Places to Go in Rotterdam: A Weekend City Break Itinerary

Rotterdam is very unlike your typical fairytale Dutch cities, and that includes the country’s capital city of Amsterdam. Bombs reduced the city into rubble, and instead of restoring the old buildings, Rotterdam built new, modern buildings in their place.

New approaches to urban living make Rotterdam an interesting place to visit, with architects making Rotterdam look and feel a bit different from the rest of the country— which makes for an interesting stop for diversity amongst your Dutch city hopping break.

How to Get Around Rotterdam by Public Transport

Because Rotterdam isn’t built like typical Dutch cities, it’s not as walkable as many other cities, with wide boulevards of vehicles, scooters and pedestrians crisscrossing districts and neighbourhoods — over imposing bridges and the possibility of having to catch water taxis or go on underground water tunnels just to cross river banks. The layout is a little confusing, especially for a first time visitor, so it makes sense to hop on public transport where you can.

Since The Netherlands introduced OVpay, getting around has become a lot easier. Simply use your contactless cards to hop on and off public transport. Ticket officers do make their rounds very often, so be sure to check in and out of public transport and not risk a fine. They can scan your contactless card to verify that you’ve actually tapped on.

You’ll most likely be using trams or the metro to get around the city, though you might need a water taxi to cross river banks quickly, and payment can simply be done on board too.

What to See and Do in Rotterdam

Marvel at the Cube Houses

Rotterdam is unconventional. So are these Cube Houses.

Located by the Old Harbour, these striking yellow houses are tilted at a curious 45 degree angle, thereby allowing them to perfectly lean on their neighbouring cubes, which creates a frankly surreal looking apartment complex. Designed by architect Piet Blom in the 70s, the housing block was built in the 80s in the Blaak neighbourhood, just off the Rotterdam city centre.

This is an area where people actually live, so be mindful when you’re visiting and taking pictures. If you’d like to see what they look like on the inside and experience going in firsthand, there is a Cube House Museum that allows visitors a chance to experience what these houses are like on the inside.

Alternatively, you can book a stay at Stayokay Hostel here to get a firsthand experience actually living in these Cube Houses.

WHERE | OVERBLAAK 70, 3011 MH

Eat (and Marvel) at the Impressive Markthal

Once you’ve had your fill of pictures at the Cube Houses, walk over to the Markthal, The Netherlands’ biggest indoor market hall. The horseshoe shaped building reflects the city and it’s residents’ many nationalities and backgrounds with food from all over the world, as well as a huge Asian supermarket.

When you’re in there, be sure to look up and gaze at the beautifully adorned ceilings.

You’ll find plenty of stalls, some just to buy goods from, and others with dedicated areas to sit and eat— with everything from light snacks to heavier meals, to coffee stands, gelaterias, and boba shops.

The hall is open everyday, but I did find it a lot livelier in the summer for both lunch and dinner. If you’re planning a visit over winter, I’d recommend visiting the Markethal for lunch instead.

WHERE | VERLENGDE NIEUWSTRAAT, 3011 GM

Go Museum Hopping at Museumpark

A sprawling complex of, well, museums, Museumpark is the city’s cultural epicentre, with some of it’s premier art galleries calling the quarter home.

Don’t miss the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first art storage facility accessible to the public. The entire collection now spans more than 150, 000 pieces of art, all housed in a truly stunning building.

Another museum I enjoyed was the Kunsthal, located on the opposite side of Museumpark. Kunsthal offers exhibitions that span different mediums, such as photography, design, fashion and culture. The museum plays host to over 20 exhibitions a year, making every visit a different experience. I enjoyed the interactivity of the exhibitions when I visited. It was laid out beautifully, and was never too busy or overwhelming for the senses.

Museumpark is also an actual park, and this green space has a rose park and sculptures to boot. If anything, it’s a lovely spot to stop and smell the literal roses.

