Delft: your new favourite city trip
The perfect citytrip guide full of hidden gems, creative vibes and the tastiest food spots
Tips 💙 for an unforgettable citytrip - From cosy market squares and boutiques to green parks and surprising workshops - Delft has it all.
You might be thinking: “Delft? Isn’t that just the historic city of Delft Blue and old churches?”
Guess what: Delft is so much more than that.
This is a city bursting with creative energy, where you spot street art behind stately façades(✔ perfect photo spot), where you stroll through hidden alleys full of hip boutiques and sit down at food spots that are perfect for your Instagram. Where you start the morning with a slow breakfast by the canal, create your own Delft Blue artwork in the afternoon and have drinks on a sunny square among locals in the evening.
Are you ready for an unforgettable day in enchanting Delft?
This charming city, nestled between Rotterdam and The Hague, is a hidden gem that effortlessly blends history with a contemporary vibe. And all this just a stone’s throw from the coast.
Whether you are planning a spontaneous getaway with your partner or a day of discovery with friends: Delft is full of surprises. Be seduced by colourful markets, secret courtyard gardens, creative workshops and a laidback atmosphere you won't find anywhere else. This is the kind of place where you go without a plan and discover the most beautiful things precisely because of it.
Scroll on and find out what your perfect day (or weekend!) in Delft could look like.
Morning: Slow start in the heart of Delft
Start your day relaxed with a delicious breakfast in the historic city centre. The atmosphere in Delft is magical in the morning, when the first rays of sunlight colour the facades along the canals softly orange and the city slowly awakens.
For a delicious breakfast, go to TAZZ too or Café Johannes and get a nice coffee at LOT. all located on the Voldersgracht. This is without a doubt one of Delft's most atmospheric streets, right by the water and surrounded by historic buildings. Here you can enjoy freshly baked croissants, richly filled sourdough sandwiches and homemade smoothies.
With a steaming cup of local coffee in your hand, you can enjoy people-watching and start thinking about which hotspots you will discover later. The friendly baristas will be happy to give you tips!
Don't forget to pop into a few shops too - the voldersgracht is full of cute boutiques and concept stores. A few tips: score something unique at PLECK, Droom, Femme + Frenkie, browse vinyl at Velvet Music or step inside The Christmas Shop, where it's Christmas all year round.
Shopping & strolling along canals
After the relaxed start, it's time to really go on an adventure. Never mind the map and just wander through the picturesque canals, you never know what you will encounter.
Lose yourself in a maze of small streets full of hip boutiques, quirky concept stores and hidden speciality shops. In and around Markt and the canals, you will come across unique shops with unusual clothes, handmade jewellery, artistic finds and cool interior items. Perfect for taking home something you won't find anywhere else.
Are you in Delft on a Thursday? Lucky you! Then the imposing Markt, right by the city hall, turns into a colourful food hall. Go on a mini food tour: taste a spicy piece of old cheese, snack on a warm syrup wafer that is still sticky from the caramel and score a bright bunch of flowers. Everything to make your day even merrier.
Lunchtime: delicious local tasting
After all those impressions, it is high time to settle down for a well-earned lunch. Fortunately, Delft is bursting with cosy cafés and bistros with sunny terraces where you can linger for hours.
Tip for your bucket list: the Delft Brewery. Here you taste locally brewed beers that go perfectly with surprising lunch dishes full of flavour. Or go for 't Postkantoor, a cosy restaurant in, you guessed it, an old post office, with a secret city garden where you can relax in the sun.
Be tempted by a richly filled drinks board with local produce or choose a fresh salad with seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs. Everything here is pure, local and honest. Just what you need to continue exploring full of new energy.
Up stairs, breathe in, view on
With a well-filled stomach and a healthy dose of lef, this is the time to take to the heights. Because it's climbing: 376 steps up, your calves on fire and your breath a little short, but believe us, it is SO worth it. At the top, the view awaits: the roofs of Delft are spread out beneath you like a patchwork. On the horizon, you spot The Hague, the dunes and, on clear days, even a glimpse of Rotterdam.
📸 Insta moment: turn around halfway down. Through the small tower windows, light shines in like in an old movie. Magical.
Cultural treasure in a hidden house
Descend to the Koornmarkt and enter the Paul Tétar van Elven Museum, a place that feels like a film set full of vintage vibes all the way. Wallpaper with flowers, display cabinets full of 19th-century porcelain, a salon where time literally seems to stand still. This was once the home of Paul Tétar van Elven: artist, collector and bon vivant pur sang.
A visit feels like being at tea with your eccentric great-grandfather with refined taste and a penchant for beauty. Every corner is a picture, every object a story. Aesthetic dream décor? Absolutely. But for real.
Afternoon part two: on an adventure outside the city walls
Hire a bike (tip: you can do that here) and pedal towards the Delftse Hout. Between the trees, puddles and fields you immediately feel: here you can breathe. Bring a rug and some goodies for a mini picnic by the water. Fancy something even more unique? Cycle past Agnetapark, a tranquil paradise with working-class houses from 1885 and a park-like atmosphere you won't find anywhere else.
Staying in Delft? Make it unique
Would you rather stay in town, or is the weather not cooperating? Perfect excuse to make something you can't buy anywhere: Delft is the place for creative workshops where you make your own masterpiece.
Book a Delft Blue painting workshop at Royal Delftor go all-in with glitter and fragrance at the Stadskaarsenmakerij, where you cast your own candle in your favourite colour.
Fancy something completely different? At Pleck Delft you can design your own jewellery, from a pretty necklace to a cute bracelet, all homemade. Would you rather dive into the crafts? Then head to Molen de Roos, where you will learn how to bake a real sourdough bread in a rotating mill. The smell alone is worth the workshop.
