Planning a weekend in Eindhoven? Here’s where to stay, eat and explore

Often, Amsterdam gets all the attention from visitors to the Netherlands. But Eindhoven, AKA the City of Light, has been quietly building a case for itself. Here’s why you need to visit, and what to look out for. 

Home to bold post-war architecture, craft beer bars, and a hotel literally built inside a light bulb factory, Eindhoven is worth the train ride, for sure.

Not to mention the food scene is excellent, the neighbourhoods are fascinating and full of life, and it’s far less crowded than Amsterdam. 

Here’s everything you could get up to while visiting Eindhoven:

1. Step inside the Philips Museum

Everything in Eindhoven leads back to Philips. This company shaped the city, from its neighbourhoods and parks to its football club and identity. So starting here makes perfect sense.

The Philips museum is housed in the original 1891 factory building where Gerard Philips first started producing light bulbs. 

Inside, you can walk through 130 years of innovation: from those early bulbs to CDs, shavers, and now AI. The second half of the museum is interactive and hands-on, which makes it entertaining for all kinds of learners. 

2. Stay at the WestCord Hotel Eindhoven

Speaking of Philips, the WestCord Hotel Eindhoven is partly housed in the Lichttoren — the monumental Philips Light Tower, built in 1909. This was the factory where Philips engineers tested light bulbs late into the night. The tower’s name stuck, and so did its legacy. 

Today, the loft rooms inside it have 4-metre-high ceilings, exposed industrial features, and the kind of atmosphere that no newly-built hotel can manufacture.

The hotel also underwent a major renovation in 2025, adding brand new rooms in the adjacent Mathilde Tower alongside the restored rooms in the Lichttoren. 

From the magnificent in-house restaurant to the well-stocked bar and a wellness centre with saunas and a Turkish bath, WestCord is perfect for unwinding after a full day of exploring. 

The fitness area and meeting and event facilities also make it a solid option for business travellers who want somewhere with more personality than a standard conference hotel. 

3. Explore Strijp-S, the former forbidden city

For decades, the entire Strijp-S complex belonged to Philips, and ordinary Eindhoven residents weren’t allowed in. It was a closed industrial site where employees worked, nicknamed the verboden stad: the forbidden city.

These days, it’s the most energetic neighbourhood in Eindhoven. Old Philips factory buildings have been transformed into restaurants, studios, shops, a cinema, and a concert venue,  all while keeping the industrial bones intact. 

From the Klokgebouw to the Ketelhuis, this is an area well worth exploring. 

4. Discover the future at the Next Nature Museum (Evoluon)

The Evoluon is a truly unique building. In short, it looks like a flying saucer that landed in Eindhoven in 1966 as a gift from Philips to the city. 

When the Next Nature Museum moved in, this architectural marvel was finally able to house something as interesting as it looks. 

The museum asks what happens when technology becomes our second nature. Virtual reality time machines, printed food, living cities, wild robots:  it’s thought-provoking stuff, and the exhibitions are built to be played with rather than just looked at. 

5. Lose yourself in the Van Abbemuseum

Founded in 1936, the Van Abbemuseum is one of Europe’s oldest public contemporary art museums. 

Its collection comprises over 3,400 works, including works by Picasso, Mondrian, and Marlene Dumas, as well as one of the largest collections of El Lissitzky paintings anywhere in the world.

The building itself is also worth noting: the original 1936 structure sits alongside a striking 2003 extension designed by Abel Cahen. 

It’s a museum that takes art seriously without taking itself too seriously. 

6. Wander the boutiques of De Bergen

De Bergen is Eindhoven’s answer to Amsterdam’s Negen Straatjes: a neighbourhood of independent boutiques, concept stores, and good coffee tucked into streets that run off the main shopping drag. 

If that doesn’t convince you, note that the locals call it Eindhoven’s Quartier Latin! 

Look for vintage finds at All Vintage and ethical fashion at Vielgut. Then, you can sit outside at one of the terrace cafés and simply watch the city go by.

7. Hunt for design finds at Urban Shopper

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If you want to bring something more exciting home than the trinkets at the airport gift shop, Urban Shopper is the answer. 

Located in Strijp-S, it’s a collective of small creative entrepreneurs selling original design pieces, vintage items, and things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them. If you’re a lover of creative gifts, this is where you need to be. 

8. Spend a morning in Woensel-West

While Woensel-West was struggling not long ago, it’s now one of the more interesting places in Eindhoven. 

A multicultural neighbourhood that’s been quietly reinventing itself, it’s filled with colourful architecture, independent shops, and community-led spots worth seeking out. From Anne’s taste of Greece to the Woensel Westside Stores, you’re sure to be occupied for ages. 

