12 Things to Do in Rotterdam

When you see the beauty that characterises Rotterdam, you would never imagine that in 1940 it was almost completely destroyed. This changed its architecture completely and gave way to impressive buildings such as the Cube Houses and the local terraces. But don't worry, if you want to travel back to medieval Rotterdam, you can lose yourself in Delfshaven or visit the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk church.

Another must-see in the city is the Euromast Tower, where the panoramic views will take your breath away. What's more, its streets are ideal for cycling and enjoying a feast at the Markthal market. Still not sure what to visit? Here's a complete guide to help you enjoy your trip.

To make the most of your time, I suggest starting with the most notable points of interest. The Cube Houses, located in the Blaak neighbourhood, are something unusual that you won't see anywhere else. Their innovative design is visually striking, as they are tilted at a 45-degree angle and stand on a hexagonal platform. The context is even more interesting, as they represent a forest where each house symbolises a tree.

Would you like to see inside? In the city, you will find the Kijk-Kubus museum, a fascinating insight into what it is like to live in these gravity-defying spaces. In fact, many are for sale at exorbitant prices. If you want to take pictures of these houses, I recommend heading to the old port, Oudehaven, which is the perfect angle to capture their steep incline.

In general, there are many ways to discover this type of location. For example, you can book a private tour of Rotterdam and customise the itinerary yourself.

Interesting details

• Price: to see the houses from the outside, there is no charge; you can walk freely around the area and observe them. For the Kijk-Kubus museum, tickets are available from £3. And if you are interested in taking a private tour, you can find options from £126.
• Opening hours: the museum is open every day from 11:00 to 17:00. Tours can be taken between 9:00 and 13:00.
• How to get there: you can get there on foot, by tram or by bus.

The Euromast Tower is one of the main attractions, especially when it comes to spectacular views. It has a retro-futuristic design that is hard to miss and can be seen from different parts of the city. It is one of the tallest buildings and allows you to see Rotterdam from a 360-degree perspective.

It offers you the opportunity to enjoy the city from above and is a challenge for those with a fear of heights, as you will be 112 metres above the ground. There is also a separate entrance that gives you access to the second viewing platform, which is 185 metres high, right at the top of the tower. To get there, you will have to take a rotating lift, which makes the experience even more memorable.

The more daring can enjoy the tower's glass floor, which allows you to see Rotterdam at your feet. Please note that this feature is only activated by pressing a button, and you can request it when you go up at no additional cost. Finally, I recommend booking tickets for the Euromast tower in advance so you can skip the queues.

Useful information

• Price: from £13 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 23:00.
• How to get there: the tourist bus stops right next door. The Coolhaven metro station and Euromast tram station are also within walking distance.

If you're looking for an unconventional adventure, then you have to hop on Rotterdam's amphibious vehicle. This experience takes you through the best of the city, offering unbeatable views by sea and land. I'm sure you'll love it because the tour starts with a visit to the main tourist attractions such as the Euromast Tower, the Cube Houses and the Markthal market.

And after exploring the streets and harbour of Rotterdam, you'll dive into the River Meuse to see the city from a different angle and take the best photos. It's a gentle ride with an audio guide narrating the history of the main monuments. The best thing is that when you book a tour on the Rotterdam amphibious bus, you won't have to change vehicles, as after touring the city, the amphibious bus turns into a boat.

Details of interest

• Price: from £30 per person.
• Timetable: generally offered between 11:00 and 17:45.

It's incredible to think that there was a time when Rotterdam was nothing but ruins and destruction. But after being bombed during World War II, the local architecture underwent a radical change. This gave rise to its impressive rooftops, which combine terraces with urban gardens, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

If you plan to visit Rotterdam in June, don't miss the Roof Top Days. This annual event allows you to enjoy the views from different rooftops. The celebration comes alive to commemorate Architecture Month, so you can enjoy live entertainment, open-air cinema and traditional food.

Another option is to book a guided tour of Rotterdam's rooftops. This way, you can enjoy at least five exclusive rooftops. From hotel terraces to private gardens high above the city, get ready to visit the best rooftop in the Netherlands, as well as the longest, and find out what makes them so special. Keep in mind that you will be visiting rooftops that are not usually open to the public all year round, which makes the experience even more special.

Details of interest

• Price: there are rooftop options starting at £5 plus drinks. In addition, once a year there is a Rooftop Party where you can access several rooftops for only £9. If you want variety and access to the most exclusive rooftops, you can book a guided rooftop tour starting at £39, but keep in mind that it sells out very quickly.

The Netherlands is famous for being the country of bicycles. That's why you can't miss a bike tour of Rotterdam's most iconic sights. This experience allows you to take advantage of its extensive network of cycle lanes and visit places such as the Markthal market, famous for its architecture and gastronomic offerings.

You can rent a bike at the central train station from £7 per day, although there are various apps that allow you to find the nearest bike, unlock it and start pedalling.

However, if you want to learn about the history of each monument, you can book a bike tour. Bear in mind that you'll need to bring your bike, so you'll have to rent one anyway. You're probably wondering what makes these tours so special, and it's the chance to discover the best places to eat and shop.

