Things to do in Rotterdam

Just an hour from the Dutch capital, you’ll find a place unlike any other in the Netherlands. When you visit Rotterdam, you’ll see a city with many faces: a tough port city, a trendy nightlife city, a sophisticated shopping city, and a hip artistic city. But most of all, Rotterdam is the architecture city of Holland that stimulates innovation. The second biggest city of the Netherlands has plenty of things to do and places to see. Top things to do in Rotterdam As the biggest port in Europe, Rotterdam has lots of fun activities for locals and tourists, whether they come across the water, land or fly in through the local airport. These are our not to miss things to do in Rotterdam: River Cruise, unmissable in the largest port of Europe Euromast, incredible views Pancake Cruise, a Dutch icon Splashtours, explore the city on an amphibian bus Zoo Diergaarde Blijdorp, one of Europe’s oldest zoos Places to see in Rotterdam Rotterdam is full of iconic modern architecture sights because a lot of the city was destroyed during World War II. Examples of modern architecture of note include the Cube Houses, the Erasmus Bridge, the Markthal and Central Station. But some neighbourhoods survived the war and they too are worth a visit. For instance, the first high rise building in Europe, the Witte Huis, which was built in 1898. Or the entire Delfshaven neighbourhood, which is home to the Pilgrim Father’s  Church, from where the Pilgrims departed for America in 1620. There are also a couple of old harbours left around the city where you can historic ships. Like any place in the Netherlands, Rotterdam has it rainy days but there is lots to see and do on those days too. So what to do in Rotterdam when it rains? You won’t get wet on the Splashtours or the Euromast. Museums are also a great option for rainy days, as are a visit to the Markthal and the SS Rotterdam. How many days do you need to see Rotterdam? The number of days you need to visit Rotterdam depends on your interests and the amount of time you have available. While it's possible to see some of the main attractions in a day or two, we recommend spending at least 2 to 3 days to truly experience the city and its unique atmosphere. This will allow you to explore the major landmarks, visit attractions and museums, indulge in the local food scene. However, if you have more time available, you can certainly extend your stay in Rotterdam. This will allow you to delve deeper into Rotterdam's art scene, and perhaps even take a day trip to nearby sights such as the windmills of UNESCO World Heritage site Kinderdijk. Or you can visit the neighbouring city’s of The Hague (home of Dutch politics), Delft and the beach at Scheveningen. Ultimately, how long you should stay depends on your personal preferences, the pace at which you like to explore, and the activities you wish to include in your itinerary. Like many other city’s you can visit Rotterdam multiple times and keep finding new things to discover there. Top tips for things to do in Rotterdam These are just a few of our tips for when you visit the second largest city of the Netherlands. Rotterdam as a city is constantly evolving, with new attractions, museums, events and cultural experiences popping up all the time. Whether you come to the city in summer to celebrate the Summer Carnival or in winter to visit the International Film Festival, this city does not disappoint.