Rotterdam travel guide
Rotterdam Tourism | Rotterdam Guide
You're Going to Love Rotterdam
With a population of 598 199, Rotterdam is the largest city in Zuid-Holland, Netherlands by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Rotterdam has to offer.
Where to Eat in Rotterdam
If you’re looking for affordable options, What's Up India (Eendrachtsweg 27 B-BE) and Tulip Indian Restaurant (Jonker Fransstraat 237) are great picks.
When to visit Rotterdam
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Rotterdam in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 68 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 33.8 °F, with an average temperature of 37.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 3.3″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Rotterdam, with an average rainfall of 1.7″.
How to Get to Rotterdam
Plane
When flying to Rotterdam, you’ll arrive at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), which is located 5 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Rotterdam from the United States departs from Boston and takes around 18h.
Train
Eurostar is the only carrier operating train routes to Rotterdam. The train journey from Rotterdam to Paris takes 2h 37m and costs around $38 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about $88 for a 3h 16m trip. Located 0.8 km from the city center, Rotterdam Centraal is the busiest station in Rotterdam. Another popular train station is Rotterdam Zuidplein, located 4 km from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Rotterdam is to pick up a car rental from Amsterdam, which is about 58 km from Rotterdam. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Alamo, among others, in Amsterdam.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Rotterdam, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and Regiojet. From Paris, the bus ride to Rotterdam takes 628 km and will cost you around $42. From Hannover, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 644 km. The most popular bus station is Rotterdam Zalmstraat, located 1.3 km from downtown Rotterdam. Rotterdam Capelsebrug Metrostation is also a commonly used station, and is 5 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Rotterdam
Where to stay in Rotterdam
Average rates range from around $127 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $162 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Rotterdam, with prices from $9 to $538 per night. Feijenoord is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Rotterdam are about 84% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Delfshaven - Hotel Baan, Hotel Milano and Le Petit Marin Boutique Hotel have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Delfshaven will cost you about $86 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Rotterdam
Most booked hotels in Rotterdam
Renting a car in Rotterdam
Renting a car in Rotterdam costs $54 per day, on average, or $162 if you want to rent if for 3 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 14% more expensive than at Rotterdam The Hague.
Expect to pay $8.40 per gallon in Rotterdam (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $100.84 and $134.46. The most frequently booked car type in Rotterdam is Compact (Opel Astra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Hyundai i20 or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.