Best Things to Do in Rotterdam, 2-day Itinerary

Rotterdam is a unique and surprising city. I’m so excited to share the best things to do in Rotterdam with you.

This vibrant city is a must-visit destination with something for everyone, from museums and historic buildings to windmills and world-class architecture.

Located in the Netherlands, this port town has so much history and culture that you won’t believe it.

From its fantastic food scene to its beautiful architecture, many things make Rotterdam one of a kind! Of course, there are also festivals throughout the year, like the famous International Film Festival.

Check out this blog post and tell me your favorite thing about Rotterdam. Comment below.

• Check Out here for your transfer to the airport

Best Things to Do in Rotterdam in 1-Day

The first thing that might come to mind about Rotterdam is that it’s an industrial city with nothing interesting to see. It could not be any further away from reality. I’m confident this city will surprise you.

It’s a city with history and innovation. Rotterdam was ravaged by Nazi bombings during the Second World War and has been able to reinvent itself.

Nowadays, it seems that architects have the liberty to create the most varied and flashy buildings you could imagine. Unfortunately, it looks like they’re doing a competition to see who makes the building more innovative, modern, exclusive, and original.

The Rotterdammers are proud of this development. They love to show off the buildings they built in the city, how original they are, and how pretty they are.

I was captivated by this idea and this way of developing the city. Every building I saw was a work that shaped the city differently in an original and fun way.

You’re going to see a lot of curious buildings, but you can also visit the old part that survived bombardments, and, of course, you can’t miss the Kinderdijk mills and some more things that we’ll tell you in this post.

• Recommendation: Rotterdam Welcome card

What to See in Rotterdam? Must-Visit Places in 1-day

If you’re going to be in Rotterdam for just one day, we will tell you the best things to do and visit.

Food Tour by Bike

We started the visit with the proposal made by the Bike & Bite guys.

It’s an activity that lasts about four hours in which you bike around Rotterdam and stop occasionally.

Sometimes the stops are to tell you something interesting, and other times to snack on something typical and of good quality in exciting places throughout the city to which it is rare to arrive on your own.

Centraal Station

The Rotterdam Station is the gateway to the city. Here is where all the transportation comes from bus, tram, train, and metro.

Here, you will arrive from Amsterdam by train or from Paris, to give a few examples.

What caught our eyes the most about this station is its architectural features, which have created one of the most emblematic buildings in the city. The station combines innovation with historical elements.

They have maintained the original clock, the letters of “Centraal Station,” although they are now illuminated with LEDs and two granite sculptures found on platform 1.

Most of the major and well-known buildings of Rotterdam have a nickname. Something to note about the Roterdamers: they give nicknames to everything. The one at Centraal Station is ‘kapsalon.’

Kapsalon is a fast food dish and low-cost typical of Rotterdam, very much like shawarma. It is always served on a tray of aluminum, and that’s why they call the station that way.

The Ancient Rotterdam

The little that’s left of old Rotterdam is on Proveniersstraat Street. Here, you can see some of the buildings that remained standing after the German bombings.

Unfortunately, there are not many, as you can see, but it seems like you have been transported to another city in a matter of a few meters.

Fenix Food Factory

Fenix Food Factory is a popular market to visit in Rotterdam. It has been established parallel to the Markthal. The Markthal is an impressive construction that we’ll talk about later, but it’s more for tourists.

However, the Fenix Food Factory is for the Rotterdammers. Here, you will find an ideal place to eat or have a drink, shop, or experiment with the Crafts.

Here, you will find fresh local products, and some are produced right there. This project was born in 2014 for entrepreneurs passionate about food and craftsmanship.

Closes on Mondays.

Hotel New York

It is located where the Rotterdam cruises to New York once sailed. It’s full of art nouveau and full of stories.

Hotel New York is composed of a hotel, a restaurant, a bar, a café with a terrace, a newsstand, and a bookshop.

The hotel has strived to keep the original architecture and interior intact. You will be amazed by the magnificent Jugend-style decorations and history that give off the walls of the building.

Order something from the menu and take your time to really enjoy the New York Hotel, or you can stay here if you like it!

From here, you can visit Erasmus Bridge and Maastoren Tower. (If you are with the bike tour, they will take you through these places, it is very cool)

The Cube Houses of Rotterdam

They are in front of the Markthal. They’re a real curiosity. That’s 32 cubes in total that are rotated 45 degrees. They were built in 1984 by architect Piet Blom.

