City, Netherlands
Groningen for solo travelers
Is Groningen good for solo travel?
Northern Netherlands' compact student city: bikes everywhere, canals, concerts and cafés, with Wadden Sea day trips. Safe, social and walkable; housing is very tight, and winters are dark and windy.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Late nights near student bars can bring drunk behaviour; trains and buses run safely. |
How to meet people in Groningen
Student pubs on Poelestraat and Peperstraat, university sports clubs and language cafés, concert venues like Vera, and canoe or rowing clubs.
Good things to do alone
- Climb the Martinitoren for city views
- Visit the Groninger Museum
- Walk or cycle Noorderplantsoen park
- Day trip to Schiermonnikoog via Lauwersoog
- See a gig at Vera or Oosterpoort
Where to stay in Groningen
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Binnenstad (city centre) | Walkable core with bars, museums and the Martinitoren |
| Oosterparkwijk | Cafés, concert halls and young residents near the centre |
| Helpman | Quieter family streets and green spaces south of the centre |
| Schildersbuurt | Cheaper flats near the station and mixed local shops |
Solo travel across Netherlands
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Rotterdam | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Utrecht | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Groningen | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| The Hague | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Haarlem | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Maastricht | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Eindhoven | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Groningen good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Northern Netherlands' compact student city: bikes everywhere, canals, concerts and cafés, with Wadden Sea day trips.
How do you meet people in Groningen?
Student pubs on Poelestraat and Peperstraat, university sports clubs and language cafés, concert venues like Vera, and canoe or rowing clubs. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Groningen?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Groningen safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Late nights near student bars can bring drunk behaviour; trains and buses run safely.
More about Groningen
Going to Groningen solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Groningen meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.