We visited Groningen for the first time in 2023 and instantly fell in love with it. So much so, that we moved here later that year, and have been here ever since. We have thoroughly explored this beautiful city and want to tell you all the best things to do in Groningen. Keep reading to find our top picks!
Want to stop researching and have someone plan your Netherlands trip for you? Save your precious time and energy and hire me to create your perfect vacation.
As a Netherlands expert, I will create a custom-made itinerary that fits your travel style and interests. Not only will you get a personalized itinerary, but also everything you need to know to visit the Netherlands stress free, from knowing how to ride and navigate the trains, what to pack, weird Dutch customs, and so much more. On top of that, you can text me with any questions you have along the way.
Find out more about my customized travel toolkits here: Customized Travel Toolkit To The Netherlands
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. I only recommend brands that I use and trust! Please see full disclosure here.
You May Also Like: Best And Worst Times To Visit The Netherlands
Top 12 Things To Do In Groningen, Netherlands
Groningen is mostly overlooked by international visitors to the Netherlands and, to me, that is a huge mistake. This city is my favorite. There are many things to do in Groningen, but you need to know where to look.
At first glance, you might only find the big things like climbing the Martini Tower and visiting the Forum. Both of those are must-dos in Groningen, but I also have included some of our favorite things to do that most people don’t know about.
Below you will find my top 12 things to do in Groningen after living in this amazing city for almost 3 years. Come explore with me.
1. Climb The Martini Tower
I’m starting off with the most obvious attraction in Groningen. The Martini Tower (Martinitoren) rises up from the Grote Markt and can’t be missed. This historic tower is easy to visit.
There’s no need to purchase any tickets in advance unless you are eligible for discounted tickets (students, children).
There is a turnstile entrance where you can pay by card. Just put your card to the reader, wait till the gate clicks and walk through. It is €7 euros per person. Kids up to 11 years old are €5. 3 and under are free. In order to buy a children’s discounted ticket, you will need to buy them online at the Visit Groningen website.
There are nearly 300 steep steps to reach the top with no elevator, so be prepared to use those leg muscles. The staircase is windy and skinny. You will have to squeeze your body against the wall to let people pass as there is only one way up and one way down. However, there is a nice rope to hold on to which helps.
Warning: If you are tall, watch your head. We have had two family members that visited on two different occasions hit their head. And yes we warned them.
Along the way you will reach different platforms, where you can take a break to catch your breath and learn more about the tower.
At nearly the top, you will get to a viewing platform that circles the clock tower with amazing views of the city. Our first time visiting the Martini Tower, we didn’t realize that there was another viewing platform even higher up.
Pro Tip: While circling the viewing platform, there are three doors. One door to go back down the stairs, a second door to access a short film, and a third door to go up even higher. In this higher platform you are right behind the clocks. It is very cool! Don’t miss it.
2. Rent A Boat And Tour The Canals
A fun way to explore Groningen is to rent a boat. There are tour boat companies that will guide you through the canals and give you a little history, but in my opinion doing it on your own is the best way in Groningen. We’ve done this a few times now and it never gets old. There’s something relaxing about being on a boat for a couple of hours.
Groningen is also a nice place to rent a boat on your own too because the canal system is very straightforward. You won’t get lost.
We always rent our boats from the Reitdiep Marina Office. They are always super friendly there and as a bonus you get to see the beautiful colorful marina houses.
Reserve your boat right on the marina website. For exploring the city by boat you can choose between a 2.5 hour or 3 hour reservation. We have done both. Choose the 3 hour if you want to make a stop somewhere; otherwise, 2.5 hours is enough time to casually make the loop around the city center.
If you don’t feel comfortable driving a boat, you could also do a guided boat tour. There are a few companies that do them in Groningen.
We did a boat tour when my brother-in-law visited with Boot Groningen. It is a small group tour, which I liked. Another cool thing about the tour is that they give you unlimited drinks; beer, wine, soda, water and tell a few stories along the way.
The tour was nice and relaxing, not crowded and educational. It lasted about an hour. They also have a breakfast tour, which could be fun too!
3. Rent A Bike And Explore
When you are in the Netherlands, a great way to get around is by bike. This country is set up so nicely for it, and it is a wonderful way to experience the Netherlands like a local.
You can rent bikes in Groningen right in the center at Dumo Tweewielers. They have lots of great options and the website is easy to use when you want to reserve.
Couple of places I recommend seeing by bike in Groningen:
- Colorful houses of Reitdiep Haven.
- Wall house #2 by Hoornsmeer.
- Stadspark
- Noorderplantsoen
4. Go To The Wine Bar At Mr. Mofongo
Mr. Mofongo is an amazing restaurant right in Groningen. You can go there for dinner, to sit on their patio, grab a tasty cocktail or for something unique, visit their wine bar.
