Rotterdam

Travel Guide

South Holland featuring outdoor eating and a square or plaza
Erasmus Bridge which includes night scenes, cycling and a bridge
Euromast featuring modern architecture
Rotterdam showing a city and city views
Rotterdam featuring night scenes and modern architecture

Modernist buildings, fashionable nightlife, river views and many museums and galleries make the Netherlands’ second-biggest city an exciting and lively destination.

Rotterdam developed as a prosperous shipping port in the 1800s. As it has grown, its cultural delights have expanded. Rotterdam’s architecture is some of the most modern and innovative in the Netherlands. Spend days exploring myriad art galleries and museums. Find unusual dining experiences and trendy nightlife across the city.

During World War II, the historic port was almost entirely destroyed and the city suffered massive bombing damage. Today, view the modernist reconstructions and more recent architectural additions, such as the spaceship-like Markthal and the three half-spheres of the solar-powered Floating Pavilion.

Find a collection of architecture, art galleries and museums in the Museumkwartier. Visit one of the Netherlands’ oldest museums, the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, before stepping into modern and contemporary exhibitions at the Witte de With Centre for Contemporary Arts and the TENT exhibition space. Learn about city and country history in museums covering everything from the golden era of Dutch shipping to archaeology, fossils, plants and animal life.

Afterward, explore the streets of Witte de Withstraat and Nieuwe Binnenweg. Browse through stores selling CDs and vinyl albums, lingerie, books, jewelry and fashion by local designers. At night these dynamic streets have restaurants, live music venues and lively bars.

In its location on the Maas River, Rotterdam has numerous riverside walks and waterfront dining. Explore the river delta on a cruise or take the Lek River waterbus to see 18th-century windmills at nearby Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Treat yourself to panoramic city views, including the Erasmus “Swan” Bridge, from the restaurant at the top of the Euromast. If you’re brave, abseil down. Taste the diversity of the city’s culinary treats at restaurants serving North African and Middle Eastern flavors or have a beer and traditional Dutch bitterballen, battered and fried beef balls.

Rotterdam is a major cruise ship destination. With boat access to the U.K. and to Germany along the Rhine, Rotterdam is very easy to reach. Get here from Amsterdam in 1 hour by train.

Where to stay in Rotterdam

Euromast featuring a garden, landscape views and a lake or waterhole

Centrum

Brimming with landmarks like Market Hall, Euromast, and Cube houses, this bustling borough offers a mix of modern and historic attractions. Easily accessible by metro, it's bordered by the Nieuwe Maas River, providing picturesque views.

Centrum
Rotterdam which includes heritage elements and heritage architecture

Cool

While visiting Cool, you might make a stop by sights like Lijnbaan and Witte de Withstraat.

Cool
Maritime Museum showing outdoor art and a square or plaza

Stadsdriehoek

4.5/5(50 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Stadsdriehoek, Markthal Rotterdam and Kijk-Kubus are top sights worth seeing.

Stadsdriehoek
Nice spot of the Rotterdam skyline at the #bvsblue hour 😉

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Feijenoord

Waterfront views, bars, and seaside views are some highlights of Feijenoord. Make a stop by Luxor Theater or De Rotterdam while you're exploring.

Feijenoord
De Ster and De Lelie

Kralingen-Crooswijk

Kralingen-Crooswijk is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Kralingse Bos Park and Arboretum Trompenburg.

Kralingen-Crooswijk
Rumor has it, it takes a full day trip on a boat, to only partly discover all there is to experience in the port of Rotterdam.

Rumor 2: in order to make the port more attractive, cranes have been designed to appear more cheerful and humanoid.

Charlois

Discover Charlois, memorable for its restaurants. Popular attractions in Charlois include Ahoy Rotterdam and Zuidplein Shopping Centre, and you can see more of the area by hopping on the metro at Rotterdam, Maashaven.

Charlois
The Usual Rotterdam

The Usual Rotterdam

4 out of 5
Westblaak 10, Rotterdam
$52 nightly
The price is $60 total per night from Oct 26 to Oct 27
$60 total
Oct 26 - Oct 27
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Erasmus Bridge and Ahoy Rotterdam ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (251 reviews)
"The room was small but clean and it had everything we needed."

Reviewed on Oct 9, 2025

The Usual Rotterdam
Art Hotel Rotterdam

Art Hotel Rotterdam

4 out of 5
Mijnsherenlaan 9, Rotterdam
$74 nightly
The price is $86 total per night from Oct 20 to Oct 21
$86 total
Oct 20 - Oct 21
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9/10 Wonderful! (914 reviews)
"Quit room , clean room, Good restaurant."

Reviewed on Oct 8, 2025

Art Hotel Rotterdam
Bilderberg Parkhotel Rotterdam

Bilderberg Parkhotel Rotterdam

4.5 out of 5
Westersingel 70, Rotterdam
$114 nightly
The price is $131 total per night from Oct 26 to Oct 27
$131 total
Oct 26 - Oct 27
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,008 reviews)
"Beautiful view of the city"

Reviewed on Oct 9, 2025

Bilderberg Parkhotel Rotterdam
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Urban Residences

Urban Residences

4 out of 5
Hennekijnstraat 104, Rotterdam
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,061 reviews)
"Stylish, modern and very clean property., well located for the train station and shopping. Polite, friendly staff, however, we reported a fault in our apartment at 11am and they promised to sort it before the evening. Unfortunately upon our return at 6pm they had not even been to inspect it. They ..."

Reviewed on Sep 21, 2025

Urban Residences
PREMIER SUITES PLUS Rotterdam

PREMIER SUITES PLUS Rotterdam

4 out of 5
Weena 710, Rotterdam
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified aparthotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (887 reviews)
"Coffee bar service lady Magdalena was super Front desk staff excellent"

Reviewed on Oct 6, 2025

PREMIER SUITES PLUS Rotterdam
Jufferstraat

Jufferstraat

2 out of 5
10 Jufferstraat, Rotterdam, ZH
Stay at this apartment in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi. Popular attractions Erasmus Bridge and Ahoy Rotterdam are located nearby.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
"The problem there is no elevator"

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2025

Jufferstraat
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Rotterdam

4.5
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
112
5 - Excellent 63%
4 - Good
56
4 - Good 31%
3 - Okay
9
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Rotterdam is an architectural trip! Very neat city with a great yearly tennis tournament. Alle ballen verzamalen!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Amazing city. Nice people lots of foot traffic

4/5 - Good

LlewC

I was expecting a really featureless, grey city, but I think it actually has charm.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

i would describe Rotterdam as the Manhattan of the Netherlands the only problem was there is so much construction and road closures you could not drive easily yo hotel you had to go around barriers and against traffic to get there im sure when

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Very beautiful place

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Cool city.

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