Lost in the shadow of Amsterdam, Rotterdam is often overlooked by tourist, who are only focusing on the capital city and its surroundings. And what a rookie mistake!
Rotterdam is the Netherlands' second largest city and the architecture city of Holland. After the destruction of the World War II, Rotterdam was rebuilt and emerged as an innovative modern city with unique structures and always changing skyline.
Rotterdam has a magnetic vibe - innovative architecture, chic shopping choices, buzzling night life and vibrant cultural life, hot street art, various museums and excellent food. Not surprisingly, it is called Europe's new capital of cool.
So, how can you see Rotterdam in one day?
Getting here and around
Rotterdam is accessible by plane, train, bus or car. Once you're here, you can hop on a local bus or subway, but the city centre is easy to explore on foot. All over the Netherlands, trains and public transportation is accessible by using an OV-chipcart. This is a plastic top-up card - charge it up with money and check in and out on the vehicles. You can buy tickets from the ticket machine individually, but if you're spending more time in the country, it's worth using the top-up card.
You can fly to The Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) from several European business destination. The airport is 15 minutes from Rotterdam Centraal by taxi, 20-25 minutes by bus (bus 33).
Trains and coaches are available from all over the Netherlands, even from other countries. Both of them arrive to Rotterdam Centraal Station. For schedules and prices check this site.
If you arrive by car, there are plenty of places where you can park your car and walk around the city. Find the nearest P+R parking place here.
Rotterdam's local transportation is operated by RET. You can use your OV-card but if you don't have one, buy 2-hour (4,00 EUR) or 1-day (8,50 EUR) ticket from the ticket machines, purchase a Rotterdam Card or a regional tourist pass here. Plan your trip here.
You can use the Dutch way to get around - cycle around or take a bike tour in the city!
If you want a little extra, try the water taxi - tickets are available from 4,50 EUR.
What to do and what to see here
Most of the main attractions are in the city centre and can be explored on foot in just a few hours. As the Rotterdam Centraal Station is in the heart of the city, it is a great starting point for your tour.
The Rotterdam Centraal Station
The Centraal Station is a great example of Rotterdam's unique and unconventional architecture - the entrance shapes a shimmering arrowhead and uses the old letters from the previous building. Its overhaul was completed in 2014 and today it is a modern transport hub where trains, metros, buses, trams and taxis meet.
Luchtsingel Bridge - The yellow bridge
Just about 10 minutes walk East from there, rises a nearly 400-metre long yellow pedestrian footbridge. The Luchtsingel links the central station with Rotterdam's northern district. Its name means 'air canal' and it was the first infrastructure project with crowdfunding resources - each member of the community (around 8000!) contributed 25 EUR to the project in return to have their names craved in the wooden planks.
Stadthuis Rotterdam
The City Hall of Rotterdam stands on the edge of the Cool District about 5 minutes from Luchtsingel. The Stadthuis has a lovely inner garden with sculptures and fountains. There are several special sculptures around the building telling the history of the port Rotterdam. The building is one of the few old structures that survived the world war's bombing - Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk is another one, check it out on your way to the Markthall!
Markthall
The Markthall of Rotterdam is another 10 minutes walk from the city hall. The huge horseshoe-shaped building is the first indoor market of Holland. There are about a hundred stalls, various food shops and restaurants offering many king of local food and drink from Dutch cheeses to fresh fish, even flowers. The stalls are open from Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10:00-20:00, Friday 10:00-21:00, Sunday 12:00-18:00.
TIP: It is great place to pick up food souvenirs and fill your empty tummy - try the nice croquette baskets at 'het kroket loket'!
The building itself is a market hall and apartment complex and was opened in 2014. The Markethall's ceiling is covered with the world's largest artwork - the 11,000 m2 large 'Horn of Plenty' by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam.
Kubuswoningen - The Cube Houses
The Rotterdam's most iconic houses are the creation of Piet Blom, a Dutch architect. The houses are tilted at 45 degrees and rest upon a pylon. Blom's design represents a village in the city - the asymmetrical houses resemble an abstract forest, each triangular roof representing a treetop, all the houses together a forest. The result is something extraordinary, something you'll never seen anywhere else!
TIP 1: Arrive before 9 am to avoid the crowd - the place can be pretty jammed during the day! You can wander around the houses for free all day, but respect that people actually live here.
The houses have three floor living space and were created to make the most of the available space - the entrance is on ground level, the open kitchen and living room are on the first floor, a bathroom and two bedrooms are on the second floor, and in some cases, there is a small rooftop garden on the top level. If you want to check the interior of the houses, you can visit the Show Cube Museum (Kijk-Kubus) for 3 EUR daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
TIP 2: If you want to see the houses from the inside, but don't want to wait in the line before the museum, you can spend a night in one! Stay in the Stayokay Hostel or find one just for yourself at AirBnB!
Witte Huis - White House
As you walk towards the Nieuwe Maas (New Meuse River), take time to admire the 10-storey Witte Huis on your right. The Art Nouveau-styled building was completed in 1898 - with its 43 meter height it was Europe's first skyscraper. Today it hosts a cafe and restaurant.
Willemsbrug and Erasmusbrug
If you feel adventurous, walk through the Willemsburg (bridge) and explore the Bobbing Forest on the other side of the river. We decided to walk along the river to the Erasmusbrug. The Willemsbrug was rebuilt after the WWII and the cable-stayed bridge won the National Steel Prize. The Erasmusbrug is a famous landmark of Rotterdam. It is home to many spectacular events, the Rotterdam Marathon, even Hollywood movie shots! This white bascule bridge is nicknamed 'The Swan' due to its unconventional design. It includes pedestrian and cycle paths too, leading to De Rotterdam and the Bobbing Forest.
Witte de Withstraat
From the riverside we headed back to the central all the way through the Cool District. Yes, this is the actual name of the area! And for a reason - art galleries, street art, hip bars and eateries make it a cool place to hang out. And in the middle, there's Witte de Withstraat - this buzzing street is the heart of Rotterdam. It is full of bars with outdoor seating, cafes and restaurants where you can rest your legs and have some snack.
TIP: Try the food and beer at Wunderbar and the ice cream at De IJssalon! You can also peek inside the world's best bar (according to Lonely Planet), the Café De Witte Aap!
After you quenched your thirst check out the amazing and colourful walls in the area. There are so much street art in the city, they organize the Pow Wow street art festival each September! Discover the artworks with the help of Street Art Cities' map. If you want more, head for the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art cultural centre!
After you've done with all the fun in the Cool District, head back to the Central Station where we started - it's only few minutes walk from here.
Find our route here on the map:
We would've loved to see more of this wonderful city but our schedule was strict. If you want to spend more time in Rotterdam, check out travel guide for hotel recommendations and to find out what else is waiting for you here.
Like it but don't have time to read it? Pin it and save it for later!
Comments