A Walking Tour
The best place to start a tour of Eindhoven is the Markt, or Market Square (below), which lies south of the main train station. This is the heart of the city, and the pedestrian-only streets surrounding it form the city centre.
As you wander the pedestrian area, you'll find that this is the best part of the city for shopping as well as dining, and if you head south through either shopping street Rechtestraat or past the Heuvelgalerie through the Jan van Lieshoutstraat, you'll end up at the Catharina square with the impressive Catharina church where you'll find the start of the Stratumseind, a narrow but long street with plenty of bars and clubs that can be explored in the evening.
As you head south, you will inevitably cross the Dommel River, which offers plenty of riverside paths as well as green areas for summertime strolls. Follow the Dommel to the west, cross it again, and you'll run into Stadhuisplein, or City Hall Square, home of the very modern City Hall building. Just over the Dommel lies the even more modern Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven's contemporary art hub, and a must-see for any visitor.
If you follow the Dommel further south, you will enter the Stadswandelpark, a city park with diverse vegetation and outdoor sculptures. Those with more time (or a bicycle) can follow the river even further south to the Genneper Parks, a vast green recreational area with sporting activities as well as museums.
But there's still more to see! Head back towards the city centre, but veer west this time and you will run into the arty area known as 'De Bergen'. A good way to approach this area is to go up Hoogstraat Street, which is full of trendy vintage shops. Grote Berg and Kleine Berg streets are both worth fully exploring, as they feature some of the city's most unique galleries, cafes, and shops. Finally, you can make your way north to Wilhelminaplein, a small square just outside of the centre that caters to an older crowd.
Of course, while these are the highlights, there's much more to the city that can only be discovered in person, so get out there and explore Eindhoven!