the Netherlands for a holiday, this is definitely not the place you want to miss. Zaanse Schans is the perfect day trip location, less than two hours from Eindhoven. The old wooden windmills and houses in this town will transport you back in time instantly and give you a great sense of the traditional Netherlands. And with the excellent food they serve here, it’s easy to see how this can become a wonderful day trip from Eindhoven.
Rotterdam
You can get to Rotterdam in about an hour and a half by car from Eindhoven, which makes this a neat little day trip. One day in Rotterdam is an opportunity to enjoy some truly breathtaking architecture and see the biggest port in Europe. There are also many excellent cafes, restaurants and bars where you can just chill and enjoy the fact that you’re here.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam and Eindhoven are also just an hour and a half apart, so if you haven’t yet visited the most famous city in the country, this is your chance. Amsterdam’s canals are among the city’s best sights, and travellers can explore them through a private cruise. Your one day in Amsterdam can also include visiting some fantastic museums, you will see flowers all around you, and there’s always the possibility of a visit to the famous Red Light District.
Breda
Breda is a wonderful city full of historic sights, chief of which is the Breda Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many other examples of centuries-old architecture, and this exceptionally charming city also offers plenty of nice places for a stroll. Relax, explore and go sightseeing on this day trip, plus you can maybe also include Rotterdam in the mix since it’s less than half an hour away.
Extra tips for visiting Eindhoven
Organise everything in advance – When travelling to Eindhoven, make sure to arrange everything in advance. Make the reservations in your hotel, schedule the transportation service, and also plan the whole day of your trip. Reservations are the best option since they guarantee the booking of everything as sometimes things are unavailable when it is needed.
Book the refundable stays – Make sure that the place you book for your stay is refundable. You don’t want to lose all of your money if something unexpected comes up and you’re unable to make good of your reservation.
Buy the ov-chipkaart – If you plan on using public transport a lot, then buying the OV-chipkaart is your best choice. You can just scan the card at the end of the trip to make the payment. It is a simple process and makes travelling quite effortless.
Careful with the coffee – It is illegal to enter any coffee shop in the Netherlands unless the person is 18 years plus. Many places in the city only allow entry if the person is an adult. Hence, it would be a great idea to carry the ID card along in the bag while travelling.
As an Eindhovenaar I had to laugh about the suggesties to take a taxi to the Van Abbemuseum. Only if you want to waste time and money, otherwise you walk 11 minutes through the city centre (Lovely sightseeing), or cycle 3 minutes. In Eindhoven you dont need taxi’s to get around. Public transportation is quite good, but the best way to get around is by bike or on foot.
Taxis are not required in Eindhoven. While public transportation is adequate, biking or walking is the easiest way to get around.