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
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
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
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
Delfshaven which includes boating and a river or creek

Delfshaven

Carefully preserved historic center, Delfshaven boasts modest local museums, a brewery, and the notable Oude Kerk or "Pilgrim Fathers Church". Enjoy various dining and drinking facilities.

Delfshaven
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 Fenix Food Factory or Luxor Theater while you're exploring.

Feijenoord
The James Hotel Rotterdam
The James Hotel Rotterdam
3.5 out of 5
Aert van Nesstraat 25, Rotterdam
$75 nightly
The price is $87 total per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
$87 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
"This is the 10th time I stayed at The James hotel. Best price for a hotel in the centre of Rotterdam. Very clean, friendly, professional service. Spacious room, nice bed, bedding and pilllows. Situated between the Lijnbaan en de Coolsingel. Everything is within walking distance. TV connection could ..."

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

The James Hotel Rotterdam
The Usual Rotterdam
The Usual Rotterdam
4 out of 5
Westblaak 10, Rotterdam
$64 nightly
The price is $74 total per night from Jul 14 to Jul 15
$74 total
Jul 14 - Jul 15
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Ahoy Rotterdam and Witte de Withstraat ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (184 reviews)
"Love the focus on sustainability. Excellent hotel!"

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

The Usual Rotterdam
citizenM Rotterdam
citizenM Rotterdam
4 out of 5
Gelderse plein 50, Rotterdam, South Holland
$79 nightly
The price is $92 total per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
$92 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (997 reviews)
Very good value
"Perfect location: close to the Centraal Station, and close to many attractions."

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

citizenM 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! (1,036 reviews)
"Was not to bad"

Reviewed on Jun 20, 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! (858 reviews)
"Great place to stay close to Rotherdam Central Station and Cruise Terminals"

Reviewed on Jun 21, 2025

PREMIER SUITES PLUS Rotterdam
Stayci Apartments Museumpark Deluxe
Stayci Apartments Museumpark Deluxe
4 out of 5
Eendrachtsweg 26, Rotterdam
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Rotterdam. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Ahoy Rotterdam and Santa Claus Statue ...
7/10 Good! (73 reviews)
Great little apartment
"Great apartment in a very central location. It had everything we needed. Just bear in mind it has a typical Dutch staircase so might not be ideal if you have mobility issues but this was not a problem for us. Communication with the company was really good, I got a bit hot at night so asked for a ..."

Reviewed on Jul 9, 2025

Stayci Apartments Museumpark Deluxe
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.

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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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