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 a city of many faces: a busy port city, a hip artistic city, a city with buzzling nightlife and the architecture city of Holland. The Netherlands' second largest city is home the Europe's largest seaport, the Erasmus University and a very diverse culture - its population is around 650,000 from over 180 nationalities!
Sadly, the city was nearly completely destroyed during World War II and the historical medieval cityscape disappeared - and never came back. The reconstructed city is a striking new Rotterdam with ambitious structures, unconventional geometric shapes and a modern urban environment.
Rotterdam is now often called Europe's new capital of cool - innovative architecture, chic shopping choices, vibrant cultural life, hot street art, various museums and excellent food form the magnetic Rotterdam vibe. Besides, Rotterdam is very environmentally conscious, for example lots of city rooftops are used to grow vegetables to reduce food transport!
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.
Things to do 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' arrowhead-shaped entrance is a great example of Rotterdam's unique and unconventional architecture. 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 is a nearly 400-meter long pedestrian footbridge. The Luchtsingel links the central station with Rotterdam's northern district. It was the first infrastructure project with crowdfunding resources - each member of the community contributed 25 EUR to the project in return to have their names craved in the wooden planks.
Stadthuis Rotterdam
The City Hall of Rotterdam has a lovely inner garden with sculptures and fountains. 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 a huge horseshoe-shaped building and 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 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.
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 - an abstract forest. 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.
Witte Huis
White House is a 10-storey Art Nouveau-styled building, completed in 1898 - with its 43 meter height it was Europe's first skyscraper! Today it is home to a cafe and restaurant.
Bobbing Forest and the Floating Pavilion
In Rotterdam, the architecture even floats. There are 20 miniature trees floating on the water of Rijnhaven as a concept of artist Jorge Bakker. Next to them, there are three interlinked spheres - the Floating Pavilion. It is a prototype used as an event location, but the main idea is to adapt the rising sea level and to build a community of self-sufficient floating homes.
The Cool District and Witte de Withstraat
Art galleries, street art, hip bars and eateries make this area 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. Also, check out the various colorful walls and the interactive street art. If you want even more, head for the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art cultural center!
Euromast
If you love heights and lookouts, visit the Netherlands' highest watchtower! The Euromast is 185 meters high an iconic part of Rotterdam's skyline. On a clear day you can see Antwerp, which is 80 kms away! Even more, if you're brave enough, you can abseil or cable glide from the tower.
Miniworld
This place is for those who never grow up. Miniworld is the biggest indoor miniature world in the Benelux. With this a miniature Rotterdam, you can explore all the sights in one place! You can learn about its history, architecture, water management, even see the historical pre-war version of the city. Also, try the treasure hunt for funny and interesting scenes!
Willemsbrug and 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 and nicknamed 'The Swan'. It is home to many spectacular events, the Rotterdam Marathon, even Hollywood movie shots!
Museum Park and its Museums
Museum Park is nice green place with trees, an orchard and a big area for events - great space to hide from the busy city. It got its name from the surrounding Museums: Het Nieuwe Instituut, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Natural History Museum Rotterdam, The Kunsthal, Chabot Museum, Villa Sonneveld. The park also serves as a sculpture garden. Talking about museums, there are plenty of them around the city as well, like the Museum Rotterdam, the Wereldsmuseum or the Netherlands Photo Museum.
Sculptures around the city
You don't have to visit a museum to find art in Rotterdam - just stroll around and you'll find plenty of giant sculptures like the infamous 'Dirty Santa', Picasso's Sylvette or Rodin's headless-armless walking man.
Maritime Museum and SS Rotterdam
If you're a fan of the sea, Rotterdam is your place. As a huge port town, it has a great maritime heritage. The Maritime Museum is an interactive program for the whole family with the open-air Maritime Museum Harbour. Also, there is the SS Rotterdam, also known as 'Grande Dame' - it's a former ocean liner and cruise ship. Since 2010, it operates as a hotel and offers boat tours, Afternoon Tea and Escape Rooms.