Of course, they’re inhabited! Although we did see a hostel. So you know, if you want to stay in a fun place, this is your place.

They can be visited to see what they look like inside.

Take a Drink in the Markthal

I have to tell you that I had little desire to see it, for what I imagined was a sort of giant industrial ship turned into a market, but it was nothing further from the truth!

First of all, because it’s a housing building. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, people live here.

The interior is spectacular, an extraordinary work of art. You can visit it on your own or do a guided tour, tasting the products.

Another thing is the market, with traditional products like the San Miguel market in Madrid or others. But the building is impressive and definitely worth seeing.

The little windows you see, they’re from the houses. Can you imagine living there?

Euromast: Rotterdam from the heights

It’s a communications tower enabled to enjoy views from a height of more than 100 meters.

You can see all of Rotterdam. I recommend that you go up at sunset times so you can enjoy it with the light of the Sunset. Definitely, a must-visit in Rotterdam.

Book the Ticket entrance here.

The Kinderdijk Mills

Kinderdijk mills are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. These mills were not used to grind the grain or as a sawmill but used to pump water out of the levees to maintain the safety level for the inhabitants.

They were in operation until 80 or 90 years ago. Today, much more powerful pumps are used to maintain the water level.

When you arrive in Kinderdijk, you will find some office to pay for the ticket. Look, seeing the mills is completely free and does not require paying the entrance fee.

This ticket is to see an interpretation center and a mill inside, but you are not obliged to pay for it. If you want, here you can buy the tickets online.

This visit will easily take you two to three hours since you have to take the waterbus that takes a while and then everything is done by walking or cycling.

Therefore, I really recommend you to go by bike because it makes everything much more comfortable and less tiring. Furthermore, you can carry your bike on the water bus.

Rotterdam Itinerary Day 2

Your second day in Rotterdam is to visit what you didn’t have enough time for on the first day.

If you want to give time to everything, we recommend spending the morning at the Boijmans Van Museum Beuningen and eating in the museum itself.

Then strolls through the harbor on the Spido, walk the streets of Rotterdam, and get closer to the Witte Huis, visit the Van Nelle factory (only with a guided visit).

Visit the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum

It is the most important museum of art in Rotterdam; it has a collection ranging from the European Middle Ages to the modern art of our day.

There are must-see works of art and other curious ones. Without a doubt, it is a must for all art lovers.

Spido, Visit the Port of Rotterdam

This visit was done more for Fer than for me, hehe, and because it is included in the Rotterdam Welcome Card. This tour helps you to get to know one of the largest ports in the world.

In addition, you can enjoy the city’s skyline with all of its fantastic architecture.

The tour lasts about 75 minutes, and there are also afternoon departures in the summer.

• Buy your Ticket for the Spido online.

Witte Huis, a quirky building to see in Rotterdam

Witte Huis means White House. When it was built in 1898, with 43 meters high, it was the first skyscraper in Europe and the tallest building on the entire continent.

Now, this white-fronted building is a national monument and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

As a curiosity, it is built only 3 meters above sea level, and so that the soft earth does not sink, it was necessary to drive 1000 (!) piles into the ground before the work.

Now, on the ground floor, there is an excellent restaurant called the Grand Café Witte Huis.

The Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam

A fascinating visit. This factory was operational until recently and is one of the generators of the Bauhaus school’s architectural movement next to the factory of the same name in Germany.

I really recommend you make this visit with a guide like the one we had with Urban Guides.

An architecture student explained to us point by point the design of the factory, and how things worked, you will not regret it.

Of course, I recommend you take a walk through the city, enjoy it, and feel it because it is a city that has really earned the prestige of being one of the most modern and evolved in the world. Enjoy it!

Museums Rotterdam

In a separate post, I’ll tell you more about the museums of Rotterdam, but here I leave you a list ready for you to choose your favorite.

• Boijman Van Beuningen Museum, the must-see.
• Nederlands Fotomuseum is a must for photography lovers.
• Maritime Museum Rotterdam
• The Rotterdam Museum
• Natural History Museum is a journey through history with thousands of fossils of all kinds.
• Witte from With Center, contemporary art.

