Why CityAppTour?
Explore a city in 1 day
Stories from local guides
Pause whenever you want
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Stress-free navigation with audio guidance
English guide
Arnhem, dramatically positioned along the Rhine River, carries the weight of WWII history while embracing modern innovation. This city in eastern Netherlands balances its wartime past—immortalized at sites like the John Frost Bridge—with forward-thinking design and lush green spaces. The contrast between Arnhem's historic center and its surrounding natural beauty creates a uniquely diverse urban experience.
Walking through Arnhem, you'll be struck by the distinctive sounds that define the city—from the gentle rustling of leaves in Park Sonsbeek to the modern buzz around the fashion district. With Arnhem walking tours on your smartphone, you're free to discover both famous landmarks and hidden corners at your leisure. The audio guide provides fascinating stories about the city's resilience and transformation, all while you set your own pace without group pressure.
Things to do in Arnhem
Besides our audio guides, there are many other ways to discover Arnhem. Here are some suggestions that can enrich your visit:
Best Time to Visit
Spring and summer (April through September) offer the most pleasant weather for exploring Arnhem's outdoor attractions and parks. The city is particularly beautiful in late April when flowers bloom in Park Sonsbeek. Winter visitors can enjoy the cozy atmosphere of Arnhem's cafés and the Christmas markets in December.
Getting There
Arnhem is well-connected by train, with direct connections from Amsterdam (1 hour), Utrecht (30 minutes), and Nijmegen (15 minutes). The city center is compact and walkable, but you can also use local buses or rent a bicycle from the central station. If driving, park at one of the P+R facilities on the outskirts and take public transport into the center.
Opening Hours and Holidays
Most shops in Arnhem open around 9:30 AM and close at 6 PM on weekdays, with late shopping on Thursdays until 9 PM. Museums typically operate from 10 AM to 5 PM. Note that many attractions have reduced hours on Mondays, and some smaller shops close on Sundays. National holidays like King's Day (April 27) and Liberation Day (May 5) feature special events throughout the city.
Comfort on the Go
Wear comfortable walking shoes as Arnhem has some hilly areas, especially around the Rhine bridges and Park Sonsbeek. The weather can change quickly, so bring a light raincoat even on sunny days. Public drinking fountains are available in the main squares, and most cafés will refill water bottles for free.
Local Customs and Etiquette
The Dutch appreciate directness, so don't be surprised by straightforward service. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory—rounding up the bill or adding 5-10% for good service is sufficient. When visiting cafés, it's common to order a drink before occupying a table for an extended period. Cycling is a way of life here, so be mindful of bike lanes when walking around the city.
CityAppTour routes are built by content makers who have actually walked the city, researched local history and gathered input from people who know the place well. For Arnhem, that means telling the full story of Operation Market Garden, the bridge that changed history, the rebuilt city and the remarkable cultural landscape that grew from the ruins.
In September 1944, Arnhem was the site of Operation Market Garden — the largest airborne operation in history — in which Allied forces attempted to capture the bridge over the Rhine to open a route into Germany. The 1st British Airborne Division held the north end of the Arnhem bridge for nine days against overwhelming German forces before being overwhelmed. Only around 2,000 of the 10,000 men who crossed the Rhine returned. The battle was immortalised in the 1977 film "A Bridge Too Far."
Plan around 2 hours for the walking tour through Arnhem's city centre and river quarter. The route covers the John Frost Bridge, the Korenmarkt, Sonsbeek Park, the key WWII memory sites and the post-war architecture that shaped the rebuilt city — all at your own pace.
The tour is written for adults, with content on the Battle of Arnhem, post-war reconstruction and the city's cultural heritage. Children aged around 12 and up generally follow along well. Younger children can enjoy the walk — Sonsbeek Park and the riverside tend to be highlights for all ages.
Yes, the tour can be shared with the people you are travelling with. Check the app for the current sharing options and any available group discounts.
A CityAppTour audio tour lets you explore Arnhem entirely at your own pace. You can linger at the John Frost Bridge, take a detour through Sonsbeek Park or spend more time at the riverside without a group schedule. No booking required and the tour works offline from the moment you download it.
There is no established free walking tour in Arnhem of comparable quality or regularity. The city has limited organised tour infrastructure compared to Amsterdam. CityAppTour offers a fixed-price route you can start the moment you arrive, on any day.
Yes — Arnhem is worth visiting, particularly for anyone interested in WWII history, contemporary art or nature. The city is the gateway to the Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kröller-Müller Museum, which holds one of the largest Van Gogh collections in the world. The centre has a lively, youthful atmosphere thanks to its fashion and arts scene, and the Battle of Arnhem in 1944 has left a legacy of memorials and museums that draws visitors from across Europe.
Arnhem is the only Dutch city where a defining moment of the Second World War played out on its streets and bridges — a story still visible in its memorials, the rebuilt cityscape and the Airborne Museum just outside town. It is also the gateway to the Hoge Veluwe, the Netherlands' most spectacular national park, and home to a thriving fashion and design scene built around ArtEZ, one of the leading art universities in the country.
Yes, the tour works fully offline after downloading. Download it on Wi-Fi before you travel and you have access to all audio, maps and points of interest throughout the day without using any mobile data.
The main things to do in Arnhem are: visit the Airborne Museum Hartenstein in nearby Oosterbeek (the best WWII museum in the Netherlands), walk to the John Frost Bridge, explore Sonsbeek Park with its open-air sculptures, visit Museum Arnhem for contemporary art, and head to Burgers' Zoo — one of the most innovative zoos in Europe. A day trip to the Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kröller-Müller Museum is unmissable if you have two days.
One full day is enough to explore Arnhem's city centre, visit the Airborne Memorial and walk along the John Frost Bridge. Two days allows a visit to the Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kröller-Müller Museum — both within 15 kilometres of the city and exceptional in their own right. Arnhem also works well as a base for exploring the Gelderland region.
"De stadswandeling door Arnhem onthulde een kant van de stad die ik anders volledig gemist zou hebben. De verhalen over de Brug der Bovensteeg gaven me kippenvel, terwijl de navigatie het vinden van verborgen parels in Arnhem moeiteloos maakte." — Richard, Nederland
"J'ai fait des visites guidées auparavant, mais explorer Arnhem sans guide m'a donné la liberté de passer plus de temps dans le quartier de la mode et d'apprendre toute l'histoire. La qualité de l'audio et des récits étaient exceptionnelles !" — Camilla, Frankrijk
"Als jemand, der Architektur liebt, war die selbstgeführte Tour durch Arnhem perfekt. Ich konnte Gebäude in meinem eigenen Tempo fotografieren, während ich mehr über ihre Bedeutung lernte. Die App funktionierte einwandfrei offline, was ein großer Vorteil war." — Julian, Duitsland
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