There are several interesting architecture in the city besides the ones I listed above. For example Van Nellefabriek - the UNESO site 'icon of Dutch modernism', the Netherlands' largest building - De Rotterdam, the World Port Center or the KPN Telekom Building by Renzo Piano. In this city, the old warehouses are being transformed too, like the Fenix Food Factory which is an aesthetic foodie-heaven with cafes, eateries - who offers locally sourced ingredients, a book shop, a communal area and seats by the water.
When to visit
The weather in Rotterdam is pretty variable and tend to feel colder because of wind and humidity. The winter is cold but not freezing (the average temperature is around 6 Celsius), the summers are quite cool with only 20-22 Celsius. As anywhere in the Netherlands, it can be quite rainy but often it is just a quick drizzle. Autumn is the rainiest season. So the best time to visit is between mid-May and mid-September, as it is the mildest of the year. Though, carrying a light jacket or sweater and an umbrella will never hurt, even in the warmest weather! For weather updates, check this or the this app.
As for events, you can choose from tons of programs all year round from music and dance to food and film. Just to name a few, there's the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January, The Museumnight in March, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Rotterdam Unlimited Festival in July. No matter when you visit, you'll find plenty of happenings in an abandoned warehouse, a port, a 'secret garden' or even on a rooftop! Check out the ongoing programs here or this site.
Where to stay
Unfortunately we didn't stay in Rotterdam this time, but we definitely will on our next travel as it is super exciting city with a bunch of unusual places to stay! Here are some accommodation options in the city.
For a budget-friendly solution
Hostels always are the cheapest! Check out the popular King Kong Hostel on Witte de Withstraat or Hostel Ani&Haakien. If you want to look a bit further, check out hostelworld.
If you want a little extra
Try the luxurious apartments of the Urban Residences Rotterdam, just above the famous shopping streets of Rotterdam. They offer spacious, modern and fully furnished residences for both short and long stays. You can choose from a studio, apartment, loft or penthouse as well.
The contemporary citizenM Rotterdam hotel in the city centre. Stay in a stylish and smart bedroom, which is controlled by tablets, drink a draft beer and get a sandwich from the 24-hour canteen. Enjoy the shared living areas, the free movies and the iMacs in ta modern architectural and artistic environment. This is quite popular place to stay for solo travelers.
The Hotel New York is located in the former head office on the Holland-America Line on the Maas river. The character-filled and historical building offers wonderful views on the Rotterdam skyline and the harbour and easy access to hip neighbourhoods and cafés.
Stroom Rotterdam is situated in a former power station in the hip Delfshaven. They offer trendy and minimalistic split level studios and urban lofts. The rooms are equipped with super comfortable beds and one even has a sauna! Stroom has its own bakery, organic shop and espresso bar.
If you would like to sleep under the starts, try the Euromast suites! The lookout tower offer two glamourous suites for a romantic night with Rotterdam's highest balcony, view to the harbour, served breakfast and a complementary champagne. One of the suites has a walk-in shower and the other has a wellness bath. Note that to sleep here, you have to book at least three months ahead.
For something unusual
Wikkelboat offers sustainable cardboard houses on water. This floating tiny house has its own terrace and hot tub and breakfast options. Guests can have a BBQ on the terrace, hire a bike or canoe.
If you rather stay on a boat, you can book a place on the H2OTEL Rotterdam or the SS Rotterdam. H2OTEL Rotterdam is a floating hotel offering unique-styled rooms and modern features such as LCD TVs and free Wi-Fi. The SS Rotterdam is a former cruise liner that has been transformed into a hotel, offering 4-star rooms in original 1950s styling with coffee makers, flat screen TVs and free Wi-Fi.
You can also try the Cube Houses - stay in the Stayokay Hostel or find one just for yourself at AirBnB.
I hope this guide will help you navigate yourself through the city! If you're interested, check out my other post for a detailed itinerary and a map of our route!
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It is an amazing place!!! The post literally have everything that a traveler need for planning their trip to Rotterdam