Things to do in Nijmegen

Introduction

Nijmegen boasts itself of being the oldest city in all the Netherlands. Due to the large population of students in the city, it has a young and fruitful vibe. Nijmegen is in the Gelderland province, directly west of the German border. With loads of fun things to do, Nijmegen is truly a hidden gem in the Netherlands. This guide will give you some places to drink, parks to lounge in, and locations to attend events!

I lived in Nijmegen for a student exchange in 2022 and experienced both hot and cold seasons in the city. I recommend coming in the warmer months between April and October, as there are more things to do. With so many parks, bars, clubs, restaurants, and young people, Nijmegen is a true student city. It is appropriate to spend about 1 or 2 full days in the city to get a proper experience.

Walk around Nijmegen’s parks

Nijmegen is known for its pretty green spaces that surround the city. There are places to swim, stroll, or simply hang out. To take advantage of this, I recommend taking a bike to one of the recommended parks on the list that follows:

Valkhofpark

Address: Kelfkensbos 59, 6511 TB Nijmegen, Netherlands

Valkhofpark is one of the most popular parks in Nijmegen. Many events are hosted here including music festivals and cultural festivals. I recommend keeping up to date with the happenings on their website. This park contains some of the city’s most famous ruins like Barbarossa-ruine, and Sint-Nicolaaskapel. The park also perches on a hill that overlooks the Waal River and the beautiful bridges of Nijmegen.

Kronenburgerpark

Address: Kronenburgerplaats 6511, 6511 AW Nijmegen, Netherlands

Kronenburgerpark is a gorgeous, hilly park located on the west side of the city center in Nijmegen. It contains a pond, a seasonal waterfall, and historic monuments like Kruittoren and the Leeuw monument. To get a view from above, climb the backside of the Kruittoren. This is the perfect park to lounge with your friends.

Marienbosch

Address: Mariënboomseweg, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Marienbosch is an ideal park to walk your dog. It is hidden in the southeastern region of the city with very few people. If you want a quiet forest experience, I recommend checking this location out. The trees in this park provide nice shade in the hotter months, and colors in the fall months.

Goffertpark

Address: Muntweg 442, 6532 TP Nijmegen, Netherlands

Goffertpark is a large park in the southwestern region of the city. NEC Nijmegen, a Dutch Eredivisie team, plays in the park at Gofferstadion. You can try and scrape some tickets on their website. Even if you are not a football/soccer fan, the park hosts loads of music festivals and more. It is also a great place to gather with some friends!

Recreatiegebied Berendonck

Address: Weg door de Berendonck 6, 6603 CR Wijchen, Netherlands

This park hosts a man-made swimming lake on the far western side of the city. There is also a water-skiing rope pull around a fun obstacle! You can look at more information about this on their website. This is truly the best place in the city to swim for a bit.

Hang out at the Waal River

Nijmegen is geographically blessed with the Waal River running through the north of the city. It is a gorgeous place to be in the summer, as there are plenty of spots to enjoy the water from. Below are some locations and coordinates to lead you on your way!

Waalstrandje- South

Coordinates: 51°50’59.9″N 5°52’28.3″E

Once you cross the suspended bridge of Wandelbrug Ooypoort, you will follow a bridge over to a sandy area. This path goes very far back, but you are able to hang out at any of the small beaches along the way! Here, you will find some of the best sunsets in all of Nijmegen.

Waalstrandje- North

Coordinates: 51.854417, 5.855852

To access this beach, cross over De Oversteek, a beautiful bridge, and walk down the stairs to the right. Here, you will find the biggest beach in Nijmegen. They have facilities, and bike parking too!

Go bar crawling in Njimegen

Nijmegen is a student city, which means tons of bars and late-night activities. No matter where you go, you will face the same prices, as prices throughout the city stay more or less consistent. Below is a list of some of my favorite bars in Nijmegen!

Tierney’s Irish Pub

Address: Molenstraat 55, 6511 HA Nijmegen, Netherlands

Tierney’s is a fun-energy Irish pub with a food menu. They are open as late as 2 am on weekends. This was my favorite bar in all of Nijmegen because of the friendly staff. There is a trivia night every Monday and the craic gets mighty!

