Groningen is a small city so you would be anywhere in just a few minutes to half an hour depending on where you’re travelling from. Although we don’t have the subway or trams, we do have a bus. And if you’re confident on a(n) (e-)bike, that’s the way to get around in town.
Taking the bus in Groningen
Everything in Groningen isn’t too far. Meaning you can walk or rent a bike. If you want to do and see a lot or are looking to get a bit further like the outer districts, the public bus is your best bet. Groningen has an extensive public transportation network, operated by Groningen’s public transport company, Qbuzz.
If you want to know how to get from the central station to another district, you should use the website 9292.nl. It’s the go-to website for planning your trip. Luckily it’s in English!
How to pay for a bus ticket in Groningen
To use public transport in Groningen you can buy a ticket on the bus, pay with your phone or debit card or you will need to have an OV-chipkaart.
OV-chipcard
The OV-chipkaart is a smart card that you can use to pay for your journeys on public transport. You can purchase an OV-chipkaart at a train station or online. It’s best to buy this if you’re planning to travel a lot in Groningen. If you’re here for the weekend, I wouldn’t bother to buy it and use tickets or your debit card instead.
Once you have an OV-chipkaart, you can use it to travel on buses and trains in Groningen. When you board a bus or train, you will need to check in by holding your OV-chipkaart against the card reader. When you reach your destination, you will need to check out by holding your card against the card reader again. The fare will be automatically deducted from your card balance.
Disposable one-way tickets or pay by debit card
If you prefer not to use an OV-chipkaart, you can also purchase disposable one-way tickets at a ticket machine or ticket counter. These tickets are valid for a single journey and can be purchased using cash or credit card.
From now on, travelers can not only check in and out with their OV-chipkaart, but also with a debit card, credit card, mobile phone or smartwatch, using contactless technology.
Using your car in Groningen
It’s important to note that some areas in Groningen have restricted access or limited parking and it can be very expensive. If you plan to park your car in the city, be sure to check the parking regulations and availability of parking spaces beforehand. There are several parking garages and parking areas available in the city center, and some hotels also offer private parking for their guests.
P+R Groningen
Parking is free at our P+R (Park & Ride) spots. From there, you can take the bus to the city centre.
There are few P+R spots but I’d recommend the following:
Arriving from the west
P+R Hoogkerk, Peizerweg, 9744 Groningen (navigate to: Hoogkerkerplein).
Arriving from the north or east
P+R Kardinge, Kardingerplein 1, P+R Meerstad, Driebondsweg or P+R Reitdiep, Professor Uilkensweg, hoek Friesestraatweg.
Arriving from the south or east
P+R Haren/A28, Emmalaan 35.