All citiesRotterdam Things to do and walking itinerary
Netherlands Rotterdam travel guide
30 things to do in Rotterdam, where to stay, airport transfers, 4 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Rotterdam
- Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen — art museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Erasmusbrug — bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Euromast — observation tower in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Diergaarde Blijdorp — zoo in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Mevlana Mosque — mosque in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Kunsthal — exhibition centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Wereldmuseum Rotterdam — museum about historic and modern cultures in the Dutch city of Rotterdam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk — church in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Montevideo — skyscraper in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 40 min)
- St. Laurentius — cathedral in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam — museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Sportpark Hazelaarweg — sports stadium (visit ≈ 45 min)
- De Doelen — concert hall in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 20 min)
- The Destroyed City — public artwork by Ossip Zadkine in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (1953) (visit ≈ 15 min)
- FENIX Museum of Migration — migration museum in Rotterdam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Essalam Mosque — mosque in Rotterdam (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Arboretum Trompenburg — botanical garden in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museumpark — park in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Westerkerk — former Protestant church on Kruiskade in Rotterdam (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Chabot Museum — Dutch art museum in Rotterdam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Netherlands Architecture Institute — cultural institute for architecture and urban development (1988-2012) (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Netherlands Photo Museum — photography museum in Rotterdam (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Schouwburgplein — square in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Provenierskerk — former church building in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Norwegian Seamen's Church — church building in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Oceanium — building in Diergaarde Blijdorp (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Singelkerk — church building in Schiedam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Pilgrim Fathers Church — church building in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Walk of Fame Europe (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Zuiderpark — urban park in Rotterdam, Netherlands (visit ≈ 45 min)
2-day Rotterdam walking itinerary
Starting point: Centre / Markthal. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.0 km · 12,140 steps · 2 h 0 min on the way): Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk → Diergaarde Blijdorp → Mevlana Mosque → Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
- Day 2 (≈ 6.3 km · 8,500 steps · 1 h 24 min on the way): Kunsthal → Euromast → Wereldmuseum Rotterdam → Erasmusbrug
Where to stay in Rotterdam
- Centre / Markthal: Near the Cube Houses, Markthal and shopping streets; metro to everywhere.
- Kop van Zuid: Across the Erasmus Bridge; skyscrapers and river views.
- Delfshaven: An old harbour that survived the war; calm and full of character.
- Witte de Withstraat / Cool: A lively street full of galleries, bars and restaurants.
- Around Rotterdam Centraal: Fast trains to Schiphol and other cities; ideal for day trips.
Getting from the airport to Rotterdam
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): Direct train ≈ 25 min
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM): Bus 33 ≈ 20 min
Getting around
Metro, trams and water taxis connect the city well; you can tap a contactless card. The centre is also easy by bike.
Classic places to eat
- Hotel New York: A grand restaurant with an oyster bar in the old Holland America Line building.
- Dudok: A big café-brasserie people visit for its famous apple pie.
- De Ballentent: An old riverside café known for its meatballs in gravy.
- Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim: A brewpub making its own beer in a historic Delfshaven building.
- Bazar: Middle Eastern and North African food under colourful lamps.
- Markthal: Dozens of food stalls under the giant arched building.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- FG Restaurant — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative
- Fred — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative
- Amarone — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern French
- Fitzgerald — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern
Romantic views
- Erasmus Bridge (Evening): The white bridge nicknamed “the Swan” looks stunning lit up at night.
- Euromast (Sunset): Wide views of the port and skyline from the tower.
- Delfshaven Harbour (Evening): A quiet walk among old canal houses and boats.
- Het Park (Afternoon): A leafy park with ponds at the foot of the Euromast.
Football stadiums in Rotterdam
- De Kuip: Home of Feyenoord Rotterdam
- Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel: Home of Sparta Rotterdam
- Stadion Woudestein: Home of Excelsior Rotterdam
Good to know before visiting Rotterdam
- Fine: Hard drugs are illegal; coffeeshop tolerance doesn't cover use in the street.
- Fine: Taking cannabis abroad is a criminal offence.
- Fine: Smoking indoors is banned.
- Warning: Never walk on the red bike lanes; cyclist collisions are common.
- Warning: Tap in and out on public transport; forgetting to check out costs a hefty fare.
- Warning: You're required to carry ID or a passport.
- Emergency: 112
- Plugs: C/F, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is excellent and safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping is optional; 5–10% if you're happy.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Netherlands, Wikivoyage — Netherlands, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Rotterdam travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Rotterdam?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 6 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Rotterdam?
- Highlights: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Erasmusbrug, Euromast, Diergaarde Blijdorp and Mevlana Mosque. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Rotterdam?
- Centre / Markthal: Near the Cube Houses, Markthal and shopping streets; metro to everywhere. Other options: Kop van Zuid, Delfshaven, Witte de Withstraat / Cool and Around Rotterdam Centraal.
- How do you get from the airport to Rotterdam city centre?
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): Direct train ≈ 25 min · Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM): Bus 33 ≈ 20 min
- How do you get around Rotterdam?
- Metro, trams and water taxis connect the city well; you can tap a contactless card. The centre is also easy by bike.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Rotterdam?
- According to the last known data there are 4 starred restaurants: FG Restaurant (2 stars), Fred (2 stars), Amarone (1 star), Fitzgerald (1 star). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Rotterdam?
- Emergency: 112.
- Do you tip in Rotterdam?
- Tipping is optional; 5–10% if you're happy.
Nearby cities
The Hague · Amsterdam · Antwerp · Ghent · Bruges · Brussels · Cologne · Luxembourg
Netherlands travel guide: all cities · All cities