Valkenburg is loved as a vacation destination all over the world

A holiday destination you can easily reach by car, no stress related to catching a plane and no hassle at the airport: doesn't that sound like an ideal holiday? A study by Booking.com shows that the Dutch city of Valkenburg is becoming an increasingly popular vacation destination, alongside other global cities such as Buenos Aires, Portland and Mérida. This means there's no need to travel abroad: you can simply experience that vacation feeling in your own country!

In this article, we explain why Valkenburg is such a popular vacation destination and give you several tips for a multi-day stay in Valkenburg.

About Valkenburg

Valkenburg has been a tourist attraction for more than 135 years. And for good reason, because Valkenburg is a true marl city. For this reason, Valkenburg is also known for its marl caves, including the Velvet Cave, which consists of secret escape routes connected to Valkenburg Castle. In the cavesm you will find marl quarries full of art, while you can see the local limestone reflected in features like the houses and city walls above ground. In addition, Valkenburg is really popular with visitors due to the many catering establishments, its cable car and the beautiful hilly landscape. 

Trending holiday destinations in the Netherlands

Booking.com carried out a study regarding global booking trends and the most popular vacation destinations for 2024 in 2023. This survey was conducted among nearly 28,000 respondents from 33 different countries and territories, including Australia, Spain and China. This study shows that Valkenburg, alongside popular countries such as Japan, Albania and New Zealand, is on the top 10 list of most popular vacation destinations in 2024.

Our tips for a weekend in Valkenburg

Driving into Valkenburg, you instantly get thet real holiday feeling thanks to the vast hilly landscape. There is plenty to do in Valkenburg for a weekend trip, or a getaway for a few days. You definitely won't have to travel abroad for this. There is plenty to entertain you both in the summer months and in the winter months thanks to the many tourist attractions in Valkenburg. We've listed 4 activities you should definitely not miss while visiting Valkenburg.

Above the city, the castle ruins rise high above the rest. A visit to the castle ruins effortlessly transports you back to the time of knights and damsels. During an educational tour, you will gain insight into the rich history of this castle. Afterwards, descend through the Velvet Cave, one of the oldest tunnel systems. In summer, the caves in Valkenburg are the perfect place to be because it's wonderfully cool here!

You will probably have seen cable cars in Austria or Germany, but Valkenburg has one too! This cable car will take you to the top of the mountain, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of Valkenburg. There is plenty to do on top of the mountain as well: take a ride on the toboggan run, zip down the Wilhelmina Tower or play a game of miniature golf.

Attention sports enthusiasts! The Cauberg is the perfect place for a hike or bicycle ride. Please do keep in mind that climbing the Cauberg is quite a challenge with an average gradient of 6.5%. The Amstel Gold Race also takes place on the Cauberg every year, making it a popular spot among cyclists.

From mid-November through early January, Valkenburg is completely transformed into a magical paradise: Christmas city Valkenburg. The annual Christmas market takes place in several caves where you can experience an underground wonderland with Christmas lights, miniature villages and stalls where you can enjoy delicious winter refreshments.

Discover Valkenburg during several days

There is so much to do in Valkenburg, you should definitely take your time to explore all the tourist attractions. Especially if you are not from the area, it is worth spending several days there. Résidence Valkenburg is located in the beautiful Geul Valley and is 5 kilometers from the center of Valkenburg. At one of our vacation homes at this holiday park, you will truly experience a vacation feeling in your own country.

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