9. Visit Piet Hein Eek’s design empire at Strijp-R

Piet Hein Eek is probably the most famous Dutch designer you’ve never heard of. Fret not, after a visit to Eindhoven, you’ll be an expert. 

His base at Strijp-R is a former Philips ceramic workshop, now home to his studio, shop, exhibition space, grand café, and hotel. 

He works with reclaimed and waste materials, and his aesthetic (rough-luxe and a bit chaotic) runs through everything on site. Plus, the restaurant is excellent for lunch.

10. Walk (or skate) through Area51 — the largest indoor skatepark in the Netherlands

Area51 is an enormous indoor skatepark housed in a former Philips building in Strijp-S. 

At 2,800 square metres, it’s the largest indoor skatepark in the Netherlands, and whether you skate or not, it’s worth a look. 

The space itself is impressive, and the energy is good. There’s a café with a balcony overlooking the skate track if you’d rather watch with a drink in hand than shred with the other skaters. 

Sessions run in limited time slots, so book your spot online in advance. You’ll receive an access code by email once your reservation is confirmed. Each day has two time slots, and the minimum age on the track is 7.

11. Grab lunch at Down Town Gourmet Market

Twenty food stalls, one central location. A veritable cornucopia of flavours! 

The Down Town Gourmet Market’s QR code ordering system means everyone at the table can eat something completely different. Hands down, this is one of the best lunch stops in the city centre.

Vietnamese pho, Spanish pinchos, sushi, burgers: it’s all there. Order a bit of everything, find a table, and see what arrives. The food scene in Eindhoven is worth making time for, and this is a good place to start.

12. Have dinner at De Kazerne

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De Kazerne is a restaurant, event space, and rotating art exhibition wrapped into one building. 

The interiors are inspired and uplifting despite leaning into dark tones and industrial character. Plus, the changing design exhibitions shift the atmosphere entirely.

The food has a modern Italian touch, with seasonal ingredients and a menu that changes regularly. 

Chef Giovanni Gabana and his team serve robust, largely vegetable-forward dishes, with fish and meat options available too. Make sure to book ahead, this one fills up.

13. Have a drink at Van Moll or Stadsbrouwerij

Eindhoven has a vibrant brewing tradition, and two spots keep it alive better than anywhere else.

Van Moll is a craft beer brewpub near the city centre, serving up experimental beers, board games, and a relaxed crowd. 

Stadsbrouwerij Eindhoven takes a similar approach, with simple food alongside the beer and a terrace that fills up fast in summer. Both are low-key, local, and exactly what you want at the end of a full day of city exploration.

14. Catch a show at Natlab cinema

Natlab is Eindhoven’s independent cinema, and it’s a lovely place to spend an evening. Housed in a former Philips building in Strijp-S, the bar is affordable, and the programming is fascinating. 

The films shown skew towards arthouse and international film rather than whatever blockbuster is everywhere else.

Not all international films are screened with English subtitles, though, so be sure to check the listing before you book. 

15. Get some fresh air in Philips de Jongh Park

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Eindhoven is also one of the greenest cities in the Netherlands. That’s thanks to the legacy of Frits Philips, who collected trees on his travels and had them shipped back to plant around the city. 

Philips de Jongh Park is one of the more pleasant results: a large park in the west of the city with a Stadspaviljoen (city pavilion) serving coffee, lunch, and drinks.

It’s free, it’s peaceful, and it makes a good contrast to the Strijp-S industrial aesthetics.

16. Explore Eindhoven by bike

Eindhoven is compact. Most major attractions are within a short bike ride of each other. 

Renting a bike, either from the station or your hotel, is the best way to cover Strijp-S, Woensel-West, and the parks without feeling pressured to watch the clock.

It goes without saying that biking in Eindhoven is pleasant and efficient. After all, this is the Netherlands: the cycling infrastructure is excellent.

Getting to and around Eindhoven

By plane

Eindhoven Airport is the second-busiest airport in the Netherlands after Schiphol. It’s served by Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air, and others, with routes across Europe. 

The airport is around 7 kilometres from the city centre and is accessible by bus, taxi, or hire car. Note: Eindhoven Airport does not have its own train station; it is accessible by bus from Eindhoven Centraal. 

By train

Eindhoven Centraal is well-connected. Direct trains run from Amsterdam (about 1 hour 15 minutes), Utrecht (around 50 minutes), Rotterdam, Den Haag, and Maastricht. 

Check ns.nl for specific updates and timetables.

Other public transport

Bus lines 400 and 401 connect Eindhoven Airport to the city centre in around 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the line (bus 400 is the faster, more direct service). 

Within the city, buses are reliable, but most central attractions are easily reached on foot or by bike.

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Have you been to Eindhoven, or is this your first visit? Tell us what’s on your list in the comments below!

Frequently asked questions about visiting Eindhoven