Before you go

Your trip to Roterdã.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Roterdã – Holanda Meridional about 25 km from Haia

How to get there

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Haarlemmermeer · 60 km
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) Rotterdam · 7 km
Rotterdam Centraal 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before booking. From Schiphol, the Intercity Direct reaches Rotterdam Centraal in about 25 minutes, twice an hour, with an extra fee. From Amsterdã it's about 40 minutes. Rotterdam The Hague Airport, in the north of the city, receives European flights.

How many days

One day for the modern center, the Erasmusbrug and the boat through the port. Two days to include the museums of the Museumpark, the Euromast, Delfshaven and a morning at Kinderdijk. With a third day, go to Gouda on a market Thursday, from April until the end of August.

When to go

From May to September, with long days and more boat departures to Kinderdijk. Summer runs from June to August; in winter, from December to February, it gets dark before 5 p.m. Wind and rain occur year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The metro, tram and RET buses cover the city, and you can pay contactless with your card (OVpay); check before you go. The bicycle (fiets) is the local way to get around: when walking, don't step on the bike lanes. Kinderdijk is reached by boat and Gouda by train.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Roterdã

Morning
Markthal, cube houses and Laurenskerk
Leave Rotterdam Centraal and go to Blaak station. Enter the Markthal to see the painted ceiling and have a coffee, cross the square to the Laurenskerk and walk up the cube houses' walkway; if you want, visit the Kijk-Kubus inside.
Afternoon
Oude Haven, Erasmusbrug and a boat trip around the port
Go down to the Oude Haven and the Witte Huis, have lunch on a terrace and walk along the river to Willemsplein. Take the Spido boat tour of the port and then walk across the Erasmusbrug.
Late afternoon
Hotel New York and Fenix
On the other side of the bridge, follow the Wilhelminapier to Hotel New York. Cross the Rijnhavenbrug to the Fenix, in Katendrecht, and go up the Tornado to see the river—check the closing time beforehand.
Evening
Dinner in Katendrecht
Have dinner at one of the restaurants around Deliplein square in Katendrecht. On the way back, the illuminated Erasmusbrug is worth a photo; the Rijnhaven metro takes you back to the centre.

2 days in Roterdã

Day 1

Morning
Modern centre on foot
Start at the Markthal and the Laurenskerk, continue to the cube houses and the Oude Haven with the Witte Huis. Have lunch in the Markthal, sampling a bit from each stall.
Afternoon
Museums at the Museumpark
Take the tram to the Museumpark. Visit the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen (buy tickets in advance) and choose between the Kunsthal and the Nieuwe Instituut together with the Huis Sonneveld.
Late afternoon
Euromast
Cross Het Park to the Euromast and go up to the observation deck to see the port and the city in low light.
Evening
Delfshaven
Go to Delfshaven along the river or by tram and dine at one of the cafés by the canal, near the igreja dos Peregrinos.

Day 2

Morning
Kinderdijk windmills
Take the Waterbus early from the Erasmusbrug quay to Kinderdijk. Walk among the windmills, go inside a mill museum and see the pumping station.
Afternoon
Erasmusbrug and a boat trip around the port
Back in the centre, have lunch near Willemsplein and take the Spido harbour cruise. If you have time, drop by the Wereldmuseum nearby.
Late afternoon
Wilhelminapier and Fenix
Walk across the Erasmusbrug to Hotel New York and continue to the Fenix in Katendrecht for the Luggage Maze and the Tornado.
Evening
Coffee at Hotel New York
Have dinner or a drink at the restaurant of Hotel New York, with river views, and return across the illuminated Erasmusbrug.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Schiphol airport to Roterdã?

By train. The station is inside the terminal, and the Intercity Direct reaches Rotterdam Centraal in about 25 minutes, with departures twice an hour. That train charges a small supplement; the regular intercity trains take a little longer.

How to get around Roterdã?

On foot in the centre, and by metro, tram and bus for the rest. You can tap your credit card contactless when entering and exiting (OVpay); check before you go. Many people cycle—respect the bike lanes.

Why does Roterdã have so many modern buildings?

The centre was destroyed in the bombing of 14 May 1940, at the start of the German occupation. In the rebuilding, the city embraced modern architecture, and bold buildings became its hallmark.

Is Roterdã very different from Amsterdã?

Yes. Amsterdã is the city of 17th-century canals; Roterdã is the city of the port and contemporary architecture. They are 40 minutes apart by train and complement each other well.

Where to see the port of Roterdã?

On the Spido boat tour, which departs from the foot of the Erasmusbrug, and from the top of the Euromast.

Back to Roterdã