# South Limburg: Maastricht, Valkenburg and the three-country point

> 2-day road trip of about 44 km (28 mi) with 7 stops, from Maastricht to Aachen. About 0 h 37 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-south-limburg/

**At a glance:** 2-day road trip of about 44 km (28 mi) with 7 stops, from Maastricht to Aachen. About 0 h 37 min of driving in total. Maastricht’s old town and marl caves, a hilltop castle ruin in Valkenburg, the highest point of the Netherlands and Charlemagne’s cathedral in Aachen.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 44 km (28 mi) |
| Driving | 0 h 37 min |
| Suggested days | 2 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Maastricht → Aachen |
| Countries | Netherlands, Germany |
| Updated | June 17, 2026 |

## Route description

Maastricht sits on the Meuse close to the Belgian border, a city of squares, churches and cafés quite different from the rest of the Netherlands. Park at one of the park-and-ride sites or a garage by the river, and walk from the Vrijthof to the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. On the Sint-Pietersberg south of town, Fort Sint Pieter guards the entrance to kilometres of old marl-quarry tunnels, visited on guided tours.

Drive east about 15 km through the Geul valley to Valkenburg, a small resort town under the ruins of its castle. The ticket includes passages cut in the marl below. In the caves around the town, Christmas markets are held from mid-November. The hills here, gentle by other standards, are the steepest in the Netherlands and popular with cyclists.

Continue by the N278 through Gulpen and the rolling countryside of half-timbered farms and orchards to Vaals. Just south of the town, the Vaalserberg rises to 322 m, the highest point of the European Netherlands. There is a viewing tower, a maze and the stone that marks the point where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.

Aachen is 5 km beyond the border. Charlemagne made it his capital, and his octagonal chapel forms the core of the cathedral, a UNESCO site since 1978. The city is also a spa, with hot springs. It is a low-emission zone, so you need a green sticker. The whole trip is short enough for a weekend and works in any season.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Maastricht** (Netherlands)
2. **Fort Sint Pieter and the Sint-Pietersberg caves** (Maastricht, Netherlands): An 18th-century fort on the hill south of Maastricht, above a maze of marl tunnels dug over centuries. The caves can only be seen on guided tours; book ahead and bring a jacket.
3. **Valkenburg** (Netherlands)
4. **Valkenburg Castle ruins** (Valkenburg, Netherlands): The ruins of the only hilltop castle in the Netherlands, above the Geul valley, with secret passages in the marl. The ticket includes the castle and caves below; parking in the town is paid.
5. **Vaalserberg Three-Country Point** (Vaals, Netherlands): The point where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, at 322 m the highest ground in the European Netherlands. A viewing tower and a hedge maze stand beside it; paid parking.
6. **Aachen Cathedral** (Aachen, Germany): Charlemagne’s octagonal palace chapel from around 800, with his marble throne and later Gothic choir, one of the first UNESCO sites in Germany. Entry is free outside services; the treasury charges a fee.
7. **Aachen** (Germany)

## FAQs

**How long is South Limburg: Maastricht, Valkenburg and the three-country point?**
2-day road trip of about 44 km (28 mi) with 7 stops, from Maastricht to Aachen. About 0 h 37 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for South Limburg: Maastricht, Valkenburg and the three-country point?**
We suggest 2 days: about 0 h 37 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does South Limburg: Maastricht, Valkenburg and the three-country point start and end?**
It starts in Maastricht and ends in Aachen.

**Which countries does South Limburg: Maastricht, Valkenburg and the three-country point pass through?**
Netherlands and Germany.