What to see in Rotterdam in one day

One of my business trips saw me stay in Rotterdam (Netherlands) for one night. And you know me, I love the opportunity to roam around a city for a few hours in the evening. I’ve been to Rotterdam twice before, and it was a place I was keen to revisit and explore more. Rotterdam has a very unique feel, very different to Amsterdam. And it is definitely a place to go if you love good food. To tell you what there is to see in Rotterdam in one day, I’ve put together a short itinerary. Not saying one day in Rotterdam is all you need, but it is long enough to give you a good overview of what there is to see in Rotterdam. And to decide whether you’d like to come back for more one day.

Enough of the rambling, let’s get started.

But before I start with my itinerary of what to see in Rotterdam in one day, let me answer some of the frequently asked questions about Rotterdam. 

Where is Rotterdam?

Rotterdam is located in South Holland, in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt River delta. With just over 650.000 inhabitants Rotterdam is the 2^nd largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam (with just under a million). That being said, the Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area as a whole, is the most populous in the country. With approx. 2.7 million people living there.

The Rotterdam Seaport is the largest European port (and the largest in the world outside East Asia). 

Nowadays, Rotterdam is famous for its skyscrapers and modern architecture, and it does not really have a traditional old town like so many other European cities. But there is a (sad) reason for that. Rotterdam is not a new city; it has been around since the 13^th century. However, during the Second World War, almost the entire city centre of Rotterdam was destroyed by German bombs. Leaving Rotterdam with little to none of its old buildings. But with the perfect opportunity for a face lift, so to speak.  

Can I see all of Rotterdam in one day?

Well… define all. As with any city, the more time you have, the more there is to explore. So no, you might not be able to see ALL of what there is to see in Rotterdam. But I promise, one day in Rotterdam gives you a good overview of the main sights. If only, to give you a taste of Rotterdam and make you want to come back.

Rotterdam is an ideal day trip location if you are holidaying in Zeeland for example. 

Is Rotterdam better than Amsterdam?

Tricky question, define better. Me personally, I prefer Rotterdam over Amsterdam. But I guess everyone is different. I would say both cities are definitively worth a visit at some point in your life. And since they are only about an hour apart, why not combine them. Spend one day in Rotterdam and a day in Amsterdam (or longer, if you fancy). 

How to get to Rotterdam?

By plane

Rotterdam is well connected. I flew directly from London-City to Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM). Although RTM is an international airport, it has very limited flight options. Most are seasonal holiday flights, but there is a direct route from London-City, as well as from Zurich. For anyone else, you might be better off flying into Amsterdam Schiphol. 

If you are landing at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, you can easily get into Rotterdam city centre by taking the bus 33 to Meijersplein station, then transferring to Metro line E to Rotterdam Centraal. And you don’t even need to buy a ticket, you can just tap your contactless card. Transfers from the airport to Rotterdam Centraal (the main train station) cost just over 2 Euros. Probably one of the cheapest airport transfers I can think of anywhere in Europe. 

When arriving at Amsterdam Schiphol, you can take a direct train from there to Rotterdam Centraal, which takes just under half an hour. Tickets start from 14.50 EUR, making it easy and relatively cheap to get from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. 

By train

Alternatively, if you don’t want to fly, Rotterdam has several high-speed train links. The Eurostar gets you from London to Rotterdam in less than 3.5 hours. Or from Paris to Rotterdam in just over 2 hours. 

By car

You can also drive to Rotterdam obviously. In the past, there was a low emission zone in place that required all Diesel cars to pay when going into Rotterdam. However, since 2020, this only applies to trucks, no longer to cars. When spending one day in Rotterdam, parking in the city centre can be quite costly. But you’ll be pleased to know that there are several park & ride locations available at the outskirts of Rotterdam. Parking there is free of charge for up to 72 hours. And from there, it is quick and cheap to get into Rotterdam by public transport. 

By boat

Yes, you read that right. First time we visited Rotterdam, we arrived by overnight ferry from Hull (UK). But also, Rotterdam is frequented by cruise ships. You might dock in Rotterdam for a day during your cruise. Or your cruise might actually start in Rotterdam (as a friend’s recently did). In which case, you should take the opportunity to explore Rotterdam for a day. 

Is Rotterdam walkable?

Good news. As is the case with pretty much all of the Netherlands, Rotterdam is relatively flat and therefore easy to walk. Whether you walk it all, depends how much you want to see. Especially if you only have one day in Rotterdam, you might be better of cutting your journey a little by taking a bus or the Metro for some of your route. But generally, yes. The highlights of what there is to see in Rotterdam can easily be explored by foot. 

When is the best time to visit Rotterdam?

Same as the rest of the Netherlands, Rotterdam has a fairly mild climate. Meaning there are very few icy cold days, temperatures average above zero in winter and below 25 in summer. And it does not have a particular rainy season. Making Rotterdam a perfect destination all year round. 

OK, enough of those questions about Rotterdam. How about we finally get started with what there is to see in Rotterdam in one day.  

I’ve tried to arrange it all as a little walking tour. But feel free to pick and choose the bits that interest you. And to arrange them in an order that suits you. The walking route here is loosely based on my most recent trip to Rotterdam.

