Top places to visit in Rotterdam

• Markthal

  indoor food market · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Markthal is one of the most spectacular market buildings in the world — a colossal horseshoe-shaped arch of residential apartments whose inner vault is covered in 11,000 m² of full-colour digital artwork depicting enormous fruits,…

• Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen)

  experimental architecture · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Cube Houses are Rotterdam's most photographed landmark — a cluster of 38 experimental dwellings designed by architect Piet Blom and completed in 1984, in which each cube is tilted 45 degrees and balanced on a hexagonal pylon,…

• Euromast

  observation tower · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Euromast is a 185-metre observation tower built for the 1960 Floriade horticultural expo and still the tallest structure in Rotterdam, offering the most complete panorama of the city's extraordinary modern skyline, its port — the…

• Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

  art storage museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Opened in November 2021, the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is the world's first publicly accessible art storage facility — a mirrored bowl-shaped building designed by MVRDV that stores all 151,000 works from the Boijmans collection, 97% of…

• Rotterdam Markthal Food

  food-hall · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Markthal — Rotterdam's spectacular indoor food market with the enormous colourful Horn of Plenty ceiling artwork, over 100 food stalls, restaurants, and apartments built into the spectacular horseshoe arch.

• Delfshaven

  historic harbour district · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Delfshaven is the only historic neighbourhood to survive Rotterdam's devastating wartime bombing, a perfectly preserved slice of 17th-century Dutch harbour life just three metro stops from the modern city centre. The Pilgrim Fathers'…

• Erasmus Bridge Swan

  iconic-bridge · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The iconic Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusbrug) — the swan-shaped 1996 cable-stayed bridge over the Maas River, the architectural symbol of Rotterdam with the spectacular night lighting.

• Rotterdam Spido Harbour Tour

  harbour-tour · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Spido Harbour Tour — the classic boat trip through Europe's largest port, with the spectacular container terminals, the historic dry docks, the cruise terminals, and the modern industrial landscape.

• Rotterdam Kinderdijk UNESCO Mills

  windmills-unesco · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A day trip from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk — the UNESCO World Heritage 19 working windmills from 1740, the spectacular Dutch polder landscape, with the boat trips through the historic mill canals.

• SS Rotterdam

  historic ocean liner · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The SS Rotterdam is the largest Dutch ocean liner ever built — a 228-metre flagship of the Holland America Line launched in 1959 that made 99 Atlantic crossings and carried 37 presidents, heads of state and millions of emigrants before…

• Rotterdam Kop van Zuid

  modern-district · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Kop van Zuid district — Rotterdam's spectacular former harbour transformed into a modern architectural showcase, with the De Rotterdam building by Rem Koolhaas, the Hotel New York (former Holland America Line headquarters).

• Rotterdam Delft Royal Day

  royal-town · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A day trip from Rotterdam to Delft — the spectacular Royal Delft Blue pottery town, with the famous Vermeer connection, the historic Nieuwe Kerk (where Dutch royals are buried), and the picturesque canals.

Things to do

• Port of Rotterdam Boat Tour Sightseeing · 1.3 h · from EUR 13 per person
• Rotterdam Architecture Walking Tour Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 16 per person
• Euromast Tower Experience Rotterdam Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from EUR 13 per person
• Markthal Rotterdam Food Tour Food · 2 h · from EUR 25 per person
• Rotterdam Rooftop Bar Crawl Nightlife · 3 h · from EUR 29 per person

Day trips and tours

• Kinderdijk UNESCO Windmills Boat Tour 6 h · from EUR 46
• Rotterdam Architecture Walking Tour 3 h · from EUR 29

Where to stay in Rotterdam

• City Centre & Blaak about EUR 125 per night

  The commercial and architectural heart of Rotterdam — the Markthal, Cube Houses, and Centraal Station are all within a five-minute walk. Excellent for first-time visitors who want to be close to the iconic sights and…

• Kop van Zuid & Wilhelminapier about EUR 185 per night

  Rotterdam's most spectacular waterfront district — the Erasmus Bridge, Hotel New York (in the old Holland America Line HQ) and the soaring De Rotterdam tower define the skyline. Luxury stays, waterfront dining and some…