WHERE | MUSEUMPARK, 3015 CB

Take in the Rotterdam Skyline by the Erasmusbrug

The Erasmusbrug is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, with it’s gleaming white pylon giving it the nickname of The Swan.

The bridge links the northern and southern suburbs of the city, and is one of the city’s most architecturally impressive offerings, and is a lovely place to watch the sunset on the city skyline if the weather permits.

WHERE | ERASMUSBRUG, 3011 BN

Cross the River on Foot Underground Via the Maastunnel

The Erasmusbrug is not the only way to cross the river banks, as you can do so on foot or on bike via the Maastunnel.

If you’ve been to other cities like Antwerp or Hamburg, the concept of the Maastunnel is not unfamiliar. As the country’s oldest submerged tunnel, it’s a cool tunnel to visit, descending via wooden escalators and taking in the architecture when you’re down below.

WHERE | CHARLOISSE HOOFD 29, 3087 CA (SOUTH BANK)

WHERE | PARKKADE 27, 3016 GN (NORTH BANK)

Have a Drink or Bite at Witte de Withstraat

One of the liveliest streets in Rotterdam, this area is chockfull of bars and restaurants that spill out onto the streets, making for a bustling area to soak in some of Rotterdam’s atmosphere. You’ll also find street art, vintage clothing stores, and galleries at different corners too, so it’s well worth checking out and popping into anywhere that tickles your fancy.

Discover the work of visual and contemporary artists at Kunstinstituut Melly, formerly known as Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, go vintage shopping at Sweet Rebels, and follow it up with a tipple at Wunderbar or Tiki’s if cocktails are more your style.

WHERE | WITTE DE WITHSTRAAT, 3012 BT

Where to Eat in Rotterdam

Rotterdam excels at international cuisine, and there are many fantastic places that would keep a foodie satisfied on a weekend break.

For coffee and brunch, be sure to check out Man met bril koffie, COPPI Coffee & Cycling, Harvest Cafe & Bakery, Hopper Coffee, No 10 Coffee, Giraffe Coffee Bar & Academy, nice, âme by Hotel âme, and Amada Coffee.

If you’re in the mood for Asian, there’s Tensai Ramen, Hot and Hot Chinese Hot Pot, or Bao Haus by T&C Haus. For vegan offerings, there’s Backyard and The SUE Store. Fancy Latin American? Go with Supermercado, Sabor Sabor, or Alfredo’s Taqueria. Italian? There’s Trattoria Sophia, La Gaetano, Panzerò or Due Tonino.

The Best Day Trips from Rotterdam

Kinderdijk

Located about an hour away from Rotterdam Centraal is Kinderdijk, a village southeast of the city known for it’s 18th century windmills. The way nature and technology work sustainably to keep Kinderdijk dry has earned the area a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. This is also because it is, like many other parts of The Netherlands, below sea level, which means climate change and the resulting rise in sea levels makes water management so crucial.

From Rotterdam Centraal, you’ll have to take either the tram or metro to the city’s fringes and switch to a bus that plies the suburban areas outside of the city. This makes it a bit of a trek but is well worth doing. Do make sure you don’t miss the bus back though, as they naturally don’t run as often as services within the city.

The area is a wonderful place to bike around or take a walk, and the windmills look stunning in the evening light in good weather.

Antwerp

Read: The Complete Travel Guide to Antwerp, Belgium’s City of Diamonds

Rotterdam being the biggest Dutch city in the south means it’s relatively easy to get to neighbouring Belgium, and where better to start than Belgium’s largest northern city of Antwerp?

Antwerp is an incredibly popular day trip destination for many Dutch people, and the city is known to be Belgium’s fashion capital. The main shopping boulevard of the Meir is where you’ll find most visitors, but there are plenty of labels that come from Antwerp that are well worth checking out (Arte, Essentiel Antwerp etc.), as well as unique boutiques you’ll find on Kammenstraat and Kloosterstraat.

Besides shopping, you’ll also find Belgium’s most stunning train station in Antwerp Central, and world-class museums like the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA).