Groningen is nowhere near asleep.

Going out in Stad

Nothing beats Groningen, and that goes double for the night. Many pubs in the centre have no fixed closing time, so an evening that starts at ten can easily carry on until the birds start singing.

A large part of Stad, as locals call the city, is studying, and you notice it every day of the week. Everything is within cycling distance of the Grote Markt, which makes it easy to actually meet someone you got to know on YesTonite a little earlier.

In January Eurosonic Noorderslag draws music lovers from all over Europe, and in August Noorderzon turns the Noorderplantsoen park into a festival ground.

Groningen goes out every night, with Thursday as the big student night. It usually only gets really busy after midnight.

Where Groningen goes out

• PoelestraatPub after pub, the best-known nightlife street in town.
• PeperstraatRight by the Poelestraat, with cafés and small clubs open deep into the night.
• Grote MarktThe central square with terraces, where many evenings begin.
• VismarktA spacious square with cafés, a little quieter than the Grote Markt.
• OosterstraatBars, places to eat and an arthouse cinema on a lively shopping street.