Shopping & MarketsFree
Markthal
Blaak
A giant arched market hall with a colourful ceiling mural and dozens of food stalls.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Food lovers
Daily, roughly 10:00–20:00
Rotterdam
A bold, modern port city of daring architecture and street food.
Plan your Rotterdam trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Rotterdam
Rotterdam was rebuilt after the war and is now the Netherlands’ boldest city, with cube houses, a huge food market and a busy harbour. It is younger, edgier and cheaper than Amsterdam.
- Where
- South Holland, Netherlands
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
- Best time to go
- May–September for the terraces; the city is lively year-round.
- Approx. daily budget
- £70–140 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Rotterdam cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£65–90a day
- Mid-range traveller£125–180a day
- Luxury traveller£250+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 15 Top picks in Rotterdam
Must See~£3
Cube Houses
Blaak
Tilted cubic homes on stilts, one of which is open as a show apartment.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families
Daily, roughly 11:00–17:00
Must SeeFree
Erasmus Bridge
Kop van Zuid
A soaring cable-stayed bridge nicknamed “The Swan”, best seen at dusk.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Photographers
Open-air; always accessible
Viewpoints~£12
Euromast
Park
A 185 m tower with a rotating lift and a 360° view over the harbour.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Families · Photographers
Daily, roughly 10:00–22:00
Hidden Gems
See all 4 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Kralingse Bos
Kralingen
A big park around a lake, with a windmill, woodland and a café, where locals walk, swim and picnic.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Outdoor lovers
Open daily
Hidden GemsFree
Witte de Withstraat
Centrum
The city’s creative street of galleries, bars, restaurants and street art, great in the evening.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans
Streets open all day; best from late afternoon
Hidden GemsFree
Oude Haven and Het Witte Huis
Oude Haven
The old harbour, with historic boats, and Het Witte Huis, one of Europe’s first skyscrapers, from 1898.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Open all day
Hidden GemsFree
Delfshaven
Delfshaven
A historic harbour district that survived the war, with a canal and old warehouses.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; cafés and shops open daily
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Rotterdam
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingCube View Hotel
Blaak, Rotterdam
Very good valueValue score 77 out of 100
Rated 8.6/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Rotterdam, in a central location.
From £105 per night · check current availability
Best Location
Example listingErasmus Harbour Hotel
Kop van Zuid, Rotterdam
Very good valueValue score 76 out of 100
Rated 8.7/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Rotterdam, in a central location.
From £110 per night · check current availability
Best Budget ChoicePopular Choice
Example listingDelfshaven Canal Inn
Delfshaven, Rotterdam
Good valueValue score 67 out of 100
Rated 8.4/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Rotterdam, in a central location.
From £70 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 3 Where to eat
Kaapse Brouwers
A craft brewery and taproom in the up-and-coming Katendrecht neighbourhood.
Known for: Local craft beer
About £19–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
Hotel New York
A grand brasserie in the former headquarters of the Holland America Line, with harbour views.
Known for: Brasserie dishes with a view
About £40–70 per person
Special occasion Good for Couples · Groups
Pannenkoekenboot
A pancake boat that cruises the harbour while diners eat all-you-can-eat pancakes.
Known for: Pancakes on a boat
About £19–40 per person
Good for Couples · Groups
A suggested Rotterdam itinerary
3 nights Couple
Rotterdam · Highlights
Rotterdam in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Rotterdam picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Rotterdam Harbour Cruise, Cube Houses, Markthal, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen
- Day 2 · Kinderdijk Windmills, Erasmus Bridge
- Day 3 · Delfshaven, Oude Haven and Het Witte Huis, Euromast, Fenix Food Factory and Katendrecht
Plan Rotterdam your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.