Details of interest

• Price: bikes can be rented for around £7 per day. If you want to join a guided tour, you will have to pay the price of the bike and around £35 per person for the tour.

Visit Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, a medieval church

Rotterdam is a city full of history and fascinating places, such as the medieval Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk church. You can see it from the outside and admire the last remaining testimony to the Middle Ages in the city. However, I also recommend going inside to admire it from within.

The highlights are the spectacular views of the entire city from its tower. But that's not all! Here you will find the largest organ in the Netherlands, historic tombs and the Bronze Gates, which represent the horrors of war and the happiness that peace brought.

Another great idea is to immerse yourself in its history and combine it with a visit to other monuments. To do this, you can book a guided tour of Rotterdam. This way, you will discover the vibrant scene of the best tourist attractions.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to the church is free, but the cost of climbing the tower is around £8. If you have the Rotterdam Pass, you can enjoy this attraction at no additional cost. If you opt for a private tour, the price is around £44.
• Opening hours: open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, although opening hours may vary depending on the season.
• How to get there: you can get there by tram. The nearest station is Rotterdam Blaak.

If you like the paintings of famous Dutch artists such as Van Gogh, don't miss the Remastered experience. This is an interactive tour lasting approximately thirty minutes through a building divided into six sections. You'll be delighted by 60 projectors that will spark your imagination with simulations of artistic and fantastical scenes.

Go beyond your expectations and fly a UFO, walk through a waterfall and sail among the clouds. This multimedia show will continuously surprise you with changes in the setting, thanks to its combination of art and technology.

Please note that when you purchase tickets for the Remastered audiovisual experience, you will be sent a ticket with the specific time, and it is important to be punctual. In addition, the building is constructed on the Erasmus Bridge, which is a local icon. Its unique design will leave you speechless, and you can enjoy views of the city.

Details of interest

• Price: around £25 per person.
• Opening hours: open every day from 10:30 a.m., but closing times may vary depending on the day.
• How to get there: you can get there on foot, by underground or by bus.

Another fun plan is to visit the SS steamboat, which was in service for 41 years. It has countless memorable stories thatmake your visit a trip back in time. I wouldn't miss it if I were you, because you can also experience life on board a classic ocean liner.

There are guided tours of the interior that allow you to discover the details of this innovative maritime design and relive the moment when it was chartered by Queen Juliana. You will also have access to the restored rooms, the bow, the cabin and the chart room. Would you like to see the evaporator system? You can, as well as take a look at the turbines, generators and boilers.

It is one of the most popular attractions and it is advisable to buy tickets for the SS steamboat in advance to enjoy priority access.

Interesting details

• Price: you can book skip-the-line tickets from £16 per person.

Rotterdam has close ties to the maritime world of the North Sea, which has influenced global trade. If you are travelling with children, don't miss a visit to one of the best museums in the Netherlands: the Maritime Museum. Here you will find exhibits including model ships and historical documents.

In total, it has around 500,000 objects related to naval history, dating from different centuries. You can see a miniature replica of the Mataró, the oldest ship in Europe, or take a look at an impressive collection of ancient maps. In addition, the facilities are generally interactive, allowing you to experience maritime mysteries first-hand.

I also recommend buying tickets for the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam online to save time at the ticket office.

Details of interest

• Price: from £18 per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
• How to get there: it is easy to reach by public transport and is close to the old port.

Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam is a fascinating place to explore the animal world. You'll love it because it's one of the oldest zoos in Europe and has around 200 species of animals. You can see sea otters, red pandas, polar bears and even watch feeding sessions with cow-nosed rays and Dalmatian pelicans.

Every day there is a different programme, which you can check on the zoo's official app. You can see natural animal shows, as they are in habitats that recreate their homes, allowing them to behave as they would in the wild. For example, you can see a river of crocodiles that offers a glimpse into their instinctive behaviour.

There are also areas for amphibians and a visit to Oceanium, an aquarium that offers the best of the underwater world. I suggest buying tickets for Rotterdam Zoo online and in advance to avoid queues at the entrance.

Details of interest

• Price: from £28 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 9:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: it is located in the centre of Rotterdam and is easy to reach on foot or by public transport.

Rotterdam - Wereldmuseum

Would you like to travel around the world? During your holiday in Rotterdam, you can! At least if you visit the Wereldmuseum, also known as the World Museum. During the tour, you can see around 80,000 objects from different cultures, such as treasures from America, Islamic heritage and documents from ancient Asian civilisations.

It also has an impressive art collection and a creative area where you can make your own crafts. Some exhibitions are temporary, but there are always fun activities and interactive exhibitions on offer.

Details of interest

• Price: around £10 per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 17:00.
• How to get there: it is located in the city centre and can be reached on foot or by public transport.

If you want to see the oldest houses in Rotterdam, you have to visit Delfshaven, the old fishing port that stands out for the rustic facades of its brick houses. As I mentioned, only ashes remained after World War II and few areas were rescued. However, buildings and bridges with centuries of history are still preserved here, and th

It's like a small glimpse of the canals of Amsterdam, but with fewer crowds. You can see the largest and oldest port in Europe, old boats moored and the drawbridge.

Interesting details

• How to get there: you can take the tram to get there, although there are also bus and underground lines.