What to see in Rotterdam Part 1: Delfshaven to Oude Haven

Delfshaven

I told you at the beginning, that Rotterdam was flattened in WWII and does not have a traditional old town. But there are still a few remnants of old Rotterdam around today. 

Delfshaven is one of them. The old port survived the bombing during the 2^nd World War. And walking the cobbled streets feels a little like stepping back in time. 

Start at Lage Erfbrug (the bridge) and walk down the narrow island of the historic Delfshaven. 

Stop at the Pelgrimsvaderskerk (the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church), dating back to the 16^th century. From here, the pilgrims set off to America back in 1620. 

Euromast

From Delfshaven, I decided to head towards the Euromast. 

At 185m height, the Euromast was Rotterdam’s tallest building until recently, when De Zalmhave, the 215m high residential tower took the crown. 

The Euromast was originally built for the 1960 Floriade (a horticultural exhibition). It has an observation deck at 112m height, which apparently offers great views across Rotterdam. The observation deck is open daily from 10am to 10pm and tickets start at 12.50 EUR. Since I was a little short on time, I didn’t actually go up myself. But I might do next time I am in Rotterdam for one day or two.

Erasmusbrug

From here, I’ve continued my walk through Het Park towards the Erasmusbrug. Designed by Dutch architect Ben van Berkel and completed in 1996, the Erasmusbrug spans the Nieuwe Maas. The bridge spans 802 metres and has been nicknamed ‘the Swan’ due to its iconic shape.

If you have a little spare time and / or are hungry, cross the bridge and head to either Fenix Food Factory (open Wednesday to Sunday) or the Foodhallen Rotterdam (open 7 days a week). Two indoor food markets in the harbour area with a great selection of food and drinks. Unfortunately, during my most recent visit, I did not have enough time for this detour, but I’ve been before and can certainly recommend. 

Witte Huis and Oude Haven 

As I continued my walk along the riverside, my next stop was the Witte Huis (White House), a 10-storey building dating back to the end of 19^th century. The Art Nouveau building was Europe’s first ‘skyscraper’ (although 10 storeys doesn’t sound this impressive these days). And the Witte Huis is one of the few buildings in the inner city that survived the Blitz.

Next to the Witte Huis is the Oude Haven (the old harbour). This oldest harbour in Rotterdam is these days a busy nightlife area with restaurants and bars.

What to see in Rotterdam Part 2: Cube Houses to Rotterdam Centraal

Once done with the harbour, it was time to finally leave the waterside and head back into the town centre. 

Kubuswoningen (Cube Houses)

My next stop was the Cube Houses. A cluster of 45 degrees tilted houses designed by the Dutch architect Piet Blom in the 1970s. Originally planned as a cluster of 60 houses, only 40 were ever built. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to actually visit one of the cubes yet, as they are only from 11 until 5. But the Cube Houses are for sure on my list of things to do in Rotterdam next time. And with just 3 EUR entry fee, they are one of the cheaper Rotterdam sights to visit.

But even if you don’t have time to go in, the yellow cube houses are worth visiting and looking at. And definitely offer some Insta perfect photo opportunities. 

Markthal (Market Hall)

As this time, I did not have the time to visit the two food markets down by the harbour, I went straight to the Markthal after the Cube Houses.  After all, by now it was dinner time.

A fine example of Rotterdam’s contemporary and unique architecture, the Markthal is a large arch shaped building with about a hundred market stalls and restaurants in the centre, surrounded by offices and apartments. 

Opened in 2014, the Markthal has large glass facades at either end. Paired with an impressive artwork called ‘Hoorn des Overvloeds’ (Horn of Plenty) that spans the entire inside of the arch.  Making it a particularly pretty sight at night.

After some light shopping and a quick dinner, I continued my Rotterdam walking tour.  

If you happen to visit on a Tuesday or Saturday, there is also a large outdoor market just outside the Markthal on Binnerotten Plain. Around 250 stalls offer a variety of fruit and veg, fresh fish and other local produce.

Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk (St Lawrence Church)

Continuing my one day in Rotterdam walking tour, my next stop was just around the corner. The St Lawrence Church was originally built in 15^th century. Although it was heavily damaged during WWII, the church survived as the only medieval building in the town centre and was seen as a beacon of hope at the time (standing proud over the ruins of the otherwise flattened city centre).

With the bulk of my sightseeing done, the rest of my Rotterdam walking tour would lead me through Rotterdam’s shopping streets. Not much use for me, as it was well past closing time. But if you are visiting during the day, why not spend some time browsing the shops and picking up some souvenirs and local delicacies. I can certainly recommend exploring some of the local cheese shops.

Keep an eye out for the De Bijenkorf flagship store on Coolsingel. This large Bauhaus style department store was designed by architect Marcel Breuer and opened in the 1950s.

Rotterdam Centraal (Main station)

The last stop on my one day in Rotterdam was Rotterdam Centraal, the main train station. The original station building was demolished in the early 2000s and a new arrow shaped building was opened in 2014. As a nod to its predecessor, the original lettering as well as the old station clock were reinstated on the new building. 

Is Rotterdam worth a visit?

Well, I’ve now told you what there is to see during one day in Rotterdam. And I’ll leave it to you to decide. But if you ask me, the answer is yes. Rotterdam is well worth a visit. And I will happily come back and explore some more.

Tell me, have you been to Rotterdam? Did you enjoy it?