The Wine Bar in Mr. Mofongo is my favorite. It is located all the way on the top floor in a very unique and cute area. To find it, enter the back door of Mr. Mofongo, near where the back patio is. To the left you will see the bathroom and a sign for the wine bar. Climb the stairs all the way to the top. You will pass the kitchen, so you might thing you are in the wrong place, but you aren’t. Keep going.
We love the atmosphere of the wine bar and it hasn’t ever been too busy. Feels like a hidden gem in the center of the city. Even though it hasn’t been too busy for us, I would still recommend booking a reservation. The Dutch are planners, so it is always a good idea to have reservations at restaurants in the Netherlands to ensure you can get in.
Mr. Mofongo’s wine list is huge and wonderful of course, but you can also grab dinner or snacks. Try the bitterballen for a traditional Dutch snack. We also like the chorizo croquettes.
5. Walk Through the Decorative Gardens Of Prinsentuin
Near the Martini Tower and Martini Church park, you will find an immaculate garden. Prinsentuin is a free, historic garden behind the Hotel Prinsenhof that blooms throughout the year. In the spring you will find tulips and flowering trees; in the summer roses and herbs.
There are two entrances to the garden. The one I usually enter through is off of Turfsingel; however, there is also a side entrance off of Kattenhage.
Prinsentuin is a pretty, peaceful escape where you can wander or sit on a bench and enjoy a snack not far from the bustling Grote Markt.
You May Also Like: 5 Undiscovered Tulip Fields In The Netherlands That Are Beyond Beautiful
6. Visit the Groninger Museum
For art in a funky building, visit the Groninger Museum. You will find a mix of different art exhibits, from contemporary to modern. They usually feature artists from Groningen in their works, but sometimes you get a special exhibit.
Last year, 2025, we saw an amazing artist from Munich, Germany who does interesting textile artwork. At this same visit they had a special exhibit happening with paintings from Van Gogh.
The first time we went to the Groninger Museum, was when my brother-in-law was visiting. They were featuring a Rolling Stones exhibit at that time.
If you have Netherlands museum cards, your entrance will be free. Children under 18 are always free, which makes a visit to this museum very affordable for families. If you don’t have a museum card, adults cost €19.50 to enter.
The Groninger Museum is not huge, so you could take 1 to 2 hours exploring the whole thing, depending on how quickly you travel through museums.
7. Have A Drink On A Patio By The Prettiest Canal In Groningen
One of the most beautiful areas in Groningen to walk or grab a drink is along Hoge der A and Lage der A. This stretch of canal is lined with historic buildings, and is a part of the city you can’t miss on a visit to Groningen.
There are a couple of places that are perfect for a drink right next to the canal. Pomphuis is a popular spot and has one of the best spots on the canal in my opinion. You can also eat dinner here, but I actually haven’t tasted the food, so I’m not sure if it’s good or not. It has a pretty good rating, so maybe worth a try.
Another great place to sip your wine is at Café de Sigaar. It is a prime location on the A canal right next to the A-Brug (A Bridge).
If you are visiting Groningen around Christmas, this canal is lined with beautifully decorated ships and Christmas market stalls one weekend in December. It is our favorite Christmas Market to visit in the Netherlands.
Read more about how to celebrate Christmas in Groningen here.
8. Go Shopping – From Vintage Stores To Boutique Shops
There are a few streets in Groningen that are lined with smaller, cute boutique shops and cafes.
Many of them are along Folkingestraat. If you keep walking across the Vismarkt, this street turns into Stoeldraaierstraat and has more shops and cafes to explore.
In addition, along Zwanestraat you can find a few more cute local shops and even an English bookstore, One More Chapter, for my romantasy readers!
9. Eat Dutch Pancakes On A Boat
If you want to try traditional Dutch pancakes, why not eat them on a ship in the canal!? Restaurant ‘t Pannekoekschip is the place to go. This ship on the canal in Oosterhaven has lots of options for you to choose your favorite flavored Dutch pancake.
We have been a couple of times to the pancake ship and like to eat the savory pancakes best. Dutch pancakes are very large. Imagine a very thick crepe filled with toppings.
Our favorites are usually the ham and cheese or bacon and cheese ones. There are sweet options as well. I’d recommend the apple and cinnamon one too!
There are a few weird flavor combinations on the menu. We frequently joke about how one time my mother-in-law’s husband ordered the banana and cheese pancake for some reason. Yep, it was as gross as it sounds. Just because it is on the menu doesn’t mean it is good.
On the table your will find a vat of molasses type syrup and brown sugar. This is what the Dutch use to sweeten their pancakes instead of traditional maple syrup. Powdered sugar is also used, but it won’t be on the tables at the ‘t Pannekoekschip.
