Harlingen Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Photo by Jan Lalkens
Discover one of the eleven cities on the famous Friesian ice skating route and enjoy the beach, the beautiful nature, the picturesque city centre and of course the harbour!

Visit the Friesian city of Harlingen, a lovely city on the Wadden Sea full of surprises. It has a picturesque harbour, quaint sidewalk cafés and a great shopping mall. Nature lovers will more than enjoy a day on the water or one of the nearby nature reserves.

Harlingen has a rich history and was an important harbour for hundreds of years. The harbour attracted people and the village quickly grew into a town with breweries, big houses and shipyards. Stroll through the city centre and take in the lovely sights of this old Friesian town.

There's more than enough to do and see in Harlingen! Stroll through the city centre, relax at one of the sidewalk cafés and go shopping. Visit the Grote Kerk, one of the oldest in Friesland with a rare organ.

Culture lovers must see ‘t Gouden Stoepke, an old building which dates back to the 16th century and still has some of its original details. Hannemahuis, a centre dedicated to the history of Harlingen, is also a must. Take time out between the cultural sights to head out to the beach at Westerzeedijk or nature reserve Hegewiersterfjild, a real paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers.

The centre of town is small making it easy to explore on foot. Explore the lovely harbour, visit the city centre and walk to the beach or hire a bicycle and explore the surrounding area. There is also a bus service. If you’re travelling by car, you can park for a fee in one of the indicated parking garages.

Harlingen is close to the Afsluitdijk making to easy to reach by car from North-Holland. It's also easy to reach from Leeuwarden via the A31. If you prefer to travel by public transport, there's a train to Harlingen Haven from Leeuwarden. A number of buses in the surrounding cities will also get you there.

The Friesian town of Harlingen is the perfect place for a great holiday. Enjoy cultural heritage, breathtaking nature and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Post-Plaza Hotel & Grand Café
Post-Plaza Hotel & Grand Café
4 out of 5
Tweebaksmarkt 25-27, Leeuwarden
The price is £96 per night from 13 May to 14 May
£96
per night
13 May - 14 May
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Leeuwarden. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (462 reviews)
Excellent room
"Room was amazing, so clean and looked brand new! Really well maintained. Good value for money, especially on a Saturday night."

Reviewed on 7 Apr 2024

Post-Plaza Hotel & Grand Café
Boutique Hotel De Eilanden
Boutique Hotel De Eilanden
3.5 out of 5
Noorderhaven 24, Harlingen
The price is £113 per night from 25 May to 26 May
£113
per night
25 May - 26 May
Stay at this 3.5-star guesthouse in Harlingen. Enjoy free WiFi, a marina and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Galerie de Vis and Hannemahuis Museum are ...
9/10 Wonderful! (129 reviews)
"Great stay"

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2024

Boutique Hotel De Eilanden
Cozy House in Harlingen city center for pleasure and work
Cozy House in Harlingen city center for pleasure and work
Harlingen, FR
Stay at this holiday home in Harlingen. Enjoy WiFi, on-site parking and a Smart TV. Popular attractions Hannemahuis Museum and Galerie de Vis are located nearby. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (25 reviews)
Charming Harlingen Apartment
"Charming, quiet and art-filled, caringly hosted by real people, excellent location. The only caveat: the bathroom is down a steep old-time Netherlands flight of stairs. If that doesn't scare you off -- Enjoy! Thanks, Jack and Catherine!"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2023

Cozy House in Harlingen city center for pleasure and work
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
De Vlijt Verfügt Über 4 Geräumigen Royal Class Studio's
De Vlijt Verfügt Über 4 Geräumigen Royal Class Studio's
De Cocksdorp, Nordholland
Stay at this apartment in De Cocksdorp. Enjoy WiFi, on-site parking and a garden. Popular attractions VVV Texel and Texel International Airport are located nearby. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1 review)
Schöne Insel
"Tagsüber durch Flugbetrieb recht laut (aber man ist ja meistens unterwegs), nachts sehr ruhig! Da wir heiße Tage hatten, war die Klimaanlage Gold wert!!"

Reviewed on 10 Sep 2023

De Vlijt Verfügt Über 4 Geräumigen Royal Class Studio's
Cozy House in Harlingen city center for pleasure and work
Cozy House in Harlingen city center for pleasure and work
Harlingen, FR
Stay at this holiday home in Harlingen. Enjoy WiFi, on-site parking and a Smart TV. Popular attractions Hannemahuis Museum and Galerie de Vis are located nearby. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (25 reviews)
Charming Harlingen Apartment
"Charming, quiet and art-filled, caringly hosted by real people, excellent location. The only caveat: the bathroom is down a steep old-time Netherlands flight of stairs. If that doesn't scare you off -- Enjoy! Thanks, Jack and Catherine!"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2023

Cozy House in Harlingen city center for pleasure and work
TOP Ausgestattetes Hausboot mit Dachterrasse in Stavoren am Ijsselmer
TOP Ausgestattetes Hausboot mit Dachterrasse in Stavoren am Ijsselmer
Stavoren, FR
Stay at this houseboat in Stavoren. Enjoy free WiFi, on-site parking and an in-room DVD player. Popular attractions IJsselmeer and Grote Kerk are located nearby. ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
Entschleunigen direkt am Wasser
"Super Entspannung"

Reviewed on 1 Apr 2024

TOP Ausgestattetes Hausboot mit Dachterrasse in Stavoren am Ijsselmer
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Harlingen

5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
1
" "5 - Excellent 100%
4 - Good
0
" "4 - Good 0%
3 - Okay
0
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2 - Disappointing
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" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

ErikBurger
14 Oct 2019

We liked Eetcafe Nooitgedacht, 3 Min walking from Anna Casparii, excellent food and a very, very good serving team

Cities near Harlingen