Rotterdam as a Base for 3 Days

Rotterdam works as a base for two to four days, because the main sights sit within a few metro stops of each other and the day trips are short. The plan below uses only places with published hours. Prices are in euros.

Day 1: the rebuilt centre

Start at the Markthal, open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 and Sunday from 12:00, then walk to the Cube Houses above Blaak station. The furnished Kijk-Kubus at Overblaak 70 is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and costs €3.50. Cross the Erasmusbrug, a 802 m cable-stayed bridge opened in 1996, on foot to Wilhelminapier, where De Rotterdam and Hotel New York stand. Finish with the 75 minute Spido harbour tour at €18.75 for adults.

Day 2: museums and the tower

Book a time slot for the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen at Museumpark 24, open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. The Kunsthal at Westzeedijk 341 is next door and also opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00. In the late afternoon go up the Euromast, open until 22:00, with a general ticket from €13.50 online. In the evening, walk through Delfshaven, the old harbour district that escaped the 1940 bombing.

Day 3: choose one trip

  • Kinderdijk by WaterShuttle in under 30 minutes, with a €21 adult ticket. Check kinderdijk.nl for seasonal hours.
  • Delft and The Hague together, each about 15 and 25 minutes by train.
  • Gouda on a Thursday morning between early April and late August for the cheese market.

Day 4 and extras

Katendrecht suits a slow last day. The Fenix Museum of Migration is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, and the SS Rotterdam runs tours daily from 10:00 to 17:00 and has hotel rooms if you want to sleep on board. The Fenix Food Factory is nearby at Nico Koomanskade 1025. Hoek van Holland Strand, at the end of metro line B, is a North Sea beach for a final afternoon.

Getting there and around

Schiphol is the main airport, with direct Intercity Direct trains to Rotterdam Centraal in about 25 to 30 minutes, and a small supplement applies. Eurostar also runs from London. Inside the city, use the RET metro, trams and buses. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone, and make sure you tap out.

Tips

  • Spend the first two days on foot, since the sights are close together.
  • Book the Depot and any abseil slot early.
  • Bring a rain jacket, because the weather is changeable in every season.
  • The main Boijmans building is closed for renovation, so plan around the Depot.

Read more: Rotterdam 3-day itinerary gives a day-by-day version. To look at stays, search Booking.com for Rotterdam .