10. Visit The Forum
Another building that is well-known in Groningen is the Forum. I usually describe the Forum to visitors as a modern community center. The architecture of this building is one of the coolest parts about it. Ascending the many floors by crazy escalators that cross the wide open center is something you won’t experience anywhere else.
Inside the Forum, you will find many different things to do. At ground level there is a cafe and gift shop. If you want to get any souvenirs from your time in Groningen, this is where to buy them.
As you go up the criss-crossing escalators, you will find a library, smartlab, other cafes, movie theaters and more. There are also a couple of exhibits in the Forum.
One that is always there is Storyworld. This museum is fun and interactive and shows a collection of comics, animation and games. You will learn what it takes to make a graphic story. If you are visiting with kids or just love comics, this is a great museum to check out in Groningen.
The other exhibit you will find in the Forum rotates seasonally. Currently it features photos from Wildlife Photographers of the Year which was curated in the Natural History Museum in London.
Both Storyworld and the temporary exhibits do cost money. Find out details on ticketing and prices on the Forum’s website.
On the very top floor, you will find a restaurant, NOK. This beautifully decorated restaurant is also very tasty. We like to go for lunch if we are in Groningen’s center. Good food with a view!
Also, don’t miss walking out onto the rooftop patio. Here you can get a fantastic and FREE view of Groningen from above.
11. Visit Nature In The City
There are two parks that are worth visiting in Groningen. Either of these parks are a good choice for enjoying a walk along a trail or having a picnic.
Stadspark or City park is the biggest park in the city. In the spring, you will find so many flowers blooming along the trails and near the water.
If you have young kids, choose Stadspark to visit. The biggest and best playground is there and there is even a free petting zoo where you can visit the goats, chickens and even a friendly cat or two. You can also go on a pony ride if you so desire.
One area, near the petting zoo, even has a few Highland cows.
The other park that is worth seeing in Groningen is the Noorderplantsoen. This park is near our home and we walk through it quite often. I love walking the peaceful trails here.
There is a small playground here too, but it’s not as nice as the one in Stadspark.
For a coffee or a bite to eat, stop at the patio of Zondag, a cafe in the heart of the park with a fantastic outdoor seating area.
You May Also Like: It’s Tulip Time: What You Need To Know To Visit Keukenhof Gardens In 2026
12. Taste The Best Cocktails In A Speakeasy
Our favorite place for cocktails is in a little speakeasy near the center. The first time we visited The Stockroom we couldn’t find it. The facade of the building looks like a worn out store that isn’t open. We literally walked away and figured that Google Maps was wrong. We started walking down the street a little further and turned back. Mike was determined to go to this cocktail bar.
When we got back to where it was supposed to be located, surprisingly the door opened and people stumbled out. We looked at each other and thought, why not give it a shot.
As you walk in, you literally enter a room that looks like a stockroom of a restaurant. We stood there a moment and didn’t know what to do. We were saved again when someone came out of the cooler. That is the entrance to the speakeasy.
The Stockroom is super chic, the drinks are always delicious and the bartenders are amazing. You can’t go wrong with the cocktails. It is a little pricey, but the costs are justified.
It can get very busy, so if you want to be sure you can try one of their seasonal, high-end cocktails, make a reservation by giving them a call or emailing them in advance. They only take reservations until 21:00 (9:00PM). After that it is first come, first serve.
Final Thoughts On What To Do In Groningen
Groningen really is an amazing town in the Netherlands. I really hope you hop on the 2-hour direct train from Amsterdam and discover all the best things to do in Groningen. I promise you will love it!
You May Also Like: 8 Cute Small Towns In The Netherlands Worth Visiting
FAQs About Groningen
Is Groningen, Netherlands worth visiting?
The short answer is yes. The areas around Amsterdam are beautiful, but also can be very busy. The train is easy to use and while it is two hours away, you can get a direct train. Groningen is a peaceful city with so many wonderful things to do. Spend a few days here!
What Is Groningen best known for?
Groningen is known for the Martini Tower that stands tall in the Grote Markt and the modern Forum building. There are also a couple of food items that are from here, the eierbal (pictured below) and groninger mustard.
What food is Groningen famous for?
The Groningen egg ball, or eierbal, is unique to here. It is a hard boiled egg, coated in a ragout, breaded and deep fried.
I have only tried it once at a very nice restaurant, and it was delicious. I don’t know if the quality and taste would hold up if I got it from the Snack Hoek, though. If you really want to try a good eierbal, make a reservation at Niemeijer.
Groninger mustard is also unique to Groningen. It has a little bit of a texture, is very strong and a little sweet.
