10 BEST Things to Do in Rotterdam

Interested in Architecture, shopping, art or adventurous nightlife, one of the largest port cities in the world Rotterdam has it all in store for you. Located in South Holland this city has a history of war and commerce. Left back with so many dents on its heart after the WWII this city has rebuilt itself from the ground up. Netherland’s second city often over shadowed by Amsterdam has its own unique vibe and works on the mantra of innovation. With the architectural brilliance of the city there are a lot of 10 things to do in Rotterdam for all type of tourists.

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When To Visit Rotterdam

The summertime (April to August) in Rotterdam is pleasantly warm. The city doesn’t get overly crowded and you have plenty of free things to do in Rotterdam. The rains are also at a minimum so you can explore the city on foot without any worry. Moderate temperature makes it the perfect time to visit Rotterdam.

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How To Get Around Rotterdam

• Metro – Five metro lines run through Rotterdam making it a cheap convenient medium of transportation
• Tram – A lot of tram lines travel through the centre. All these lines converge at Rotterdam Central Station in case you need to swap lines.
• Bus – Several buses run through Rotterdam’s centre and connect it with other cities and great metropolitan area.
• Water Bus – This fast fun ferry ride is amazing for both sightseeing and commuting from one place to another.

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Where To Stay in Rotterdam

• Suite Hotel Pincoffs
• Hotel The James
• Rotterdam Marriott Hotel

Rotterdam Attractions: Urbaneness And Architecture

Rotterdam has been a crusader for the sustainable, innovative and exciting architecture. Its world class urban design reflects in almost every nook and corner of the city. Here are some architectural brillance that you must see:

• Centraal Station
• Luchtsingel Bridge
• Cube Houses
• Witte Huis
• Euromast Tower
• Erasmusbrug Bridge

From the cube houses that give it a distinguished look to the Euromast tower with a rotating elevator that takes you 185 meters above the ground and allows you to dine in the sky, every place in Rotterdam is worth your Instagram feed.

Not just the contemporary buildings but also buildings like Rotterdam City Hall, which survived through WWII, are one of the best places to visit in the city.

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Walk The Rotterdam Harbour

Witness the coming and going of boats or just take a stroll through the piers and check out the people’s yacht, these are top things to do in Rotterdam at this one of the largest harbor in the entire world. A walk at the harbor will let you witness the growth of the city over time with its astounding skyline.

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Top Attractions In Rotterdam

Under the charm of the newness of innovations this city has its history preserved beautifully in various museums. For any history geek these museums in Rotterdam are one of the best tourist attractions.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen – Houses a rich collection of masterpieces dating back to 16th century
• Maritime Museum – Interesting collection of art
• Werel Museum – Eclectic art from all over the world
• Rotterdam Zoo – The best zoo in the Netherlands
• Plaswijk Park – Amusement park for activities like carting, boating and a large play area

Splurge On Leisure

Rotterdam Summer Carnival

When in Rotterdam it’s not a justice to your holiday unless you splurge on making yourself happy. If you are traveling during summers then the Rotterdam Summer Carnival is one of the best 10 attractions in Rotterdam worth your time.

It is the largest street party in the Netherlands with over 2,500 dancers, 25 carnival groups, and 30 floats on display in colorful parades.

Shopping

One of the best shopping areas in Rotterdam is the Alexandrium, it is a little way from the center of the city but well worth a view, as it has a great selection of shops and also bars and restaurants for a good lunch.

If markets are more your thing, you would do well to visit the Blaak Market which has excellent street food and clothing and wonderful displays and selections of flowers.

Nightlife

You have a lot of 10 things to do in Rotterdam at night. With amazing pubs, bars, clubs the city also has a ‘student area’ where you can get a great night out without breaking the bank. Apart from the major above mentioned must do’s a traveler can find peace at the beautiful parks of the city adorned with lush greenery and can explore the city through the waterways, after all a port city doesn’t only cater the foreign visitors.