Booking.com: Valkenburg is a popular holiday destination worldwide

Valkenburg is loved all over the world as a holiday destination

A holiday destination you can drive to in a flash, no stress about getting to the plane and no hassle at the airport - that sounds like an ideal holiday, doesn't it? Research by Booking.com shows that the Dutch city of Valkenburg is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, alongside other global cities such as Buenos Aires, Portland and Mérida. So you don't have to travel abroad: you can just experience the holiday feeling at home!

In this article, we explain why Valkenburg is such a popular holiday 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 with good reason, because Valkenburg is a real marl city. Valkenburg is therefore also known for its marl caves, including the Velvet Cave, which consists of secret escape routes connected to Valkenburg Castle. Inside the caves you will find marl quarries full of art, and above ground you can see the local limestone reflected in houses and city walls, among other things. In addition, Valkenburg is a real crowd-puller thanks to many catering establishments, the cable car and the beautiful hill country.

Trending holiday destination in the Netherlands

Booking.com researched global booking trends and the most popular holiday destinations for 2024 in 2023. This research was conducted among almost 28,000 respondents from 33 different countries and territories, including Australia, Spain and China. This research shows that Valkenburg is in the list of top 10 most popular holiday destinations in 2024, alongside popular countries such as Japan, Albania and New Zealand.

Our tips for a weekend in Valkenburg

Driving into Valkenburg, you immediately get the real holiday feeling because of the vast hilly landscape. There is plenty to do in Valkenburg for a weekend or a few days away. You certainly don't have to travel abroad for this. Both in the summer months and in the winter months, you can have a great time because of the many tourist attractions in Valkenburg. We list 4 activities you should definitely not miss while visiting Valkenburg.

Visit the castle ruins & Velvet Cave

Above the city, the castle ruins rise high above everything else. A visit to the castle ruins effortlessly takes you back to the days of knights and damsels. During an instructive guided tour, you will gain insight into the rich history of this castle. Afterwards, you will descend through the Velvet Cave, one of the oldest cave systems. In summer, Valkenburg's caves are the perfect place to hang out, as they are lovely and cool!

Take a ride on the cable car

You may have seen cable cars in Austria or Germany, but Valkenburg has one too! This cable car takes you to the top of the mountain, where you can enjoy stunning views of Valkenburg. There is also plenty to do at the top of the mountain: take a ride on the toboggan run, zip down the Wilhelmina Tower or play a game of miniature golf.

Walking and cycling on the Cauberg

Sports enthusiasts take note: the Cauberg is the perfect place for a hike or bike ride. Note 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 this mountain a popular spot among cyclists.

Christmas city Valkenburg

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

Discover Valkenburg in several days

There is so much to do in Valkenburg, you should definitely take the time to discover all the tourist attractions. Especially if you are not from the area, it is worth staying several days. Résidence Valkenburg is located in the beautiful Geul Valley and is 5 kilometres away from the centre of Valkenburg. In one of our holiday homes on this holiday park, you will truly experience a holiday feeling in your own country.