Rotterdam Travel Tips. An article sharing travel tips about visiting Rotterdam. How to get there and more…

Mark Ford, Founder of Plus1 Travel

It’s great to have you here searching for Rotterdam travel tips. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands with around 600.000 people living there. The city is often overshadowed by its bigger brother, Amsterdam (which they have an intense rivalry with). Rotterdam is a funky, cool compact port town that has plenty to offer, with its unique architecture, port area, art, food, and modern city center. Rotterdam is also one of the most multicultural in the Netherlands and has an array of free festivals and concerts throughout the year. Rotterdam is a good modern contrast to the canal-laced historic streets of Amsterdam with the city’s stunning parks and markets across the city that are well worth a visit. Rotterdam is especially good to visit in the summer months, as most festivals and concerts occur from mid-June through late August.

Rotterdam Travel Tips – How To Get From The Airport To Rotterdam

Rotterdam doesn’t have its own airport, the nearest airport is Schiphol in Amsterdam. When searching for Rotterdam travel tips there’s also the alternative to travel from Antwerp’s airport or to get to Rotterdam by train. But in this article we’re going to focus on how to get to Rotterdam from Amsterdam, since it’s the largest international airport nearby. Let’s have a closer look at the options, how much they cost and how much time it takes to get you there. 

Train

Flights to Rotterdam

The cheapest and fastest option of getting from Schipol to Rotterdam is by taking the train. The train ride will get you there in around 35 minutes, a second class ticket cost €13.40 and a first class ticket cost €22. Trains to Rotterdam leave from platform 5 and 6 at the train station in the airport and there are over 80 trains per day travelling from the airport to Rotterdam per day. 

Taxi

If you want to get directly from Schiphol to your hotel in Rotterdam, then grabbing a taxi at the airport is your most convenient way. However, it’s going to cost a bit more than the train. The 55 minute taxi ride will cost around €160, although there is no flat fare from the airport to Rotterdam, the driver will use the meter. 

Rotterdam Travel Tips – How To Get Around Rotterdam

It might not come as a surprise that Rotterdam like many other cities in the Netherlands are very flat and therefore easy to get around by walking or by renting a bike. However there are other public transportation options when searching for Rotterdam travel tips. Here’s our guide on the various options on how to get around Rotterdam. Let’s have a closer look. 

Public Transport in Rotterdam

Metro

With five lines operating through Rotterdam, the metro is a convenient option getting you around the city, especially when going from the suburbs and longer distances. Beurs station is the main metro hub in Rotterdam and a single ticket cost €3.50, or buy a daily pass for €7.50

Bus

Buses are a great way to travel in the city center if you plan to do shorter distances or get from one neighborhood to the next. There are a number of bus lines connecting the city center with the greater metropolitan area and the easiest way to visit the RET website for information about the routes and a travel planner.

Tram

There are 8 tram lines connecting the city with the surrounding areas in Rotterdam. The largest tram station is the Rotterdam Centraal Station and from there you can connect to the various lines. Easiest way to figure out the maps, lines and where to go is by checking out the RET website for maps and a travel planner. 

Waterbus

A cool and unusual way of exploring the city is by hopping on a waterbus. There are over 50 landing stages throughout the city operating between Kinderdijk and Spijkenisse. The ticket prices vary on how long the distance is travelled and how many passengers there are on board. 

Best Places To Stay In Rotterdam

While Rotterdam was once considered pretty rough and not the most welcoming place around, the city has undergone a major transformation over the last couple of decades. When searching for Rotterdam travel tips the city is now called “the city of the future” by many architects and it bursts with cool cube houses, floating architecture and the impressive bridge Erasmusbrug. Let’s have a closer look at the three best areas to stay in Rotterdam.

Kralingen is a beautiful, relaxed area located in the northeast part of Rotterdam. With plenty of nice places to walk, such as the botanical garden at Arboretum Trompenburg or take a bike ride around the Kralingse Bos lake. This is the place to stay if you want a relaxed stay near nature, yet still have the connection to the city center nearby.

Rotterdam

Recommended Hotel: The Student Hotel

Delfshaven is located near the picturesque marina located in the south of Rotterdam. This is a great place to stay if you want to live near the waterfront with great views of the city and also have a more residential rather than touristy feel. There are a number of restaurants, clubs and shops in the area and it’s also home to the Euromast Tower, a 185 meter tall viewpoint displaying an amazing view of Rotterdam from the sky.

Recommended Hotel: Hotel Port

Centrum is the place to be if you want to stay right in the heart of the city center. Here you’ll have an abundance of cafés, bars, clubs, cool architecture and the central station nearby to explore the city easily. Within walking distance to plenty of historic landmarks, museums and other attractions to explore when choosing to stay in this area.

Recommended Hotel: Hilton Rotterdam

Top 7 Experiences You MUST Have In Rotterdam

1. Markthal Rotterdam is a massive piece of architecture created in 2009 that both serves as office buildings and a marketplace. The
   

   Markthal Rotterdam

   design of the structure is unique with a huge semi circular grey facade and a large windowed section facing to the surrounding courtyard. Inside the Markthal there’s cool artwork with various colorful fruits, plants, insects and flowers. The marketplace has a wide selection of shops, restaurants and bars. 

2. Rotterdam Zoo is a cool place to check out a wide variety of exotic animals such as the red panda, crocodiles, black rhinos, sumatran tiger, elephants and leopards among many more. There’s also several themed gardens such as a chinese garden, malayan forest and mongolian steppes. Well worth a visit with fun for the whole family.
3. Euromast Tower is the tallest building in Rotterdam with its 185 meters. The tower provides a panoramic view of the city and it features a restaurant, conference room for business meetings, a hotel suite and the observation deck. The entrance fee is modest and it’s the place to go for incredible views from above. 
4. Erasmus Bridge is an impressive piece of modern architecture that stretches over 800 meters and connects the north to the south of Rotterdam. Take a walk on the bridge to get an amazing view above the water and give the structure of the bridge a closer look.
   
5. Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk is the only remaining medieval architecture left in Rotterdam. The church was built in 1449 and is
   

   Architecture in Rotterdam

   beautifully decorated both on the outside and inside. It stands in the old town center and is a contrast to the modern skyline of Rotterdam.

6. Maritime Museum located in the city center near the Markthal offers a huge collection of cartography, maritime memorabilia and art. This is the place to visit if you’re interested in world class maritime history and artefacts. Plenty of interesting exhibitions and objects to take in. 
7. Rotterdam Boat Tour is a great way to experience Rotterdam via its many harbours and ports. The Spido Harbor Tour is a particularly great boat tour to take with its modern boats with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, food, drinks and commentary available in English. 

Rotterdam Travel Tips Video

Accreditation: GloballyGreat

Plus 1 Travel provides you with a travel search engine and multiple comparisons for all your business travel and holiday needs.

I hope you enjoy searching through the Plus 1 Travel website for all you need for your travels. Whether that is a flight only, flight and hotel, travel tips or anything else have a fantastic trip.

Mark Ford – Founder of Plus1Travel.com – For More Travel Tips > Go Here