Evening: sultry, atmospheric and surprising
For dinner you end up on the Doelenplein, a knus, atmospheric little square full of strings of lights, trees and hidden gems. It is one of those places where locals linger endlessly, and tourists often stumble upon it by chance.
HANNO is the surprise here: a worldly hotspot with street food vibes, colourful plates and furniture full of stories. From Asia to South America, every dish has a journey behind it. So not a standard eatery, but a place where you taste, watch and discover.
GAIA Is just around the corner and is one of those places where time stops. From breakfast to dinner and - importantly - drinks. Think good food, fine music, sunny terrace and a menu full of goodies for every moment of the day.
Golden hour through the canals
The evening sky turns orange-pink. Time to slow your pace, open your eyes and keep your camera ready. Take a golden hour walk along Oude Delft, perhaps the city's most beautiful canal, towards the Oostpoort - Delft's only remaining original city gate. Everything shimmers, the water reflects the facades, and even the silence seems warm.
Instagram stops during golden hour
#3 Bridge on the Oude Delft
The classic view: a glimpse of the Oude Kerk through the trees. A picture-perfect scene, especially at sunset.
#4 Trompetstraat
A narrow street + colourful façades + a view of the Nieuwe Kerk = the perfect composition. The light streams in beautifully here at the end of the day.
#5 Oostpoort at blue hour
A fairytale scene just after sunset. Two towers, mirror-like water – don’t forget your tripod for the perfect photo.
Not ready for bed yet?
After that evening stroll along the canals and the magical Oostpoort, the city still beckons. Because hey - why finish your day now? Time for one last drink, a good conversation, maybe an unexpected party. Delft has plenty of places where you can linger a little longer. Here are a few tips:
De Gist is the place to be for craft beer and a lively atmosphere – a sunny terrace out front, a buzzing energy inside.
Lakila feels like a mini-break: Mediterranean wines, small dishes and a cosy interior.
Luna mixes the tastiest cocktails (and mocktails), with fresh ingredients and love in every glass.
De Ruif is knus, laid-back and the perfect place to accidentally end up staying out late.
Or settle down on the always lively Beestenmarkt - the square where Delft comes together. From Kobus Kuch to Bar Sil, here you will find something for everyone, every day of the year. Grab a terrace, have a drink, people-watch... and just stay a while.
Closing in style
Spending the night in Delft? Choose a place with character
After a day full of impressions, you don't want to sleep just anywhere. Luckily, Delft has places to sleep that are as unique as your day.
Casa Julia
A cosy urban oasis just outside the city centre, with a homely atmosphere and plenty of greenery.
Hotel Arsenaal
Stylish and atmospheric: stay in a former VOC warehouse steeped in history and design.
The Social Hub Delft
Right next to the station. Trendy, international and full of energy – from colourful rooms to a co-working space and a place for a drink, all in one.
Boutique Hotel Johannes
Small, stylish and personal – right in the heart of the city on the canal.
Wherever you choose: you will roll into bed satisfied, with your head still full of stories.
View all accommodation
Why Delft is your next adventure...
- Culture trip, but different: from painting Delft Blue to spotting street art behind old facades
- Super accessible: 15 minutes by train from Rotterdam or The Hague
- Walkable and chill: all highlights are within walking distance, from canals to boutiques
- Green escapes: in ten minutes by bike you can be in Delftse Hout for a picnic or sunset
- Insta gold: leaning towers, hidden courtyards and golden hour along Oude Delft
- Local vibes: from special beer at Delfts Brouwhuis to cocktails at Luna, you can end the day like a local
Honestly? We haven’t even told you half of it yet. Delft is so full of stories, flavours, narrow streets and surprises that one day really isn’t enough.
So do yourself a favour: book that overnight stay, stick around and turn it into a city break you’ll look back on fondly for a long time to come.
Whether you come for a creative workshop with glue and napkins, the climb to the city's most beautiful view, a hidden city park full of tranquillity or just to wander around without a plan, Delft never disappoints.
It is a city in layers. Compact, but layered. Old, but never boring. Artistic, without fuss. You can get lost there without wondering where you are, and that's exactly the beauty of it.
So… pack that weekend bag, slip on your favourite trainers, charge your phone and just go.
Delft is waiting for you. With open canals, the aroma of coffee, quiet courtyards, leaning towers and creativity on every street corner.
Tip from other visitors:
Milou: "Last weekend we went out early for a lovely weekend in Delft. What a nice, atmospheric city! We were extremely lucky with the weather: bright sunshine, perfect terrace weather - that made everything even more fun."
From hidden gem to wow place: - These are tips you will want to take with you on your Delft city trip
-
From city to beach in 30 minutes
Fancy some sea, sand and sun? From Delft you can be at the coast in no time.
-
SUPing, sailing, chilling
Hire a boat without a licence or jump on a SUP and see the city from its most beautiful side: the canal. Float past old facades, bridges and hidden gardens, relax or paddle yourself happy.
-
Events, expos and unexpected nights out
From open-air films to silent discos in old churches, from intimate concerts to arty pop-ups - there is always something happening in Delft. Especially if you know where to look.
-
More shopping inspiration? You'll also want to take these tips with you
Have you already spotted some fine shopping addresses in our guide? Then we have good news: there is so much more to discover. From hidden concept stores to sustainable boutiques, from vintage gems to shops where you can make something yourself.
-
Find even more food tips here
Have you already seen some yummy places passing by? I know. But believe us: Delft has much more to offer for your taste buds. From secret lunch spots to creative kitchens and wine bars where you spontaneously linger.