Paak Vinyl Bar

Address: Bloemerstraat 23, 6511 EB Nijmegen, Netherlands

Paak vinyl bar is one of the newer bars in Nijmegen. They play funky tunes all night and offer a live vinyl mix session on weekends. They also have board games hidden in the corner, so it is a perfect place to bring a big group and groove!

Wijnbar Lebowski

Address: Bloemerstraat 84, 6511 EM Nijmegen, Netherlands

Wijnbar Lebowski is the only true wine bar in Nijmegen. It is tucked away with limited seating inside. It has a calmer vibe compared to the other places on this list. I recommend coming here on a date with one other person, as the tables are small.

Roxy’s Karaoke Bar

Address: Platenmakersstraat 3, 6511 TZ Nijmegen, Netherlands

Roxy’s offers karaoke 7 nights a week! This place is very lively on the weekend and draws a fun, international crowd. It is also a fun place to go with a large group of friends! Roxy’s has a QR code on the wall where you can cue your favorite songs to sing along to!

Bar De Regenboog

Address: Van Welderenstraat 65, 6511 MD Nijmegen, Netherlands

Bar de Regenboog is the most upbeat of all the options on this list. This is a great place to party where everyone is included! If you like to dance, put this place at the top of your list.  

Atelier. BAR ALL DAY

Address: Van der Brugghenstraat 14, 6511 SL Nijmegen, Netherlands

Atelier is a fancy little corner restaurant and bar. I recommend coming here when it is warm out, as the patio is truly unbeatable. The bar is also open all day…

Where to attend a concert in Nijmegen

Nijmegen’s student vibe brings loads of live music options. Below is a list of the best places to check out for the next big show!

Doornroosje

Address: Stationsplein 11, 6512 AB Nijmegen, Netherlands

Doornrooje is the nicest music venue in Nijmegen. It is located right next to the central train station, making commutes from neighboring cities easy. There are three stages during larger events. The bars in this venue are also quite nice. I recommend monitoring the Doornrooje website for their upcoming shows.

Merleyn

Address: Hertogstraat 13, 6511 RV Nijmegen, Netherlands

Merleyn is a smaller, more personal stage located deep in the city center. Keep in mind that the drinks at this location are slightly more expensive than others. Here, you can find smaller, local artists performing.

Waalhalla

Address: Winselingseweg 12, 6541 AK Nijmegen, Netherlands

Waalhalla is a public skatepark during the day but transforms into a hidden techno stage by night. Because it is a bit more secretive, finding events specific to this location can be difficult. Keep your eye out for a techno event at this location, as it is quite an experience. This location is also near De Vasim Nijmegen, another hidden techno building in the industrial part of the city.

How to rent a bike for the day

Renting a bike in Nijmegen is essential. Once you have money loaded on your OV-Chipkaart, you can grab a bike from the Nijmegen Central station. The bike station is a bit hidden from the station. Once you walk out of the main entrance of the station, cross the bike path and turn left. There will be a big staircase that takes you to an underground rental area. You can read more about the importance of an OV-Chipkaat with more practical information from my recent blog post.

Once you arrive in Nijmegen you will realize how essential a bike is. Much of the recommendations in this article are biking distance, and without a bike, it would take you all day to reach them. Just like every Dutch city, there are more bike lanes than car roads. Get a bike and explore this perfect city!

How to explore Nijmegen on a budget

Nijmegen is a student city, so there are plenty of affordable options. Unfortunately, if you plan on staying the night in Nijmegen, accommodation is not very cheap and there are no hostel options. Plan to stay in a neighboring city, like Arnhem or Utrecht.

Rather than driving yourself crazy trying to find a cheap bar to drink at, just drop in any of them. The price of a 33dl beer in Nijmegen fluctuates very marginally from 2.50-3.20 EUR. If you want some cheap food, stay out of the city center. There are plenty of places to eat in the neighborhoods of Nijmegen that will not cost you too much.

Overall, the most budget-friendly activity you can do is rent a 3 EUR per day bike from the train station, grab some discounted beers from Aldi, and head for the beach or a park!

Conclusion

Nijmegen is an old city with a young vibe. The city has countless options of places to eat and parks to stroll in. The guide provided you with some insightful recommendations of my favorite places after living in the city. These lists provide a sneak peak of what the city truly has to offer. Nijmegen should be at the top of your list of must-see Dutch cities!