• Delfshaven about EUR 82 per night

  Rotterdam's only pre-WWII neighbourhood to survive intact — a charming historic port area where the Pilgrim Fathers departed for America in 1620. Independent cafés, antique shops, working windmills and a genuine…

Hotels

• Hotel New York Rotterdam 4-star · EUR 160 to EUR 480 per night
• citizenM Rotterdam 4-star · EUR 90 to EUR 195 per night
• nhow Rotterdam 4-star · EUR 140 to EUR 320 per night
• King Kong Hostel Rotterdam 2-star · EUR 22 to EUR 80 per night

Where to eat

• Fenix Food Factory Dutch, World, Street Food · about EUR 18 per person
• Bazaar Rotterdam Middle Eastern, North African, Mediterranean · about EUR 16 per person
• Foodhallen Rotterdam World, Dutch, Street Food · about EUR 20 per person
• De Matroos en het Meisje Dutch, French, Brasserie · about EUR 38 per person
• FG Food Labs Dutch, Modern European, Fusion · about EUR 65 per person
• Restaurant Joelia Dutch, French, Modern European · about EUR 140 per person

Getting to Rotterdam

Airport: Rotterdam (RTM)

How visitors arrive in Rotterdam

• Train to Rotterdam Centraal By train from Belgium, France, UK · common

  Centraal is the main hub, served by high-speed trains from Belgium, France and the UK plus Dutch intercity services. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Fly into Rotterdam The Hague or Schiphol By air from Schiphol · common

  Rotterdam The Hague Airport is close to the centre; many visitors also use Schiphol with a train transfer. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Coach to Rotterdam Centraal By road from Europe · possible

  FlixBus serves Rotterdam Centraal and Zuidplein. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry via Hook of Holland or Europoort By ferry from UK · possible

  Ferries from the UK arrive outside the centre, with onward metro or shuttle bus. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Bus 33 and metro from Rotterdam The Hague Airport

  Bus 33 runs to Meijersplein metro station, where metro line E continues to Rotterdam Centraal. Source: rotterdamthehagueairport.nl

• Bus 300 direct unconfirmed

  Bus 300 goes direct to Rotterdam Centraal but only seasonally and on certain days. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Rotterdam Centraal

  Trains reach Rotterdam Centraal from Schiphol, and international Eurostar and ICE services arrive from cities such as Brussels, Paris, London and Frankfurt. Source: rotterdam.info

Getting around

• Bicycle

  Most major streets have separate bike lanes, and bikes can be rented at Rotterdam Centraal.

• Transit Pass

  A reusable transit card or contactless payment works on Rotterdam's metro, trams and buses.

  RET travel products

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Shell Game / Street Gambling at Waterfront

  Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge) plaza, Coolsingel pedestrian zone

  An operator runs a three-cup or card-guessing game with planted "winners" in the crowd. The game is rigged; every tourist who bets loses. If you win a small early round, the stakes are raised. Spectators can also be pickpocketed by associates in the crowd while attention is focused on the game.

  How to avoid it: Do not participate or stop to watch. These setups are illegal; both playing and spectating expose you to theft. Walk past briskly.

Best time to visit Rotterdam

• Jan 6°C
• Feb 7°C
• Mar 10°C
• Apr 14°C
• May 18°C
• Jun 21°C
• Jul 23°C
• Aug 23°C
• Sep 19°C
• Oct 15°C
• Nov 10°C
• Dec 7°C

More in Netherlands

• Amsterdam
• Utrecht
• The Hague
• Maastricht
• Delft
• Haarlem

Frequently asked questions about Rotterdam

What are the top-rated places to visit in Rotterdam?

The highest-rated places in our Rotterdam guide are Erasmus Bridge Swan, Rotterdam Kinderdijk UNESCO Mills, Rotterdam Markthal Food, Rotterdam Spido Harbour Tour, Rotterdam Kop van Zuid.

Where should I stay in Rotterdam?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Rotterdam: City Centre & Blaak, Kop van Zuid & Wilhelminapier, Delfshaven.

How do I get around Rotterdam?

Ways to get around Rotterdam covered in our guide: Bicycle, Transit pass, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Rotterdam?

Scams reported to us for Rotterdam include Shell Game / Street Gambling at Waterfront. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Rotterdam?

Average daytime highs in Rotterdam run from 6°C in Jan to 23°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Rotterdam?

The nearest airport to Rotterdam has the code RTM.