Rotterdam Maritime Museum

A super interesting museum about the history of six centuries of Dutch navigation founded in 1874 has more than 850 thousand artifacts.

Apart from the indoor exhibition with interactive parts, you can visit historic ships docked next door!

Open every day except Mondays. Admission costs €16, it is well worth this price.

Kunsthal Art Museum Rotterdam

It was founded in 1992 and is dedicated solely to contemporary art. It is located near the Erasmus Bridge in Museum Park and is a building famous for its architecture.

In the 3300 square meters, it exhibits the most famous works and also houses temporary exhibitions.

Erasmus Bridge

The Erasmusbrug is 802 meters long and links the northern and southern parts of the city of Rotterdam over the River Nieuwe Maas.

Opened in 1996, it quickly earned the nickname “The Swan” for its 139-meter-high white asymmetrical pylon that can be seen from far away.

A part of 89 meters is a bascule bridge that allows the passage of the largest ships. It is the largest panel of its kind in the world.

Het Park

Not far from the Euromast, in the heart of the city, is Het Park, a large park designed in the English style in 1852, with gardens, flowers, and picnic areas with barbecues.

It is ideal if you want to spend some time outdoors and rest in the city in the middle of nature. Inside there is also a mini-golf course, in case you fancy a competition 😉

Old Port or Oude Haven

The old port of Rotterdam is located right next to the cubic houses. Its beginnings date back to the 14th century. It is one of the few bits of the city that have remained in its pre-war condition.

Now it is full of bars with terraces where you can have a drink, admire the old ships moored in front, and appreciate the curious architecture of Rotterdam, such as the Witte Huis (on the other side of the river) and the red bridge of Williamsburg.

Miniworld Rotterdam

As the name suggests, it is a miniature world of the city of Rotterdam and its surroundings.

In the rooms of a total of 535 square meters, you can see landscapes, bridges, buildings, the old mills, the port, and railway tracks with a length of more than 2 km!

The day in Miniworld lasts 24 minutes, then night falls: the lights dim, and the mini streetlights come on.

You can also visit the workshop where they teach you how to make the models.

Church of San Lorenzo

In Dutch: Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk (in case you see it written and don’t know what it is ;)). It is the only architectural work in the city that has been preserved since the Middle Ages.

Built-in the Gothic style in the 15th century, its structure was almost undamaged during the bombing. However, the interior and the tower were charred and rebuilt in the post-war period. Germany paid the costs of the reform.

Statue of Erasmus of Rotterdam

It is located in front of the Church of San Lorenzo. Made of bronze in 1622, it is supposed to be the oldest statue in Holland made of this material.

The funny thing is that, at first, the statue was made of papier-mache and wood 🙂

Erasmus was the most illustrious son of Rotterdam, philosopher, humanist, and theologian, one of the greatest Renaissance. His best-known work is the Praise to Folly of 1511.

Witte de Withstraat

To end the day of sightseeing I recommend you go to the liveliest street in the city, Witte de Withstraat, with cafes, bars, and restaurants.

It is in the center, close to the points of interest that you will surely visit.

Extra: visit Rotterdam in an amphibious bus

It is a very popular and, at the same time, very original way of visiting Rotterdam. In an hour, you go around Het Park, and then, in the same vehicle, you navigate the Meuse River.

Book your amphibious bus tour here.

How to Get Around the City

The best way to get around the city is by bike. Although you are in a big city, it is very friendly with cyclists. As in all of the Netherlands, biking is the ideal way to get around. In addition, you can put it on public transport if you get tired.

Read: the experience of cycling through Amsterdam

Where to Sleep in Rotterdam?

Here you have classic or curious places to sleep. You can choose between

• the New York Hotel, where the passengers who migrated to America stayed,
• the King Kong Hostel, or the cube houses were staying. Which one are you staying with?

We stayed at the Ibis Rotterdam City Centre hotel. It is super well located, and you can get to where you want to go by walking for the most part.

If you want to rent bikes, they offer them, and if you go by car, like us, right around the corner, there is a parking lot with which they also have an agreement, and you can get a much lower price to leave the car there than on the street.

Plan Your Trip to the Netherlands

• Cheese Route in the Netherlands
• Ibis Rotterdam City Centre hotel
• Excursions and guided tours
• Best Travel Insurance for your trips

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Last Updated on 1 December, 2022 by Veronica